Bill Jamerson will speak about the Civil Conservation Corps at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 2, at the Ada Public Library.

The Michigan-based author will present an hour-long music and storytelling program dressed in uniform. He will show clips of his PBS film, read excerpts from his novel, and sing original songs while playing his guitar.

The CCC was a federal works program created by the government in the heart of the Great Depression.

During its nine year run, beginning in 1933, more than 130,000 young men in Ohio enrolled in the program.

Enrollees were paid $1 a day with $25 sent home to their families each month. The money kept many families from starving.

The CCC in Ohio planted millions of trees, built hundreds of bridges and dams, constructed over 2,000 miles of roads, did erosion control, stocked fish, fought forest fires and built a dozen state parks.

Over 4,000 enrollees helped in the rescue and cleanup efforts during the 1937 food in Ohio.