Civilian Conservation Corps 660th Company’s Great Legacy

Along the bank of the Manitowish River, on June 21, 1933 the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) established 660th Company S-79 or Camp Mercer. Join us for a free presentation regarding CCC camp’s significant impact on the town of Manitowish Waters and the surrounding area. 660th Company men practiced hockey on Dog Lake, played baseball against the Little Bohemia team, rebuilt the lookout tower and manned it for 9 years. These men fought the brutal Powell Marsh fire, protecting lives and property. Historically, some area residents confused the site of the North Lakeland Discovery Center as the site for CCC 660th Company. The Youth Conservation Camp, known as Statehouse Lake in Manitowish Waters, was created in 1962 as a separate state program whose mission paralleled the earlier CCC.

The contributions of these men helped define our region by protecting and preserving northwoods’ natural resources. The imprint that these men made on the land cannot be over emphasized. Through their diligence, the northwoods was transformed from a cutover, fire ravaged landscape into a forest again, with numerous improvements for generations of people looking to experience the great outdoors.

Newly discovered images, maps, and government documents from the Wisconsin Historical Society will be shared to illustrate the evolution and impact of Camp Mercer.