Umstead Coalition - A Brief History of William B. Umstead State Park

A Brief History of William B. Umstead State Park

William B. Umstead State Park was initiated in 1934 by a grant application from the Department of Interior (National Park Service) to U.S. Department of Agriculture. The application was approved in early 1935. The park was initially know as the "Crabtree Creek Recreational Demonstration Area." Originally proposed to be 22,000 acres (to encompass the headwaters of Richland, Crabtree, and Reedy Creeks), due to funding constraints, 6,000 acres was the goal.

In 1943, the Park became a State Park.
In 1955, the Park was renamed "William B. Umstead State Park."
The Park remained segregated into a "whites only" and "blacks only" sections until 1966.

More information:

During the Great Depression, one of the Federal Government's programs that assisted communities was in the Land Policy Section, Department of Agriculture. The National Park Service, Department of the Interior, submitted an application under this program entitled "Application for the Purchase and Development of Crabtree Creek Industrial Recreational Submarginal Project." The Application, prepared in 1934 and 1935, stated that:

"The Crabtree project had a potential of 22,000 acres, that 8,000 were for sale and that 6,000 more had been surveyed and appraised. This land would have included the headwaters of Crabtree and Reedy Creek." The 22,000 acres were considered "Submarginal" and not suitable for agriculture because the cotton and corn grown on them had "washed the soil thin." Practically all of the pine timber had been cut. The water-powered roller mills had gone and the people could no longer make a living "grinding other people's bread." Sixty percent of the people were tax delinquent. Many of the farm owners were being foreclosed. The application recommended relief for these "stricken families" by the government purchase of the Crabtree Project. Tenants and squatters were to be found employment. Owners would be relocated outside of the Project in 40 acre functioning farms. "The land purchase cost was proposed to be an average of $11.65/acre" "The Project are which includes Crabtree Creek and its Tributaries is covered with a heavy growth of hardwood and pine timber. It is very hilly with steep rocky slopes and deep ravines, all tending to produce a great natural beauty ...."

"The proximity of this area to the forest schools of the N.C. Agricultural and Engineering College of Raleigh and Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, will allow its use and development along educational lines by both institutions."

Note: World War II halted the Federal government's completion of the Recreational Demonstration Project; less than one-fourth of the planned acreage was purchased by the Federal Government.

Sources:

Application for the Purchase and Development of Crabtree Creek Industrial Recreational Submarginal Project. 1935. National Park Service, Department of Interior. Submitted to Land Policy Section, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Margaret Nygard. 1990. Protecting Umstead State Park: A Case Study for the Active Conservationist. In: Forestry in the 1990's - A Changing Environment, Regional Technical Conference, Society of American Foresters.
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Dedication of Crabtree Creek State Park

(April 6, 1943; Deed was dated March 12, 1943 and certified in Wake County on April 6, 1943)

Fred Johnson, Regional Director of the National Park Service, formally presented the deed to Crabtree Creek Park to R. Bruce Etheridge, director of the N.C. Department of Conservation and Development.

For the price of $1.00, the Federal government turned over 5,088 acres to the State of North Carolina.

The Park is protected in the Deed's "Reverter Clause" that states:

"upon the express condition that the State of North Carolina shall use the said property exclusively for public park, recreational and conservation purposes."

"the title and right to the possession of said lands, ...., shall revert to the United States of America " if it were found that the State of North Carolina used the property for other purposes.
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William B. Umstead Dedication

(August 28, 1955)

The Crabtree Section of the Park was renamed William B. Umstead State Park in honor of Governor William Bradley Umstead, born May 13, 1895 in Mangum Township, Durham County and died November 7, 1954 while in office.

Approximately 2,000 people attended the dedication. Mrs. Merle Umstead speech included "My husband was long interested in conservation, development and wise use of our natural resources ... this is a beautiful park and I feel it is a fitting tribute to the memory of my husband."

For further information about the history of William B Umstead State Park you might be interested in Stories in Stone.

rev. 7/21/03

The Umstead Coalition

A Brief History of William B. Umstead State Park

More information:

Sources:

Dedication of Crabtree Creek State Park

William B. Umstead Dedication