African-American CCC camp found in North Carolina
HAVELOCK - The forest has largely swallowed up Camp Patterson.
The camp was in what was once a small triangle of woods near the entrance to the MacDonald Downs development in Havelock. The camp was operated by the Civilian Conservation Corps as part of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal.
It was started in the Great Depression to provide educational, recreational and job-training opportunities for young men ages 17 to 23.
Company number 5420-C at Camp Patterson was one of two black companies serving in the Croatan National Forest.
The members included Bradie Cole, called "Most Polite," John Henry Monk, called "Best Truck Driver," and James Holley, called "Camp 'Cry Baby.'"
They had a woodwork shop, a library and a barbershop quartet.
According to Olen Cole, author of "The African-American Experience in the Civilian Conservation Corps," each man was paid $25 a month, $20 of which was sent home to their families.
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The camp was in what was once a small triangle of woods near the entrance to the MacDonald Downs development in Havelock. The camp was operated by the Civilian Conservation Corps as part of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal.
It was started in the Great Depression to provide educational, recreational and job-training opportunities for young men ages 17 to 23.
Company number 5420-C at Camp Patterson was one of two black companies serving in the Croatan National Forest.
The members included Bradie Cole, called "Most Polite," John Henry Monk, called "Best Truck Driver," and James Holley, called "Camp 'Cry Baby.'"
They had a woodwork shop, a library and a barbershop quartet.
According to Olen Cole, author of "The African-American Experience in the Civilian Conservation Corps," each man was paid $25 a month, $20 of which was sent home to their families.