New Deal Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

July 1, 1937: Watoga and Babcock State Parks Opened

On July 1, 1937, Watoga and Babcock state parks were opened to the public and quickly became centerpieces of the fledgling state park system. Both Watoga and Babcock were constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The CCC, one of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal programs, was designed to put young people to work during the Great Depression.

Watoga, located in Pocahontas County, is West Virginia’s largest state park. Workers at three CCC camps built Watoga’s original cabins, superintendent’s residence, stable, restaurant-administration building, 11-acre lake, horse and foot trails, 14 miles of roads, and swimming pool, all between 1934 and 1937.

During those same years, CCC workers established Babcock State Park in Fayette County. Like Watoga, Babcock was built on a former logging site. Babcock’s cabins, picnic shelters, and other structures were built from locally quarried stone and American chestnut trees that’d been killed by the chestnut blight. CCC workers forged the door latches and other metal work on site. Babcock’s famous Glade Creek Mill was added in 1976.

Watoga and Babcock are two lasting legacies of the CCC, which gave jobs to more than 55,000 West Virginians.

August 5, 1958: Jennings Randolph Defeats Former Gov. William Marland in Democratic Primary

On August 5, 1958, Jennings Randolph defeated former Governor William Marland in a Democratic primary. The special election was part of a process to fill the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Matthew Neely. In the general election, Randolph beat incumbent Senator Chapman Revercomb, who had been appointed temporarily to fill Neely’s seat.

Jennings Randolph was one of the giants of West Virginia politics. He was the first mayor of the town of Salem and helped found Salem College, now Salem International University. He was first elected to Congress at age 30 during the Democratic landslide of 1932. A dyed-in-the-wool New Deal Democrat, he worked closely with the Roosevelt Administration and, in particular, with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt in establishing the model town of Arthurdale in Preston County.

Randolph was re-elected to the House six times before losing in 1946. After rejoining Congress as a senator in 1959, he supported the Interstate Highway program and sponsored the constitutional amendment allowing 18-year-olds to vote.

Jennings Randolph was re-elected another four times to the Senate before retiring in 1985. He died in 1998 at age 96.

November 13, 1879: Arthurdale Educator Elsie Clapp Born

In 1934, Clapp brought this philosophy with her to West Virginia as director of the community school at Arthurdale. The Preston County town was the first of the nation’s New Deal subsistence homesteads. A pet project of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, Arthurdale was intended to give unemployed miners and their families a fresh start.

Clapp believed that Arthurdale’s school should tap into the students’ rural heritage and prepare them for real-life situations. For instance, they learned how to measure lumber for houses and built fiddles and guitars to be played at community square dances.

Ultimately, though, her strategy was rejected. The school was refused accreditation because it didn’t meet state standards. Others criticized Clapp for failing to prepare students to live in the modern world. She left after only two years at Arthurdale, and Preston County took over the school. But, her community-based approach to education would later become much more widely adopted.

Senator Harry F. Byrd Died: October 20, 1966

U.S. Senator Harry F. Byrd died on October 20, 1966. The Democrat was a pivotal political figure for much of the 20^th century.

Born in Martinsburg in 1887, Byrd was descended from the city’s leading families. His great-great-grandfather had built the historic Martinsburg mansion known as Boydville. His great-uncle was Charles James Faulkner, who had served as U.S. ambassador to France and as an aide to “Stonewall” Jackson during the Civil War. And his brother was polar explorer Richard E. Byrd.

He was raised in nearby Winchester, Virginia and lived much of his life in Berryville, Virginia. Still, Harry Byrd maintained close ties with West Virginia. His eastern panhandle apple orchard was once the largest in the Mountain State. And in 1907, he established the Martinsburg Evening Journal newspaper.

It was in Virginia politics, though, that Byrd made the biggest name for himself. After a four-year stint as Virginia governor, he served 32 years as a senator from the state. During this time, the “Byrd Machine” controlled Virginia politics. He is probably best remembered for his opposition to Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal policies and school integration efforts.

Nov. 13 1879 Arthurdale Educator Elsie Clapp Born

Educator Elsie Clapp was born on November 13, 1879, in Brooklyn Heights. She was influenced by progressive educator John Dewey, who believed that schools should have a direct impact on the communities they serve. In 1934, Clapp brought this philosophy with her to West Virginia as director of the community school at Arthurdale. The Preston County town was the first of the nation’s New Deal subsistence homesteads.