EARLY HISTORY OF CHERRY COUNTY, NEBRASKA

     (79) The Fish & Wildlife Service, under the Department of the Interior, recognized the value of certain lakes in Cherry County, and during 1932 and 1933, approximately 70,000 acres of land were acquired through purchase, for the purpose of establishing a National Wildlife Refuge.

     In 1935 a Civilian Conservation Camp of approximately 200 personnel was authorized for development work on the refuge, and the camp site was located on the west end of Hackberry Lake. A work program, outlined by refuge personnel, accomplished the following improvements:

     The entire refuge boundary line consisting of about 125 miles, was fenced with a five strand barbed wire fence. Roads and trails were built to gain access to major lakes and important areas. Several artificial pot holes were constructed to increase potential nesting sites for waterfowl and insure water during dry seasons. Fruit bearing trees and shrubs were planted to increase the food supply and improve cover conditions for upland game, and song and insectivorous birds.

     Three sets of substantial buildings were constructed to house refuge employees and five over night patrolman cabins were set up at convenient locations. Two 100-foot steel observation towers were erected to aid in law enforcement, fire detection, and to observe bird migration. Twenty-five miles of telephone lines were installed between refuge residences and observation towers, to expedite communication and direct suppression of prairie fires.

      All the many ranch buildings on the refuge when acquired, were razed and materials salvaged for future use.

     The Civilian Conservation Camp was abandoned Oct. 1, 1939, and the development work on the refuge was augmented by a Works Progress Administration Project during 1938 and 1940.

     Three of the major lakes of the refuge, Dads, Dewey, and Hackberry were set aside for public fishing. The use of motor boats or fire arms are not permitted on the refuge.

     At such time that land seasonably becomes surplus to the needs of wildlife, special use permits are issued to applicants for haying and grazing privileges at prevailing rates. The harvesting of surplus fur bearing animals and the control of predatory animals is accomplished through share trapping, (80) under special permits. Twenty-five percent of the net proceeds derived from special use permits, issued on this refuge, return to the Treasury of Cherry County, to supplement school and road funds.

     Dr. Ward M. Sharp was the first refuge manager, serving in that capacity until transferred to the Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, in Montana, in June, 1943. Mr. Ralph C. Winslow was transferred from the Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge in Idaho, to succeed Dr. Sharp.

     During World War II certain areas of the refuge were made available to the War Department as a practice bombing range in training bomber crews for combat duty.

     Grist mill erected by Ferdinand Hoefs on Evergreen Creek near Wood Lake, in 1886. Early settlers took their corn and wheat to this mill to be made into meal and flour.

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