During the Great Depression, the
Civilian Conservation Corps, had two locations in East Hampton - one
at Salmon River on Gulf Road near the Comstock Covered Bridge and a
second, the 181st Company at Camp Jenkins, north of Cobalt near Great
Hill. The CCC program, which local resident Martin Podskoch has
written extensively, was founded by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
to provide work opportunities for young men in a wholesome
environment. Organized work initiatives, including stabilizing
embankments along the Salmon River or clearing brush in our State
Forests, were some of the many projects tackled. For two years, CCC
members encamped only a few hundred feet from the Cobalt mine sites,
and working in conjunction with the State Forest and Park Commission,
cleaned up forest debris and underbrush that had accumulated for
years, building tables, benches and cement fireplaces for picnickers
and cleaned out the longest of the two horizontal mine shafts still
easily found in 1933. Although no longer accessible, for years
visitors could walk on logs on the muddy mine floor to its very end,
approximately 75 feet in length.
During their work experience, sixteen
of the men, CCC members at Camp Jenkins, banded together to form what
was believed to be the first secret society of the forest recruits in
the U.S. The society, known at I.D.K. Sunset Lodge, No. 1 with
officers' stations named after trees, adopted by-laws and elected
officers. A prerequisite to admittance in addition to being a member
of the CCC was "good character" and the society, advanced
by many standards of the era, was open to any race, creed or
denomination. The first officers were Great Oak, A. G. Kamm
(recreation directors of the camp); Small Oak, Albert Budrow; Sturdy
Elm (secretary) Frank Wodin; Tall Pine (historian and publicity
agent) Henry Kunz; Hemlock (treasurer) Michael Reynolds; Walnut
(outside guard) W. H. Bartlett; Hickory (inside guard) William
Kruger; Spruce (guide) Joseph Perkowski; and, Willow (chaplain)
Archie L. Brown.
The purpose of the organization was to
promote goodwill, entertainment, recreation and the welfare of the
majority of young men working at the camp.
The society had six committees
including investigators (known as the Birches); membership (Ashes);
grievance (Cherry); board of inquiry (Poplars); athletic (Brush) and
refreshments (Tall Timber). The right and left supporters to the
Great Oak were known as Cedar and Chestnut.
Lodge meetings were held in a log cabin
constructed at the camp (no longer standing). Its entertainment
committee planned a dance inviting the local public to tour the camp.
The first "Sapling" to be initiated was Al Kuchl of
Hartford. Ritual included three degrees performed by a team of
officer members and regular meetings were held on Tuesday evenings.
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