President Franklin Roosevelt's Depression-era economic recovery program, the Civilian Conservation Corps, sought to strengthen America by employing citizens to improve local infrastructure. Over nine years, it gave jobs to three million men nationwide. They planted trees, more than 56 million in South Carolina alone, constructed roads, battled forest fires, and created parks. With no state parks, many South Carolinians had no opportunity for recreation in nature. Beginning with Cheraw State Park in 1934, the CCC developed 16 South Carolina parks, including this one. Often called "Sesqui," it was one of the earliest state parks established in South Carolina and opened in June 1940. Company 4469 was stationed at Camp P-71 a few miles away near Pontiac, South Carolina. After the land was deeded to the state in 1937, the CCC began building facilities including a lake, boathouse, picnic shelters, and a caretaker's residence.
