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__i a : $ i~. i :,y n-. p Fge.. . Vii: ~ ~d ~r~~!~4~.v+!,sr.."#»~'1~~r+e~~I.«.,w»~~...f k ~R a Vie, Y"'t.~dA3+tY9 T+~M~~+taa'iwcy~tl( ~~w .`~~'.~y~ ~ ;~e~~~ M E ` i - s . a ~ d w. x ~ ~ -.^t ~AMK ~ ~ . }~WYct'' a'4 x x s a modest path leading from the train station that it was deemed unfit for human contact. camp skinner, Shown here in to the summit, and a few trails through the The old swimming hole was vacated and 1933, brought a new wave of ' forest on the north side of the butte, are all the bath house, docks and other structures civic improvements to the park that would be realized. removed. The Depression Another beautification effort was As the economy collapsed, interest in undertaken on Armistice Day in 1934 to improving the parkflagged until the Civilian plant trees on the butte. A 24-foot high Conservation Corps (CCC) established a wooden cross, outlined in red neon, was regional base in Skinner Butte Parkin 1933. also erected on the top of the butte in 1936, Dubbed "Camp Skinner," this extensive setting the stage for a controversy that facility was located in the former car would last for decades. - camping and picnic area, and served as a - hub for the regional efforts of the CCC as Controversy had also broken out over the well as office headquarters for the Work marker commemorating the original Progress Administration (WPA) and the location of Eugene Skinner's cabin that had National Youth Administration (NYA). Some been placed by the Daughters of the of Camp Skinner's buildings are still in use American Revolution in 1906 on Second , today near Cheshire Avenue and Lincoln Avenue at the alley between Lincoln Street Once a major Street. Along with many other projects and Lawrence Street. Phoebe Skinner community around the Eugene area, the CCC Kinsley, daughter of Eugene and Mary swimming area, the undertook the construction of the basalt Skinner, was born in the cabin in 1850. She Willamette River in retaining walls and stairways on the north had become convinced that the original Skinner Butte Park _ side of Skinner Butte, and cleared picnic marker was placed in the wrong location, yeas closed to areas. Although the camp closed less than and initiated an effort to place a new marker swimming in the a year later, transient workers for the State across from the old quarry site. In 1930, 1930s due to j Emergency Relief Administration (SERA) Phoebe and the DAR placed the new pollution moved into the vacated buildings and marker. Today, this marker has been retired continued the park improvementwork. The to the Lane County Historical Museum for R~...r ; old stone fireplace that still stands at the safekeeping, and has been replaced by a ! northeast foot of the butte is testimony to new one constructed with the help of the their work, along with other road building Eugene Rotary Club. The debate f' and landscaping projects. continues, however, as to the exact location of the original cabin. As another symptom of a growing, industrialized society, the Willamette River The Local Parks Revolution was closed to swimming in the 1930s. The The 1940s saw the beginning of renewed water quality had become so poor from enthusiasm for park improvements. Fred u stream sews a and industrial oll to is p g p u n Lamb, the parks superintendent m the early 1940s, oversaw the clearing of more picnic ~ ' ~ 32 Chapter 2: Natural History and Cultural Context -