Raleigh County 4-H Camp
I pledge my head to clearer thinking,
my heart to greater loyalty,
my hands to larger service, and
my health to better living,
for my club, my community, my country and my world.115
Founding 4-H
4-H was established as a national program overseeing local youth development, with the 4 Hs standing for Head, Heart, Hands, and Health. In the first decades of the 20th century, many communities established clubs and organizations to teach agricultural and practical knowledge to youth. These clubs became a crucial aspect of youth education, community building, and transference of knowledge. For many rural communities, curriculum from public education was very separate from the knowledge they needed in their everyday lives on farms. Youth clubs were an attempt to bridge this gap, making public education relevant and useful through hands-on, practical, and experiential learning. These included “corn clubs,” “canning clubs,” and “pig clubs” where young men would learn to raise and cultivate crops and livestock under the tutelage of an experienced local farmer.116 However, these clubs were small in size and dependent on the time and financial availability of farmers, meaning that many children and young adults were still unable to participate.
115 (The 4-H Pledge (as of 1978)
116 (files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1122307.pdf)
117 (Morrill Act (1862) | National Archives)
Why is it important to Raleigh County and WV?
Though coal is king in West Virginia, agriculture and livestock are also integral to both the history and modern economy. West Virginia entered the Union as a majority rural state in 1863. Most West Virginians were subsistent farmers, with approximately 80% of citizens living on largely self-sufficient family farms (West Virginia, A History, Otis K Rice, 174). However, as West Virginia exited the Civil War, its agricultural identity began to shift and expand. Corn, apples, sorghum, wheat and hay were all crops that came to define West Virginia’s marketable products. Cattle, including both beef and dairy production, has historically been one of West Virginia’s most profitable industries.118 Farmers who started commercial farming also turned their attention to improving soil health, adopting mechanical farming equipment, and incorporating fertilizer to improve crop yields.119 West Virginia’s relatively late introduction to wide-scale commercial farming and animal husbandry influenced more than just economics. Because the majority of West Virginians lived in small, rural communities, social and cultural life looked very different from more industrialized and “modern” states. Community values and state identity were defined by loyalty, independence, and kinship ties. However, the continuation of rural life meant that many communities remained relatively isolated into the 20th century, presenting unique challenges to farmers and their families. One of these was a lack of educational funding and opportunities for younger generations due to rural living and relative isolation. The West Virginia University Extension Service, and 4-H with it, was a means to supplement education and foster youth community. It was also a way to introduce new methods for farming and animal husbandry that might not have been implemented otherwise. Raliegh County was first introduced to the WVUES in 1926. County representatives announced their intent to create a county farm bureau. The purpose of a county farm bureau was to connect local farmers with agricultural experts and scientists. These interactions were important for a number of reasons, one being that it allowed farmers to learn new and scientifically backed methods for agriculture. These farmers then aided researchers by allowing them to study cooperative farming and farm conditions. County bureaus advocated for local farmers as well as their rural communities. They also allowed farming communities a place to gather and interact.
The largest obstacles were funding and manpower. The Great Depression began in 1929, and with it came many financial challenges. West Virginia was one of the most impacted states, with some counties reporting 80% unemployment.123 Raleigh County was unable to independently produce the money needed to fund a large-scale project like a 4-H camp, which locals envisioned would have water recreation areas, permanent bathhouses and cabins, horse trails, and more. However, the Great Depression presented a unique opportunity for Raleigh County through President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal relief programs
Under FDR, the United Sates saw the emergence of both the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). These programs were established as a way to alleviate some of the financial strife brought on by the Depression as well as the feelings of aimlessness and hopelessness many working-aged men were experiencing after the loss of their jobs. The CCC was established in 1933, four years into the Depression, and targeted unmarried young men aged 18-25. The Corps provided food, clothes, housing, medical care, and education in exchange for labor in America’s public lands .124 These young men were paid a stipend of $30 a month, with $25 of that being sent to support their families. West Virginia was home to 67 CCC camps between 1933 and the program ending in 1942.125 These camps supported more than 55,000 young men and were instrumental in building public roadways and bridges, aiding national reforestation efforts, constructing national and state parks, fighting fires, combating erosion, and more.126 Raleigh County was home to Camp Raleigh, which sat on what is now Shady Springs High School.127 118 (Top 10 West Virginia Agriculture Products (Infographic) – Farm Flavor). (Rice, 175).
119 Rice, 176
120 (Beckley Sunday Register, Several Attend Conference Held Yesterday at High School and Plan 1926 Work, 1)
121 (NC Eats | DRAWING THE LINE: Segregation in the NC Extension Service : Canning Clubs for Girls!)
122 (1927: Pinecrest Camp, Beckley, Charleston Daily Mail, July 31, 1927, 27. AND1937: Qunnimont, Plans Are Made For 4-H Camp, Beckley Post Herald, August 5, 1937, 10. AND1938: Camp Campbell/Summers, Beckley Raliegh Register, Four-H Campers To Start Monday, August 5, 1938, 1)
123 (e-WV – The Great Depression)
124 (The Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S. National Park Service
125 (West Virginia CCC)
126 (CCC Brief History – Civilian Conservation Corps Legacy)
127 (West Virginia CCC).
Building Raleigh County’s 4-H Camp
Inspired by the state 4-H camp at Jackson Mill and Fayette County’s Camp Beckwith, Raleigh County petitioned the federal government for funding and labor assistance.129 A 50-acre tract of land on Beaver Creek was donated to the county for the project in 1938, and shortly after the first government grant was approved. President Franklin D. Roosevelt approved initial funding of $32,480 for the camp’s dam, land preparation, and construction of roadways.130 70 WPA laborers were assigned to the project.
The WPA agreed to cover all labor costs and 10% of the cost of materials.131 Several local companies also pledged to donate materials, a significant indication to how important a 4-H camp was to the county when resources were sparse. Plans for the site included “…the damming of Beaver creek, the formation of a lake, construction of swimming pools, bunk houses, mess hall, recreation hall, outdoor cookers, playgrounds, and bridle paths.”132 A secondary grant application for $130,000 was submitted to the WPA for cabins, administrative buildings, and recreational facilities.133
With a record high number of children enrolled in 4-H Programs in 1939, many Raleigh County residents were eagerly awaiting the camp’s opening.134 Unfortunately, lack of available funding and slow bureaucracy caused prolonged delays for the project. The first priority, considering both land constraints and county need, was building the Little Beaver dam for water recreation. By 1939, Civilian Conservation Corps members began to work with the WPA in clearing land for the park. One of the largest hurdles with construction was the engineering logistics for Little Beaver dam. Engineers, city officials, and WPA members were locked in a stalemate over what type of dam would best suit the project for months.135 Even when the dam was built, it continued to hinder progress, springing many leaks and needing intensive waterproofing.136
President Roosevelt approved an additional $73,960 in funding in late December 1939 and a further $25,403 in mid-1940, following the provision that funds would be matched by the county.137 This money allowed the WPA to finish Little Beaver dam in January of 1942, and soon after work turned to other furnishings for the camp.138 Despite it being winter, and the lake not being officially opened to the public or staffed with safety measures, Raleigh countians were eager to start using the new dam for recreation. By February, the lake was a popular spot for ice skaters.139 In summer, the dam was stocked with trout in preparation for future anglers, and community members started to use the new lake as a swimming hole, much to the displeasure of both County and health officials.140
Despite the popularity of the project and the county’s enthusiasm for development, America’s entrance into World War II led to a shift in local and national priorities. Material and fuel rationing, a decrease in accessible labor, and dwindling WPA funding meant that the 4H camp site remained largely undeveloped in the wartime years.141 The WPA of Raleigh County was dissolved in 1943.142 However, 4-H was very much still active, even as extension agents, group leaders, and older members were drafted. County and local 4-H groups across the country started victory gardens to support the war effort, harkening back to 4-H’s roots as growing clubs.143 The agricultural knowledge provided by 4-H not only helped feed communities, but gave practical skills to those stepping into new roles demanded by the war effort.
Enroll for Victory: 4-H During World War II | The National WWII Museum | New Orleans Further, wartime did not stop Raleigh County citizens from utilizing their new recreation site. The Little Beaver 4-H dam officially opened to the public in the summer of 1945.144 James Deck was appointed as the first park superintendent, and lifeguards were hired for the 1945 summer season, making swimming and boating much safer.145 A caretaker was appointed to the property, and electricity was wired to the existing buildings.146 Residents sought continued developments, including sand for the beach, more footpaths and separate roads for cars, playgrounds, camping space, and parking.147 The Beckley Raliegh Register proudly proclaimed, “Nothing the county has ever done for the general public has met with such widespread and democratic use as this Little Beaver recreation lake. It’s truly the peoples’ playground, in winter when the lake is frozen and in summer when there’s fishing and swimming and boating and picnicking.”148 However, the paper also noted that “Many, many more people would find recreation out there if the facilities were adequate.”149
World War II officially ended September 2, 1945, and the public were hopeful for what post-war construction would bring. Despite this clear public support for the park, an audit conducted in 1945 revealed that Little Beaver Dam, and the entire 4-H camp project by extension, had not gone through the proper legal channels.150 In short, Raleigh County officials had not put the project up for public vote, meaning that all funds coming from the county, including money that was used to match WPA grants, were appropriated illegally. Though the public were using and enjoying the dam site, without a legal vote, the County Court had to appeal to the state, amending the legality of their expenditures.151 Getting all finances in order was particularly important, as the County Park Board was planning the long-awaited expansion of the site. Attempting to purchase more than 350 acres around Little Beaver Dam, the Park Board was anxious to break ground on the promised 4-H camp.
In March of 1945, the County owned Little Beaver Dam and a small tract of land surrounding it.152 However, to build the 4-H Camp and expanded recreation site, they needed more acreage. When the dam was completed, Raleigh County and the Park Board had insufficient funds to buy the open property around Little Beaver Dam. These previously empty lots became desirable when they afforded direct access to the water, and private landowners purchased many of the tracts where camp buildings were intended to go. This created issues for construction, as Little Beaver Dam was still technically a 4-H associated project, and the camp was being constructed specifically to ensure access for campers. When the private landowners rejected the County Court’s offer to purchase their plots, the desired property surrounding was acquired via condemnation, meaning that the land was seized by the government for public use and the property owners were compensated, though this compensation was subject to what the courts felt reflected market value.153 The condemnation suit was officially filed in late March 1946, further impeding progress on the 4-H camp.154
To fund the condemnation and further construction, the court proposed a special tax levy, which was approved in mid-July 1946.155 Without WPA and CCC funds and laborers, Raleigh County sought other forms of inexpensive labor. The Court organized for “some 15 to 20 habitual drunkards, who make their homes in the county jail…” to work on park developments.156 Also due to the absence of federal funding, Little Beaver Dam officially removed its affiliation to 4-H. Little Beaver Park was officially dedicated as an independent entity on May 31, 1948.157
Though Little Beaver Park was no longer officially tied to 4-H, plans for the Raleigh County campsite remained next to the dam. Even without an in-county camp space, Raleigh County had some of the best enrollment numbers in the state in the late 40s and early 50s.158 The County Court briefly considered moving the site to a tract of land on Paint Creek which had already been purchased for use as a segregated black park.159 While this land had been deemed suitable for a recreation site and accessible for water, residents had long been promised a 4-H camp at Little Beaver, and the court decided to continue with the original site.
In February of 1952, the County Court filed the official order to dedicate 30-40 acres on Little Beaver Park land to a 4-H camp and programming center.160 The site welcomed its inaugural group of 4-H campers in June of 1954.161 The project was very much a community endeavor. Much of the equipment, labor, and fuel supporting the camp was donated by individuals or private businesses in Raleigh County.162 Several buildings on-site were loaned to 4-H from the Raliegh County Board of Education, and kitchen equipment was purchased with funds from surrounding 4-H camp.163 During the 1954 season, Raleigh County supported 46 4-H clubs and over 1,200 members.164 These members carried out 1,218 different service projects across the county, with boys working on agricultural and conservation projects and girls focusing on homemaking and sewing.165 Any 4-H member who completed their service was eligible to attend the county camp.
128 (Works Progress Administration: WPA & New Deal – HISTORY).
129 (Huge Four-H Camp Will be Erected in County, Raleigh Register, Aug 28, 1938, 1)
130 (Work to Start on Camp, Raliegh Register, November 4, 1938, 7)
131 (4H Camp Awaits Washington Okeh, Raleigh Register, October 13, 1938, 5)
132 (Federal Funds For 4-H Camp Approved, Beckley Raleigh Register, November 3, 1938, 5)
133 (Beaver Camp Needs More W.P.A. Money, Raleigh Register, June 13, 1939, 1)
134 (Beckley Sunday Register, Best of the 4-H Crop in County are Boys and Girls, January 15, 1939, 8)
135 (Raleigh Register, Four-H Camp Still Held Up, August 8, 1939, 10)
136 (Post Herald, Court Asks Written Bid On Waterproofing Work At County 4-H Camp Dam, April 8, 1942, 5)
137 (Sunday Register, Roosevelt Approves County 4-H Project, December 31, 1939, 5 and Raleigh Register, More WPA Money Available, August 26, 1940, 2)
138 (Beckley Sunday Register, That Lake is Ready at Last, January 4, 1942, 16)
139 (Beckley Post-Herald, Waking ‘Em Up, February 24, 1942, 4)
140 (Beckley Sunday Register, Coon Population Shows Increase, July 26, 1942, 10 and Beckley Post Herald, Warns Against Four-H Pool, Dr. Coram Recommends Against Swimming In Little Beaver, June 16, 1942, 1)
141 (Beckley Sunday Register, It Owned the Site, December 6, 1942, 4
142 (Beckley Sunday Register, Raleigh County WPA Will Be Dissolved Coming Week, March 14, 1943, 6)
143 (Feeding Victory: 4-H, Extension, and the World War II Food Effort Feeding Victory: 4-H, Extension, and the World War II Food Effort Katherine Sundgren)
144 (Beckley Raleigh Register, Lifeguards For Beaver Park Named, May 25, 1945, 10 and Beckley Raleigh Register, Fleming Named To Aid At 4-H Park, May 27, 1945, 4)
145 (Beckley Sunday Register, Park Board Says Area At 4-H Lake Too Small To Improve: J.B. Deck Is Named Director For The Summer, May 28, 1944, 10)
146 (Beckley Raleigh Register, Lifeguards For Beaver Park Named, May 25, 1945, 10 and Beckley Raleigh Register, Fleming Named To Aid At 4-H Park, May 27, 1945, 4)
147 (Beckley Raleigh Register, Bug Dust, Randolph Norton, June 25, 1945, 4)
148 (Beckley Raleigh Register, Condemning The 4-H Land, August 9, 1945, 4
149 ibid.
150 (Beckley Sunday Register, Legislature May “Legalize” Raleigh 4-H Dam, January 21, 1945, 7)
151 (Beckley Raliegh Register, Legislature May Legalize 4-H Dam, February 5, 1945, 1)
152 (Beckley Raleigh Register, Need More Land, March 12, 1945, 4)
153 (Beckley Raleigh Register, Court To Condemn Land; Rejects New Price Offer, May 16, 1945, 6) (When the Government Can Legally Take Property Via Condemnation or Eminent Domain | Home Ownership Legal Center | Justia)
154 (Raleigh Register, 4-H Lake Suit To Be Filed Tuesday, March 22, 1946, 1)
155 (Beckley Sunday Register, Park Board Sanctions $143,000 Levy, July 14, 1946, 1 and Beckley Raleigh Register, Court Approves 4-H Tax Levy, July 17, 1946, 8).
156 (Beckley Register, County To Put Drunks To Work On 4-H Park, January 3, 1946, 1)
157 (Beckley Sunday Register, Service Groups Plan Memorial Day Rites; Park to be Dedicated, May 30, 1948, 9)
158 (Beckley Post Herald, Waking ‘Em Up, Eugene L. Scott, July 3, 1951, 4)
159 (see: Fitzpatrick write-up for more information)
160 (Post Herald, They Will Find A Way, February 20, 1952, 4)
161 (Raleigh Register, Adult Leaders Working To Help 4-H Project, June 14, 1954, 12)
162 (Beckley Raleigh Register, County 4-H Camp Opens Monday Assistance Needed to Complete, June 28, 1954, 11)
163 (Beckley Raleigh Register, Kitchen Equipment Purchased For Raleigh County 4-H Camp, December 4, 1954, 13)
164 (Beckley post Register, Raleigh 4-H Program Embraces 1,200 Club Members, 80 Adult, March 6, 1955, 15)
165 ibid
166 Raleigh Register, Red Cross Swimming Classes Open Monday at Waterdale, June 1, 1956, 12, and Beckley Raleigh Register, State Trooper Talks Safety, July 9, 1959, 11, and Beckley Raleigh Register, Southern States Farm Talent Round-Up, July 31, 1955, 10)
4-H, Social History, and Community Inclusion
Black children were not initially permitted to attend Raleigh County’s 4-H camp. 4-H camps were segregated into the 1960s, meaning that black youth had to form their own clubs. This made establishing clubs harder due to the smaller black population. This also meant that children who wanted to take part in summer camps and 4-H programming on a larger scale had to travel to Camp Washington Carver, the only black 4-H camp in West Virginia. The burden of travelling out of county greatly diminished the number of black Raleigh County children who took part in 4-H. Further, black 4-H groups were sponsored by black colleges, black extension agencies, and black agricultural experts, all who earned significantly less than their white counterparts and who could not feasibly provide the same level of their support to their students. This added burden is reflected in participation statistics–1954, 150 white children attended the first camp session at Little Beaver while only 23 black children from the county went to Camp Washington Carver.167 For white children, having in-county access was transforming accessibility and engagement with the 4-H program.168 Some Raleigh County youth continued to attend camps in other counties, specifically the National Camp at Jackson’s Mill. However, the in-county camp allowed populations — such as rural and underserved children—to take part in 4-H.
In the wake of Brown v Board of Education (1954) and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 4-H integrated their programming. Black clubs dissolved, sending their club members to the local white clubs, and black extension service agents were integrated into “general” service agents. Camps, too, became integrated. While the Civil Rights Act of 1964 made racially segregated 4-H clubs illegal, though some clubs and camps remained illegally segregated into the 1970s. Further, when black camps closed their doors, many black children felt unwelcome joining established white clubs and camps, decreasing their participation.
The 60s were also when 4-H saw gender integration. While 4-H had been divided into boys’ and girls’ clubs and camp sessions since its inception, the mid-60s saw the adoption of gender-neutral programming and more practical girls’ uniforms.
167 (Post Herald, Estimated 175 Kids Attend 4-H Camps, July 6, 1954, 5)
168 (Post Herald, Raleigh County 4-H Camp Serving A Good Purpose, July 6, 1955, 4)