Camps of Crisis: The Intertwined History and the Enduring Legacy of the CCC and POW Camps

Join us for a comprehensive look at how the Great Depression and World War II reshaped the American landscape and our own local community. This program dives into the desperate conditions of the 1930s and the rise of FDR’s New Deal, specifically the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Through a rich collection of photos from Hamlin Beach State Park,  we will explore the daily lives of the young men who built our local parks and the lasting impact they had on their families and the nation.

The narrative then shifts to the severe labor shortages of WWII, detailing how a diverse workforce—including women, Bahamian migrants, and Italian and German Prisoners of War - stepped in to save local agriculture. We will focus on the critical role these laborers played in keeping Brockport’s own farms and canneries running during the war, including work for the historic Quaker Maid / A&P Plant and other regional food processing sites. Discover the fascinating history of these "Camps of Crisis" and how their legacy of labor and democracy-building lives on in our backyard today Registration Required*