The land between Fort Lewis Mountain and Catawba Mountain is called Mason's Cove after John Mason, Sr., who owned the original grant. In the early 1900s the land was used for a rock quarry and crusher, named Sandburg. The sand was used for the glass company eventually called Salem Glass, which permanently closed during the great Depression. There were eight dwellings and one hundred fifty people were employed there. The old railway is still located running along side Ward Haven.
The Civilian Conservation Corps (1933-1942) was instituted by President Roosevelt. It was designed to relieve unemployment for young single men. The C.C.C. Camp at Sandburg was one of the first and longest running. Herbert Ward worked there and later bought the land. There were lodgings on site for the men and the superintendent lived in the log cabin, which still stands. The Catawba (Sandburg) baseball team was recognized as one of the best in the area.
In 1941, it was made into an Army Mechanical school for two years, where soldiers were taught to work on jeeps, trucks and other equipment.
In 1942, Sandburg became a camp for German Prisoners of War until 1945. Over the three year period it housed one hundred fifty prisoners who worked in the local apple orchards.
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After World War II, the Apple Growers Association built more cabins on the property for their migrant workers that were housed there. It was called the Catawba Labor Camp. The Moore family lived on the property from 1948 to 1963. Mrs. Moore ran the camp and was paid $20 a week. Mr. Moore worked for the Norfolk & Western Railway. During apple picking season there were anywhere from three hundred to four hundred migrant workers living at the camp. They would ride school buses out every morning to the orchards.
Mary Gates and Debie Hicks are two of the Moore children that lived on the property. They have many fond memories of the buildings that once lined sidewalks and roads that went through the property. The jails from the prisoners of war camp were still standing when they lived there. There were hand made benches made of pine all around. The workmen from the C.C.C. Camp had taken pride in their work and the stone and wood work were beautiful as they recall. The basketball court that stands now was used for tennis in those days. The Abbot bus line still sends a bus to the camp that goes to New Castle, as it is the oldest charter bus route left.
The gentlemen who bought the camp from the Apple Growers Association cleared away most of the buildings and sidewalks. There is one log cabin still standing which is now used as a meeting facility.
In 1981, the Roanoke Valley Baptist Association opened the land as a retreat center. The RVBA built the three lodges and bath house that are now on the property.
The Civilian Conservation Corps (1933-1942) was instituted by President Roosevelt. It was designed to relieve unemployment for young single men. The C.C.C. Camp at Sandburg was one of the first and longest running. Herbert Ward worked there and later bought the land. There were lodgings on site for the men and the superintendent lived in the log cabin, which still stands. The Catawba (Sandburg) baseball team was recognized as one of the best in the area.
In 1941, it was made into an Army Mechanical school for two years, where soldiers were taught to work on jeeps, trucks and other equipment.
In 1942, Sandburg became a camp for German Prisoners of War until 1945. Over the three year period it housed one hundred fifty prisoners who worked in the local apple orchards.
Check out more of the story! Click here.
After World War II, the Apple Growers Association built more cabins on the property for their migrant workers that were housed there. It was called the Catawba Labor Camp. The Moore family lived on the property from 1948 to 1963. Mrs. Moore ran the camp and was paid $20 a week. Mr. Moore worked for the Norfolk & Western Railway. During apple picking season there were anywhere from three hundred to four hundred migrant workers living at the camp. They would ride school buses out every morning to the orchards.
Mary Gates and Debie Hicks are two of the Moore children that lived on the property. They have many fond memories of the buildings that once lined sidewalks and roads that went through the property. The jails from the prisoners of war camp were still standing when they lived there. There were hand made benches made of pine all around. The workmen from the C.C.C. Camp had taken pride in their work and the stone and wood work were beautiful as they recall. The basketball court that stands now was used for tennis in those days. The Abbot bus line still sends a bus to the camp that goes to New Castle, as it is the oldest charter bus route left.
The gentlemen who bought the camp from the Apple Growers Association cleared away most of the buildings and sidewalks. There is one log cabin still standing which is now used as a meeting facility.
In 1981, the Roanoke Valley Baptist Association opened the land as a retreat center. The RVBA built the three lodges and bath house that are now on the property.
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