Building Aransas National Wildlife Refuge -- Austwell TX USA
N 28° 17.375 W 096° 48.600
14R E 714776 N 3131227
The Aransas Migratory Waterfowl Refuge (now known as the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge) was created in 1937 as the by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Works Progress Administration
Waymark Code: WM161Q4
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 04/15/2022
Views: 1
Blasterz had no idea that the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge (then known as the Aransas Migratory Waterfowl Refuge) was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the late 1930s and early 1940s, and was also part of the Works Progress Administration.
After we read this information sign near the fishing pier and the picnic grounds, all of the older concrete infrastructure we spotted along the way in the refuge makes sense. There are numerous concrete culverts, drainage ditches, embankments, and service roads that all looked very 1940s to us.
All that critical but older infrastructure was built by the CCC and the only remnant of the camp itself is a ruin of a flagpole, with a US benchmark disk affixed to it, overlooking the San Antonio Bay.
The information sign at the CCC campsite reads as follows:
"BUILDING ARANSAS NWR
Today, all that remains of the CCC’s construction efforts is a concrete flagpole base still visible at this site.
[2 historic photos]
In 1937, Pres. Franklin D Roosevelt signed the executive order creating Aransas Migratory Waterfowl Refuge.
[Photo of President Roosevelt signing the Executive Order creating Aransas NWR]
[photo of the page of the Federal Register where the Executive Order was published]
Aransas Migratory Waterfowl Refuge was established on December 31, 1937, as “a Refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife . . . “ and “. . . for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other management purpose, for migratory birds.
[Group photo of CCC workers from February 14, 1939]
Shortly after the Refuge was established, workers from the civilian conservation Corps (CCC) and Works progress administration (WPA) were given the task of building the Refuge’s infrastructure.
The CCC and WPA were relief programs put into effect by President Roosevelt during the Great Depression.
Barracks, staff quarters, supply storage, maintenance shop, and mess hall facilities once stood in what is now the Refuge fishing pier area."
The waymark coordinates take you to the remains of the flagpole, the last vestige of the CCC camp. To get to the flagpole you must walk past sign.
Visit Instructions:
Logs must include picture of person with GPS'r in hand with the waymark and log of experience and any additional things learned about the waymark.