Beginning of State Reforestation
A concern over the depletion of Michigan's forest led
in 1899 to the creation of a forestry commission.
In 1903 the first state forest was set up by the legislature
on cut-over, burned-over lands in Roscommon and
Crawford counties. The same year also saw the start
of organized forest fire protection and the establishment of
Higgins Lake Nursery at its present site.
thus began the program of reforestation in Michigan
(source- Historic site sign at CCC camp)
Civilian Conservation Corps
Under the leadership of president Franklin Delano Roosevelt,
Civilian Conservation Corps camps were established during
the early thirties. F.D.R. recruited thousands of unemployed
youth and sent them in battle against the destruction and
erosion our of natural resources. This action brought together two
wasted assets- the young men and the land- an effort that saved both.
(source- Bronze plague at CCC camp)
From 1933 until 1942,young men from Camp Higgins Lake did
most of the work at the nursery. They collected pine cones, then
their seeds and raised them to saplings on this site.
Workers at other camps planted seedlings from the
nursery on state park and forest land across the state.
