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THE GREAT DEPRESSION AND THE CCC - 1930s

Impoverished Vermont was knocked down even more as the effects of the Great Depression spread across the state. What few industries the state had -- marble, granite and machine tools -- began to falter.

Estimates were that about 50,000 Vermonters were unemployed in the spring of 1933 and that thousands more were living in substandard conditions.

Although apprehensive of federal aid, Vermont and Vermonters embraced many of the New Deal programs. One that changed Vermont to its core was the Civilian Conservation Corps, created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as a way to put unemployed youth to work in forests.

Vermont was allowed 750 openings under the original act, enough for four camps. But not many states or municipalities had projects ready for the workers. Vermont did. State Forest Commissioner Perry Merrill had a long list of projects that impressed federal officials desperate to put men to work as soon as possible.

Vermont was allotted 13 camps. By June 1934, Vermont had 18 CCC camps and 3,600 men. Eventually the CCC employed 11,243 Vermont men. A total of 40,868 worked in the state.

The men built state parks, highways, ski trails, and most importantly a series of flood control dams.