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City Lights to feature book on local man’s CCC days
By Justin Goble
A father’s memories of his time in the Civilian Conservation Corps will be brought to life when his daughter reads at City Lights this weekend
Waynesville resident Ann Melton will read from “My CCC Days: Memories of the Civilian Conservation Corps,” written by her late father, Frank Davis, at the bookstore on Saturday, June 10, from 1 to 3 p.m.
Waynesville resident Ann Melton will read from “My CCC Days: Memories of the Civilian Conservation Corps,” a book written by her late father, this Saturday, June 10, from 1 to 3 p.m. at City Lights Bookstore.
Davis, who passed away in January, met his wife while in the CCC and lived in Sylva for several years after he left the project. His writings detail his time spent working on construction projects throughout Western North Carolina and include many stories about what the young men in the CCC did during meal times and recreation as well as the many inventive ways they dealt with cold weather.
Melton said the idea for the book came when she was Christmas shopping a few years ago. She wanted to get a book on the CCC for her dad, but had a hard time finding one he would want to read. So she asked him to write one.
 “About four years ago, I was searching for a book on the CCC to give him for Christmas,” she said. There were really none to be had. I think I found two, but they were written by the government. I told Dad none of them would be interesting reading, and that he needed to write his stories. He was a wonderful writer and storyteller.”
Soon afterwards, the two began collaborating on the project, compiling stories from Davis’ time in the corps. Melton said one of the most interesting things about the experience was discovering the pictures and other pieces of memorabilia that had been saved throughout the years, much of which appears in “My CCC Days.”
“He started writing, and he would send a story to me every two weeks to type,” Melton said. “I would send them back to him for corrections and revisions. The amazing thing was that, once he started writing, we found out we had pictures for every story he had. Dad sent me pages out of an old scrapbook, and Mom had a scrapbook full of stuff too, so we were able to put a lot of pictures and memorabilia in the book.”
The CCC was started in 1933 by President Franklin Roosevelt as a work relief program. Young men did construction projects in rural areas throughout the country, making $30 a month ($25 of which was sent home to their families). Many projects took place in national parks.
Davis joined the CCC in 1934 when he was 18 years old. Most of the stories in the book are told from that 18-year-old perspective, which Melton said helps readers relate to what her father writes.
“These were just kids,” Melton said. “When they signed up, they didn’t know where they were going or what they would be doing. Dad didn’t even expect to sign up. He signed up with a friend.”
Much of what Davis writes about was unknown to Melton before she began reading his manucripts. While her father was a good storyteller, she said he didn’t talk about his time in the CCC until he began writing the book.
“I didn’t know anything about this,” Melton said. “Dad had never told these stories. Even though he was a wonderful storyteller and writer, he mainly wrote about his younger days – about things like going to school on horseback. He also told stories about other people. He didn’t write stories about himself.
“I think about how different that must have been for him, to leave home so young,” Melton said. “At the same time, I can see the adventure in it. Dad had a real sense of adventure. He was a brilliant man, and he loved to learn.”
Melton said another reason she urged her father to write the book was the public’s lack of knowledge about the corps and its work.
“Thanks to the CCC, we have these wonderful roads, trails and overlooks in our national parks,” Melton said. “I was amazed how many people didn’t know what the CCC was.”
In working on the parks, corps members received training they probably could not have gotten anywhere else, Melton said. Not only did the men have a job, they learned a skill that would help them long after they left the CCC, she said.
“CCC gave these people jobs, which many didn’t have back then since the (Great) Depression was going on,” Melton said. “When dad joined, his mother was bedridden with rheumatory arthritis. He felt a responsibility to support her, and this gave him a way to earn money. But not only that, these men learned a trade, and many of them used it the rest of their lives.
“Not only that, but Dad made lifelong friends,” Melton said. “When he died in January, I got his address book to let people know. About one-third of that address book was made up of friends Dad made while in the CCC.”
Since many young people are unaware of the CCC’s contributions, Melton said she is trying to get her father’s book in the hands of college professors and high school teachers.
“I got the names of 20 college professors across the state that are teaching their students about the CCC,” she said. “I’m sending each one a free copy of the book. The first one I talked to was very excited about it. I’m looking at doing something with high schools too. It’s a great book for them to read since it written from the point of view of an 18-year-old.”
With the publication of this book, Melton said she is hoping others will come forth and tell their own stories about the CCC. She also hopes those attending Sunday’s reading will bring any CCC memorabilia they have.
“ I would love to do a second edition,” Melton said. “I’m hoping that when the story comes out, people will come with their own memorabilia to share. All the memorabilia I have will be on display. I hope people will come in and see some of the pictures and say ‘that’s my dad’ or ‘that’s my uncle.’ I have a lot of pictures with people who aren’t identified.”
Though she is proud the book is getting out to the public, Melton said the experience is bittersweet since her dad isn’t going to be at the reading Sunday afternoon.
“It broke my heart that Dad died two months before the book came out,” she said. “He got to see the rough draft. He knew it was coming out. I just wish he could be at the book signing. I figure he’ll be there anyway, looking over my shoulder.”
For more information on Saturday’s event, contact City Lights at 586-9499.
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