The Civilian Conservation Corps was a federal relief program during 1933-1942 that gave jobless men work renovating abused lands. The Army built 48 200-man camps in South Dakota and provided food, clothing, medical care, pay and programs of education, recreation and religion for 23,709 war veterans and enrollees, single men aged 17-25 who sent $25 of their $50 wage to their families. Camps and work projects were supervised by another 2834 men. The Office of Indian Affairs sponsored the CCC-ID for South Dakota Tribes, housing 8405 men in youth boarding camps, home camps, and family camps. Camp DSE-224 was one of thirteen camps established in South Dakota during 1934 to help combat the effects of the deep drought, severe dust storms, and depression. Company 2751, a newly organized company, arrived by train at Lake Norden at 5 am August 4. By night it had moved bags and baggage for 236 men and three army reserve officers to the camp site and erected the mess tent, the first unit of the tent camp. Soon the men started to develop the Hamlin County chain of lakes. They raised some shorelines to maintain a uniform level of water in all six lakes. They dug a channel that connected Dry Lake with Lake Poinsett while a sidecamp near Lake Mary did the same for it and Lake Norden. The company left by train from Estelline at 9:30 am October 20.