Boulder Park Built by the CCC

Boulder Park Built by the CCC at the Chester Blandford State Forest

July 18th at 10:00 am

Hike Rating:  Easy going with ups and downs and tree roots, stone steps and bridges.  Just over two miles of trails (some are ADA accessible) that loop and crisscross among CCC built history including historic structures.

Directions:  From the center of Huntington on Route 20 by Stanton Hall drive West two miles to see Boulder Park on your left.  From the center of Chester, Carm’s Restaurant drive East two miles on Route 20 past Sanderson Brook Falls to see Boulder Park on your right. 

Join DCR Interpretive Coordinator Alec Gillman at one of the hidden Hilltown History gems. In 1933 President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), a federal program to provide employment opportunities for young men during the Depression. The program’s focus was to improve the country’s forests and recreational resources. The CCC was active in Massachusetts from 1933 to 1941. At the peak of CCC operations the state had a total of 51 camps enrolling 10,000-men.

One of the most lasting contributions of the CCC was the construction of park recreational facilities. Built of rough-hewn, on-site materials, the lodges, cabins, shelters, picnic pavilions, bath houses and other structures were designed to reflect the color and texture of their surroundings. Hiking trails, stone steps, log guardrails and stone retaining walls along roads were artfully designed to enhance the visitor’s experience of the park.

In June 1933, the 113th Company of the CCC, began work in the Southern Hilltowns region of Massachusetts, resulting in a number of facilities in and around Chester, including Boulder Park. As you walk along the paths, envision the back-breaking labor done by these young men, who chose this work as a means to provide for themselves and their families during a time of economic hardship.  The work of the CCC has left a lasting legacy of parks and other recreational resources for all to appreciate. The men who undertook these projects can be remembered with great pride.

Established in 1933 by FDR, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a New Deal program combating Depression-era unemployment by hiring young men to improve national forests and recreational resources. In Massachusetts, 51 camps and 10,000 men constructed lasting park facilities, including structures in Chester and Boulder Park from 1933–1941. 

Key Aspects of the CCC in Massachusetts (1933–1942):

• Purpose: To provide jobs for young men while conserving natural resources.
• Operations: At its peak, Massachusetts hosted 51 active camps with roughly 10,000 workers.
• Legacy Projects: The CCC constructed durable recreational infrastructure, including lodges, picnic pavilions, bathhouses, and hiking trails using local materials, such as stone and log, to blend with the natural environment.
• Local Impact: In June 1933, the 113th Company began work in the Southern Hilltowns, establishing projects in Chester, such as Boulder Park, as part of the state’s extensive park development efforts. 

The CCC is regarded as one of the most successful New Deal programs, transforming American public lands and providing work for about 3 million men nationwide before closing in 1942

Please Register per vehicle on https://events.ticketleap.com/events/westernmasshilltownhikers  Maps and bottled water provided.  Well behaved dogs welcome. Event is volunteer lead. Suggested donation is $15.  More details are on www.hilltownhikers.com .  Please email westernmasshilltownhikers@aol.com or call/text 413-302-0312 if you have any questions.  As always be prepared for rocks, mud and roots, bring trekking poles and a snack!

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GROUP HIKES AND TOURS SINCE 2010

Mission Statement:  Western Mass Hilltown Hikers, Inc. is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes to engage in all legal activities relating to the development, maintenance and operation of historical properties and tours, recreational hiking and outdoor adventure in Western Massachusetts.  Western Mass Hilltown Hikers, Inc. provides monthly, guided group tours of historical hiking destinations in various locations of Western Massachusetts. We also provide volunteer trail maintenance for trails, maintain our historic conserved properties and provide educational presentations to other civic groups, non-profit organizations, libraries and schools.  We are a non-profit 501C(3) organization incorporated in the State of Massachusetts. Tax ID #86-2532249

IMPORTANT: For all activities, participants must come prepared with adequate water and food. Dress appropriately in layers for the weather, including rain gear, and wear proper hiking footwear. The hike leader has the discretion to deny people participation if they are not adequately prepared. Contact us via email or text with any questions. Most hikes are listed as “Dog Friendly” or “Dogs on Leash are welcome.”  If leashing is required you must keep your dog on leash!  Please do not bring a dog if it is not reliably under your control, leashed or otherwise, and be prepared to pick up after your dog.

Adults bringing minor children are fully responsible for their safety and well-being. For children under 14, please contact us to ask if it is permissible to bring them (some hikes may be difficult for them and a liability release is mandatory). Hikes leave from the trailhead at the “Leave Time.” Please ARRIVE at the trailhead prepared to hike at least 10 MINUTES earlier than the Leave Time.