During a time of immense hardship and uncertainty, the CCC Company 850 Plaque stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Right here, on what are now the baseball fields of Mesquite High School, once stood a beacon of hope during the tumultuous years of the Great Depression. The CCC Company 850 Plaque commemorates the young men of Civilian Conservation Corps Company 850 who lived and worked here from 1935 to 1941. Imagine a bustling camp with 24 barracks, a mess hall, a health facility, and even a recreation hall. This was home to 250 young men from across Texas. These were not soldiers but young men, some just teenagers, seeking a chance to earn a living and support their families during those difficult times. They were paid a meager $30 per month, but $25 of that had to be sent home to provide relief for their loved ones. The work was grueling. These young men toiled under the Texas sun, their hands shaping the land, their backs bearing the weight of a nation’s recovery. Their efforts were focused on soil conservation, a critical need in the wake of the devastating Dust Bowl. They built levees along the East Fork of the Trinity River, erected fences, and introduced terracing techniques to combat erosion. These men, armed with shovels and grit, left an enduring legacy on the very land you stand on today. The CCC Company 850 Plaque serves as a powerful reminder of this transformative chapter in American history.
Harrison Cemetery Plaque
Is it possible for a place to hold so much history in just one acre? You might not think so,