County lake museum open house is Sept. 30 years ago
The newly established Marion County Park and Lake Museum, located west of the lake office, will be open to the general public for the first time on Sept. 30.
Residents have worked diligently for several months on the little limestone building, sprucing it up inside and out.
It has been furnished with numerous items related to the lake's construction by a federal CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) camp from 1936-39.
The history of the building was discovered in Cappy's Camp Courier, the camp newspaper. It was an enterprise planned, built, and operated by several CCC enrollees who were African-American veterans of the Spanish American War and World War I.
In 1938, two years after CCC Company V4755 arrived at the site, the 12x18-foot building was erected to serve as a wash house.
In keeping with other structures around the lake, it was expertly constructed of native limestone.
The building had a concrete floor with a drain and was furnished with hot water tanks, a sewing machine, tables, tubs, irons, a gasoline washing machine, and a Hoffman pressing machine.
All underclothing, fatigues, socks, shirts, trousers, etc., unpressed or rough dry, cost 50 cents per month. For $1.25, all clothing would be washed and two dress G.I. uniforms would be cleaned and pressed twice a month.
Laundry and dry cleaning bills were payable on payday. The business earned approximately $200 per month.
Cappy's Camp Courier noted that this establishment was the only one of its kind in the entire CCC, which included 2,650 camps throughout the United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
After the camp had completed its work and moved on, the building served several other purposes and ended up as a storage shed. It remained straight and strong throughout the passing years.
In 2002, the building along with the park and lake, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In April of this year, Marion County Commission gave lake residents permission to turn the building into a museum commemorating the history of the park and lake and its destination as a recreational site.
Volunteers got busy, washing off hundreds of mud dauber nests, removing junk and rotten window frames, building a door, replacing electrical wiring, and installing new donated windows and air-conditioning.
They discovered inexpensive ways to display artifacts, books, and miscellaneous items. A concrete stoop was laid outside the door, and a used desk and showcase were acquired.
Some residents donated money to cover the minimal costs involved in the project.
The Sept. 30 open house is slated to begin at 2 p.m. Refreshments will be served.
