Historical Reflections

This photo annotated “Swiglewksi on Cat – 1939” is from the collection of Joe Spitznagle. Spitznagle was assigned to Civilian Conservation Corps camp 722 in Hovland. It was a tough winter for the camp, according to the Camp Chips newsletter, which reported that a CCC enrollee had been stricken with scarlet fever. The enrollee was sent to the Burns and Christianson hospital in Two Harbors, where Camp Chips reported, he “has successfully combated the scarlet fever.” In the meantime, the camp was quarantined, leading to another item in Camp Chips under Barracks’ Notes which declared “Many a sleepless night must have been endured by the people of Grand Marais during our recent quarantine. Without the usual Hovland turnout, the town must have been pretty dead.” Enrollees did find time to get some work done though. Forestry News reported that the T40 Cat and bulldozer had been repaired. Perhaps it was the Cat pictured here.