Take a historical hike at Barkhamstead’s Peoples State Forest
At the Peoples State Forest, young men built up the roads, trails and campgrounds, as well as fought fires. They also built a nature museum.
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It’s been 90 years since President Frank Delano Roosevelt established the Civilian Conservation Corps, where thousands of young men helped manage forests and develop parks.
In this week’s “Road Trip: Close to Home.” News 12 photojournalist Lori Golias teamed up with author Marty Podskoch to explore the work of the CCCs in Barkhamstead.
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The Peoples State Forest was incorporated in 1924 and covers about 3,000 acres.
At the Peoples State Forest, young men built up the roads, trails and campgrounds, as well as fought fires. They also built a nature museum.
MORE: The Barkhamstead Historical Society
The CCC was noted as a big help in getting the country out of the Great Depression, according to Podskoch.
“It was a tremendous program that was put in to get the young men and young families an opportunity to help a lifestyle again when work was scarce,” he says.
The conservation work continues to this day — the wetlands boardwalk was recently installed by members of the Friends of American Legion and Peoples State Forest. It took about nine months to complete.
