CCC Shelter

CCC Shelter, also known as the Combination Shelter, is a historic recreational structure at Pokagon State Park in Jamestown Township, Steuben County, Indiana. Unlike a conventional commercial brand, it is a named public park building associated with the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the United States conservation and public-works program that operated during the 1930s and early 1940s. The shelter was completed in 1936 during the CCC's development of facilities at Pokagon State Park. The building combines stone and wood construction in a broad, low-profile design. Its wide roof provides partial protection from rain and snow, while the longer east and west sides remain open. This open-sided arrangement supports group gatherings and allows the structure to function as a flexible outdoor shelter rather than as an enclosed building. Tall fireplaces define the northern and southern ends. They were built from large stones gathered within the park and individually shaped by CCC workers, giving the structure a strong visual connection to its setting and to the labor of the men who constructed it. CCC Shelter forms part of a larger group of historic improvements made at Pokagon State Park during the CCC's presence there from 1934 to 1942. Other surviving or documented CCC projects in the park include the Gate House, completed in 1936; the Spring Shelter, completed in 1937; the Saddle Barn, completed in 1938; and early versions of the park's toboggan run. Together, these works reflect the CCC's role in creating public recreation infrastructure, trails, buildings, and landscape features in state and national parks across the United States. The shelter continues to serve public recreation and interpretive purposes. It has been used for park programs, including the annual Autumn Storytelling event, and for seasonal activities such as renting cross-country skis in winter. Its continuing use demonstrates how a Depression-era public-works structure has remained integrated into the operational life of a modern state park. CCC Shelter was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. Its significance rests primarily on its historical association with CCC-era park development, its rustic materials and workmanship, and its place within the broader historic landscape of Pokagon State Park. No separate corporate ownership, commercial product portfolio, executive structure, or financial performance is associated with the subject.

CCC Shelter was built at Pokagon State Park in Jamestown Township, Steuben County, Indiana, as part of the park-development work carried out by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The CCC operated at the park from 1934 through 1942, a period in which the organization constructed buildings, recreational facilities, and landscape improvements intended to expand public access to Indiana's state-park system. The shelter was completed in 1936. The structure is a rustic combination of stone and wood. Its broad, low roof provides protection from precipitation, but the long east and west sides are open. The design supports informal gatherings and outdoor activities while preserving ventilation and views of the surrounding park. At the north and south ends are tall fireplaces made from large stones found in the park. The stones were individually shaped by CCC workers, making the fireplaces both functional elements and visible examples of the labor-intensive construction methods associated with CCC projects. The shelter was one part of a wider CCC building program at Pokagon State Park. Related projects included the Gate House in 1936, the Spring Shelter in 1937, and the Saddle Barn in 1938. The CCC also built early versions of the park's toboggan run. These projects helped establish the park's recreational infrastructure and contributed to the rustic architectural character for which many CCC-era public landscapes are known. After its original construction, CCC Shelter continued to be used rather than becoming solely a preserved monument. The park has used it for public programs, including the annual Autumn Storytelling event, and for winter services connected with cross-country skiing. This continuing practical role links the building's historic function as a public gathering place with contemporary park recreation. In 1992, CCC Shelter was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The listing recognized the structure's relationship to the CCC, its materials and workmanship, and its place in the history of Pokagon State Park. The subject is therefore best understood as a historic public facility and cultural landmark, not as a conventional consumer brand or commercial enterprise.

• 1992

  National Register listing

  [1]CCC Shelteren.wikipedia.org

  CCC Shelter was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

• 1942

  CCC presence at Pokagon State Park ends

  [1]CCC Shelteren.wikipedia.org

  The period of Civilian Conservation Corps activity at Pokagon State Park concluded.

• 1936

  CCC Shelter completed

  [1]CCC Shelteren.wikipedia.org

  The stone-and-wood shelter, including its large stone fireplaces, was completed by CCC workers at Pokagon State Park.

• 1934

  CCC work begins at Pokagon State Park

  [1]CCC Shelteren.wikipedia.org

  The Civilian Conservation Corps began a period of construction and improvement at Pokagon State Park that continued through 1942.

A historic public recreation structure and representative example of Civilian Conservation Corps park architecture.

• 1992

  CCC Shelter added to the National Register of Historic Places[1]CCC Shelteren.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The historic shelter at Pokagon State Park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, formally recognizing its architectural and historical importance.

1. 1CCC Shelteren.wikipedia.org