The Umstead News
The newsletter of The Umstead Coalition
Fall 2001
Index
Umstead Coalition Hikes & Events
Rotary Club adopts Camp Crabtree
Proposed roads still threatening park
2001 Volunteer Hero Awards announced at annual Umstead Coalition picnic
The Umstead Coalition proudly announced its first 2001 Volunteer Hero awards during its annual picnic, held Sept. 22 at William B. Umstead State Park.
Umstead Coalition Chair Jean Spooner, presented the awards, which were given to acknowledge the importance of the volunteers who have supported the Coalition’s work and to thank them for their hard work and dedication. Each award recipient received a $5 gift certificate from the Great Outdoor Provision Company.
"This award is something new for us," Spooner said. "We want to acknowledge that it’s the volunteers that make the difference."
2001 Volunteer Hero Awards
| Charles Bachmann, Medlin Creek and Cary Open Space Protection |
Lynne Loots, Adopt-a-Cabin / Trail Program |
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| Jonathan Bograd and Liz Cave, Recycling at Celebration |
Greg Lytle, Web Master and Celebration Volunteer Coordinator |
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| Rod Broadbelt, The most popular hike leader for Umstead |
Mary Martorella, Celebration Registration and Membership |
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| Tony Edwards, 2001 Celebration for Umstead Volunteer |
Caroline Mason, Fertilizer Harvesting at Celebration Site |
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| Geoff Elting, 2001 Celebration Route Coordinator |
Frank McKay, Environmental Education |
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| Mary Facciolo, Parking and Road Closure at Celebration |
Medhat Mohamed, The ready to help (including stake pounding) man |
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| Eleanore Saroukhanian, Publicity and Newsletter |
Dave Sniffen, The Sound Man at Celebration for Umstead |
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| Jill & Randy Heaton, Food Coordination at Celebration and Crabtree Creek Protection |
Carla Stevens, Photographer services at Celebration |
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| Gary Hudson, Signs, tents, logistics at Celebration |
Lane & Linda Wharton, Food Coordination at Celebration |
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"The Umstead Coalition is dedicated to preserving the natural integrity of William B. Umstead State Park and the Richland Creek Corridor"
Pre-park history: 1770’s was a time of change
By Jean Spooner
You’ve probably heard about how the land that’s now William B. Umstead State Park was once farmland, home to a rural community and the site of one of the United States government’s first land reclamation projects. But did you know that a small army once marched through it?
Garth Hamilton, a volunteer and park area historian, recalled the park’s brush with military might during the Umstead Coalition’s annual picnic.
In 1771, then Gov. Tryon marched his army through the area during the "War Against the Regulators," also known as the "Battle of Alamance."
For those who haven’t heard of this important, but short war – here’s an overview:
Gov. Tryon, an Englishman, imposed a new tax to raise money for the Tryon Palace in New Bern. Tryon was impressed with the magnificent state buildings in Virginia and Maryland and wanted North Carolina to have similar buildings.
But the Regulators, who were Scotch Irish who lived in the Hillsborough area, felt they were being overtaxed and revolted against the new tax.
In response, Gov. Tryon marched an army of 1,058 men from New Bern (the state’s capital city at that time) to Hillsborough. It was during this march that Tryon’s army maneuvered across the land that now forms the park. The army crossed Crabtree Creek near where the Company Mill was later built. Their trail is still visible today.
When the army and Regulators met in Hillsborough, they lined up against each other as was customary of the warfare of the time. Gov. Tryon gave the order to fire the canyons. His order was ignored (probably because kin folk were on both sides). He gave the order again and it was ignored. Then he gave it again, but with a threat. The canyons were fired. Sixty of the Regulators were wounded, and the revolt ended. But since the regulators had no money, they still couldn’t pay the taxes.
Now, the whole reason this had an impact on the park beyond the creation of a trail is that while in the park area, Gov. Tryon realized that no one lived in this part of the state (except for the five Jones brothers, who lived in the area that is now Cary). So, Tryon issued land grants to get more settlements.
Around 1800, a land grant for 1,000 acres went to Anderson Page. He was from Fairfax, Va.; a neighbor to Patrick Henry; and lived near Thomas Jefferson. Page undertook the construction of Page Mill on Crabtree Creek. (Page Mill is now know as the Company Mill, whose ruins can be seen from the Company Mill Trail off of the Harrison Ave./Reedy Creek Road park entrance).
Page brought a library of books with him, which was a rarity. Out of his home, called Oaky Mount, he ran the first female seminary school in North Carolina. Oaky Mount is near where the RDU Airport overlook in the park is today. The state didn’t have a public school system until 1907, so Page was very progressive for his day.
The Page family members continued to be influential on the area’s history. Anderson Page’s descendants included a congressman, a bank president, and a railroad president. His grandson, Walter Hines Page, helped found "an Industrial school where the sons and daughters of the working class could study agricultural and mechanic arts" 1 now known as N.C. State University.
Editor’s note: Many thanks to Garth Hamilton who gave the picnic attendees a fascinating lecture and then a hike to an old mill site on Reedy Creek and through the new property that has been added to the Park along I-40 and Harrison Avenue. I. Additional Reference: p. 40, Thomas M. Byrd and Jerry Miller. 1994. "Around and About Cary."
Umstead Coalition activities — events you don’t want to miss
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.
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. 8 (9:30 a.m.)
Volunteer Trail Work Morning
in Umstead State Park
Meet at the visitor center. For further information, call Andrew Both at 460-8599.
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.
Jan. 12 (8 a.m. start)
12-mile hike in Umstead State Park. Meet at Reedy Creek entrance parking lot. Bring lunch
and water; call Rod Broadbelt at
363-6611 before 8 p.m.
Feb. 9 (8 a.m. start)
20-mile hike in Umstead State Park. Meet at Reedy Creek entrance parking lot. Bring lunch
and water; call Rod Broadbelt at 363-6611 before 8 p.m.
All programs are free and open to the public. For each of the programs listed below, please call the Park Visitor Center at 571-4170 for reservations or more information.
William B. Umstead State Park Visitor Center Programs
Nov. 17 ( 2 p.m.)
LOST!
Join a ranger at 2 p.m. at the visitor's center for a short hike and a discussion on what to do if you become lost in the woods. Dress for the weather and bring your experiences. This program will last one hour. Please call (919) 571-4170 for more information and reservations.
Dec. 8 (10 a.m.)
WATER - WONDERFUL WATER
Hike along Pott's Branch Trail and learn about the importance of good water quality. Look for living organisms in the creek and observe their habits. This program begins at 10 a.m. and will last two hours. Please call (919) 571-4170 for more information and reservations.
Dec. 15 (10 a.m.)
SLEEPY CREEPY-CRAWLIES
Join a ranger at the visitor's center for a look at how animals spend the winter. A brief slideshow will precede a 1.5 mile hike down to Big Lake. Bring comfortable walking shoes, warm clothes and binoculars if you have them. This program will begin at 10 a.m. and will last 1.5 hours. Please call (919) 571-4170 for more information and reservations.
Dec. 15 (2 p.m.)
PREDATORS OF UMSTEAD
Meet a ranger at 2 p.m. at the visitor's center for a discussion on predators found in William B. Umstead State Park. Mounted animals will be on hand. This program will last one hour. Please call (919) 571-4170 for more information and reservations.
Dec. 21 (2 p.m.)
LOST!
Join a ranger at the visitor's center at 2 p.m. at the visitor's center for a short hike and a discussion on what to do if you become lost in the woods. Dress for the weather and bring your experiences. This program will last one hour. Please call (919) 571-4170 for more information and reservations.
Dec. 26 (3 p.m.)
AFTER-CHRISTMAS HIKE
Hike with a ranger through the woods of William B. Umstead State Park. Meet at the bike and bridle trailhead at 3 p.m. for this moderate to strenuous hike. The hike will last approximately two hours. Please call (919) 571-4170 for more information and reservations.
Jan. 5 (4 PM)
BIRDING FOR THE YOUNG
Join a Ranger for this one hour program for youngsters and adults alike. Learn some basic bird identification and backyard birding activities you can implement in your backyard. Meet at the Visitor Center located off Glenwood Avenue.
Jan. 6 (2 PM)
2002 WINTER GAMES
Think it’s cold for a hike in the woods? Join a Ranger for an hour at the Visitor Center of William B. Umstead State Park to hang out inside, ask questions and play a few games about animals and plants in the forest.
Jan. 18 (noon)
LUNCH HIKE WITH A RANGER
Join a Ranger for a short hike from the Small Picnic Area - Crabtree Section. Bring your questions about nature or NC State Parks. Dress for the weather and bring your questions and experiences. This program will last 1 hour.
Jan. 19 (2 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.
Jan. 20 (11 am)
GROWING PAINS!
Join a Ranger for a hike and discussion about the changes in the park through its 68 year history. Meet at the Reedy Creek Picnic Area parking lot for this one hour program.
Mission Statement: NC 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 for sale
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.
2002 Celebration for Umstead
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-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Rotary Club takes on Camp Crabtree
Camp Crabtree will be looking a bit spiffier, thanks to the West Raleigh Rotary Club. The club has adopted Camp Crabtree and plans to help improve, clean and maintain the area, with the ultimate goal of eventually refurbishing the entire camp site.
More than 25 West Raleigh Rotary Club members began their first project at the site Nov. 3. Club members renovated the picnic tables by removing the existing coverings on the tables inside the building, evaluating the wood underneath, salvaging good material and rebuilding them.
The West Raleigh Rotary Club plans to have some type of club gathering at the site within the year.
Club members expressed much enthusiasm about the project and are working in close cooperation with the head ranger and the William B. Umstead State Park staff.
Richland Creek
Stream Watch
Dec. 1 at 9 a.m
Help us monitor the health of Richland Creek. Meet at Richland Lake on Reedy Creek Road (off Blue Ridge). For more information: Richard Tibbs 787-4387 or Jean Spooner, 828-5859 (h).
Volunteer
Trail Work Morning
in the Park
Dec. 8 at 9:30 a.m.
Meet at the visitor center. For further information, call Andrew
Both at
460-8599.
Wilderness First Aid course teaches lifesaving skills
When faced with injuries in remote places, doctors and ambulances may be hours away – and your response could mean the difference between life and death.
Don’t get caught unprepared.
An eighteen-hour class in Wilderness First Aid will be conducted in Raleigh on Jan. 26-27.
Wilderness First Aid is a program of the Wilderness Safety Council and meets ACA standards for 60 minutes or more of definitive medical treatment.
The course includes classroom study and hands-on practice. Participants who successfully complete the course receive a two-year certification in wilderness first aid.
The cost is $140, and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.
If you are interested in participating, or would like additional
information,please phone (703) 836-8905
or visit http://wfa.net.
You can also send an e-mail to chris@wfa.net.
Other upcoming course dates and locations include:
March 23-24: Greensboro, NC
April 6-7: Raleigh, NC
April 20-21: Charlotte, NC
Don’t miss it!
Fall is the perfect time for bird watching
by Karen Bearden
Fall at Umstead State Park offers the opportunity to be outdoors and enjoy the fall bird migration.
As the leaves start to fall and the weather takes a cooler turn, many summer breeding birds fly south to Mexico, South America, and Florida.
Early fall is the last chance until next spring to see Red-eyed and White-eyed Vireos, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, American Redstart, Hooded Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Acadian Flycatcher, and Summer and Scarlet Tanagers. It's also an exciting time to discover migrating birds passing through the Triangle on their way south.
Warblers are always a special treat to see, such as Tennessee, Magnolia, Mourning, Worm-eating, Black-throated Green, and Blackburnian. Maybe you'll be lucky and find a colorful Baltimore Oriole or a migrating Broad-winged Hawk. By mid- and late fall Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Hermit Thrush, White-throated Sparrow, and waterfowl arrive.
You'll also be able to see year-round birds like the Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Northern Cardinal, Red-headed Woodpecker, and Carolina Wren. So take the time to enjoy the birds this fall.
Happy birding!
Pick up a copy of Wake Audubon's
A Birdwatcher's Guide
to the Triangle
Books are available for purchase at the William B. Umstead
State Park Visitor’s Center or at the
Wake Audubon website :
http://www.mybirdlist.com/WakeAudubon
Cost: $11, or $14 (by mail).
Call 844-9050 for more info.
New staff member joins Park team
We would like to give a big welcome to Sarah Kinney.
Ms. Kinney has joined the William B. Umstead State Park Staff as an office assistant.
Ms. Kinney, who is originally from Asheboro, graduated
from
NC State University in May with a BS in Fisheries and Wildlife.
Proposed roads still threatening park
by Jean Spooner
The bad news is that 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.
But the good news is that the proposed interchange at Old Reedy Creek Road and I-40 has been dropped from further consideration.
This happened in large part because of hard work and persistence on the part of many Coalition members and supporters.
The transportation models used to develop recommendations for the long-range plan, apply land use as a key 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 for Wake County.
CAMPO needs to finalize the plan by February so that a subsequent Air Quality Conformity Analysis (to determine if U.S. EPA air quality standards will be met) can be completed by August 2002.
An element of the 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:
§	Duraleigh Road Connector (Raleigh) - yes, it’s still around, but recommended to be dropped from further evaluation.
§	Cary Parkway Extension from Harrison Avenue to Trenton/Trinity Road (Cary) as a 4-lane, divided median.
§	Widening Trinity Road (4 lanes) from Trenton Road to NC 54 (Cary).
What YOU can do
Special holiday gift packages for park lovers
Gift Membership ($15)
New members will receive via mail a welcome packet containing a letter of introduction with a copy of our most recent newsletter, as well as our special welcome gift of a Coalition bandanna and bumper sticker. Gift memberships also include a free subscription to our quarterly newsletter, which helps keep members up-to-date on our events and activities.
Donation Gifts
$15 (comes with Coalition bandanna and bumper sticker)
$50 (comes with Umstead Coalition T-shirt)
$75 and up (comes with Umstead Coalition T-shirt
and
optional gift membership)
Mail a check made out to The Umstead Coalition to: The Umstead Coalition’s Gifts for Park Lovers, P.O. Box 10654, Raleigh, 27605-0654.
Please include the following information with your gift order: your name, address, and phone number; along with the name, address, and phone number of the gift recipient.
Meeting time and location
The Umstead Coalition meets the first Thursday of each month from September through May, at 7pm. Meeting location: NCSU Centennial Campus, Research IV Building, suite 3200. For up-to-date location information, please call (919) 852-2268 or send an e-mail to jean_spooner@ncsu.edu .
Get on our e-mailing lists
To subscribe to our e-mailing list for regular updates
and announcements, send an e-mail to: umsteadcoalition-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
For occasional announcements on outings and activities,
send an e-mail to:
UmsteadOutings-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
For regular updates on the 2002 Celebration for Umstead,
send an e-mail to:
CelebrateUmstead-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Our member Organizations
B.W. Wells Association
Capital Group Sierra Club
Conservation Council of North Carolina
Eno River Association
Friends of State Parks
Headwaters Group Sierra Club
Neuse River Foundation, Inc.
New Hope Audubon Society
North Carolina Herpetological Society
North Carolina Wild Flower Preservation Society
North Carolina Wildlife Federation
Orange-Chatham Group Sierra Club
Raleigh Ski and outing Club
Rockingham Naturalist’s Club
Society for the Preservation of Jockey’s Ridge
Wake Audubon Society
rev. 11/24/01