Cultural Resources Evaluation of Camp Wahsega, Lumpkin County, Georgia

Camp Wahsega is located on Ward's Creek in northwestern Lumpkin County, Georgia. It was built in 1933 by members of Civilian Conservation Corps Camp F-11, who were Veterans of World War I. It was occupied by the CCC until 1937, then by the Works Progress Administration as a youth recreation camp until 1942, and from 1946 until the present was used by the Georgia Agricultural Extension Service as a 4-H Camp. Eighteen of the original rustic peeled chestnut log and board-and-batten cabins, a guest house and the dining hall remain from the CCC period. Additional structures have mostly been built to blend with them. Maintenance was carefully done so the buildings retain much of their original impressions. It is proposed to transfer the buildings and other improvements of the camp from the National Forest to State of Georgia Agricultural Extension Service management, while retaining Federal ownership of the land. Under Georgia control, this fine example of Depression Rustic architecture and construction, built in Federal response to a national socio-economic crisis, would be under the oversight and care of the State Historic Preservation Officer. It would not be likely to suffer adverse effects from continued use as a youth camp, thus such a transfer from Federal to State control would have no effect on these cultural resources. Therefore, the cultural resource clearance for proposed transfer is recommended.