Burlingame State Campground
The 3,100 acres of rocky woodland belonging to this area nearby surround Watchaug Pond in Charlestown. The entrance to the park headquarters and camping area is off U.S. Route #1 just south of the entrance to the Naval Auxiliary Landing Field. Between these two points is located the entrance to the main park, picnic area and the Kimball Sanctuary via Prosser Trail, now being resurfaced and straightened. Rather extensive picnic facilities, 73 fireplaces, toilets, drinking water, swimming beach and bathhouse make this one of the most popular state recreation areas.
Burlingame was acquired as a state park and land-management area beginning in 1927. [Time line information: three years after the first national conference on outdoor recreation.] It is named in honor of Edwin A. Burlingame, chairman of the former Metropolitan Park Commission during the 1930s. During the depression, the reservation was the headquarters of Burlingame Camp,141st Company, Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the first CCC camp in the state. Civilian Conservation Corps development began in 1933 and until the corps was disbanded in 1942, it laid out miles of trails and roads. [Time line information: CCC national begun in 1933 employing more than two million in forestry flood control, soil erosion, and beautification projects to boost the economy while addressing the needs of the land.] During World War II several units of the Yankee Division, which did beach patrol, were stationed here. The American Legion leased 250 acres of the campground from 1946 through 1961 for "Legiontown Camps", boys camp that used the old CCC buildings.
