New Reproduction Service Shoes - Type I Pattern with All-Leather Sole

For the first time, a replica of the Army Service Shoe with a leather rather than composition sole is now available. The new shoe has been brought to market by SM Wholesale, a noted vendor of replica uniforms for film and TV productions.

Up to now, no one has made an "off the rack" Type I Service Shoe--all prior replicas match the US Army Type II pattern with rubber heels and taps.

As the Handbook discusses, there is ample evidence to justify wearing service shoes with composition soles for CCC impressions. That said, a purist CCC living historian might prefer SM Wholesale's new leather sole service shoe as a still-closer approximation to the true early 1930s shoe which would have had both a leather sole and a stacked leather heel.  

In making a choice, quality may enter into the calculation. Among WWII reenactors SM Wholesale has a reputation for goods which are affordable, but more "prop grade" that "heritage grade" in materials and workmanship. I cannot speak to the quality of these new 1930s service shoes, but I do have a pair of SM's black US Navy oxfords as a stand-in for the CCC low-quarter "sturdy black shoes," and the workmanship and materials of my SM oxfords are indeed a cut below heritage grade, though not out of line with the price point.

I would be eager to hear from anyone who gives these new SM Wholesale Type 1 service shoes a try.

 

 

Mobilization Expedient: Civilian "Levis 501-style" Denim Trousers

In an earlier post I highlighted a remarkable high-resolution photograph of the boys of Company 720, Baudette, Minnesota, 1933, collection of the Minnesota Historical Society. High resolution version available from MHS.

In that first post I singled out for attention the remarkable custom-printed CCC sweatshirt one boy is wearing. Taking a second look, I'm reminded that many boys in this image are also wearing civilian blue jean trousers, a notable deviation from standard CCC practice.

Below are screen captures of three boys from this group wearing jeans with arctuate hanging front pockets and reenforcing rivets in the general style defined by Levis 501s of the 1930s.

It seems likely that when this company was outfitted during the initial mobilization rush, the regional QMC depot had a shortage of Army denim fatigue coverall trousers and went into the market for a civilian substitute.

These jeans serve as a reminder that, when it comes to CCC-issue clothing, there is an exception to every rule. Issue of civilian-cut denim dungarees to a CCC company was clearly rare. Overwhelmingly, the denim work pants on CCC boys in vintage images are standard post-1919 US Army fatigue coveralls. However, in an organization as sprawling as the CCC, mobilized under such hasty conditions, expedients abounded. Sometime and somewhere, if it could happen, it probably did.

In any event, if you are a reenactor interested in creating a CCC impression, and want to wear your prized pair of full-cut, straight-leg 1933 selvage denim Levi's instead of boring M1937 fatigues, go for it. Now you have the image to make your case.

 

Object(s) of the Day: Deadstock Denim Fatigue Uniform Assemblage

In researching the CCC Uniforms Handbook I came across a remarkable post from May 2015 in the "Denimbros" forum, in which forum member Charles DiSipio of Historic Preservation Associates, the US rep for Buzz Rickson, presents a complete denim work uniform in pristine, deadstock condition from his personal collection.

The assemblage includes the M1937 denim pullover and trousers, heavy leather gloves, underwear and socks, as well as a rare pair of russett leather garrison shoes--the lighter, lined variant of the Service Shoe issued prior to World War II. The individual items were made under a mixture of CCC and USA contracts. The assemblage was issued as a group to a US Army Air Force enlistee; however, it every item in it could have equally well been issued to a CCC enrollee.

This is as close as any of us will ever come to seeing complete, skin-out CCC work uniform in original, as-issued condition.  Visit and enjoy the complete post and detailed photographs at:

https://www.denimbro.com/ccc-u-s-army-uniform-work_topic1679.html

Featured Reenactor: CCC Living History at Maryland State Parks' Senior Rangers

Senior Rangers is a new program developed by Maryland Park Service Ranger Jamie Petrucci of Patapsco Valley State Park, now also extended to Seneca Creek State Park under the direction of Ranger Shelby Smith. It offers active adults 55 and over an opportunity to explore the natural, cultural, historical and recreational opportunities of Maryland's parks through weekly explorations guided by Maryland Rangers and other DNR staff.

This spring I was honored to bring my character, "George Richter Jr." of Company 326, Camp S52, New Germany Recreation Area, to both Senior Ranger Programs.  Below are images of "George" interacting with the Senior Rangers.

Featured Reenactor: Civilian Conservation Corps Company 1860 (Veterans)/Camp SP-13 Red Rocks -- August 2019

Plans are in the works for a very exciting living history presentation later this year at one of the most iconic CCC sites: the world-famous Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, CO near Denver.

Though the music venue itself is known nationally and internationally, few are aware that the CCC camp which housed Company 1860, the builders of the venue, also survives in remarkably intact condition.  Denver Parks has begun a program to rehabilitate the camp structures and open some of them to the public: https://denverite.com/2018/04/30/red-rocks-camp-rebuild/.

Denver Parks rangers are working with Mr. Mark Headlee to plan a reenactment of life in Veteran's Company 1860 at Red Rocks, with a tentative date in August 2019.  This promises to be one of the  most exciting CCC living history events of the year.

Details will be provided here as plans mature.

Object of the Day: M1910 canteen from SCS5, Camp Chester, CA

M1910 canteen, Aluminum Goods Manufacturing Co. (AGM Co) 1918 manufacture date, issued to a CCC boy in California. He scratched it with his camp name, Camp Chester, and a list of work sites: Vacaville, Winters, Dixon, Sacramento and Oroville. On the other side is what seems to be either a camp code or his initials (too faint to read), plus SCS, USF, CCC, and ECW. Vertically on one side is U.S. CCC.  The owner was most likely in Camp SCS5, Company 4233 or 2933, working mostly on soil projects in the Central Valley. Canteen now in collection of the author.

New Jacket Added to Outerwear

Thanks to the distinguished militaria collector Mr. Kenneth Lewis, author of Doughboy to GI: US Army Clothing and Equipment 1900-1945, I have received photographs of an original CCC shawl-collared work jacket in plaid Mackinaw cloth from his collection.

In earlier versions of the Handbook, I expressed strong skepticism that this garment actually existed, as I had seen no original examples, nor can I locate an example in period photographs.  I am delighted to say I was wrong; Mr. Lewis's plaid work coat has now been added to the Handbook in the outerwear section.

I also owe an apology to Buzz Rickson for casting doubt on the authenticity of their 2017 plaid CCC work jacket replica. As it turns out, Buzz's plaid CCC jacket is identical to Mr. Lewis' original, right down to the spec date and contract date on the replica tag.  All honor to Buzz for crafting a superlative replica.

The Real McCoy also currently offers a replica plaid CCC work jacket. While not doubt of the same fine quality as all McCoy garments, it does not match the original example in Mr. Lewis' collection as closely as does the Rickson garment, having a bolder plaid pattern and simpler lines to the pockets and flaps. The differences could be artistic license, or, they could reflect McCoy working from a different and so-far unknown alternate original example. As always with CCC wear, much remains to be discovered.