The event will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 18, at Longbow Organization Camp. The picnic, which is sponsored by Jan and Fred Wellhouser of South Santiam Services and the U.S. Forest Service – Sweet Home Ranger District, is hosted annually to honor the brave and hard-working men of CCC Company 2097.
Company 2097, formerly Company 1314, was organized in 1933. They moved to Camp Cascadia, located on the South Santiam River 22 miles east of Sweet Home, on June 20, 1934. While working in the Willamette National Forest, Company 2097 built 35 miles of forest road and 80 miles of trails; installed 17 miles of telephone line; built six fire lookouts and eight bridges; landscaped four acres of grounds near Cascadia Ranger Station; constructed two large dwellings, an office building and a gas and oil station; and constructed House Rock, Fernview, and Trout Creek Campgrounds. The men also spent over 7,000 days fighting wildfires.
Many of the company’s members stayed in Oregon, and have since become important figures in our local communities.
The celebration will begin at 11 a.m., with a potluck-style lunch at 12:30 p.m. Attendees with last names beginning in A-H are asked to bring a hot dish, I-P a salad, and Q-Z a dessert. Attendees can also simply bring their favorite dish; table service and beverages will be provided. Attendees are encouraged to bring photos, news clippings, and other memorabilia from the CCC years to share during the event.
Longbow Organization Camp was built by the CCC in the 1930s. The group campground is located 23 miles east of Sweet Home off Highway 20 near milepost 46. Those needing transportation to and from the campground should meet at 9:30 a.m. at the Sweet Home Ranger Station, 4431 Highway 20 in Sweet Home. Please call ahead to reserve a seat.
For more information and to make transportation reservations, please contact Stefanie Gatchell with the Sweet Home Ranger District at (541) 367-5168 or [email protected].