Civilian Conservation Corps at Appomattox

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a government program and agency created by President Roosevelt’s New Deal. Its purpose was to provide work opportunities for young men during the Great Depression. From 1941 to 1942, a segregated African American CCC company served at Appomattox Court House. These men had already served their country as soldiers in WWI, and now they would serve it again.

When Company 1351 was assigned to Appomattox Court House, they faced opposition from some local White leaders. The mayor of Appomattox stated that the local white population would not tolerate an all-Black CCC company. In addition, the Appomattox County Board of Supervisors issued a resolution opposing the Company. Letters from local officials, including the Sheriff, Commonwealth of Virginia Attorney, State Senator Charles T. Moses Sr., and Judge Joel Flood also opposed Company 1351.

On May 10, 1940, Branch Spalding, the Coordinating Supervisor overseeing the proposed work at Appomattox, responded to a letter from Representative P.H. Drewry, who represented Appomattox in Congress. Mr. Spalding personally vouched for the Black CCC workers:

“I can understand the attitude of the Appomattox people with regard to the colored camp. It is the usual reaction of communities when a colored camp is first assigned to them. They are at first alarmed; then after the camp has been there for a while, they are more alarmed if anyone suggests moving it...I have been intimately associated with two colored camps… In both cases the behavior has been exemplary, and communities consider them welcome guests after the wave of initial protest.”

Mr. Spalding, however, also went on to explain that transferring the Appomattox assignment from Company 1351 to another company would be “quite intricate” and require cooperation between the Department of Interior, the War Department, and Civilian Conservation Corps. After initially opposing the “colored camp”, the Appomattox town committee voted unanimously to accept it on July 5. As the work progressed, Spalding’s prediction proved correct as local newspapers published favorable articles about Company 1351’s work.

Company 1351’s work at the future National Historical Site began by remodeling the interior and exterior of the Ferguson House to serve as an administration building. Company 1351 also cleared brush and trees that had overtaken the historic village, including clearing the large overgrowth of the McLean complex.The Company was tasked with seeding seventy-five acres of the property, removing non-historic buildings, and it began restoration of historic ones.

The most notable accomplishment of Company 1351, however, was the excavation of the McLean complex. The McLean House, where General Lee had surrendered to General Grant, had been dismantled nearly 50 years prior in a failed relocation attempt. Company 1351 carefully uncovered the foundation and original brick hearth of the McLean House, discovering numerous artifacts from where the home, summer kitchen, and slave quarters had been. Although full restoration of the village was delayed by WWII, Company 1351 laid the necessary groundwork to restore the historic village. Using their discoveries, along with photographs and plans drawn prior to the house’s disassembly, the National Park Service reconstructed the McLean House in 1948.