Civilian Conservation Corps
Title
Civilian Conservation Corps
Date
1935-1938
Description
The CCC was started by President Franklin Roosevelt during the Great Depression.
In September 1935, the CCC camp designated as Army 3VA- 2399 C (for “coloreds”) was officially established at Fort Belvoir. At the camp, the African American CCC men worked on reforestation, erosion control, and constructing fire trails. Their work day would start at 6 am with calisthenics breakfast, and cleaning barracks. They would be transported to the project and begin work at 7:15 AM. With a half hour for lunch, their work continued until 4 pm, five days a week
Back at camp, the men would clean up and dress in their uniforms for dinner. At 5:00 PM, there would be flag lowering, announcements and inspections, followed by dinner at 6:00 PM. After dinner, the camps offered educational courses and vocational training such as carpentry, first aid, metal working, photography, and plumbing. One goal was to eliminate illiteracy in all the CCC men. Young men were paid $30 a month, of which $25 was sent home to their families.
On 1 September 1934, The Post reported that Senator Bristow of Annandale had “suggested a CCC camp in that section of Fairfax County [Franconia District, along Accotink Creek] for building roads through the dense woods as an aid in forest fire fighting.” A fire trail that the Fort Belvoir CCC men completed started at Old Keene Mill Road (near present-day Irving Middle School) and crossed Accotink Creek through what today is Lake Accotink Park. This fire trail enabled fire equipment to cross through a heavily forested area and also provided a short cut for the residents.
It was reported in The Washington Post on 9 November 1937 how this CCC camp fought a 200-acre forest fire and helped save several homes near Fort Belvoir: The young men dashed to the scene in a half dozen trucks, carrying tools and wet burlap bags to help smother the fire.
In September 1935, the CCC camp designated as Army 3VA- 2399 C (for “coloreds”) was officially established at Fort Belvoir. At the camp, the African American CCC men worked on reforestation, erosion control, and constructing fire trails. Their work day would start at 6 am with calisthenics breakfast, and cleaning barracks. They would be transported to the project and begin work at 7:15 AM. With a half hour for lunch, their work continued until 4 pm, five days a week
Back at camp, the men would clean up and dress in their uniforms for dinner. At 5:00 PM, there would be flag lowering, announcements and inspections, followed by dinner at 6:00 PM. After dinner, the camps offered educational courses and vocational training such as carpentry, first aid, metal working, photography, and plumbing. One goal was to eliminate illiteracy in all the CCC men. Young men were paid $30 a month, of which $25 was sent home to their families.
On 1 September 1934, The Post reported that Senator Bristow of Annandale had “suggested a CCC camp in that section of Fairfax County [Franconia District, along Accotink Creek] for building roads through the dense woods as an aid in forest fire fighting.” A fire trail that the Fort Belvoir CCC men completed started at Old Keene Mill Road (near present-day Irving Middle School) and crossed Accotink Creek through what today is Lake Accotink Park. This fire trail enabled fire equipment to cross through a heavily forested area and also provided a short cut for the residents.
It was reported in The Washington Post on 9 November 1937 how this CCC camp fought a 200-acre forest fire and helped save several homes near Fort Belvoir: The young men dashed to the scene in a half dozen trucks, carrying tools and wet burlap bags to help smother the fire.
Source
National Archives Records Civilian Conservation Corps Records Group 75
The Tree Army: A Pictorial History of the Civilian Conservation Corps, 1933-1942 by Stan Cohen
General Highway and Transportation Map Fairfax County 1939 produced by Works Progress Administration
District
Mount Vernon
Location
Fort Belvoir (Camp Humphries) and the Outlying Reservation (today’s Lake Accotink Park)
Additional Notes
Typically, CCC men would move to another project. after completing a project. The CCC Army 3VA- 2399 C remained at Fort Belvoir for almost three years. The last camp inspection was completed in 1938.
Collection
Citation
“Civilian Conservation Corps,” Fairfax County African American History Inventory, accessed October 24, 2026, https://fairfaxaahi.centerformasonslegacies.com/items/show/94.