News Flashes

Louie Armstrong’s radio program every Friday night, sponsored by Fleishman Yeast, has started tongues wagging, both in condemnation and praise. Every man to his own taste. At least Negro artists have chiseled in on commercial radio programs, which certainly is an advancement. Louie and his boys are paid to entertain and amuse. Judging from the reception here in camp, he is headed for success.

April 4, 1937, which was the fourth anniversary of the CCC, the Quartette sang at the Lutheran Church in Penfield. The program was enjoyed by all, and the pastor assured the members of the Quartette that he would have them sing again as soon as it could be arranged. Since then, the Quartette is considering invitations from all around Pennsylvania . . .

Sunday, April 13, 1937 the Camp Vann Quartette had the honor of staging a comeback after a rest of seven months, by singing in the Colored Methodist Church in Clearfield. The public was surprised and yet pleased with the effect that the Quartette is again open for engagements.

Flash! Flash! With the last group of enrollees are some promising actors, tap artists, and singers. It seems that we might work up to some of the shows that we have had in the past.

Last week we were glad when the truck drivers brought back two trucks that will actually run when given the gas. Quite a difference between these and the vehicle that our friend WW is going to put in his museum when he gets his first million.

Among the new enrollees received this month is Mr. William Lyde, of Clearfield, Pa., an experienced electrician and mechanic.

Every one has just come in from work. There is loud laughter and much conversation and joking among the men. Many are lounging around in the barracks, some are at or on their way to the bath house. The overhead is engaged in their various duties around the camp. A loud sound; instantly all activate [unreadable words] and are rushing to their appointed areas of camp. What is it all about? It’s a fire drill, Captain Antis looks around and smiles and says it’s the best yet, keep up the good work. Someday it may be real.

With the coming of the baseball season, our baseball diamond is going to receive a [unreadable word] administered by the bulldozer and the [unreadable] of hale and hearty enrollees [unreadable] follows spring is here.

Leonard Kunes, machine operator, and his assistant, John Blake, are making frequent attempts to improve the roads. They also moved the latrine to its new position Saturday, March 13.

Camp Vann has been very fortunate in obtaining the services of Mr. Hansard, of Clearfield, as instructor in music. The Glee Club under his direction has already made its appearance in Clearfield.

Almost a year ago Clarence “Hooks” King found a small puppy in Hicks Run. A small collar that she had outgrown was cutting deep into her neck. King brought the puppy back into Camp where the former Camp Doctor, Dr. Donohue cut the collar away from the dog’s neck. The dog was christened “Miss Hooks” after her savior. Since then “Miss Hooks” has been illegally married to Mr. Pindle’s dog “Jeff” and now is raising quite a family.

Hughes Ratchford, assistant to Dr. Stoltz, is doing an excellent job of renovating the Infirmary. He shellacked the floors, painted the door and “Got new curtains and everything” he boasts.

String weaving has started off with a bang! And is it infectious? Starting in the supply room with Harold Johnson, Paul Williams and Bus Dixon, it has spread down to Barrack 2. Clarence Dunlap has woven a lovely white table spread and is starting another. Purnell Beasley is following suit. Won’t the girl friends be proud of you boys! I’ll say!

The manual arts class in woodworking made a visit to Penfield to see some of the useful as well as decorative articles being made by the enrollees of that Camp. From all reports the evening was profitably spent and equally enjoyed by all that made the trip.

Last month we were [unreadable] in having with us Mr. Shaw of Johnstown, Pa. who sang several popular songs after the services. He made quite a hit with the enrollees with his rendition of the songs.

On Sunday afternoon the enrollees assembled in the Recreation Hall for an anniversary program. Selections were rendered by the Harmony Four. Mr. Pindle spoke on the CCC past, present, and future. Enrollee Jackson spoke on the benefits of the CCC to the enrollees. A pleasant afternoon was enjoyed by all.

Mr. Ralph Dudley, former WPA Instructor at this camp, has resigned to accept employment in Youngstown, Ohio. Mr. Dudley taught elementary and high school classes, and was the consultant to the staff of the Iris of Progress.

We have had the pleasure of being hosts to different groups of young ladies from Johnstown, Pa. Their company is greatly enjoyed, although we sometimes wonder if this isn’t the first time some of the enrollees have seen young ladies.

For the summer season, baseball and mushball will form the bulk of the recreation program. Plans are being formed for inter-barrack mushball as well as a team to represent the camp as a whole. This team will be formed from the barrack team. In regards to baseball, there will not be, in all probability, a sub-district league. The games will be played with teams from the surrounding towns. A meeting will be held soon to elect a baseball captain and also to elect sport leaders to represent the barracks. When this meeting is called, all of those that are interested are invited to attend and give their suggestions toward making this a successful season.

The volleyball court will be put into shape as soon as the weather permits. Quite a few of the fellows will remember that a lot of spirited games were played and enjoyed there last year.

Nine enrollees completed the PA Motor Code course and qualified for certificates.

A call to fight the red demon, fire by Paul Hollingsworth

On the morning of May 10, 1930, at two o’clock, I was awakened by a loud knock upon my door. Upon inquiring who was there, I was answered by State Forest Ranger M. A. Barr, of Medix Run, Pa.

“Get up,” he said, “there’s a forest fire on Mosquito Creek out of control. We need you and your crew.”

I bounced out of bed and dressed hurriedly. After letting Mr. Barr in, I scrambled around for high top shoes, woolen shirts and other necessities while he explained where the fire was and the quickest way of reaching it. On the way out I called to my wife not to expect me until she saw me.

Giving Mr. Barr names of men to call, I went one way and he another. The men were to be ready in ten minutes. Twenty-five minutes after receiving the call, four cars with twenty men were on the way to the fire.

The three miles to Medix Run were quickly run, but from there on to the Rathbun Place, over the Dents Run Branch, the bad roads hindered our progress. We gathered water along the way. At the Rathburn Place we were met by the State Care keeper who had an early breakfast prepared.

After eating we relieved the exhausted crew on hand and began our part of extinguishing the fire.

Splitting our crew at the [unreadable] of the fire we began laying down a [rest of paragraph unreadable] . . . feet deep to get to the bottom. Then we carried water and thoroughly soaked the bottom of the trench. But with all our precautions the fire managed to get through in several places, and we had to go through the same procedure again.

For three days there was no stop of fire. When it managed to burn through our lines at a place where upon examination the fire had burned through in the root of an old pine tree stump.

This fire required nine days of patrolling before it was declared out by the men in charge, who where the State Forester, Game Warden, Ranger, and two fire wardens.

On the fourth day all of my crew were relieved, but four, to return home. Twelve hours after being relieved from duty we were called again, proving that fire crews must be alert and ready to go at a moments notice.

Welcome “Rookies”

Camp Vann welcomes you to its portals. You are now a part of that large army of young men whom the President has seen fit to provide work for until such time as private industry has had time to absorp [sic] you into it. The purpose of the CCC is two-fold: first, the conservation of the nation’s youth; second, the conservation of the nation’s resources.

[List of about 40 names, mostly from MD]

In camp, anyday

Dear fellows, back on the job and has the peeping been good, well, judge for yourselves. Boy oh boy I’m full of this spring stuff myself. Oh yeah, its here don’t let this weather fool you, ain’t cha seen the balmy looks some of these “tramps” have been toting around here lately?

Say, this rates first line space. Have or did you notice how small the spuds were when GP was on KP? Especially the nite after a EF [Ella Fitzgerald?] broadcast. All I can say is if EF can reduce a man to those straits vocally, we can all rejoice that she isn’t here in the flesh.