Designation: F-14  Date: 2016-05-05

Lightning Creek

South Dakota Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp 9 mi W of Custer and approx. 4 miles east of Jewel Cave National Monument.

1933, 10/17 - 1934, 04/30, 1783V*
1934, 04/30 -1941, 791
Date Closed: 1941-42

It was used as a CCC camp from October 17, 1933, until sometime between 1941 and July 1942.

Composed of North Dakota WWI veterans, it was organized by the U.S. Veterans Bureau at Fort Lincoln near Bismarck, ND, during June and July 1933 (1934).

Immediately after arrival at Camp Lightning Creek the veterans of Company 1783V were put to work at thinning the forest of its overgrowth of trees. Though the work was different, the schedule was about the same as at Fort Lincoln, with the exception of the distances the men traveled to and from work. They did not have to go more than 5 miles because the camp was situated in the midst of a large area of the Harney National Forest (1934).

The nature of the work for Company 791 in 1934 was forest thinning, fire construction, spring improvement, and building cattle guards, drift fences, and dams (1935).

On May 10, 1934, a side camp of 30 men was established at the Summit ranger station. The work conducted at this side camp was also thinning, spring development, fire trails, fire fighting, insect control, and the construction of telephone lines, roads, cattle guards, drift fences, dams, and sheep runs (1935).^x

Men and Truck at CCC Camp Lightning Creek

^xDerschied, Lyle A. "The Civilian Conservation Corps in South Dakota, 1933-1942." Brookings, SD, South Dakota State University Foundation Press, 1986. No longer in print. Available at some libraries but may not be checked-out.

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