United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service

National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet

Section number 8 Page 1
 

Statement of Significance:

 Underhill State Park is located in Underhill, Vermont, within Chittenden County. The park is within the boundaries of the Underhill State Forest, which in turn is located within the larger Mount Mansfield State Forest. It sits below the majestic west slopes and rocky top of Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak (elev. 4,393 ft.) along the Green Mountains. The park, built in 1933, is significant as one of the 21 State Parks in Vermont constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s. Underhill State Park has played an important role in the history of Underhill State Forest, recreation on Mount Mansfield, the State Park System in Vermont, and as a lasting legacy of the CCC social movement to conserve resources and create recreation opportunities. Therefore, Underhill State Park is being nominated in the MPDF " Civilian Conservation Corps Resources in Vermont" for significance under Criteria A for its connection with the social, political and economic impact of the Great Depression and Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal Plan. In addition, in is being nominated under Criteria C for the integrity it has retained in its Rustic architectural style, popularized by the likes of A. J. Davis. Fredrick Law Olmstead , the National Park Service and the Civilian Conservation Corps. Underhill State Park clearly meets the state parks registration.

 History:

 Between December 1933 and August 1940, the Underhill State Park was the base of operations for Camp-S-60 of the Civilian Conservation Corps, Companies 1291 and 1135. The primary focus of Camp S-60 within the Underhill State Park was the upgrading of existing and additional construction to the Mountain Road on the west side of Mount Mansfield. Other accomplishments included the development of skiing and hiking trails and the establishment of the lower, public camping and picnic areas. Mount Mansfield was established much earlier in history as a popular tourist destination within Vermont for both residents and out-of-state visitors. In 1858 the Halfway House was constructed within the current park boundaries as a destination for hikers to leave their horses and buggies and later automobiles while en route to the summit of Mount Mansfield. It was reconstructed after a fire in 1879, and eventually torn down in 1939. The foundation stones (#14) still exist within a clearing next to the road constructed by the CCC in the 1930s.

 The arrival of the CCC in the Underhill Sate Park in 1933 permitted further development of its natural resources for recreation opportunities. In addition to the creation of numerous hiking trails, a road was constructed leading from the State Park north towards Nebraska Notch. Only about three miles were completed and work was stopped due to World War II. At that time it was envisioned that Underhill State Park would develop into a downhill ski area, similar to what was happening on the other side of the mountain in Stowe. This idea was abandoned in the post war era.

 The CCC accomplished a number of conservation measures within Underhill State Park and the surrounding State Forest, including the planting of Norway spruce groves, forest clearing, and the construction of drainage systems. The popularity of the CCC lower camping and picnic area prompted the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation to construct an upper Group Camping Area modeled after the CCC camp site construction, but of lesser quality in material, construction, and landscape integration.

 The Underhill State Park is significant under Criteria A because it retains the integrity of design, workmanship, and association with the objectives of President Roosevelt’s New Deal plan to utilize the unemployed men of the country to revitalize the nation’s depleted natural resources, and create recreation opportunities within the natural areas. The CCC at Underhill State Park under the guidance of Perry Merrill, State Commissioner of Forestry, created a park that represents the sentiments of the time regarding recreation, landscape design, and architecture. The Underhill State Park, like most other CCC constructed parks in Vermont, was designed to accommodate the growing interest in automobile tourism. Simultaneously, it was designed to maximize the relationship between the natural landscape, and constructed trails, vistas and buildings.

 The Underhill State Park is also eligible under Criteria C because it retains the integrity of its original landscape design and architecture. The lower camp and picnic area at the park is representative of CCC designs in the 1930s, which had been influence by the National Park Service and popular landscape designers such as Frederick Law Olmstead. The layout of trails, contouring of the CCC constructed road, campsite layout all blend with the spectacular setting on the steep hillside of the mountain and take maximum advantage of views of the mountains and the Brown River drainage. The buildings and structures constructed by the CCC at Underhill State Park retain the integrity of design, materials, craftsmanship, and feeling original to their construction. These constructions represent the influence of the National Park Service upon the CCC to show truth in architecture, design to blend with the environment, and utilize traditional craftsmanship and natural materials. The original CCC buildings, structures and works  including log lean-tos (# 1-4), fieldstone fireplaces (area A,B,C) , a ranger’s cabin (#8), toilet facility (#10), stone culverts, road sections ( #15),concrete dam (#16) and picnic shelter (#13) all represent the labor intensive building techniques of the CCC and the craftsmanship in striking juxtaposition to the contemporary (non-contributing) park structures.