CCC Shelter, Lockport

How good of Google to remind us yesterday of a lunar eclipse than could not be seen from North America. But Google is an international company, so it makes sense, and it was a fine doodle. At about 9:30 last night, a full Illinois moon emerged from cloud cover, and it was a fine moon. But ordinary bright white. I'll try to catch the December 2011 lunar eclipse, but something tells me that will mean getting out of bed during the wee hours of a winter night, rather than standing in the warm air and green grass of a June evening.

A web site called Civilian Conservation Corps Legacy tells us that "today citizens still drive on roadways built by the men of the CCC. Vast expanses of public land are connected through scenic byways and fire trails. Lodges, cabins, picnic pavilions, and many other recreational structures still stand as a testament to the craftsmanship and design of the CCC program. One of the most recognizable examples of a scenic road in the central eastern United States is the Blue Ridge Parkway and Shenandoah National Park."

That, and that the men of the CCC planted nearly 3 billion trees, built the infrastructure of 800 or so state parks, fought fires, operated fish hatcheries and did other things. Besides remitting $25 in fat 1930s dollars every month to their families, who presumably needed it. Looking around more, and I found this newsreel clip.

The CCC comes to mind because as we strolled along the I&M Canal in Lockport, I saw this structure across the canal and across the street paralleling the canal (fittingly, Canal Street).

Though on the other side of the canal, it was easily accessible by footbridge. Ann and I went over for a closer look. It's in reasonably good shape, though some of the stonework is worn, and clearly people have been ignoring a NO FIRES sign on the building, since the fireplace inside had been used not too long ago.