“If you have a yen to go to California, land of sunshine and flowers, take a look at these two pix of Co. 740, Litchfield, Calif., camp, and see that snow thrives there as well. Not a light snow that disappears beneath the sun’s first rays, but a heavy snow that lasts and has to be piled, shoveled and plowed. Men from Missouri were shown all this snow and now they are sorry that they were skeptical.—Charles Bennett reporting. Happy Days, January 23, 1937”  The reference to Company 740 was the CCC camp at Secret Valley, not known for heavy snowfall.

Personally, I liked Bennett’s commentary. When I traveled to Minnesota to research the T.B. Walker papers, I also spent time visiting with my Dad’s numerous cousins. Of course, many of them, had this preconceived notion that since I am from California, in their mind it is all palm trees and sunny beaches and that it does not snow in California. With some cousins I stated I was from Susanville, Nevada not far from Reno, which then I endured a deluge of questions about gambling.

Another trait they shared, was they were clueless how large California is. One cousin mentioned that on some Sunday afternoon I should stop by and meet a cousin who resides in Ventura. I just politely nodded my head and was not going to attempt to explain how far that was from Susanville. This was after I made an excursion to Wilmar, Minnesota, about 45 miles distant from where I was staying, and some thought that was a major trip. I had tried to explain where I live 45 miles does not get you anywhere.

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This post does seem out of character or should be out of the territory I write about. Readers may recall about the weekly posts about the Secret Valley CCC camp earlier this year. Those post originated when I received Company Clerk C.H. Bennett’s photograph albums during his tenure there. CCC enrollees did not entirely endure all work and no play. From time to time they were transported to other destinations  for a break. The Secret Valley Camp enjoyed a trip to San Francisco for the 4th of July 1936.

Hence are these views of the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge that Bennett took on that 1936 trip. In my on going learning experience I had no idea that the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge were constructed at the same time.

Tim.

It is Thanksgiving and throughout the year I am so grateful for many things, some big and some small, but it all matters just the same. For the past several months, we have examined the activities of the Secret Valley Civilian Conservation Corp Camp through the photographs of Charles H. Bennett, the Company Clerk. First and foremost I am thankful that he took the time to photograph the activities, but equally important that he carefully labeled and placed them in albums.

Bennett was born in Louisville, Kentucky, but at a young age the family moved to southeastern Missouri. There he graduated from Benton High School in 1934. Shortly thereafter, he joined the CCC and became Company Clerk for the 740th Company at Piedmont, Missouri. One of their major projects was the construction of buildings at Sam A. Baker State Park. In 1936 Company 740 was relocated to Secret Valley, Lassen County, California.  He remained at Secret Valley until 1938 eventually returning to Missouri. He graduated from the University of Missouri, Columbia in 1942, then served in the U.S. Army until discharged in 1952. His next journey was with the Christian Board of Publications in St. Louis and after 32 years retired in 1979. Bennett passed away in 1984. His wife, Lucille, kept her husband’s possessions, and when she passed away in 2001, her daughter, Kathy Seitrich did the same. Fast forward to the spring of 2023, and I received an email from Kathy about her father’s CCC photographs. Within a short time of my communication with Kathy, the photograph albums arrived. I was so elated and told her so. She was happy, too, that they found a good home. For a short while I was amiss in my emails to Kathy, as I was busy scanning the photographs and writing the stories.  When I finally sent her an update, there was no response for the longest time. This was unusual as she was always prompt in responding. In early July, I received an email from her daughter, who relayed that her mother was diagnosed with cancer in late May/early June and that Kathy passed away on July 1. It was heart breaking news for me, as she never saw the posts about Secret Valley. Even though it was a sad ending, I am so thankful to the Bennett family in preserving history of our little corner of the world..

Tim

Company Clerk, C.H. Bennett of the Secret Valley CCC Camp captured this special service at the McKissick Cemetery in Secret Valley. While there is a photographic record of. the event, the details of what took place is not known.

They assembled at the grave of John Daniel McKissick, a World War I veteran who was buried there on March 17, 1936. McKissick was born on January 13, 1891 in Secret Valley, the eldest child of John Best* and Jennie Swain McKissick. The following is an excerpt from his obituary: “He was drafted in the infantry at the first call and his brother Wilbur Best McKissick enlisted in heavy artillery soon after he heard Johnny had been called. John was found on the battlefield of Argonne (France) by a first-aid nurse, lying among the dead, with a dead comrade laying across him, breathing but still bleeding from a shot over the heart and through the chest by an explosive shell or shrapnel which tore a large jagged hole through his left shoulder blade.

”Aid was summoned and he was carried on a stretcher. to a hospital tent, where he remained until he was able to be removed across the Channel to a hospital in England, where he lay for six weeks.”

John Daniel McKissick never fully recovered from his injuries. He would spend time on and off in hospitals and  when he passed away he had been in the Veteran’s Hospital, Salt Lake City. for a long time

Tim

*John Best “Buster” McKissick has the distinction of being  the World’s First Champion Cowboy.

Time flies, and it has been four months of weekly Secret Valley CCC camp tales. I hope everyone has enjoyed. There are a few scheduled in November since they are related to Veteran’s and Thanksgiving Days.

Fast, forward. The author of the balladeer above ditty is not known. However, we do know this. It was written by a CCC enrollee who was in Co. 1246, the first occupant of Camp Secret Valley, but his name no one could recall. The composer while in the rec. hall would play his guitar and. sing the melody and the entire company would sing the refrain—usually loud enough to scare away all of the rattlesnakes and coyotes.

Tim

CCC Camp 740 started with an original crew of 178 men that came from Piedmont, Missouri, and then briefly to Spalding, Nebraska with its final destination of Secret Valley, California. Bennett’s caption of the above photograph, that after seventeen months, this was who remained. Enrollees had the option at every six months to either enlist for another six months or depart. Over the course of time, many departed.

By 1938 the Secret Valley camp days were numbered. Its mission had been completed with the work needed to be done. I have not been able to locate an exact date of closure, but I do not come across any references of its existence by 1939.

Tim

One of the challenges with CCC camps of 1930s, and especially remote ones like Secret Valley was the simple fact that the men needed diversion outlets. Customary, many camps, the enrollees were busy with their assigned duties five days a week. Saturday mornings was for cleaning. Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday were time off for the enrollees. From time to time, the enrollees  were transported to Susanville to attend high school basketball games, dances and even the county fair. On some occasions a group from Susanville would make the trip to Secret Valley to hold a dance, etc.

Some of the men were creative on how to pass the time. It was interesting to come across this gem of a photograph where the men built a tennis court! Some of the men on Sunday’s went hiking and explore the surrounding territory. This, of course, led to the discovery of petroglyphs. There was also a large recreational hall at the camp, and more about that in the “Ode to Secret Valley.”

Tim

In November 1935, Anthony Salvato, Division of Grazing Clerk provided a report to the Lassen Mail about some of the activities at Secret Valley. “The entrance has been completed into camp. Two bridges were built on this project, one a 53 foot span and the other a 30 foot span. One cattle guard was also completed so as to eliminate endangering any cattle which might be grazing in that particular area. The construction of this road was under the supervision of Mr. E.C. Erickson who is attached to the Supervisory personnel of this camp.

“A new archway has just been put up in front of the camp. Written in black and white across the top are the letters forming ‘Secret Valley.’ I don’t think the people of Susanville ought to have any fear of missing the camp now and I know that anyone who is desirous of paying us a visit will be cordially welcomed by the whole camp.

“To the people of Susanville we extend an cordial welcome in return for the whole hearted cooperation that they have given us in making our stay here in the vicinity of Susanville, one which has been enjoyed by the members of Camp DG-13, the Supervisory Personnel of the Division of Grazing and the Army Officers here in Camp.”

Happy News which was the CCC newspaper had this to report: “The ‘show me’ boys of Missouri who go to make up the fine personnel of Co. 740, Camp Secret Valley, Litchfield, Calif., are now falling love with the sagebrush covered plains of the West.

”The official insignia of the company is the old kicking mule. It appears on the entrance gateway, shoulder patches and road signs, also unofficially on the hats and shirts of the enrollees.

”The ghostly, mysterious glamour of the place adds to the zest with which Co. 740 peavies go about their work. They ask no greater favor than this: that they be allowed to remain, so long as there is a CCC in Secret Valley!”

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