Last week, we talked about the Rocky Knob Housekeeping Cabins that the CCC boys of Company 363 originally built for the Boy Scouts. This week and next, we will take a look at the young men who made up this camp.
Company 363 was the second CCC camp to be organized in Virginia, and was located in Mount Solon, in the heart of the George Washington National Forest. The work at this camp consisted of building roads, fire trails, bridges, constructing telephone lines, planting trees, and fighting forest fires.
On July 6, 1938, Company 363 was ready to move to its’ new site, Camp NP-14-VA, Camp Rocky Knob, Woolwine, Virginia. The entire convoy boarded the train at the railhead at Bridgewater, Virginia and headed for Woolwine. At 1:30 p.m. the next day, the train arrived at Stuart where trucks were waiting to take the men 19 miles northeast to their new camp.
The camp had just been erected and the Army had set up headquarters at an old farmhouse near the camp. Unfortunately, there were a lot of empty houses in this hollow because families had recently been bought out or forced out through eminent domain; the government was clearing the way for the Blue Ridge Parkway.
We are fortunate to know what life was like for these young men at the CCC camp because they published a monthly newsletter. The newsletter for 1939 was entitled the Rocky Hollow newsletter, in 1940, the name was changed to the Knob. These newsletters are available online through the Virginia Chronicle link on the Library of Virginia website. I also learned some great stories about Camp NP-14-VA from two local friends, Matt Hubbard and Allen DeHart.
Madison “Matt” Hubbard was 14 years old when the CCC camp came to Rock Castle and Allen DeHart was 13 years old. Mr. Hubbard told me that he loved going to the movies at the camp on Saturday night and Mr. DeHart earned money as a water boy for the camp. Mr. DeHart had a love for nature like no other, but that will be for another Patrick Pioneers story in the near future.
The following excerpts are from some of the newsletters to give one an idea of what life was like for the young men in the camp. “February 1940, Woolwine, VA. The Knob, our official camp paper, is published monthly by the Journalism Class and printed by the Mimeographing Class. We wish to acknowledge the services of the following members of the company who have made this issue possible. Harbinger-Company Clerk; Jordan-Asst. Clerk; Eakin-Sargeant; Hood-F. Clerk; and Kiblinger-Radio Oper. A cordial invitation is issued to all members who would like to have a part in the issuance of our next paper.”
February 1940, The Knob, “After an absence of two months, Mrs. Murphy our efficient Commercial Teacher returned to camp, and remarked that it was just like coming home. She has entered her old position with enthusiasm and quite an uproar has been created because all of her old students are clamoring to get back in her class. Mrs. Murphy announces that a class will be opened in bookkeeping and typing. Confidentially, your reporter has overheard that Mrs. Murphy at one time had the honor of being the best bookkeeper in Danville. Now I hear that she has won that distinction again in Charlottesville. Mrs. Murphy, we are proud to have you back. Just watch us prove it by our attendance.”
April 1940, The Knob, “The remodeling of the barracks was started in Barracks 4 some time ago. There has been a partition put in the building and the rear portion of the building has been set aside for the convenience of the company overhead. The enrollees have taken great pride in remodeling the building. The ceiling was painted white and trimmed in orange. The old dusty grey paint as was used a long time ago is gone and instead, there is a fine new cozy color. It is a fine barracks now.”
May 1940, The Knob, “Chaplain’s Chat, by Chaplain Leighton E. Harrell. Since most of us are away from home, we should remember that we honor Mother by being true to the ideals of kindness, goodness, clean speaking, and living she taught and to the God whom she serves. Remember the people around us are judging our Mothers by the lives we live and the way we act. Write to your Mothers today!”
Next week, we will look at some more news from CCC Company 363, NP-14-VA, Camp Rocky Knob, Woolwine, Virginia. I would like to thank Larry Hopkins for sending me a photo of a matchbook from the camp. Woody may be reached at rockcastlecreek1@gmail.com or (276) 692-9626.
