DSE-212 Tom BerrySouth Dakota Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp 3 Mi SE of Belvidere, SD
1934, 07/31 - 1934, 10/20, 2748
Closed: 1934, 10/20
Organized as a drought relief camp, it was located on the White River south of Belvidere. It was named in honor of Tom Berry, governor of South Dakota, whose home was nearby (1935). The CCC history states that the camp was 4 miles south of Belvidere, but the Jackson County map shows that the river is only 3 miles southeast of the town, via S. D. Highway 40. James Sjurson and a friend of his were both stationed at Tom Berry. Both believe it was only a mile or so from town.
Company 2748 was at the camp from July 31 to October 20, 1934. It was then transferred to Camp F-15 (Tigerville).
It was organized July 12, 1934, at Camp F-11 (Haselrodt) as a drought relief company. On July 30, it left from Custer by train for its new home. It arrived at Belvidere at 4 a.m. on July 31. Breakfast was served on the train, and the men began unloading. By night the company was settled in its new tent city. During the next few days everyone was busy building a camp road, hauling gravel, and cleaning the campsite (1935).
T. K. Moe, project superintendent, arrived August 3, and work began in clearing the area for the construction of a dam on Black Pipe Creek about 19 miles south of Belvidere (1935) which is probably 9-10 miles west of the settlement of Cedar Butte.
When completed the dam would be 1,400 ft long and create a 100-acre lake that would conserve water, reduce erosion, and be useful for recreation (1935). After 2 1/2 months of dust storms and unbearable heat, a sudden rainstorm washed out part of the dam (1937). Work continued, however, and when the company left on October 20, 1934, enough water had accumulated to form a lake of about 25 acres (1935).x