On this week's episode of North Country History with Rob Burg, I am joined by Bill Jamerson, an award winning documentary filmmaker turned author and performer, to discuss the life and experiences of CCC Boy Michael Rataj. Mike came from poverty in Detroit and came of age in the wilderness of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, where the CCC changed his life. Both Bill and I knew Mike and heard his numerous stories over the years, and we share some of our own stories and thoughts on Mike.

Michael Rataj was the perfect representative of what the CCC did for more than 102,000 young men in Michigan and millions across the country. For many years Mike was involved with both the National Association of Civilian Conservation Corps Alumni (NACCCA) and the Michigan Civilian Conservation Corps Alumni (MCCCA). Mike helped lead and organize the annual CCC Alumni Reunion that was held at Higgins Lake for many years, and was a volunteer and seasonal historical interpreter at the CCC Museum at North Higgins Lake State Park.

In 1993 Bill Jamerson produced his film on the CCC in Michigan, titled "Camp Forgotten." Michael Rataj was a contributor to the film. In 2007 Bill published the historical novel "Big Shoulders" about the coming of age story of a teenager who joins the CCC. Mike Rataj was Bill's main inspiration for the story and many of Mike's own experiences were used in the book.

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For more Information:

For Information on Bill Jamerson, his programs, films, book, and CD: http://billjamerson.com/

For information on the CCC Museum, its hours and programs: https://www.michigan.gov/mhc/museums/hln-ccc

For further information on the Civilian Conservation Corps in the United States: https://ccclegacy.org/

For further reading about the CCC:

Apps, Jerry. The Civilian Conservation Corps in Wisconsin: Nature’s Army at Work. Madison, WI. Wisconsin Historical Society Press. 2019.

Hivert-Carthew, Annick. Proud To Work: A Pictorial History of Michigan’s Civilian Conservation Corps. Wilderness Adventure Books. 2006.

Rosentreter, Roger L. Roosevelt's Tree Army, Michigan's Civilian Conservation Corps. Lansing, MI. Michigan Bureau of History. 1986. (It is available online at: https://www.michigan.gov/mhc/museums/hln-ccc/ccc-in-michigan)

Schueller, Mary J. The Soldiers of Poverty. Richfield, WI. Rustic Books. 2006.

Sommers, Barbara W. Hard Work and a Good Deal: The Civilian Conservation Corps in Minnesota. St. Paul, MN. Minnesota Historical Society Press. 2008

Symon, Charles A. We Can Do It! A History of the CCC in Michigan 1933-1942. Escanaba, MI. Richards Printing. 1983.

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Conservation and Reforestation in the North Country was of great importance in the beginning of the Twentieth Century, several states had their own programs to bring back forests, and the United States Forest Service was created to replant forests across the country. These programs did some good, early work, but the most important impact was made in the wake of the Great Depression.

When Franklin D. Roosevelt was innaugurated as the 32nd president in 1933 he offered up his "New Deal" to put the country back to work. One of his most successful programs was the establishment of the Civilian Conservation Corps. This week I am joined by Phil Naud, a CCC historian, who speaks about the creation of the CCC, the work that they performed in Michigan, and about a special population of enrollees, Military Veterans of the Spanish-American War (1898) and the First World War (1917-1918).

In Michigan, the CCC would do great work to stimulate the regrowth of the forests that were largely destroyed during the 19th century lumber boom, and by the wildfires that followed. More than 484 million trees were planted by the CCC in Michigan alone from 1933-1942. More than 102,000 men served in the CCC in Michigan, doing everything from planting trees, fighting fires, building roads, bridges, dams, and airfields, creating or improving parks and campgrounds, and doing stream improvement, among other jobs.

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Episode Corrections:

At 7:02 I mention eight national forests in Michigan. This is incorrect. There are four in Michigan, eight in the Great Lakes region (Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin). The four in Michigan are: Huron NF and Manistee NF in the Lower Peninsula (they are managed jointly as the Huron-Manistee National Forest), and Hiawatha NF and Ottawa NF in the Upper Peninsula. The Marquette NF was also established in the Upper Peninsula, bust was later merged into the Hiawatha NF.

At 13:19 I respond to Phil's comment about the U.S. Senator from Michigan who suggested work that could be done. I said Vandenburg (Senator Arthur Vandenburg from Grand Rapids). It was actually James Couzens from Detroit. Couzens had been an executive with the Ford Motor Company and Mayor of Detroit before he was elected to the U.S. Senate.

Additional Reading:

Carr, Ethan, Wilderness by Design: Landscape Architecture & the National Park Service. Lincoln, NE. University of Nebraska Press/Bison Books. 1998. (There is information regarding Recreational Demonstration Areas including Waterloo and Yankee Springs Recreation Areas in Michigan.)

Cohen, Stan. The Tree Army: A Pictorial History of the Civilian Conservation Corps, 1933-42. Missoula, MT. Pictorial Histories Publishing Company. 1980.

Rosentreter, Roger L. Roosevelt's Tree Army, Michigan's Civilian Conservation Corps. Lansing, MI. Michigan Bureau of History. 1986. (It is available online at: https://www.michigan.gov/mhc/museums/hln-ccc/ccc-in-michigan)

Schueller, Mary J. The Soldiers of Poverty. Ritchfield, WI. Rustic Books. 2006. (This is the book I referenced of the enrollee going from southern Illinois to Wisconsin to Isle Royale.)

Symon, Charles A. We Can Do It! A History of the CCC in Michigan 1933-1942. Escanaba, MI. Richard's Printing. 1983.

Additional Online Information:

CCC Legacy: https://ccclegacy.org/

Higgins Lake Nursery and CCC Museum: h

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This episodes marks the beginning of Season 2 of the North Country History with Rob Burg podcast. We look at what will be coming up on Season 2 airing from June through August, 2025. But first we recap Season 1 as a refresher and also an introduction for new listeners.

Season 2 will bring new guests to the podcast, take a look at the origins of the lumber industry in the United States in the Northeastern states of Maine, New York, and Pennsylvania, explore some new topics in forest history and to also revisit the lumber industry discussing technological changes, and the labor force of the lumber industry.

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Season 2 Schedule:

June 2 S02.E02: Introducing Season 2 & Recapping Season 1.

June 9 S02.E03: The Civilian Conservation Corps Part 1: The New Deal's Outdoors Restoration Program. With guest Phil Naud.

June 16 S02.E03: The Civilian Conservation Corps Part 2: The Life of a CCC Boy. With guest Bill Jamerson.

June 23 S02.E04: Logging in the Northeast, Part 1: Maine-The Birth of an Industry.

June 30 S02.E05: Logging in the Northeast, Part 2: The Adirondacks.

July 7 S02.E06: Logging in the Northeast, Part 3: Penn's Woods.

July 14 S02.E07: Fire Follows the Axe: Lumber, Wildfires, and Climate Change.

July 21 S02.E08: The Passenger Pigeon. With guest Kyle Bagnall.

July 28 S02.E09: Lumber, Lakes & Lighthouses. With guest Bruce Lynn.

August 4 S02.E10: Railroad Logging.

August 11 S02.E.11: Sawmill Technology.

August 18 S02.E12: The Labor of Logging, Part 1: Timber Cruisers, Shanty Boys, and River Hogs.

August 25 S02.E13: The Labor of Logging, Part 2: The Men and Women of the Lumber Towns.

2025 North Country History Podcast Tour: N. Lower Peninsula/Upper Peninsula of Michigan, N. Wisconsin, and N. Minnesota. July 31-August 16, 2025.

• Frederic MI: "Deward: The Last of Michigan's Lumber Boomtowns."
• Pigeon River Country State Forest
• Mackinac State Historic Parks
• Peshtigo Fire Musem
• Nicolet National Forest
• Cathedral Pines Natural Area
• Lumberjack Steram Train & Camp Five Museum
• Rhinelander WI
• St. Croix River National Scenic River
• Snake River Fur Trading Post
• Hinckley Fire Museum
• Forest History Center
• Ely MN
• Superior National Forest
• Grand Portage National Monument
• Gooseberry Falls State Park
• Chequamegon National Forest
• Ottawa National Forest

How to Connect with North Country History

Email: Rob.NorthCountryHistory@gmail.com

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