The idea of a national forest in Southern Illinois had no doubt been thought of and discussed haphazardly by state, county and municipal officials and public-spirited citizens of the region for many years before a movement to establish such an area actually came form.
Those who could remember the days before the entire state had been penetrated by hard-surfaced roads, and large areas had been cleared, probably looked forward to a time when a part of the territory would again revert to its original, forested status. Younger people had looked with envy upon states having national forests, and realized their advantages, as is demonstrated by the fact that Illinois citizens, and particularly those in the northern half of the state, were largely instrumental in opening and popularizing northern Wisconsin and Michigan woods-and-lake areas as a summer playground for the Middle West.
Some individuals were interested in the establishment of a national forest from a commercial, and possibly selfish, point of view, in that they visualized its value in terms of a future supply of timber. This supply, which was been used so much more rapidly than it could be or was grown, was virtually gone, and an eventual and actual timber famine could not be thought impossible. Then too, there were such men as the War Department engineers, who felt that the rapidly eroding areas, which were creating a large sub-marginal territory, should be re-forested.
About 1930, people in Illinois suddenly began to realize that the area in the southern part of the state, known as Little Egypt or the Illinois Ozarks, was topographically and otherwise suited to reforestation purposes, and began writing the Forest Service asking it to consider the establishment of a forest in this territory. Thus the stage was set for promotion of the idea, and promotion of the idea, and promotion actually began at the first meeting of the Central States Forestry Congress held in Indianapolis, Indiana, in December 1930.
At that meeting, Mr. E. W. Tinker, Regional Forester in charge of Region 9, mentioned to Mr. L. E. Sawyer, Extension Forester of Illinois, that he had received several inquiries concerning the establishment of a forest in Illinois, and inquired whether, in Mr. Sawyer's opinion, there was sufficient acreage available for a national forest. Mr. Sawyer assured him that there was, and Mr. Tinker then consented to send a man to make a preliminary examination of the areas.
When Mr. Sawyer returned from Indianapolis, he came to Harrisburg and interviewed Mr. J. E. Whitchurch, Saline County Farm Advisor, and Walter W. Wheatley, President of the Harrisburg Kiwanis Club. In the company of these two men, he made a brief tour of the proposed forest unit south of Harrisburg, and contacted several land owners and business men within this unit in an effort to determine the prevailing attitude of local residents towards the establishment of a forest.
Newspaper comment at that time stated that if units were established, all-weather roads would be constructed, telephone lines would be built, and a fire protection system, consisting of fire breaks, fire lookout towers, and fire fighting equipment would be instituted. The expected influx of recreational visitors, when recreational features of the region were developed, and the resulting indirect revenue for local citizens, was mentioned.
The subject of a national forest for Southern Illinois finally crystallized with the submission of "A Preliminary Report on Illini National Forest Purchase Unite in Jackson, Union, and Alexander Counties, Illinois, including about 304,840 acres, and Shawnee National Forest Purchase Unit in Gallatin, Hardin, Pope and Saline Counties, Illinois, including about 291,392 acres."
This report was complied by Mr. William L. Barker, Jr., of the United States Forest Service, who had spent a week in February, 1931, examining the prospective forest areas. He was accompanied in some of his investigations by Messrs. R. S. Smith, and E. A. Norton, of the Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Illinois. Mr. L. E. Sawyer, Extension Forester, accompanied Mr. Barker on all of his examinations.
Mr. Barker's report stated that purchase of these units would be permitted by the Weeks Law, Act of March 1, 1911, and Sect. 6 of the Clark-McNary Law, Act of June 7, 1924, and that an enabling act would be introduced in the current session of the State legislature, probably by M. Z. Black of Champaign, Illinois, and that opposition from any source did not appear probably. He stated that Director of Conservation, R. B. Bradford, and the Assistant Director, E. E . Duvall, had voiced their approval of the plan.
Mr. Barker's report stated that the units have three very definite purposes, as follows:
In connection with prevention of erosion Mr. Barker's report pointed out that the Illini Unit was bounded by the Mississippi River for about seven miles at the southwest corner, that the Shawnee was bounded on the east and south by the Ohio River for about 25 miles, and that the erosion problem was very serious and affected farm lands by washing away the productive top-soil, making the land too rough to cultivate, and by washing non-productive sub-soil on to the productive farm soil adjoining the unit, thus decreasing its productivity.
It also stated that much of this washed soil went into the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, and contributed largely to the filling and consequent flooding of these streams. As a result of this erosion problem many large and expensive drainage ditches had been built through the bottom land, many of which had been abandoned on account of the cost of keeping them open as compared with the value of the crop which they made possible. Others were being abandoned and were only partly effective. The drainage ditch assessment had constituted a heavy burden on the farmers and had contributed to increasing tax delinquency.
With reference to timber production the report noted that the soil had a high capacity for producing wood crops, and that this was the only crop that could be produced continuously at a profit.
The need for demonstration of correct forestry practice in methods of timber culture, prevention of erosion, management of wood lots, and proper correlation of timber and agricultural crop management for the benefit of the state, private corporations and individuals, was set out.
In discussing the location and accessibility of the proposed area, mention was made of the paved highways and railroads which were in proximity to, and in some cases intersected, parts of the unit. This is was in contrast to the situation in many northern and western forests where large areas of the national forest land are uninhabited, and have few, if any paved highways, railroads, or even low standard dirt roads.
At the same time the report noted the necessity of additional roads for complete fire protection and also the importance of relocating and graveling many of the existing dirt roads, thus forecasting the extensive road construction program which was later to constitute the major project on the Shawnee during the first two or three years of its existence.
The surface of the proposed area was described as being irregular, bearing from absolute bottom land to rolling benches and rough, sometimes rocky, precipitous hills. The scarcity of water was noted, there being less than 900 acres of water in the almost 600,000 acres covered in the proposed area.
The soils of the proposed area were divided into four classes, including upland, stony slopes, bottom land, and farm soil, upland predominating. It was noted that the possibility of farming, except on 12 percent of the total area, was negligible, and that the area that was suitable for farming was found chiefly in the uplands in irregular and more or less inaccessible patches were crop production and marketing roads would be expensive, if not entirely prohibitive.
The general history of the unit showed that the region had been farmed for 100 years, and that much of the soil was worn out and beyond reclamation as farm soil. Many farms had been abandoned on account of worn-out soil and erosion, and a large percentage of these were on soil which should not have been cleared of timber at all. The entire area had been logged from one to ten times, and nearly all of the original timber had been removed and replaced by second growth where the land was not completely cleared for farming. Many abandoned farms were at that time being reforested naturally.
Small coal mines, developed by farmers within the unit, and existence of large shaft or strip mines in the territory adjacent to the unit, indicated the presence of small deposits throughout the area.
The report gave considerable information on the stand and cover types to be found in area. It was noted that small scale lumbering had been going on for some time and was especially wide spread in the year of the report, due to the need for farmers to realize cash from all possible sources. Two products included a very few saw logs, much mining material such as props, ties, lagging and considerable fruit basket veneer logs, and posts. Farming included corn, grains, and hay and peach, apple, and pear orchards.
The report showed that the wild game in the area had been severely depleted, but that suitable areas for quail, pheasants, prairie chickens, wild turkeys, ducks and geese on the river, and deer and bear in the hills, existed and that there was also a possibility of part of the region being adapted to the production of fur-bearing animals.
The report stated that the general sentiment of the local people in regard to establishment of a national forest appear at that time to be indifferent, since most of them had not considered the question. The few State Department men, University of Illinois timber and soil specialists, state and federal legislators, and private foresters who had given the problem any thought were in favor of such a national forest.
The report concludes with technical information on assessed valuations, tax reversion, tax delinquency, etc., and with the recommendation that if the State passed a satisfactory enabling act, the units be established.
Mr. Barker's report went to the Forester at Washington in March 1931. After analyzing the report and existing economic conditions, the Forester disapproved the recommendation. He stated that there were no funds available for the purchase of any lands within the state, and that it was not the policy to establish forests on areas such as we have in the southern part of Illinois. Thus far, forests were operating chiefly in mountainous parts of the eastern and western sections of the United States, and in the denuded areas of the north.
Shortly after Mr. Barker's survey, the Harrisburg Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs conceived the idea of having an organization set up whose principal objective would be to make an organized effort to get the forest established. This organization was named the Illinois Ozarks Reforestation Unit. It was perfected and officers were elected at a meeting held during the early part of 1931, at Golconda, Illinois. This organization under the guidance of L. O. Trigg, has since made an annual tour of the Illinois Ozarks.
The Department of Conservation with the assistance of the Department of Natural History Surveys, put through the State Legislature on June 18, 1931, the Enabling Act which, in effect, invited the United States Government to acquire land within the state for forestry purposes. In the same month, various counties petitioned the National Forest Reservation Commission and the Senators and Representatives representing Illinois, for a forest. In this petition, the importance of conserving the natural resources was stressed. It was pointed out that the fields within the Illinois Ozarks were slowly deteriorating and becoming quite heavily eroded. Because of the usual practice of burning annually, few of the forested areas were producing merchantable timber, and further, there were several recreational sites which were inaccessible and would prove to be beneficial to the public if made accessible and forested.
The task before the Illinois Ozarks Reforestation Unit in 1931, was that of justifying and securing support for the proposed forest. Congressman Claude V. Parsons of Illinois repeated presented arguments to the Forester and his staff in favor of the forest. In 1932, Congressman Parsons went before the National Forest reservation Commission stressing the importance of having a forest in Southern Illinois. While he was in Washington making exhaustive efforts to bring about the establishment of the forest, local interests were consistently working in behalf of the project in the locality concerned, and had secured a large number of petitions and also had written a great number of letters to the U. S. Forest Service, the National Forest Preservation Commission, and to Congressmen and Senators. These letters presented logical reasons why the forest should be established, and stressed the importance of early action. It was brought to the attention of the forester in Washington that a forest existed in Kentucky which was in a locality similar to the proposed forest area in Illinois, and that by creating a national forest here, the watershed protection of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers would be materially increased.
A newspaper article in the March 23, 1933, issue of the Daily Register, published in Harrisburg, Illinois, stated that a meeting had been called at the Masonic Temple for March 24, at which Messrs. H. N. Wheeler, Chief Lecturer of the U.S. Forest Service, Washington, D. C., Lewis B. Springer, Superintendent of Forestry, Department of Conservation, State of Illinois, and Stanley Lock, Assistant Forester, State of Illinois, would appear. It stated that a petition two feet high requesting the establishment of national forest purchase units in Southern Illinois, had been forwarded to the National Forest Reservation Commission in Washington. It stated that if units were established a camp would probably be set up within the units.
Apparently at that time there were no indications that the CCC program would reach a point where not one, but eleven camps would be established within the proposed area. The public was invited to attend this meeting and special invitation was extended to rural school teachers and other semi-public officials. The meeting was to follow a meeting of the Kiwanis Club at the Masonic Temple, at which Dr. Wheeler and the other officials mentioned above were to appear.
The March 25, 1933, issue of the Daily Register carried a report of the meeting on March 24, stating that representatives were present from Stonefort, Golconda, Elizabethtown, Equality, Eldorado, Marion, Ridgway, Carrier Mills and Harrisburg, Illinois. Dr. Wheeler had given a talk on the possibilities and purposes of a national forest area in Southern Illinois, and had pointed out that 7,000,000 acres of land what was then being used for farming or for ordinary pasture could better be utilized for the production of timber. The work in erosion prevention and fire prevention that might be expected from the Forest Service should a National Forest purchase unit be established, was also stressed.
The May, 1933 issue of the Daily Register showed that a provision had been incorporated into the proposed national reforestation plan for the purchase of 212,000 acres of land in Southern Illinois for the purpose of converting it into a National Forest. The issue of May 22, 1933, carried a story to the effect that the creation of two National Forests, with a total area of 600,000 acres in ten southern Illinois counties, had been urged as a public works project by the Governor of Illinois in a wire to the President. It was proposed that the two forests would be named Shawnee and Illini, and it stated that recommendation for this had been before the Chief Forester since March 6, 1931, and that since then various local groups had been working in support of the project.
The same newspaper carried a dispatch on July 1, 1933, stating that a letter had been received advising that the proposed Shawnee and Illini units could not be established since the related act provided that funds could only be expended in areas hitherto established by the Secretary of Agriculture with the approval of the National Forest Reservation Commission and, since neither the Shawnee or Illini had thus been established, there appeared no possibility that they could be included; however, the same letter bore a postscript stating that after the letter had been written, notice had been received that the President had modified his order, permitting purchases in new areas.
Thus, the prospect for establishment of the Southern Illinois units appeared brighter, and on July 15, 1933, a news article appeared under the headline, "Will Consider Shawnee Unit" that the Forester had stated that the Shawnee and Illini units would be considered at an early meeting of the National Forest Reservation Commission, and that the Regional Forester at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, had been asked to submit additional data in support of the proposed national forest. The same newspaper carried a headline on August 30, 1933, "Approve Shawnee Unit for Forest" and the article following stated that it would mean purchase of 300,000 acres of land in Saline and other counties.
The article prophesied that if the units were established, the establishment of several all-weather camps to be occupied by CCC personnel, the building of all-weather roads and observation towers, and the establishment of fish and game preserves and tree nurseries would follow. It also announced that a four-county reforestation association headed by Judge B. F. Anderson of Golconda as President, had been instrumental in securing these units, and that the following organizations had cooperated: University of Illinois, Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Agricultural Association, State Academy of Science, the Friend of our National Landscape Association of Illinois, State Federation of Women's Clubs, State Planning Commission, States Forestry Congress, Illinois Izaak Walton League, as well as the State administration and various other organizations and private citizens.
The issue of September 30, 1933, mentioned that a meeting of the directors of the Shawnee Reforestation Unit had been attended by Messrs. William L. Barker, Jr. and L. E. Sawyer. The issue of September 23, 1933, stated that Mr. Barker had tentatively chosen the site for nine proposed camps, and that it was expected the unit supervisor would be in Harrisburg some time that week.
The official establishment of the Shawnee Purchase Units as such (and comprising the Shawnee and Illini Units), may be said to have occurred on October 1, 1933, when John O. Wernham arrived to begin the acquisition of land. The same issue of the Daily Register that reported the arrival of Mr. Wernham, stated that the Regional Forester at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, would order five lookout towers and eleven pick-up trucks, so that it appeared the work of establishing the unit was actually under way.
On October 7, 1933, Donald R. Ball arrived to resume charge of the unit as Forest Supervisor. In the meantime, Eugene V. Phelps had also arrived to assist in land acquisition, and the October 7, 1933 issue of the Daily Register stated that a series of meetings would be held to be attended by Landowners, farm advisors, etc., and would be addressed by representatives of the Forest Service. This was the initial action taken to acquaint local landowners with the proposed establishment of the purchase units which would be accomplished by optioning and purchasing a large number of acres of land.
The same issue also stated that the temporary quarters of the Forest Service had been established on the third floor of the First Trust and Savings Bank Building in Harrisburg, and that local citizens and officials were making an effort to secure permanent location of the office in Harrisburg.
An article in the October 10, 1933 issue urged that options be hastened if owners were desirous of having their land purchased by the Government for the inclusion in the proposed national forest. In October 17, 1933, it was noted that ten people had been added to the personnel of the local Forest Service office, and on October 14, 1933 two crews of land examiners were organized, nine members of which would operate in the Illini Unit under the supervision of John O. Wernham, and eight in the Shawnee Unit under the supervision of Eugene V. Phelps.
The November 3, 1933 issue of the Daily Register mentioned that the contract had been let for construction of Herod Camp near Herod, Illinois. This camp was originally occupied as a state-supervised project, but was later turned into a national forest drought relief camp. On December 23, 1933, the Daily Register stated that Kedron Camp would be occupied December 28, 1933, and that Eddyville was already occupied, and the Hicks Camp was under construction.
Thus, by the end of 1932 (this probably is an original typo and should be 1933 ) the project of a national forest for Southern Illinois was definitely under way, and by June 2, 1934, the Daily Register was able to carry an article citing the accomplishments of the units which included establishment of six camps, surfacing of 68 miles of road by CWA, and 60 miles by CCC, construction of 7.6 miles of telephone line, experimental planting of 62 acres of pine, and construction of three bridges.
Coincident with the establishment of the Shawnee Purchase Units mine labor union "war" broke out in Saline and surrounding counties. The town of Harrisburg figured largely in the events since it was an important mining town. The personnel first arriving to the forest thus found themselves in a town tense with labor troubles, and occupied by the National Guard
Name
The area in Southern Illinois designated for national forest purposes was originally known as the Illinois Purchase Units, comprised of the Shawnee and Illini Units. In August 1933 the designation Shawnee Purchase Units was adopted. At the time of this writing (June 1938) it is expected that within a short time the area will be officially proclaimed as the Shawnee National Forest.
In November 1938, an attempt was made by the supervisor to have the designation changed to Lincoln Purchase Units, with the idea that the region would ultimately be known as the Lincoln National Forest.
Quarters
When the Shawnee Purchase Units were first established temporary headquarters were set up in Room 303, First Trust and Savings Bank Building, Harrisburg, Illinois. This was the only modern office building in the town of Harrisburg suitable for headquarters, and the forest has continued to occupy this building as Supervisor's offices.
Expansion of the offices has continued since 1933, until today (June, 1938), ten rooms on the third floor, and four rooms on the fourth floor, are leased by the Forest Service. Employees who were here during the early days of the forest tell of the chaos and confusion caused by the small space under lease, the incoming shipments of equipment and supplies, and the constant inflow of new personnel.
During the early days many "temp(?)-made" tables were in use by clerks since the pressure of the emergency program made furniture-buying a secondary project.
The Forest was established when the CCC program was in its greatest stage of expansion, and the NIRA and CWA programs were being instituted. The Shawnee had a considerable CWA program to administer, and two Rangers from the West - Favre L. Eaton and Eugene R. Lepley - were detailed to the forest as CWA Rangers in charge of the program. Project records and payrolls for CWA projects were prepared in the Supervisor's office in Harrisburg, and in this connection the story is told of a near-demonstration in the hallways on the third floor of the First Trust Building, opposite the Supervisor's offices, when a group of workmen who had been employed on a CWA project and had failed to receive their checks as expected, came to demand them in force and required some fast diplomacy on the part of the personnel in charge.
At the outset the Shawnee Ranger District headquarters were established in a room adjacent to the Supervisor's office, but during the summer of 1934, they were removed to a room on the second floor of the Cummins Building, at the corner of Church and Main Streets, in Harrisburg, Illinois.
Later, when the district was divided, the headquarters of the Stonefort District remained in Harrisburg, and offices for the Rosiclare District were established in the Miles Building, Rosiclare, Illinois, where they have since been maintained except for a short period during which the headquarters were reestablished in the Cummins Building in Harrisburg.
The Delta District, or Illini as it was originally known, first had quarters in the basement of the First National Bank Building in Jonesboro, Illinois. Later, the Igerly Building, a one-story brick structure previously used as a doctor's office, was leased, and the office continued to occupy these quarters until it was removed to the Jonesboro Ranger Station office completed late in 1936.
The Big Muddy Ranger District originally established headquarters in March, 1935, on the second floor of the Joplin Building in Murphysboro, Illinois, removing from there to the Murphysboro Ranger Station when it was completed in 1937. Ranger Lucas and Assistant Ranger James are the first two forest officers to occupy Government-owned Ranger Station dwellings on the Shawnee.
The Stonefort Ranger District removed its offices to Vienna, Illinois in 1936, and are located in the Pickine Building in that city. It is expected that this office will continue to occupy these quarters until the Vienna Ranger Station office building is completed during fiscal year 1939.
The personnel of the Shawnee Purchase Units has fluctuated during the four and one-half years it has been in existence, influenced by the varying emergency programs that have been effective during these years.
The original personnel consisting of the Forest Supervisor, two Acquisition Chiefs of Party, Executive Assistant, stenographer, and 17 field assistants, was rapidly expanded as CCC camps were occupied and land acquisition work progressed, until in February, 1935, 234 people were payrolled by the Supervisor's office.
This was increased by 78 names the following July, when the first Emergency Relief Act (ERA) program began. Due to loss of camps and leveling off of emergency programs the number payrolled declined to 92 in May 1938.
During its existence, the administrative personnel of the Shawnee has been changed frequently. The first Forest Supervisor was Donald R. Ball, who had been a Forest Ranger on the Chequamegon National Forest. In June, 1934, Mr. Ball was transferred to the Chequamegon, and was succeeded on the Shawnee by Clarence E. Knutson, who had been a principal Forest Ranger on the Nicolet National Forest. Mr. Knutson was transferred to the Chippewa National Forest in September 1935, and was succeeded by Gerald S. Horton, who had been Assistant Forest Supervisor on the Hoosier Purchase Units.
In February, 1937, Mr. Horton was transferred to the Regional Office in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and was succeeded by Galen W. Pike, who had been Forest Supervisor on the Gardner Purchase Unit at Springfield, Missouri.
During the first two years of its existence, the Shawnee did not have an Assistant Forest Supervisor, but due to the increasing administrative work-load this position was authorized on June 1, 1935, and Favre L. Eaton, who had been Forest Ranger in charge of the Shawnee Ranger District, became the first man to hold this position on the Shawnee.
In October, 1936, Mr. Eaton was transferred to the Flathead National Forest at Kalispell, Montana, and was succeeded by A. L. Richey, who had been Assistant Forest Supervisor on the Manistee Purchase Unit.
James B. Ruckman was the first Executive Assistant on the Shawnee, arriving here from the Huron National Forest at East Tawas, Michigan, where he had served in a similar capacity. Mr. Ruckman supervised the setting-up of the Shawnee office and records.
In April, 1936, he requested a transfer to a northern forest for reasons of health, and was sent to the Chippewa National Forest at Cass Lake, Minnesota, and E. L. Bersley, who had been Executive Assistant on the Chippewa, was transferred to the Shawnee.
In December, 1937, Mr. Bersley was transferred to the Clark Purchase Unit at St. Louis, Missouri, and was succeeded by L. V. Huljeson, Assistant Clerk, who had been transferred to the Shawnee in September, 1934, from the Superior National Forest.
At the outset the Shawnee Purchase Units consisted of but two units or Ranger Districts, known respectively as the Shawnee and the Illini. The first Forest Ranger in charge of the Shawnee was Mr. Eugene V. Phelps who had arrived on the forest in October, 1933, as Acquisition Chief-of-Party. Mr. Phelps was succeeded in August, 1934, by Favre L. Eaton who was transferred from the Sleepy Cat Ranger District, White River National Forest, Colorado. Mr. Eaton had previously, during the winter of 1933-34, been detailed to the Illinois to supervise CWA activities on one of the units.
In February, 1935, Mr. Eaton was detailed to the Forest Supervisor's office in preparation for his ultimate appointment as Assistant Forest Supervisor, and at that time the Shawnee was split into the Stonefort and Rosiclare Ranger Districts.
John O. Wernham, who had been District Forest Ranger on the Illini, became Forest Ranger in charge of the Stonefort District and Horace A. Lucas, who had been Assistant Ranger on the Illini, became Acting Forest Ranger in charge of the Rosiclare District.
William E. Bates succeeded John O. Wernham as District Forest Ranger on the Illini. Mr. Bates previously been Acquisition Chief-of-Party, and was transferred to me Shawnee in December, 1933, from Region One.
In March, 1933, the Illini was divided into the Delta and Big Muddy Ranger Districts, and Mr. Estes became Ranger in charge of the Delta District. Marvin G. Angle, who had been Assistant Ranger on the old Shawnee District, became Ranger in charge of the Big Muddy. Mr. Wernham later was assigned to the Rosiclare, and Mr. Lucas to the Stonefort.
In January, 1936, a temporary office was set up at Metropolis, Illinois in the post office building, and Stanley B. Olson, who had been transferred to the Shawnee from the Chippewa National Forest, was designated as Acting Ranger in charge. The area administered by this office was the proposed fifth Ranger District fro the forest, to be known as the Dixon Springs Ranger District.
In May, 1937, William E. Bates and John O. Wernham were transferred to the Supervisor's office, the former in charge of Forest Management, an the later to head up Recreation and Lands.
Mr. Estes was succeeded on the Delta Ranger District by Horace A. Lucas; Mr. Lucas one Stonefort, by Robert S. Dimmick who had been Assistant Ranger on the Stonefort and on the big Muddy; and Stanley B. Olson succeeded Wernham on the Rosiclare. Eugene V. Phelps was assigned to the Metropolis office.
Among the men who have acted as Assistant Ranger on the Shawnee are John E. McQueen, Earl W. Simonton, Eugene V. Phelps, Robert S. Dimmick, F. Carter Quinlin, Marvin G. Angle, Wilfred M. James, Robert M. Obrist, Horace A. Lucas, Clarence A. Bittinger, Conrad A. Fischer, James G. MacAllister, and Charles E. Reynolds.
In July, 1937, due to reduction in CCC camps, and reorganization in the Region resulting in a scaling-down of Ranger Districts, it was necessary to consolidate the administration of the Big Muddy District with that of the Delta Ranger District, and the entire territory then assumed the name of Delta Ranger District, a sub-unit office only being maintained at Murphysboro, Illinois, in charge of Wilfred M. James, Assistant Ranger. Mr. James was transferred to the Shawnee from the Clark Purchase Units in the fall of 1937. In September, 1937, W. Duncan Giffen, who had been a Forest Ranger on the Manistee Purchase Units, succeeded Robert S. Dimmick as District Forest Ranger on the Stonefort.
Dimmick became Camp Superintendent at Camp Eddyville F-4. In July, 1937, it was necessary to discontinue the office at Metropolis, Illinois, and Eugene V. Phelps became CCC Assistant on the Delta.
During the early years of the unit two nurseries were maintained, one known as Ware, on the Illini, and the other known as Junction, on the Shawnee. Norman D. Koleman was the first superintendent at Ware, and was succeeded by John E. McQueen.
William W. Grogan, Charles e. Reynolds, and John E. McQueen were successively superintendents at the Junction Nursery. Both nurseries were abandoned and the Junction area was converted to a demonstration planting.
Most of the personnel of the Shawnee Purchase Units, particularly administrative and supervisory, have been transferred from northern or western forests. However, numerous local people have been employed, both in clerical and field positions.
Ottice F. Burden, Kenneth Smith, and Carender Mathis are among the local people who have been with the forest almost since its inception. In addition, local residents, especially rural, have been woven into the organization through employment as keymen, forest guards, fire-fighters, and road laborers, in addition to the local people that have been employed through enrollment in CCC Camps, and under the emergency programs, such as ERA.
Acquisition of lands has been one of the most important activities of the forest. At the outset the acquisition examination work was directed by John O. Wernham and Eugene V. Phelps. during the early part of the program numerous group meetings were held throughout the counties concerned to acquaint local citizens and landowners with the purpose of the acquisition program, and to encourage the optioning of land to the Forest Service.
The Daily Register issues from October through December, 1933, several times mention such meetings. During the first several years of the forest's existence large examination crews were kept at work. Following the assignment of Messrs. Wernham and Phelps as Forest Rangers, the Acquisition program was under the direction of William E. Bates as Acquisition Chief-of-Party. Later, as the examination work tapered off, it was concentrated under the various Ranger Districts.
The CCC Camps established as a result of the Emergency Conservation Act of 1933, have been one of the most important factors in the development of the Shawnee Purchase Units, inasmuch as a supply of labor had been furnished thereby that has been valuable in road and bridge construction, building improvements, planting, and fire fighting.
The camps established in December, 1933, were Camps Glenn F-1, Pomona F-2, Delta F-3, Eddyville F-4, Hicks F-5, and Kedron F-6. Camps Glenn, Pomona and Delta were on the Illini; Camps Eddyville, Kedron, and Hicks on the Shawnee. In August, 1934, two drought relief camps were established, known as Camp Cadiz and Camp Herod, both being on the Shawnee. A similar camp was established on the Illini in October, 1934, and was known as Camp Hutchins.
These camps were originally known as "DF" or drought relief camps, but later the D was dropped when the drought emergency was over, and funds for their operation were derived from the same funds used for operation of other camps. In August, 1933, two additional camps were established, one known as Simpson, on the Shawnee, and the other known as Union, on the Illini. Pomona was the first, and so far has been the only, colored camp on the Shawnee.
In January, 1936, the first signs of retrenchment in the CCC program appeared in the abandonment of Camps Kedron and Hicks. These camps were placed in custodianship, and Kedron later was razed. Some of the buildings at Camp Hicks have been razed, and the balance have been transferred to me Forest Service and are used for storage purposes by the Rosiclare Ranger District and as a recreation center.
Camp Glenn was abandoned in April, 1937, and Camp Simpson in May, 1937. Camp Hutchins was also abandoned in January, 1936, and was placed in custodianship for a time, after which the buildings were turned over to the Forest Service, and have since been unused. It will be again occupied in lieu of Camp Union in 1938. Camps Herod and Delta were abandoned in September, 1937.
Road work has been one of the most important activities entered into the Shawnee, and was prosecuted vigorously during the years 1934, 1935, and 1936. At one time, during the latter part of 1934, and early 1935, double and triple shifts were operated on road work.
Road work was originally under the direction of Lamar M. Wood, in connection with his activity as EOW Inspector. Upon Mr. Wood's transfer to the Manistee Ralph R. Williams was transferred from the Chiquamegon to the Shawnee to direct the road activity and CCC work in general. During the peak periods Mr. Williams had the assistance of James E. Smith, L. H. LaFaver, Henry G. Miller, and Richard J. Burke in road and other inspection work. Mr. Williams was transferred to the Superior National Forest in June, 1937, and was succeeded by E. D. Canatsey as Forest engineer. Mr. Canatsey had previously been Camp Superintendent at Camp Cadiz F-9.
When the Shawnee Purchase Units were established in 1933 there were, of course, no lookout towers, forest telephone lines, or kindred improvements in existence. Among the early towers erected were those at High Knob and Williams Hill on the Shawnee, and Bass Hill ad Fountain Bluff on the Illini. Williams Hill has the distinction of being the second highest point in the state.
During 1934 Construction of dwellings and other improvements were initiated at Williams Hill and Bass Hill tower-sites. However, in the press of road-work that continued through 1934 and 1935, small attention was given to construction of improvements until the spring of 1936 when a large allotment of emergency funds permitted extensive improvement plans.
In April, 1936, funds were apportioned and purchase of materials initiated for a dwelling, garage-woodshed, cistern, and latrine at each of High Knob, Peters Creek, Raum, Deputy, Honey School, Dry Hill, and Hickory Ridge tower-sites, and a lookout tower was purchased for the Water Valley site. At the same time plans were initiated for construction of a warehouse, office, oil-house, dwelling, and two-car garage at the Delta Ranger Station site at Jonesboro, Illinois, and similar buildings at the Big Muddy Ranger Station site at Murphysboro, Illinois.
This was the most extensive construction program yet undertaken by the Shawnee and required the better part of Fiscal year 1937, and part of fiscal year 1938. The offices at Jonesboro and Murphysboro were occupied in December, 1936, and February, 1937, respectively.
The Jonesboro Ranger dwelling was occupied in December, 1937, by Ranger Lucas, and the Murphysboro dwelling by Assistant Ranger James in April, 1938. Construction of the Murphysboro dwelling was delayed considerably during the early part of 1937 by labor and other difficulties.
Very little construction was undertaken during fiscal year 1938 expect the finishing of structures started in the previous fiscal year. Construction of a dwelling, wood-shed garage, latrine, and cistern was undertaken at the Water Valley tower-site during the last half of Fiscal year 1938. Lookout towers were purchased for Massac, Atwood Ridge, and Trigg tower-sites during the last half of fiscal year 1938, for construction in fiscal year 1939.
Pine Hills on the Delta and Bell Smith Springs on the Stonefort are two recreation areas that have been improved considerably since the inception of the Shawnee Purchase Units. The improvements added by the Forest Service together with the publicity that has been given them since 1933, has increased considerably the number of people visiting these spots during week-ends, holidays, and through the week.
The proposed Pounds Hollow dam, construction of which is expected to begin early in fiscal year 1939, is probably the largest and most far-reaching project yet undertaken by the Shawnee. It will provide an important recreational area on the Rosiclare District.
It is interesting to trace the increasing interest in and knowledge of Forest Service work on the part of the public, from the time the forest was first thought of in 1931 to the time that it was actually established in 1933. This may be traced through the newspaper comment on Forest Service activity that has appeared in the various newspapers throughout the forest area since 1933; the show-me trips that have attracted numerous people, and the attendance at motion picture showings, exhibits, etc., which deal with Forest Service work.
During the early days of the emergency work and just prior to establishment of CCC camps in this section, some of the newspapers spoke of the CCC boys as "campers" but it is noted that eventually they used the proper term "Enrollee".
The Shawnee has been fortunate in getting adequate and favorable newspaper publicity throughout the forest, in almost all cases. During 1935 and 1936 numerous programs over station WEBQ, Harrisburg, Illinois, were participated in by personnel in the Forest Supervisor's Office, and from the districts, and served to acquaint the radio audience with the purpose and accomplishments of the Forest Service. Enrollees and foreman from Camp Herod F-7 appeared in a local motion picture released in autumn, 1936. Through exhibits at city and county fairs, and at the State Fair at Springfield, Illinois, the work of the Forest Service in southern Illinois has been given broad publicity.
The Regional Office show-boat has visited the forest several times, giving motion picture showings at CCC camps, schoolhouses, and community centers throughout the forest. The Forest Supervisor and other officers have made many addresses before service clubs, women's clubs, schools, and other groups, both at points within the forest and at other points throughout the state.
The flood which came upon Southern Illinois in January, 1937, involved the Shawnee inasmuch as it was one of the first agencies called upon to assist by lending its man-power and equipment to aid in flood relief and rescue work. Many Forest Service employees, particularly those in Harrisburg, were obliged to vacate their homes because of the high water. The flood first began to assume serious proportions in this section on January 22, 1937.
At that time Supervisor Horton telegraphed the Regional Forester that rain conditions were severe, causing the Forest Service to vacate the Ranger's Station at Rosiclare, Illinois, train service being disrupted, and there being danger of the nursery at Junction being flooded.
The CCC camps within the Shawnee assisted in the evacuation and retreat from Rosiclare and Shawneetown; assisted in the efforts to save Mound City; and participated in raising the levee in Cairo.
In addition, the CCC organization assisted in the construction of refugee camps at Anna and Wolf Lake, and helped in Supply service at Eldorado and Harrisburg. Former Camp Hutchins F-8 was occupied as a refugee camp, and refugees were also established at Camp Hicks.
During the days the water was rising, and until the flood had reached its crest and the water had started to recede, the Supervisor's office in Harrisburg was kept open twenty-four hours daily. Several Army observers were headquartered in the office at Harrisburg during several days in the early stages of the flood.
The Forest Service warehouse on East Locust Street was used by the Red Cross as a food depot. Many of the Forest officers and forest employees aided personally in the flood rescue work. The aid of the Regional Forester was enlisted and shipments of blankets, first-aid kits, and like items were made to the Shawnee by northern forests, and were then turned over to such relief organizations as the Red Cross and the Salvation Army.
Following recession of the flood water, considerable maintenance work, chiefly on telephone lines and roads, was necessary throughout the forest.
NOTE: The foregoing is a copy of a portion of Atlas #10-Part 1 Form 130-R9 filed originally under "O-PLANS, Master, Shawnee" and presently (1983) filed under "1650-HISTORICAL FILE" in the Shawnee National Forest Supervisor's office in Harrisburg, Illinois.
Copied and reproduced per verbal permission of Shawnee Forest
Supervisor Kenneth D. Henderson on April 1, 1983.
Leonard H. Farmer
Elizabethtown IL 62931
Details of all recreation areas in the current Shawnee Forest.