Category: Event  Date: 2019-07-29

A Special Open House

This year's Open House at the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Museum of South Dakota was a very special event. A fully restored 1935 GMC truck that was built for the CCC was recently donated to the museum. The truck was on display and members of the Allen Goens family that donated it were in attendance. We were honored to have Judy Goens - Allen's wife, Pat Rogers - Allen's sister, Michael Goens - Allen's son, Lesley McAfee - Allen's daughter in attendance on this day.

Goens found the old GMC in southwest Kansas in the fall of 1977. He took photos of the truck and numbers off the chassis to the GMC dealer in North Kansas City, Missouri; the dealer in turn sent the information on to GMC's headquarters in Pontiac, Michigan. The truck's chassis number (T1816685BS) indicated that it was built in '35 for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for use in the Civilian Conservation Corps. Only 433 of this model GMC truck were built in 1935; Goens' was number 384.

Allen Goens' life was dedicated to family, community service and restoration projects completed to perfection. He was a Basehor, Kan., native, where he graduated from high school, and a U.S. Army veteran. Goens was married to his wife, Judy, for 45 years and the couple have three children, Lisa Brown, Michael Goens and Lesley McAfee, and three grandchildren, Monica, Sam and Colin. He served as the city’s mayor and fire chief, among countless roles within the community during a 35-year span. Goens fully restored the 1935 GMC truck along with three other antique vehicles prior to his passing in 2007. The truck was donated to the Civilian Conservation Corps Museum of South Dakota by the Goens family and his sister, Patricia Rogers.

Pat Rogers, Lesley McAfee, Judy Goens, Michael Goens

Janet Wetovick-Bily, executive director of the Hill City Area Chamber of Commerce addresses those in attendance.

Hill City, SD Mayor Kathy Skorzewski addresses those in attendance.

Lesley McAfee, Michael Goens standing behind Judy Goens, CCC Boy Jay Hendrickson, CCC Boy Orville Hengen, Pat Rogers

Lesley McAfee, Michael Goens

Judy Goens

Michael Goens, Judy Goens, Lesley McAfee, Pat Rogers

Allen Goens family attended 2019 CCC Museum Open House