These remarkable stories come from "The Weekly Blast," a newspaper column written by the men of CCC Camp 4722, known simply as "4722's Cub." Through their witty and candid reporting, we get an intimate glimpse into Depression-era America and the lives of young men building America's wildlife refuges.
On a cold Tuesday night in January 1936, disaster struck Camp 4722. A small overheated stove caused a fire that destroyed the pump house, pumping plant, and two generators, leaving the entire camp without power or water supply.
The men had to rely on manual labor to supply water while repairs were hastily ordered and installed.
The CCC boys waged an ongoing battle against snapping turtles that threatened the waterfowl they were protecting. They set turtle traps throughout Hackberry Lake and even had surprise encounters.
One turtle they found was "about twenty inches across the shell" - a formidable opponent in their conservation efforts!
The winter of 1935-36 was brutal. The men frequently found themselves snowed in, sometimes for weeks at a time. They shoveled their way to Highway 20 repeatedly, only to have bigger storms bury their work.
Despite their hardships, they always helped their neighbors in need.
In March 1936, 300 mallard ducks were shipped by train from Lincoln's Pioneers Park to Hackberry Lake to boost the migratory waterfowl population. The ducks arrived in crates and were released into their new home.
The ratio was carefully planned: two hens to one drake. Game officials hoped these "completely wild stock" birds would establish a thriving population in the refuge.
Despite being isolated in the Nebraska Sandhills, the men enjoyed surprisingly sophisticated entertainment. Strong's Players performed live theater, complete with "a horse by the name of Silver King, a senorita, a hero, the senorita's duenna, a Don, and a villain."
They also had movies, including "We're in the Navy Now" and cowboy films they called "horse operas."
The men were constructing what they proudly called "the finest headquarters on any wild fowl or game reservation in the United States." The buildings were made of concrete and cinder blocks, completely fireproof.
The residence was so fancy they called it a "palace" with modern conveniences unheard of in rural Nebraska.
The author of these tales remains mysteriously anonymous, signing only as "4722's Cub." Through his writing, we know he was married (referring to "Miss Cub" and "Mrs. Cub"), had a child, and possessed a sharp wit and keen eye for human nature.
His writing style mixed humor with genuine affection for his fellow enrollees, and he wasn't afraid to poke fun at camp life while also celebrating their important conservation work.
The camp hosted researchers from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln conducting field studies in multiple scientific disciplines:
Advanced water management techniques were employed to create optimal waterfowl habitat:
Diversion Systems: Gordon Creek was diverted to fill Hackberry Lake when it threatened to drain completely in 1933.
Spillway Construction: Overflow channels from Hackberry to Dewey Lake managed excess water during flood periods.
Well Drilling: Strategic wells filled small "pot holes" to create additional nesting areas.
The camp pioneered tree-planting techniques for the challenging sandhill environment:
Peat Moss Technology: Each tree was planted with soaked peat moss that could absorb "a greater number of times its weight in water than any substance we know of."
Acorn Collection: Systematic gathering and curing of acorns for oak tree propagation, creating future wildlife food sources.
Scientific breeding programs were implemented to restore duck populations:
Genetic Diversity: 300 mallards from multiple sources (4-H clubs, wild capture) with a 2:1 female-to-male ratio for optimal breeding.
Feeding Stations: Dr. Sharp established strategically placed grain stations across 69,000 acres to support wintering birds.
Nesting Enhancement: Artificial islands and protected cover areas increased successful reproduction rates.
Dr. Sharp - Refuge Manager & Biologist: Supervised wildlife management and established feeding stations throughout the refuge.
Biologist Kubichek (Washington, D.C.): Visited with educational films about American waterfowl nesting habits.
Engineers Glick & Madsen: Designed water control systems, fish screens, and surveyed the refuge for optimal habitat placement.
Landscape Architect Cope: Planned the overall refuge design and building placement from Bureau of Biological Survey headquarters.
Ecosystem Engineering: The Hackberry project represented cutting-edge 1930s conservation science, combining hydrology, wildlife biology, and landscape management in ways that were revolutionary for the time.
Research Foundation: The partnership with University of Nebraska researchers established field study protocols that influenced national wildlife management policies under the Bureau of Biological Survey (predecessor to today's U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service).
Adaptive Management: The systematic documentation of successes and failures in habitat creation provided crucial data for future refuge development across the Great Plains.
These young men of the Civilian Conservation Corps didn't just build buildings and dig ditches - they created one of America's most important waterfowl refuges using cutting-edge conservation science during the Great Depression. Their work at Valentine Lakes Refuge provided crucial habitat for migratory birds along the Mississippi Flyway, conservation benefits that continue today.
Through "The Weekly Blast," we see not just the physical work they accomplished, but the pioneering scientific methods they employed and the spirit, humor, and dedication they brought to their mission. They transformed both the landscape and themselves, proving that even in America's darkest economic hour, young people could accomplish remarkable things when given purpose and opportunity.