This Texas Historical Commission marker, formally dedicated on September 30, 2006 and permanently positioned during the third week of October 2006, marks the site of a Civilian Conservation Corps camp that existed nearby from 1935 to 1942. As the marker explains, the camp was later used during the Second World War by the United States Army Air Corps as an induction center and also as a German P.O.W. camp. In its final form, the camp was used as overflow student housing by Southern Methodist University, following World War II and the return of veterans taking advantage of the then-new G.I. Bill.
The twin baseball diamonds seen in the background were laid out in 1954. They lie just to the east of the Winfrey Point recreation building and are accessible from East Lawther Drive or Emerald Isle Drive. They were constructed on the site of the old CCC camp after its buildings were sold or demolished in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
Placement of the marker was initiated by Richland College History Professor, Dr. Steven Butler, who wrote the historical narrative from which the marker text was derived. For The Love Of The Lake provided funds for both the marker and its decorative sandstone CCC-style base, designed by Dallas Park and Recreation Department official Willis Winters.
There were two dedication ceremonies. The first was held on Saturday, September 30, 2006, in conjunction with the annual meeting of veteran CCC enrollees. The second was held nearly a month later, on Saturday, October 28, 2006. This was due to the actual marker not being ready in time for the first ceremony. You can view both ceremonies on video below.
First dedication ceremony, Saturday, September 30, 2006
Second dedication ceremony, Saturday, October 28, 2006
To see what this historic part of White Rock Lake Park looked like in the 1930s and to learn more about it, please visit the "Gone, but not forgotten" section of this website.
