The Umstead Coalition
Newsletter
Summer 2001
Phase II of Edwards Mill Road extension coming on through Summer 2001
Roads still threatening Park
Cary Open Space Plan may protect Park
History: How the Park went from farms to forest
Grand Opening of new exhibit at Visitor Center
Constructed wetland cleans water
National Public Lands Day approaching
Umstead Coalition Activities
Construction recently started on Edwards Mill Road Extension,
Phase II
Phase II will extend the road from Duraleigh Road to the Wade Avenue/I-40 Extension, at the exit
for the N.C. State Entertainment and Sports Complex. Transportation officials expect the new section of the road
to open in late 2002.
The extension of Edward Mill Road from Duraleigh to Wade Avenue/I-40 Extension is part of the package of alternatives
that the Umstead Coalition presented in 1996 as a better alternative to the proposed Duraleigh Road Connector,
which would have negatively impacted the ecologically sensitive Richland Creek Corridor that runs adjacent to William
B. Umstead State Park.
Other alternatives that the Umstead Coalition supported are also going forward with funding from the Raleigh Road
Bond package. These include the Extension of Edwards Mill to NC 54 and the widening of existing Duraleigh Road
from Ebenezer Church Road to US 70. Transportation officials have scheduled these projects to begin within the
next two years.
by Jean Spooner
Park supporters and officials on July 20 cut the ribbon to open the William B. Umstead State Park Visitor Center's
new permanent exhibit hall.
The exhibit hall features a tribute to the people who lived in the Park area prior to the Park's establishment
in 1934. It highlights their stories about the Park's cultural history and provides an overview of the natural
resources in the Park.
The exhibit illustrates how the Park came into being through the reclamation of exhausted farmland. By the 1930's
the soils were so eroded that they could not even support subsistence farming. The area became the Crabtree Creek
Recreational and Demonstration Area, and was sold to the State of North Carolina in 1945 for the price of $1. Eventually,
the barren soil was transformed into the dynamic forest that we enjoy today.
The dedication ceremony featured several speakers, as well as former Park residents and their descendants.
"This exhibit is a celebration of the past, enjoyment of the present, and the need to protect the future because
there are many more stories to be told," said Park Superintendent Martha Woods.
Superintendent of State Parks Lewis Ledford pointed out the value of preserving the Park's past.
"Cultural history is important to be told and shared with current and future generations," he said. Lewis
also mentioned the 'legendary moonshine stills' that were once common in the area. One of the two cakes made by
Ranger Keith Nealson highlighted a replica moonshine still, the other a Park map with trails and water resources.
Many former Park area residents and their descendents attended the dedication, including: Truma Warren Edgerton
and son (& famous author) Clyde Edgerton, Jean Stanfield (Haley family member), Agatha King Johnson, Betty
Ann Coble (Warren family), and Margaret King. There were also three generations of the Grissom family present:
Joseph Grissom; his wife, Martha; his son Steve Grissom and daughter-in-law Vicky with granddaughter, Elisabeth.
Joseph lived in the Park as a boy. Joseph Grissom's father and grandfather ran the Company Mill. Arturo Steely
came from Minnesota to celebrate his mother's (Mercedes Steely) 1936 MS thesis (from UNC-Chapel Hill) which illustrated
folk songs and lifestyles of the Ebenezer Community. Said Steve Grissom: "The families were very impressed
and moved at the professional quality and personal nature of the exhibit."
Research for the exhibit contents was largely done by Ranger Erik Nygard, and Umstead Coalition members Tom Weber
and Garth Hamilton. The interviews and research that Weber compiled for his book "Stories In Stone" provided
a basis for the cultural history portion of the exhibit from the late 1890's and early 1900's. The history of the
Park prior to the mid-1800's was researched by Garth Hamilton (note: Garth will be our guest speaker and hike leader
for the Umstead Coalition's September 22 picnic). A large note of gratitude goes to the families and descendents
of Park area residents that shared their many stories to make this exhibit possible.
Roads threatening park still being considered for long range transit
plan
by Jean Spooner
Several road projects that pose a threat to the Park are still being considered for a long-range transportation
plan that will determine what roads get built in the region during the next 24 years.
The transportation models used to develop recommendations for the plan, apply land use as a key driving factor
in predicting the need for roads and transit.
The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO), composed of representatives from all the local governments
in Wake County (including Raleigh and Cary), is currently evaluating this Long-Range Transportation Plan (through
2025) for Wake County.
An element of this Long-Range Transportation Plan is the Thoroughfare Plan Update for 2025, which covers existing
roads and road "improvements" planned to be built by 2025. Another element is the 2025 Land Use Plan.
Some of the roads still being evaluated for the 2025 Thoroughfare Plan pose a threat to Umstead State Park. They
include:
What YOU can do
· Tell your mayors and City/Town Councils that you don't want these roads to be included in the 2025 Thoroughfare
Plan.
· Ask CAMPO (LaneJS@raleigh-nc.org) and Raleigh City Council to remove the Duraleigh Road Connector from
all versions of the Thoroughfare Plan (2025 and longer).
· Attend the public hearing on CAMPO's 2025 Thoroughfare Plan and 2025 Land Use Plan, scheduled for September
or October.
How the park went from farms to forest
By Tom Webber
By 1935, the Federal government had determined that the farmers in the Park area could no longer earn a subsistence
income from the land. Rather than allow the land to erode further, the government began to buy or condemn properties
and convert the land into a forest park.
The effort began in 1934, when the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, submitted an "Application for the Purchase and Development of Crabtree Creek Recreational Sub-marginal Project " to the Land Policy Section of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. During the Great Depression, the department helped support projects to relocate farmers and restore over-farmed land.
The application cited the poor condition of the land. The "poor character of the soil, which is very rocky
and badly eroded" made the area unsuitable for agriculture. The land, "... which includes Crabtree Creek
and its tributaries... is hilly with steep rocky slopes and deep ravines," which are "covered with a
heavy growth of hardwood and pine... all tending to produce a scene of great natural beauty lending itself to planned
development along recreational lines." The application also noted the Crabtree site's location between Raleigh
and Durham, its accessibility by "highly improved transportation facilities to a large number of people,"
and "proximity of the area to the forestry schools located at North Carolina Agricultural and Engineering
College of Raleigh and Duke University," as factors supporting park/recreation development of the area.
The application 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. (Editors note: the 20,000 acres would have included the headwaters
of Crabtree, Richland, and Reedy Creeks).
The 22,000 acres were considered "sub-marginal" and not suitable for agriculture because the cotton and
corn grown on them had "washed the soil thin." Practically all of the pines 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 $11.65/acre. The application requested a budget of $216,416 for land
purchases, with the stipulation that no land be acquired for above $16/acre, and that "the purchase price
does not exceed the appraisal value."
The Project was not funded at the full level to acquire the 20,000 acres and a goal of 6,000 acres was later established.
(Editors note: William B. Umstead State Park is presently 5,480 acres).
The families moved out of the area. Some went willingly, settling for a few dollars per acre; some properties were
condemned; and a few people, mostly the older ones, were allowed to stay until they died. There was one private
property owner in the Park area until 1982.
For information on where and when to meet, call the activity leader listed. Activities are free; please ask
the activity leader about brining dogs or children.
Note: All Rod Broadbelt's hikes start at 8 a.m. at the Reedy Creek Entrance parking lot off I-40 (Harrison Ave.
exit.) . For Rod's hikes, bring lunch and water; call 363-6611 before 8 p.m. for details on his hikes.
Aug. 25
Lazy Daze Festival in Cary
Come see the Umstead Coalition booth.
Sept. 8 (3 p.m. start)
Nature Photography and Conservation Walk, several miles. Casual walk; bring your camera. Meet at Reedy Creek Entrance
parking lot off I-40 (Harrison Ave. exit). Call Bill at
787-3202.
Sept. 15 (9 a.m. - noon)
BIG SWEEP
Richland Creek Stream Watch
Help us clean-up Richland Creek. Meet at Richland Lake on Reedy Creek Road (off Blue Ridge). For information: Richard
Tibbs 787-4387 or Jean Spooner, 828-5859 (h).
Sept. 29 (8 a.m. start)
13-14 miles hike in Umstead State Park
Meet at Reedy Creek Entrance parking lot off I-40 (Harrison Ave. exit). Bring lunch and water; call Rod Broadbelt
at 363-6611 before 8pm.
Sept. 29 (9 a.m. - noon)
Work Day
National Public Lands Day.
Oct. 27 (8 a.m. start)
12-13 mile hike in Umstead State Park
Meet at Reedy Creek Entrance parking lot off I-40 (Harrison Ave. exit). Bring lunch and water; call Rod Broadbelt
at 363-6611 before 8 p.m.
Nov. 17 (8 a.m. start)
12-mile Ruins Hike in Umstead State Park
Meet at Reedy Creek Entrance parking lot off I-40 (Harrison Ave. exit). Bring lunch and water; call Rod Broadbelt
at 363-6611 before 8 p.m.
Dec. 1 (9 a.m.)
Richland Creek Stream Watch.
Help us monitor the health of Richland Creek. Meet at Richland Lake on Reedy Creek Road (off Blue Ridge). For information:
Richard Tibbs 787-4387 or Jean Spooner, 828-5859 (h).
Dec. 15 ( 8 a.m. start)
12-mile Hike in Umstead State Park, a lot of off-trail. Dress accordingly. Meet at Reedy Creek Entrance parking
lot off I-40 (Harrison Ave. exit). Bring lunch and water; call Rod Broadbelt at 363-6611 before 8 pm.
All programs are free and open to the public. For more information and reservations, please call the Park Visitor Center at 571-4170.
Sept. 9 (1 pm)
BIRDS OF PREY
Come join a Ranger and learn about different Birds of Prey at William B. Umstead State Park. A falconer will have
live specimens on hand. Meet at the Reedy Creek Picnic Area parking lot for this 1 ½ hour program. Please
call 571-4170 for more information and reservations.
Sept. 15 (10 am)
FALL BLOOMS
Join a Ranger at the Visitor Center for a slide show followed by a 1-2 mile hike in search of fall wildflowers.
This program will last 1 ½ hours. Please call 571-4170 for more information and reservations.
Sept. 16 (6 pm)
WALK ON THE WILD SIDE
Walk off trail with a Ranger and see the untraveled areas of the Park. Hike is considered moderate to strenuous.
Meet at the Reedy Creek Parking lot for this 1 ½ hour program. Please call 571-4170 for more information
and reservations.
Sept. 29 (time TBA)
NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY
Join a Ranger at the Visitor Center for a 30 minute slide show of the history of the land that became William B.
Umstead State Park. A volunteer program will take place in the morning. Please call 571-4170 for more information
and reservations.
Oct. 6 (10 am)
CANOEING ON BIG LAKE
Join a Ranger for a 2 hour canoe trip on Big Lake. See how nature is preparing for the fall season. This program
will last approximately 2 hours. Life jackets and paddles are provided. Reservations are required for this program.
You can either stop by the Visitor Center or call 571-4170 for more information and reservations.
Oct. 7 (1 pm)
BIRDS OF PREY
Come join a Ranger and learn about different Birds of Prey at William B. Umstead State Park. A falconer will have
live specimens on hand. Meet at the Visitor Center for this 1 ½ hour program. Please call 571-4170 for more
information and reservations.
Oct. 13 (9 a.m.)
BIG LAKE BY CANOE
Canoe on Big Lake for waterfowl and wildlife observation. Meet at the boathouse for this 1 ½ hour program.
Life jackets and paddles are provided. Reservations are required for this program. You can either stop by the Visitor
Center or call 571-4170 for more information and reservations.
Oct. 20 (3 pm)
MILLIN' AROUND
Meet a Ranger at the Reedy Creek Parking Lot for a 2 mile (round trip) hike to the Company Mill Site. We will talk
about the history of the park and the importance of mills to the development of the area. This program will last
1 ½ hours. Please call 571-4170 for more information and reservations.
Oct. 26 (Noon)
LUNCH HIKE WITH A RANGER
Join a Ranger for a short hike. Bring your questions about nature or North Carolina State Parks. Dress for the
weather and bring your questions and experiences. This program will last one hour. Please call 571-4170 for more
information and reservations.
Oct. 27 (1 pm)
WOODS WANDER
Join a Ranger for a short hike on and off trail to discuss natural forest processes and wildlife habitat. Meet
at the Visitor Center for this 1-hour program. Please call 571-4170 for more information and reservations.
The Park Visitor Center is open 9a.m. to 6pm. daily.
It is accessible from the US 70 Park entrance.
The center will also have rotating photography and other exhibits in the auditorium.
Resources available for free at the center include park maps; checklists for trees, birds, butterflies, and wildlife;
Park Visitor Center Ranger Program listings; and Park and Umstead Coalition newsletters.
Items for sale that support the Park, include: orienteering/topographic maps, bandanas, bumper stickers,
T-shirts, and the Wake Audubon Bird book.
Park Internet site: http://ils.unc.edu/parkproject/wium.html
N.C. State Parks System
The North Carolina state parks system exists for the enjoyment, education, health and inspiration of all our citizens
and visitors. The mission of the state parks system is to conserve and protect representative examples of the natural
beauty, ecological features and recreational resources of statewide significance; to provide outdoor recreational
opportunities in a safe and healthy environment; and to provide environmental education opportunities that promote
stewardship of the state's natural heritage.
Umstead State Park T-shirts
Pick up your Umstead Coalition T-shirt at the Park Visitor Center for $15. Your purchase will help support the
park and the Coalition's activities.
T-shirts are 100 percent cotton with a high-quality screened decal, featuring our signature owl design that says
William B. Umstead State Park. Original artwork by Uli Gratzl. Updated wording by Bill & Dana Bayley.
Looking Back: a park history
"When the (U.S. Army) started landing big planes there during the war, they couldn't clear my daddy's housetop
after they took off. They condemned my daddy's farm and took it. They not only took his farm, they took part of
his crop. [My siblings,] Bruce and Myrtle Clarie and them barned the tobacco on Sunday, which was against my daddy's
religion, but they did it to save the tobacco, because [the airport people] were making them move. But they wouldn't
let them harvest his cotton crop. Somebody at the airport told my daddy that some of the uppity-ups hired somebody
to pick that cotton that fall and sold it."
- Juanita King Capps (born 1914)
"I've seen (the Park area) break up, and I think that happened without a lot of (folks) being upset, or maybe
they were better off. But when Raleigh-Durham (Airport) came in and bought that land, that was kind of pitiful.
Those people (near Adams Crossroads) were never happy again.
- Bill Haley (born 1926)
Saturday
April 20, 2002
Funds raised will be used for environmental education, resource protection, and land acquisition at William B. Umstead State Park.
For regular updates via e-mail, send an e-mail to: CelebrateUmstead-ubscribe@yahoogroups.com
by Charles Bachman
Many areas critical to park preservation may become protected through the Town of Cary's proposed Open Space and
Historic Resources Plan, which addresses the preservation of open space, the protection of natural resources, the
preservation of historic landscapes, and enhancing parks and greenways.
Cary's proposed plan recommends all of the NC State University farms on Trenton Road as areas worthy of protection
for open space. This is meaningful because this area is where the headwaters of Reedy Creek form. The creek then
flows under I-40 and into William B. Umstead State Park. The protection measure would also provide a large piece
of open space very near the Park.
Town officials have based their recommendations on which areas to protect on the results of a formal, scoring-based
process, which values currently vacant land in the study area based upon the type of vegetation, current land use
and other factors. While the "worth protecting" designation does not make any guarantees regarding future
uses of the land, it does identify it as worthy of official town protection, either via special zoning, direct
acquisition, or some other method.
Cary's Planning and Zoning Board approved the plan earlier this summer. It is scheduled for official adoption by
the Cary Town Council on August 23rd.
Following adoption of the plan, the town will immediately begin to decide what properties to acquire. The decision
will be based on: ecological and historic significance, proximity to an existing or planned park or greenway corridor,
threat of loss from development, and cost and manageability of the land. For more information on the plan, check
out the town's website at:
www.townofcary.org
A constructed wetland created last year near the Park Visitor's Center is successfully filtering run off from
the center, its parking lots, and the more than five acres of Neuse River watershed surrounding it.
Park guides now use the wetland as a teaching tool to promote wetland protection. Wetland plants help remove nitrogen
and sediment pollution from water.
The Umstead Coalition provided some funding for the project and several other individuals and organizations helped bring the wetland to life.
Cooperative Extension Service specialists Bill Hunt (NCSU) and Mitch Woodward (Wake County) designed the wetland, which contains more than 60 native plants such as cardinal flower and lizard tail, and has become home to plenty of animals. Park Superintendent Martha Woods oversaw the project and Fred Reno, park maintenance worker, installed the wetland. Eagle Scouts and Officer Bunn of the NC Department of Corrections also assisted.
Saturday Sept. 22 , 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Meet at the picnic shelter at Reedy Creek entrance parking lot off I-40 (Harrison Ave. exit). Lemonade, hotdogs,
and a hot grill will be provided. Bring a dish to share and personal grill items (optional). Special program (
a treat you don't want to miss): Garth Hamilton will tell us about the history of the area we now enjoy as our
state Park, highlight the early mid-1770s to early 1800s & give a short hike to historic sites (maybe we can
get Garth to tell us about those moonshine stills). For info., call Jean Spooner at 828-5859.
Come join the Umstead Coalition and others for activities marking National Public Lands Day.
National Public Lands Day is an annual volunteer event. Last year, nearly 45,000 volunteers help improve public
lands in 277 sites across the nation.
The Umstead Coalition has scheduled a clean-up and minor repair work day on Saturday, Sept. 29, at the history
CCC WPA Group camps at Umstead State Park.
To participate, meet at the Visitor Center, off US 70 in Raleigh at 9 a.m.
Later on, at the Visitor Center, there's a 30-min. slide show of the history of the land that became William B.
Umstead State Park.
Please call 571-4170 for more information and reservations.
For information on National Public Lands Day go to: http://www.npld.com.
rev. 11/24/01