CPS Camp Number 018

Technical Agency: Soil Conservation Service<

Summary:

CPS Camp No. 18, a Soil Conservation Service base camp located in a former Civilian Conservation Corps camp in Denison, Iowa and operated by Mennonite Central Committee, opened in August 1941 and closed in September 1946. The men built concrete dams to arrest gully and other erosion.

Civilian Public Service Camp #18, Denison, Iowa

Building Dam

Digital image at Mennonite Church USA Archives, North Newton, Kansas

CPS Camp # 18, Denison, Iowa

Loading refrigerator railroad cars with canned goods "from center" at the camp.

Digital Image at Mennonite Church USA Archives, North Newton, Kansas

CPS Camp No. 18, Denison, Iowa.

Civilian Public Service workers filling sand bags. Civilian Public Service workers filled up sand bags to save Council Bluffs, Iowa from the Missouri River flood, April 1943. In the background are the sand bags to protect the pumping station, the sole source of water fort he city of 40,000 residents. By way of thanks, the city engineer Jack Boyne offered them to see a show at the theatre, then cigarettes, then beer: all refused by the CPS men who then asked for two new aprons and four dish towels for the cooks at CPS Camp Denison, Iowa, items which were then promptly provided.

Digital image, Photo #61. Box 1, Folder 5. MCC Photographs, Civilian Public Service, 1941-1947. IX-13-2.2. Mennonite Central Committee Photo Archive

CPS Camp # 18 Denison, Iowa

After completion-this was the largest structure built by crews from Denison Camp-contents 550 cubic yards of concrete-earth fill, some 20,000 cubic yards. Left to right: Walter Lohrenz, McPherson, Kans, Coleman Nogrady, Appleton, Wisc., and Randy Penner, Newton, Kans.

Photo # 5-b. Box 1, Folder 12. MCC Photographs, Civilian Public Service, 1941-1947. IX-13-2.2. Mennonite Central Committee Photo Archive

CPS Camp # 18, Denison, Iowa

Project: 6' road culvert with riser, adjacent to James Siegner from Crawford Co., Ia. Left to right: Milburn Norris, LaGrange Ind. CPS foreman; Floyd Nimmo, Camp technician

Photo # 4. Box 1, Folder 10. MCC Photographs, Civilian Public Service, 1941-1947. IX-13-2.2. Mennonite Central Committee Photo Archive.

CPS Camp # 18, Denison, Iowa

Reinforced inlet riser-Clarence Moyer, Camp Superintendant standing near structure

Photo # 4-a. Box 1, Folder 12. MCC Photographs, Civilian Public Service, 1941-1947. IX-13-2.2.Mennonite Central Committee Photo Archive

CPS Camp # 18, Denison, Iowa

Before-showing bridge undercut by erosion. Drop inlet road structure and fill adjacent to Stepanek Farm, Crawford Co., IA. Twin 5 X 5 culvert.

Photo # 5-1. Box 1, Folder 12. MCC Photographs, Civilian Public Service, 1941-1947. IX-13-2.2. Mennonite Central Committee Photo Archive

CPS Camp No. 18

Pouring cement for soil erosion control at CPS Camp 18.

From the private collection of Leo Harder, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike 2.5

Civilian Public Service (CPS) Directors' Conference, with CPS Camp # 18, Denison, Iowa

(Persons, clockwise, inner row, left-right): 1. Arthur Wiebe, 2. Jesse Harder, 3. Robert S. Kreider, 4. Ralph Hernley, 5. Art Balzer, 6. (unidentified), 7. Henry Guhr, 8. Ed Belan, 9. (unidentified), 10. (unidentified), 11. (unidentified), 12. Ralph Beechy, 13. Rufus Franz, 14. Albert Gaeddert, 15. Erwin W.Goering, 16. (unidentified), 17. Roy Umble, 18. Henry Reimer, 19. Harold Martin. 20. Leland Brenneman, 21. Orin Beechy, 22. Lester Gerig (or Russell Massanari), 23. Dwight Yoder, 24. Alfred G. Zook, Atlee Beechy. (Outer row, left side, left-right) 26. Grant Stoltzfus, 27. Harold Mishler, 28. Donald Gundy. (Outer row, right side, left-right): 29. David H. Suderman, 30. Jacob D. Goering, 31. Elmer M. Ediger, 32. Russell Massanari (or Lester Gerig). [Identification by Robert S. Kreider and H. King, 1990].

Mennonite Central Committee Archival Photo

Date: 1945

CPS Camp # 18 Quartet

Left to Right: Henry Schultz, Mt. Lake, Minn., Clarence Friesen, Henderson, Neb., Russel Massanari, Fisher, Ill., John Schutlz [sic], Mt. Lake, Minn.

Mennonite Central Committee Archival Photo