Clear Creek State Park Day Use District
Why it's listed
Built between 1933 and 1937 by Civilian Conservation Corps Camp S-53, the Clear Creek State Park Day Use Historic District lies along Clear Creek in the southeastern part of the park in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania. The district centres on a small lake formed by a CCC-built dam and includes picnic shelters with log roof supports, a bathhouse with a stone pavilion and central fireplace, a concession stand, a log residence built as the park superintendent's home, latrines, a first aid building and the dam itself. The buildings use logs, stone and board-and-batten siding in the rustic style promoted by the National Park Service, designed to blend with the natural setting. The district is significant for its association with the Civilian Conservation Corps, one of the central relief programs of the New Deal, and for its representation of federal and state cooperation during the Depression. Camp S-53 worked in the park until December 1937. One later office building, dating from 1969, does not contribute to the district.
Significance in brief: The district is associated with the Civilian Conservation Corps, a major New Deal relief program, and was built by CCC Camp S-53 between 1933 and 1937. Its buildings and structures exemplify the rustic style of architecture promoted by the National Park Service, using local natural materials and designed to blend with the landscape. The nomination also argues it represents federal and state cooperation on state-owned land and a humanitarian program that employed many jobless young men.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 87000018, listed February 11, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 4 mi. N of Sigel on PA 949, Sigel |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson County |
| Listed | February 11, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000018 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1933-1937 |
| Architect / builder | CCC Camp S-53 (builder) |
| Architectural style | Rustic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Landscape Architecture, Conservation, Politics/Government, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | National |
| Acreage | 13.7 |
| Coordinates | 41.32348, -79.07930 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 87000018.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q60241635
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.