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Depression Era: CCC Camp For Homeless Men

By Capper's Staff
Published on February 27, 2012

We had a CCC camp here for young homeless men. They were paid a very small wage, and provided room and board. They spent their time cutting brush, and building the WPA “White Houses” (outdoor toilets which were a big improvement over what the people had been using).

Dad was a butcher by trade. He bought fat cattle from the farmers, and contracted a sale to a grocery meat market. When evening came he would go to the country and kill the beef or hog, bring it home, skin it, string it up between two trees, wash it down good and let it cool out. Early next morning it would be taken to the store. He made cuts into steaks, roasts, and hamburgers, too.

Jerry Tudgay
Osage City, Kansas


Back in 1955 a call went out from the editors of the then Capper’s Weekly asking for readers to send in articles on true pioneers. Hundreds of letters came pouring in from early settlers and their children, many now in their 80s and 90s, and from grandchildren of settlers, all with tales to tell. So many articles were received that a decision was made to create a book, and in 1956, the first My Folks title – My Folks Came in a Covered Wagon – hit the shelves. Nine other books have since been published in the My Folks series, all filled to the brim with true tales from Capper’s readers, and we are proud to make those stories available to our growing online community.