Fire at the Camp!

Last week the Scott County History Blog profiled the National Youth Administration Camp that was located outside of Shakopee in the late 1930s and early 1940s. With hundreds of young people living in one place, the camp was bound to be a hotbed of stories and misadventures. One incident in particular was profiled in the Shakopee Argus-Tribune on February 27th, 1941. Two days before the camp had been hit by a massive fire. The Argus-Tribune reported the basics of the fire, but allowed the bulk of the story to be told through a letter that “Ted”, a camp enrollee wrote home to his parents:

“Dear Mom and Dad:

“I know you’ve read all about it so there probably isn’t much left for me to tell.

“I was in bed when the siren blew, for the fire was discovered after lights-out. Nevertheless, I managed to be one of the first ones there., We used our hand extinguishers until enough fellows came to form a bucket brigade, but we knew it was out of control. While the fellows kept fighting some of us tried to salvage our tools and equipment until the heat became unbearable. You cam imagine our relief when the Shakopee Fire Department arrived, but our hopes were short lived, for the tanks of welding gas began to explode and it was impossible to stay. Chaska and Jordan also arrived with their equipment and we were able to pump water from the river yet the most we could do was keep the flames from the hanger and other buildings nearby. While we worked, we saw our welding shop go; practically helpless we watched the flames roar through the machine shop; we stood b as the firemen battled them through auto mechanics, where the fire was finally brought under control leaving but one wall standing.

“If you could have seen it in the morning; where the machine shop had stood, only the scarred heavy metal lathes, grinders, shapers and milling machines remain.  Two twisted cars and a wall are all that is left of the auto shop. Except for a few torn takes which held the welding gas, nearly everything is ashes.

“Of course we all felt pretty bad but words of encouragement began to lea from Cap Whelan’s office. Later at a meeting we learned that new machines and equipment were to be shipped immediately. We were also happy to hear that we have been offered equipment and shops by the businessmen of Shakopee to be used until our courses are reestablished.

” Fortunately our new welding unit was still in the storeroom, so it will be installed in a new larger shop

” Since the aviation classes can be held in Minneapolis, the auto mechanics and body and fender courses will be setup in the large space which was the hanger. Sheet metal drafting and blue print reading will be taught here at the project, while the actual work experience will be gained, for the time being, in a shop at Shakopee

“The people of Shakopee have been really swell. It seems that nearly everyone has tried to help. Besides the businessmen’s generous offers, we are are grateful to Chief Ring and his volunteer fire department

“I know you’ve all been worried. You’ll be glad to hear there were no serious accidents, a  few boys were scratched and our caretaker, Pat Hardegan was struck below the knee by a piece of tank when it exploded.

“Well, we’re all happy that things have turned out so well, and that everything will soon go on as usual

“Don’t bother to write, for I have my leave to come home for the weekend

Your loving son, Ted”

From New Deal to Navy: The National Youth Administration Camp in Shakopee

During the Great Depression Scott County, like numerous counties across the nation, was faced with the problem of homelessness. One road to relief was the construction of five “transient camps”, profiled in last week’s Scott County History blog post. These camps were an effective, but short lived solution. The administrative center of these camps was located just outside of Shakopee. Originally constructed in 1934, the Shakopee camp was emptied by 1938.  It was determined that the facility would have new life as a NYA, or National Youth Administration camp.

National Youth Administration Recuitment poster, 1941. Work Projects Administration Poster Collection (Library of Congress).

The National Youth Administration was a New Deal program launched in 1935. Similar to work-study programs for college students today, the NYA paid a grant stipend for part-time work to young people between the ages of 18 and 25. Some of this work was in the educational sector, helping out with administrative and maintenance tasks at academic institutions. Other projects provided on-the-job training in fields such as forestry, agriculture and construction. The goal was to provide meaningful paid work to young people that would teach on-the-job skills, giving beneficiaries an eventual leg up in the job market. An added aim was keeping young people from flooding the already strained traditional labor market.

The National Youth Administration Camp outside of Shakopee was a unique affair. It combined the work-study goals of traditional NYA jobs with the housing  of the former transient center. The Shakopee Argus-Tribune announced the development of the camp on March 31st, 1938. It described the goals of the program thusly: “…a practical education center for deserving young men between the ages of 18 and 25… it is not like the CCC [Civilian Conservation Corps] in that it is non-military. Boys enter on a six-month tenure. They will work a half day and study a half day and draw a small wage. The program is not one primarily of employment but one in which willing youths may be aided educationally”. An official bulletin printed in the April 7th Argus-Tribune formally stated “The primary purpose of this project is not to directly prepare young men for employment but to make possible exploratory experiences in various fields which may lead to self-maintenance and which will better qualify young men for worthwhile home and community life”. The educational opportunities listed were agriculture, auto mechanics, carpentry, welding, forestry, and shoe repair.  Basically, the camp provided a vocational liberal-arts education.

Headline announcing the construction of Shakopee’s NYA Camp. From the Shakopee Argus-Tribune, April 7, 1938. SCHS Collections

The camp was limited in who it served. Only males could enroll in the program, and they must “be certified as in need by an approved public relief agency”. Each enrollee drew $30.00 per month, $20 of which provided for room and board, and $10 for the boys and their families. The youths were housed in rough-cut cabins and provided with food in a mess hall, recreational facilities and medical care.

As time passed, opportunities at the camp expanded.  On March 20, 1939 the Shakopee Argus-Tribune reported that the camp was producing a radio program entitled “Tangled Lives”. Each week the program presented a dramatized enactment of a problem performed by NYA enrollees. Problems ranged from “Should I apply to College” to “Physical Disability”. After the performance, a team of experts would assemble to share possible solutions with listeners.

On September 1st, 1939 Hitler invaded Poland and, at least in Europe, World War 2 begun. While the US did not officially join the conflict until 1941, rumblings of war could be felt In Shakopee’s NYA camp. On September 14th, 1939 the Shakopee Argus-Tribune announced a $200,000 allocation to train camp youth in airplane mechanics through a program under the supervision of Col. Victor Page. In August of 1940, the camp youth began construction of two seaplane bases that would, upon completion, be shipped where they were needed. The work at the camp was focusing more and more on national defense.

Administrative building of the Shakopee NYA camp. The building was originally Murphy’s Inn, and was located on the site of what is now The Landing. SCHS Collections, 1938

On July 1st, 1941, nearly 5 months before US entry into WW2, the enrollment at the Shakopee NYA camp was suddenly bumped to the staggering number of 544. The order to increase enrollees came from the Office of Production Management in Washington, and specified that the new recruits be trained in defense production. Along with quarters for the new boys, a machine shop and facilities for training in radio operation and communication were added.

By 1942 the United States was firmly entrenched in war. On February 12th, 1942 the Shakopee Argus-Tribune announced that authority over the NYA camp would be formally transferred to the US Navy, who planned to use the facility to train recruits as Navy machinists.

After the end of World War 2 ownership of the camp lands was transferred to the Shakopee Public Schools. The rustic cabins that housed NYA and Navy recruits became rental properties, housing Scott County families until the early 1960s. Interested in visiting the old NYA camp? The ruins of Murphy’s Inn- first the Administration building of the transient camp, then the center of the NYA camp- are currently part of The Landing, a historic site in the Three Rivers Park District.

Written by Rose James, SCHS Program Manager