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Tag Archives: state parks

Great Dismal Swamp in North Carolina: Brief History: Part One

Posted on Thu - Aug 24th, 2017 by NC-Culture Posted in Coastal, Of Special Interest .

Great Dismal Swamp

Our recent small series on the Dismal Swamp was so well received on our Facebook page and there were so many requests for reprints, that we’ve decided to repost the series here for those who missed part of it.

Please be sure to visit the Facebook page for the Welcome Center, also.

Great Dismal Swamp
Pungo River
commons

There is some debate as to who exactly discovered the swamp and when. When the state line was surveyed in 1728, Colonel William Byrd II provided the first description. George Washington visited in May of 1763, and advocated for draining and digging a canal that would connect Albarmarle Sound with Cheasapeake Bay.  Two syndicates, Dismal Swamp Land Company and Adventurers for Draining the Great Dismal Swamp, were formed to accomplish this. The goal was to drain, harvest the trees, and then use the land for farming. Many cypress trees were cut for shipbuilding, and Washington Ditch connected Lake Drummond with the western edge of the swamp. In the late 1700s, Riddick Ditch was completed.

Great Dismal Swamp
Washington Ditch
Google Free Images


in 1796, Washington sold his share to “Lighthorse” Harry Lee, who was the father of Robert E. Lee. However, Harry Lee was unable to raise his part of the funds, and the land eventually passed to the Washington heirs in 1799.

“Lighthorse” Harry Lee
Commons


In 1909, the land came under the ownership of Camp Mfg. Company (predecessor of Union Camp). After acres of trees were removed, Union Camp donated their part to the Nature Conservancy, who eventually turned it over to the Department of the Interior. At this point, it became the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.

Please note: the majority of this information comes from the brochure put out by State Parks..with a little other random research thrown in.

To access the Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center:

2356 US Hwy 17 N.

South Mills, NC

27976

toll free: 877 771 8333

 

 

Tags: Great Dismal Swamp, history, NC, North Carolina, South Mills, state parks, Welcome Center .

Morrow Mountain State Park: A Mountain Getaway by Matthew H. Irvin

Posted on Thu - Feb 26th, 2015 by NC-Culture Posted in Of Special Interest .

A Mountain Getaway in the Southern Piedmont

Morrow Mountain State Park

49104 Morrow Mountain Road

Albemarle, NC 28001

(704) 982-4402

By Matthew H Irvin

Morrow Mountain  Morrow Mountain State Park, NC Matthew H Irvin, Photographer

Morrow Mountain
Morrow Mountain State Park, NC
Matthew H Irvin, Photographer

 

Morrow Mountain State Park is one of two state parks where one can experience the mountains in the Piedmont. This trip will be to the southern Piedmont. Morrow Mountain is a place where you can see some of the plant life and similar terrain one would expect of the western North Carolina Mountains. Located in the eastern part of Stanly County by the side of Lake Tillery (the Pee Dee River), the park offers many amenities: horseback riding, hiking/backpacking, boating/fishing, swimming, camping, and more.

Fishing at Morrow Mountain State Park, NC Matthew H. Irvin, Photographer

Fishing at Morrow Mountain State Park, NC
Matthew H. Irvin, Photographer

 

The park offers opportunities to drive up a mountaintop for vistas of the Uwharries to hikes in a beautiful forest to anything in between.

Road up Morrow Mountain Morrow Mountain State Park, NC Matthew H. Irvin, Photographer

Road up Morrow Mountain
Morrow Mountain State Park, NC
Matthew H. Irvin, Photographer

 

One of the early parks in the North Carolina parks system, development of the park began in the 1930s through the efforts of a local residents interested in establishing a state park. The original 3,000 acres of land were acquired in 1937, much of it donated by Stanly County residents. Many of the charming Bluestone buildings were built by crews of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Work Projects Administration (WPA) from 1937 to 1942.  The park opened in 1937 and the park covers 4,742 acres presently. At 936 feet elevation Morrow Mountain is the fourth tallest peak of the Uwharrie Mountains. Modern man has not been the only visitor to this area; discoveries of artifacts in the area give witness to the presence of Paleo-Indians more than 10,000 years ago. When hiking the top of Morrow Mountain one can find the evidence of the intense mining of the Rhyolite for use as projectile points.

 

There is a lot of history in these hills and the mountain was not always called Morrow. Back before the turn of the prior century tornados changed the face of the mountain.

 

“On February 19th, 1884 the Great Southeastern Tornado Outbreak, also known as the Enigma Outbreak, swept across the Southeastern United States. This event resulted in the name Naked Mountain for what later became Morrow Mountain.”

 

The above quote is a story from the web page of the Friends of Morrow Mountain State Park. Wind has changed the park more than once. Recently on June 13, 2013 a derecho windstorm caused great damage at the park closing some sections for months. Just two weeks ago the winds associated from a strong cold front brought down more trees temporally closing the park, it has since reopened. Wind storms and damage are not uncommon to these areas with the exposed western slopes of the little mountains. Phil Lowder with Friends of Morrow Mountain State Park the wrote the above mentioned story about “Naked Mountain,” read more this link to their page: http://morrowmountain.org/posts/105-enigma.php .

 

Things you can do at Morrow Mountain State Park

Historic exhibits:

The homestead of Dr. Francis Kron has been recreated on the original site in the park. Dr. Kron, a Prussian born emigrant, is thought to be the first medical doctor practice medicine in the southern piedmont. The home, doctor’s office/ infirmary, and greenhouse were reconstructed in the 1960s.

Homestead of Dr. Francis Kron  Morrow Mountain State Park, NC Matthew H. Irvin, Photographer

Homestead of Dr. Francis Kron
Morrow Mountain State Park, NC
Matthew H. Irvin, Photographer

 

Camping:

Morrow Mountain has three camping areas and six family cabins. The family campground allows tents, RVs, and trailers . The group campground has six sites where up to 35 campers are allowed on each. The remote primitive campsites are accessible through the one of the trails, the hike in is about two miles.

Museum:

At the end of the parking lot at the park office sits a small museum. There is information about the Paleo-Indians and American Indians that inhabited the area. Also displays on native plant and animal communities, early explorers, and rocks and minerals.

Picnicking:

There are three picnic areas ranging from the panoramic view from the top of Morrow Mountain, close to the swimming pool, and down by the shore of Lake Tillery

Swimming:

There is an Olympic size swimming pool, usually open between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Boat rentals:

At the concession stand/boathouse on Lake Tillery rowboat/canoe rentals are available. The season runs from June through Labor Day. Rentals are also available on weekends in April, May, September and October.

Kayaking at Morrow Mountain State Park, NC Matthew H. Irvin, Photographer

Kayaking at Morrow Mountain State Park, NC
Matthew H. Irvin, Photographer

 

Hiking:

There are 32 miles of hiking trails from easy to more strenuous and the park has 16 miles of horse trails. Morrow Mountain has plenty to do for everyone

Mountain Laurel Morrow Mountain State Park, NC Matthew H. Irvin, Photographer

Mountain Laurel
Morrow Mountain State Park, NC
Matthew H. Irvin, Photographer

 

This is just a brief outline of what you can do at the park. Why not go and see for yourself?  Here are some resources for more information on the park:

Official Morrow Mountain State Park Website:

Friends of Morrow Mountain State Park website:

Friends of Morrow Mountain State Park Facebook page:

Friends  of the Morrow Mountain State Park schedule many events over each year, including a traditional fall festival with storytelling and old ways.  Called “Old Fashion Day”, the 2015 date has not been determined.  However, you can keep up with all the planned activities at this link.

Old Fashion Day at Morrow Mountain State Park, NC Matthew H. Irvin, Photographer

Old Fashion Day at Morrow Mountain State Park, NC
Matthew H. Irvin, Photographer

 

Sources

-Morrow Mountain official website

-Friends of Morrow Mountain State Park website

-My general knowledge from visiting the park for 40 years and interviewing the staff for newspaper articles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tags: derecho windstorm, Dr. Francis Kron, Enigma Outbreak, Matthew H Irvin, Morrow Mountain State Park, NC, Old Fashion Day, Paleo-Indians, state parks .

Coastal Photo Round-up, April 4, 2014

Posted on Thu - Apr 3rd, 2014 by NC-Culture Posted in Coastal .

New Life Photos by Jamie Konarski Davidson

New Life Photos by Jamie Konarski Davidson on Facebook

We’d like to mention here that Jamie conducts several workshops across North Carolina every year.  Please see her pages for more information.

New Life Photos by Jamie Konarski Davidson

New Life Photos by Jamie Konarski Davidson

 

Leaping Frog Photography in Holly Springs, NC

Leaping Frog Photography on Facebook

Cape Lookout

Via Wikipedia: “The Cape Lookout Lighthouse is a 163-foot high lighthouse located on the Southern Outer Banks of North Carolina. It flashes every 15 seconds and is visible at least 12 miles out to sea and up to 19 miles.”

Cape Lookout  Leaping Frog Photography

Cape Lookout
Leaping Frog Photography

 

Outer Banks NC Local Artist Page on Facebook

Outer Banks NC Local Artist Page

Outer Banks NC Local Artist Page

 

Eric Loy Photography on SmugMug

Eric Loy Photography on Facebook

Atlantic Beach

“Atlantic Beach is situated on beautiful Bogue Banks, a barrier island bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and Bogue Sound.”

Atlantic Beach Eric Loy Photography

Atlantic Beach
Eric Loy Photography

 

Mancuso Photography on Fine Art America

Mancuso Photography on Facebook

Fort Fisher State Park

Fort Fisher Mancuso Photography

Fort Fisher
Mancuso Photography

 

Photography Books: Greg Diesel Walck’s Bookstore

GregDiesel Landscape Photography Online Gallery on Facebook

GregDiesel Landscape Photography

GregDiesel Landscape Photography

 

GregDiesel Landscape Photography

GregDiesel Landscape Photography

 

Jus Messin Round Fotographie on Facebook

Church, Sunset Beach, NC

keitih church sunset beach

Southport

Southport, NC Jus Messin Round Fotographie

Southport, NC
Jus Messin Round Fotographie

 

“Swampthing” Chris Jones Photo and Video on Facebook

Topsail Beach

Topsail Island  Chris Jones Photo and Video

Topsail Island
Chris Jones Photo and Video

 

Robert Robbins of Kill Devil Hills, NC:

Robert’s popular photos can be found on SmugMug

American Heritage Beacons

Robert Robbins with Kill Devil Hills

Robert Robbins with Kill Devil Hills

 

Mark’s Images on Tumblr

Mark’s Images The World Through my Eyes on Facebook

Calabash Calabash is known as “the seafood capital of the world”

Calabash Mark's Images the World Through my Eyes

Calabash
Mark’s Images the World Through my Eyes

Mark's Images The World Through my Eyes

Mark’s Images The World Through my Eyes

 

 

 

Tags: Atlantic Beach, Calabash, Cape Lookout, Chris Jones Photo and Video, coast, Eric Loy Photography, Fort Fisher, GregDiesel Landscape Photography-Online Gallery, Jus Messin Round Fotographie, Kill Devil Hills, Leaping Frog Photography, Mancuso Photography, Mark's Images The World Through My Eyes, nature, NC, New Life Photos by Jamie Konarski Davidson, Outer Banks, Outer Banks NC Local Artist Page, Photography, Robert Robbins, Southport, state parks, Sunset Beach, Topsail Island .

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