With over 13 million unemployed during the Great Depression, the country's new president in 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt, as one of his programs to get people back to work, established the Civilian Conservation Corps. The CCC, as it became known for short, grew into one of FDR's most successful and popular programs. Underfed young men throughout the country enlisted in the CCC and were bused to camps in national and state forests, where they were employed making the forests accessible to visitors. In Rhode Island, seven camps were established, from Primrose/Woonsocket to the north, Escoheag/Beach Pond to the west, and Burlingame/Westerly to the south. Rhode Islanders should be grateful that Martin Podskoch, one of the nation's authorities on the CCC, has turned his talents to Rhode Island. In this remarkable and authoritative book, Podskoch rediscovers the wonderful stories of CCC efforts undertaken by Rhode Islanders and fills the book's pages with photographs that bring the period back to life. Some of the sites can be visited today. This book is a real treat for readers to enjoy.

In 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt created the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) as part of his New Deal legislation. The CCC provided unskilled manual labor jobs related to the conservation and development of natural resources on rural government lands. The CCC was designed for men and to relieve families who had difficulty finding jobs. Over 3 million young men would serve in the CCC nationwide.In Rhode Island, from Newport to Glocester, and from North Smithfield to Hope Valley, camps popped up to remake our own state's natural public places. Today, the efforts of those proud young men can be seen still in various stages of restoration and decay. This book provides a unique photographic glimpse at what remains of this important piece of little-known Rhode Island history.

After writing two best-selling travel books, Adirondack 102 Club and Connecticut 169 Club, CT author Martin Podskoch turned to his neighboring state and published RHODE ISLAND 39 CLUB Your Passport and Guide to Exploring Rhode Island. He again encourages readers to veer off the beaten path and discover Rhode Islands secret and lovely places that main roads do not reveal. With 39 invites to scenic vistas, picnic sites, fresh-water swimming holes, salt-water beaches, museums, amazing architecture, 400+ years of history, and local eateries of every description for fun in The Ocean States 39 towns and cities. The book is laid out in a crisp, inviting format. Locals in each town wrote a short history and interesting places to visit. Podskoch encourages readers to meet locals and businesses etc. and get their passport book signed or stamped. Visit all towns and earn Rhody Red patch award at annual dinner where all are invited to attend.

In the literature dealing with the Civilian Conservation Corps, South Carolina does not figure prominently in most histories of the Great Depression story. That neglect should be corrected! It is important to recognize the ways in which racism has permeated our society, sometimes blatant and sometimes subtle. While the focus is South Carolina, the particulars are representative of what happened in CCC camps across the nation. As one of the most popular facets of President Franklin D. Roosevelts New Deal, the activities and antics of the CCC boys deserve attention. My primary purpose in writing this book is to assist teachers and librarians and their upper level elementary and high school students in understanding this crucial but understudied era in South Carolinas history. These readers and a more general South Carolina audience could identify with a nearby place or make a family connection.

CCC veterans tell compelling stories of their experiences planting trees, fighting fires, building state parks, and reclaiming pastureland in this collective history of the CCC in Minnesota.