Civilian Conservation Corps at Parvin

The main goal of the Civilian Conservation Corps was to provide economic relief to unemployed young men during the Great Depression. While its effectiveness as a work program was substantial, another aim of the CCC was to maintain, improve, and invest in the environment of the United States. That their work still provides benefits, both economic and recreational, nearly 100 years later is a testament to their work and planning.

A map of Southern New Jersey shows aerial photos of Civilian Conservation Corps camps.

Camp Norma #1225 - The Early Years

New Jersey was home to as many as 20 different CCC camps. Norma Camp at Parvin State Park was located in District 2 which stretched across southern New Jersey. An aerial image of Parvin's camp is show in the third picture down on the left. Camp Norma was established in October of 1933. Much of their work focused on maintaining and building structures throughout the park like bridges, campsites, and buildings.

Men carry wooden planks across a bridge.

CCC enrollees build a foot bridge at First Landing in 1934. This bridge served as an access point for the CCC as they worked on various areas and projects throughout the park.

Men use a wheelbarrow to transport rocks across a bridge

A group of men with shovels pose together

Digging a lagoon at Parvin Lake in the Winter of 1934-35.

A group of men pose with their shovels after working.

A group of men work using shovels and wheelbarrows to clear the Parvin Lake bed.

Men clear more muck and sticks from the lake bed

The main beach complex area first underwent maintenance work in the winter of 1934-35. CCC members removed muck and roots from the main beach area to create a more welcoming environment for swimmers.

Menu from Parvin State Park's CCC camp in March of 1934. Listed are foods enrollees could eat like, boiled eggs for breakfast, beef steaks and sweet potatoes for dinner, and sliced corned beef with bread for supper.

A menu for March 12, 1934 which features fried bacon and potatoes for breakfast, hamburgers and mashed turnips for dinner, and beef stew with steamed rice for supper.

Menu for March 13, 1934 features scrambled eggs for breakfast, baked beans and boiled potatoes for dinner, and steamed franks with sauerkraut for supper.

The menu for March 14, 1934 breakfast included fried potatoes and corn flakes, pork chops and mashed potatoes for dinner, baked spaghetti and lyonnaise potatoes for supper.

The nature of the work completed by CCC men meant they needed to be well fed. This is an example of a menu from March of 1934 of the offerings at Camp Norma.

A wooded area has been cleared by Civilian Conservation Corps members. Trees have been cut to short stumps.

While the Thundergust Lake project would not be completed for several more years, the initial clearing of the trees on the land began in 1935. Seen here are CCC teams clearing the area. This labor intensive project was one of the most ambitious works done by the CCC at Parvin.

Another image shows more trees which have been cut to stumps by CCC men.

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