There are 13 known species of animals in DuPont State Recreational Forest that the state has cate-gorized as “species of special concern,” “threatened,” or “endangered.” This group of 13 is comprised of one snake, one lizard, one turtle, one rodent, four bats, and five salamanders. Alan Cameron, an FODF member and long-time volun-teer with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission will present a slide show to describe these ani-mals and their habitats later this summer on a date yet to be determined. His lecture will include information about a special program to photo-graph over-wintering Golden Eagles here in west-ern North Carolina. This program will be held in the downstairs classroom of the Aleen Steinberg Visitor Center. FODF members will be notified of the date and time by email.

July Events:

18th Mountain Medicine

22nd FODF Board

Meeting

August Events:

16th Litter Pick-Up

23rd Mushroom Hike

September Events:

13th Fall Botanical Walk

20th FODF Canoe Day

23rd FODF Board Meeting

27th FODF Trails & National

Public Lands Day

Membership Newsletter for Friends of DuPont Forest

I S S U E

J u l y 2 0 1 4

02

The Little River

Watermark V O L U M E

12

This issue

Forest Supervisors Report

Environmental Education

2-3

3

Calling All Volunteers

Frank’s Farewell 4

Tour de Falls 5

Trail Safety Clinic

Trail Crew Update 6

New Board Members 7

Poplar Hill Rambler 8-9

The Blue Ghosts!

Welcome New Members 10

President’s Report 11

Membership Form 12

DuPont Listed Animal Species Slide Show

Alan Cameron (photo courtesy of Aleen Steinberg)

Green Salamander (photo courtesy of Alan Cameron)

DuPont Listed Animal Species Slide Show By Aleen Steinberg

FODF Newsletter Gets a Facelift

As you will see, the Newsletter Committee has been hard at work upgrading the format and content of your quarterly newsletter. We would like your feedback as to what you would like to see in upcom-ing editions.

If you would like to write an article about the Forest or would like to submit pictures of the Forest, please submit your suggestions, ideas, and articles to the Newsletter Editor, Nancy Kay at vet-mama@sonic.net or telephone- 707-477-6683.

Personnel:

On June 2nd, Frank Cubero, the Forest Maintenance Supervisor, left the

NC Forest Service for a career change. We not only lost 10 years of ex-

perience on the Forest but a person with remarkable problem-solving skills

and creativity for any project he put his hands on. The FODF and the NC

Forest Service gathered at the High Falls Shelter on Frank’s last day to

send him off and wish him luck.

In the last quarter, we added two temporary appointments to the Forest

Staff. In February, Mr. Denver Beddingfield assumed duties as the Public

Information Assistant assigned to the Visitor Center. In March, Mr. Chad

Battle took the General Utility Worker position assigned to Forest mainte-

nance. We hope that these positions will assist in duties that were taking a

substantial amount of staff time: public phone calls, permit questions,

some routine office work, and maintenance and landscaping needs.

We also lost Mr. Stephen Pace, our Maintenance Mechanic, to the NC

Department of Transportation in Henderson County. Stephen was a val-

ued and skilled member of our work force for three and a half years and

he will be missed. Approximately 60% of his duties were assigned to the

Visitor Center, with the remainder being tied to the maintenance support of

DuPont State Recreational Forest and Holmes Educational State Forest.

This position was recently filled by Brandon “Buck” Jones, a skilled me-

chanic and long time member of the Brevard Rescue Squad.

Recreation/Visitation Services:

Overall, visitation to the Forest is higher at this point in the year than in

either 2012 or 2013. Through the month of May, 2014, the NC Forest

Service estimates that 117,000 visitors have been inside the Forest. In the

record-year of 2012, 113,000 visitors were estimated through May.

The ten-year average of visitation to the Forest, prior to 2013, was

~160,000 visitors per year. The number of full-time employees responsible

for the Forest has remained at the same level since 2009. Therefore, the

DSRF Staff is as occupied with public safety, Forest rule enforcement, and

public relations as ever.

We have recently re-structured the permit system to improve efficiency

and consistency with the administration of the various permit programs.

We hope this benefits our users and our staff. Current areas of responsi-

bility, per general permit category, are found below:

Routine Use (Denver Beddingfield, Public Information Assistant): Disabled Access, Shelter Reservations, and After-Hours Special Use (Eric Folk, Educational Ranger): Hunting Permits, Dis-abled Hunters, Weddings, Volunteer Projects, Barn Use, Guion Farm, and Training Events. Commercial Use (Jeremy Waldrop, Educational Ranger): typical commercial use Firewood Permits (Michael Sweat, Management Forester): fire-wood, stick removal for artistic materials, mushroom logs, etc. Special Use-Supervisor Level (Jason Guidry and Bruce Mac-Donald): movie projects, photo shoots, significant events or vari-ance of Forest rules.

DuPont State Recreational Forest Supervisor’s Report By Jason I. Guidry

Page 2

Record breaking number of visitors seen

the first five months of 2014. In the Special Use category of permits, the Forest was recently the site

of a movie production during the first week of June. The movie, enti-

tled “Max”, was an MGM production and an adaptation of a true story

about “A military working dog who returns from active service in Af-

ghanistan traumatized by his handler's death. Its release is set for

January 30, 2015”.

The NC Forest Staff worked closely with the film production crew to

minimize visitor conflicts and maximize public safety and resource

protection.

Vegetation and Wildlife Objectives:

The DSRF Staff conducted four prescribed burns during the period

from late February through April. All of the burn units were located

along the Joanna Road corridor. The Vista Trail burn (26 acres), Oak

Tree Trail burn (20 acres), Pitch Pine Trail burn (45 acres), and Briery

Fork Trail burn (~50 acres) met the objectives of wildlife habitat en-

hancement, reduction of fuel buildup, and breaking up of occlusive

patches of mountain laurel and rhododendron.

(continued on page 3)

FODF Newsletter Committee: Nancy Kay - Newsletter

Editor, Nancy Black - Copy Layout, Kent Wilcox,

Aleen Steinberg, Jerry Brown & Helen Lee.

Newsletter Contributors: Jason Guidry, Eric Folk, Rella

Allred, Kent Wilcox, Helen Lee, Lyle Burgmann, Devin

Gentry, Bev Parlier, Aleen Steinberg, Gloria Clouse,

Chris McDonnell, Bob Twomey & Alan Cameron

Page 3

I am pleased to report that it has been a busy spring season of interpretation and education at both

Holmes Educational State Forest and DuPont State Recreational Forest. Forest Rangers led 65 pro-

grams for 928 people including school children, adults, and professionals. Program materials from

the generous FODF educational grant were used to improve two existing programs, and we initiated

two new programs called “Eastern Bats” and “Fur, Skulls, Tracks.” They were presented to the gen-

eral public at DSRF, accompanied by the appearance of Smokey Bear. “Project Learning Tree” was

presented twice for environmental educators in the Visitor Center classroom. FODF funded a com-

plete set of field guides for use in the visitor center for our visitors and volunteers to use. I thank

FODF along with the 928 students and interested adults for your commitment to environmental edu-

cation.

Approximately 10 acres of recently harvested hardwood forest were

planted with shortleaf pine. The shortleaf pine was planted on a wide

spacing and in irregular patterns to mimic a natural community. The over-

all objective of the harvest was to improve wildlife habitat and forest

health by developing an early-stage successional forest community type.

This site in the Guion Farm area is expected to regenerate into a mixed

pine and hardwood stand.

Approximately 250 hybrid American Chestnut were planted in the Guion

Farm harvest area. These potentially blight-resistant trees were provided

through an agreement between the NC Forest Service and The American

Chestnut Foundation.

Invasive/Exotic Species Control: The DSRF staff recently submitted a

grant proposal to chemically treat ~25 acres of Miscanthus sinensis

(Chinese silvergrass), Microstegium vimineum (Nepalese browntop), and

Ligustrum sinense (Chinese privet) on the DSRF and HESF. This work

will be completed by Forest staff members throughout the growing sea-

son of 2014.

Forest Resource Protection:

Trails The Shoal Creek, Cedar Rock, and Hickory Mountain Loop trails have been successfully re-routed to protect the quality of water in nearby stream systems. The overall cost of the project was ~$17,000 and was funded solely by the Friends of DuPont Forest. We appreciate FODF for promoting trail improvement projects that protect the Forest’s natural resources. The FODF Trails Committee approved the remaining balance of the

money (~$4100 ) be set aside for trail improvements. This allowed the

purchase of extra gravel for future trail projects and two large culverts

that will be used for a stream crossing on Corn Mill Shoals Trail.

Wildlife Habitat The annual Blue Ghost Firefly viewing by the public underwent some significant changes this year. Most notably, the FODF funded the hiring of officers with the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Department to patrol Buck Forest Road and the High Falls Access Area for any disruptive behavior by visitors. The previous Blue Ghost viewing location was closed, and foot traffic was routed along the white limestone trail leading away from the Visitor Center. The FODF was responsible for volunteer-ing their time to provide the public with education and awareness of the fragility of the Blue Ghost Fireflies. The NC Forest Service will review this year’s event and make a decision on how next year’s event will be man-aged for the general public.

Cultural Resources

Throughout most of the month of June the NC Forest Service designed

and constructed the re-route of Big Rock Trail away from a petroglyph

site. Forester Michael Sweat was the project manager and used NCFS’s

B.R.I.D.G.E. program for the labor. The NCFS received design assis-

tance from Mr. David Brown and Mr. Chuck Ramsey and the re-route

corridor was endorsed by the Natural Heritage Program to avoid rare and

significant plant communities associated with the granite slabs along Big

Rock Trail.

Loop trails have Other Recent FODF Contributions:

In early May, the semi-annual Western Piedmont Community College

(WPCC) project in DuPont took place. A storage shed was constructed to

support the operations of the Aleen Steinberg Visitor Center. The shed,

designed by Frank Cubero and Eric Hurley, added a significant amount

of storage capacity for the NC Forest Service and for the FODF’s Tour de

Falls events. The shed will also house a new utility terrain vehicle that will

be assigned to the Visitor Center. We thank the FODF for supporting this

project and the WPCC students and instructors for their hard work.

The FODF and Chris McDonnell have once again graciously made avail-

able $1000 for use on the Forest, through a charitable contribution by Mr.

McDonnell’s former employer JP Morgan. This year’s contribution funded

much needed security lighting around the Visitor Center. The contribution

is a match for Chris’s volunteer work in the Forest. Over the past ten

years, Chris’s hard work has resulted in over $10,000 of direct benefit to

DuPont Forest. It is greatly appreciated.

North Carolina Forest Service Contributions:

The Young Offenders Forest Conservation Program (also known as

BRIDGE) has been an important part of Forest operations since the for-

mation of the State Forest. The BRIDGE program is a cooperative agree-

ment between the NCFS and the NC Department of Corrections, forming

work crews (with inmates and NCFS Project Leaders) as a resource for

fire control activities throughout western North Carolina. Throughout the

year, BRIDGE is a constant source of skilled labor for the Forest. Thou-

sands of person-hours (ranging from carpentry, hazardous tree mitiga-

tion, road maintenance, maintenance of vegetation on the Forest’s dams,

collection of tree seeds, tree planting, preparing prescribed burn units,

moving furniture) are donated to the Forest from the BRIDGE Program

year after year. This year has been no exception and it is important that

our community understands that the NCFS supports the Forest beyond

its on-site staff. Beyond the Forest, BRIDGE Program participants have

demonstrated a significantly lower level of recidivism (12%) among its

inmates than the national average of 35%. If you have the chance,

please promote this program for what it offers to the Forest.

Forest Supervisor’s Report (continued from page 2)

Environmental Education By Eric Folk, DSRF Educational Ranger

Page 4

Volunteers are needed to staff the shelter at the Hooker Falls parking lot on weekends from May 3 to October 26. Volunteers can work a morning shift (10:00 am to 1:00 pm) or afternoon shift (1:00 to 4:00 pm) on Saturday or Sun-day. Volunteers may work as few or as many shifts as de-sired. First time visitors greatly appreciate the help and advice provided by folks staffing the Hooker Falls shelter.

Calling All Volunteers Photos & article By Helen Lee

The old Hooker Falls shelter pictured above and the

new shelter located near the footbridge on the left

The shelter at the Hooker Falls upper parking lot is near the new bridge over the Little River. You can enjoy the view of the river while giving directions, selling trail maps for DuPont Forest, and collecting donations for bot-tled water.

We are in desperate need of volunteers. If you can work a shift as a Hooker Falls parking lot host please contact Helen Lee at terton2@gmail.com or 828-884-8524.

The most frequently asked

questions are "How do we get to

the waterfalls?" and "Where is

the Visitors Center?" A couple of

rather interesting questions

have been, "Where is the Du-

Pont family mansion?" and

"Where is the silver mine?" No

one who volunteers at the

Hooker Falls shelter knows the

answers to these questions!

Jerry Clouse presenting an oil painting to Frank Cubero (photo courtesy of

Gloria Clouse)

Frank’s Farewell By Helen Lee

Helen Lee and new shelving in storage shed (photo courtesy of Bob Twomey)

On June 2nd, co-workers and friends gathered at the High Falls Shelter to say, “good-bye” and “thanks” to Frank Cubero, who retired from the Maintenance Supervisor position at DuPont Forest to take on a new professional challenge. Frank, whose outstanding woodworking talents are in evidence throughout the Forest, left after being on the DuPont staff for ten years. Friends of DuPont For-est presented Frank with a copy of an original oil painting by Sarah Sneeden, of five rangers (and the legendary old green bus) on staff back in 2004.

A true artist, Frank found distinctive ways to use the wormy chestnut boards rescued from the Girls Dining Hall at Camp Summit. The picture frames and award plaques fashioned Frank for various individuals are treasured by their lucky recipients. But, perhaps the most handsome and most admired pieces are the wormy chestnut desk and cabinetry found at The Aleen Steinberg Center.

Over the past six years, Frank worked closely with Instructor Eric Hurley and students from Western Community College, building piers, porches, stairs, bridges, a housing for the dumpster, and a shed at the Visitor Center. Frank’s parting project, and a gift close to the heart of FODF volunteers, are the shelves within the Shed. Easily accessible, they were built to hold sup-plies for Tour de Falls. It goes without saying- Frank’s presence will be deeply missed.

Page 5

On May 10th and 11th, 436 guests were able to enjoy the DuPont Forest in a very special way. Thank you to the more than 60 volun-teers who staffed this event.

The turn out was lower than the 500 to 600 we normally see during Mother's Day weekend, probably due to a rainy Saturday. Even so, after expenses, we made $1560 that will be invested in the Forest. And, most importantly, we were able to provide a unique guided tour of our Forest to hundreds of people.

New for this tour was a Guest Survey that was developed by Valerie Naylor. Here are some of the results from the 156

people who took the survey:

1. Distance traveled: 16% more than 200 miles 22% 50 to 200 miles

2. What did they enjoy most? (The responses add up to more than 100% because some people gave multiple an-swers.)

51% The falls 21% Bus access (most said they were not able to walk to the falls)

19% Information/History of DuPont 12% Tour guides 12% Beauty 10% Volunteers 3. How could Tour de Falls be improved? There were a few suggestions for improvement, the most common being "add more tours during the summer". Most of the comments in this category were not suggestions for improvements, but rather compliments on how good the Tour was. One example: "It was just fabulous! No sugges-tions - keep doing it!"

Thanks again to the volunteers who made the Tour so enjoyable for our guests. I especially want to say a big "thank you" to Chris and Mary Jane McDonnell. Chris has volunteered at every Tour for 11 years and Mary Jane for 9 years. Chris and Mary Jane have decided to miss the Tour this coming October in order to take a well-deserved vacation. Their years of service to the Tour and to the Forest are very much appreciated.

The fall version of Tour de Falls will be on October 18th and 19th. Please mark the dates on your calendar. Tell your friends and family. Please con-tact me if you want to volunteer. Also, if you have ideas for improving the Tour experience or increasing attendance, please contact me at llbmwb@gmail.com.

Tour de Falls Wrap Up By Lyle Burgmann

Ticket Sales and Membership Table in parking lot: From left:

Bev Parlier, Linda Randall, Lyle Burgmann - Tour de Falls

Chairman, Nancy Kay & Rella Allred (photo courtesy of Chris McDonnell)

Guests taking our survey on the porch of the Rangers

Station at Lake Julia

99 year old Nancy Black accompanied by her grandson on the

Tour de Falls (photo courtesy of Bev Parlier)

Page 6

On May 17th and 18th, FODF, NC Forest Service, Pisgah Trailblazers and DuPont Equestrians sponsored an Equestrian Multi-Use Trail Safety Clinic with professional horse trainer, Calvin Halford. The purpose of this clinic was to help equestrians train their horses to accept whatever they might encounter on multi-use trails. Several mountain bikers volunteered their time and contributed significantly to the equestrians’ experience.

The FODF Volunteer Trail Crew (FODF Department of trail Corrections) is back in full swing after a winter that gave us uncooperative weather on many of our scheduled workdays. In April we worked on corridor clearing for a reroute around a sensitive area on Big Rock Trail. In May we worked clearing water drains on Longside Trail to prevent water accumu-lation and erosion on the trail. We also trimmed overhanging branches to improve “line of sight” and enhance trail safety.

T-shirt design for trail crew volunteers.

Desensitizing a horse to dogs

Crew leader Chuck Ramsey demonstrates the proper way to

create drainage areas. (Photos courtesy of Bev Parlier)

Equestrian Multi-Use Trail Safety Clinic By Rella Allred

Not only did the horses become desensitized to the bicycles, the

bikers all appreciated the opportunity to learn more about what to

expect from horses on the trail. Due to heavy rain on May 18th, the

Forest Service allowed a repeat of the clinic on June 21st and

22nd. Everyone seemed to have a good time and to go away with

The FODF Trail Crew works closely with the Forest Service and has been trained in correct ways to control water and over-growth on the trails. Anyone who would like to help is encouraged to join in the fun. We work on the second Saturday of each month. Trying to do trail work, trimming, clearing, etc. on your own is not a good idea as it can cause damage to the forest and problems for Forest visitors. All trail work should be carried out under the direction of the Forest Service. Please contact Rella Allred (rellabelle@att.net) if you would like to help.

Trail Crew Update By Rella Allred, Photos by Bev Parlier

Desensitizing a horse to bikes

Page 7

Welcome New Board Members

The Friends of DuPont Forest welcomed six new board members at its recent membership meeting on April 15 th. Fred Weed, Jerry

Brown, Brian Spotts, Donna Hakala, Carmen Durham and not pictured - Nancy Kay. Here’s a brief bio for each on each.

Jerry Brown came to Brevard from the University of Montana where he was the Dean of the School of Journalism from 1999 to 2007. Prior to that he spent 20 years on faculty at Auburn Univer-sity. He has a B.A. degree in journalism, a M.A. degree in creative writing and a Ph.D. in English. He edited a weekly newspaper in Virginia, published a book, Alabama’s Mitcham Wars and has co-authored an award-winning book entitled, The Federal Road Through Georgia, the Creek Nation and Alabama. He grew up doing lots of walking (before it was called hiking), and he continues to combine this sport with fishing and hunting. Jerry and his wife Libby, a retired high school librarian, live in Cedar Mountain.

Carmen Durham’s love for the WNC mountains began while she was at-tending Appalachian State University. After working for a few years in the field of actuarial science in Greensboro, N.C., she returned to Appalachian State to pursue a degree in geography focusing on geographic information systems (GIS). She worked in Charlotte as a GIS instructor for Environ-mental Systems Research Institute before moving to Greenville, S.C. She is currently the GIS technical manager for the City of Greenville. Carmen has provided GIS services on a volunteer basis for Paris Mountain State Park in Greenville. This included GPS’ing their trail system and creating and main-taining their trail map. She has been hiking and mountain biking in DuPont State Recreational Forest since 1999, and is always on the hunt for wildflow-ers- especially orchids. Carmen has been a member of Friends of DuPont Forest for many years.

Donna Hakala came to North Caro-lina last December after working 40 years as a field technician for Nstar Electric on Cape Cod, Massachu-setts. She has always been an out-door person, which is what drew her to the mountains of Western North Carolina after a life on the ocean. Donna enjoys hiking the DuPont State Recreational Forest trails every day with her three Australian Shepherd dogs. She is active on the DuPont trail and litter control com-mittees and volunteers at the Visitor Center. Donna’s goal is “to be able to give back to this beautiful forest and help others enjoy its peace and beauty.”

Nancy Kay and her husband fell in love with DuPont State Recrea-tional Forest three years ago when they were searching for a place to relocate from Northern California. The rest is history! Nancy is a retired small animal veterinarian who specialized in internal medi-cine. She is a book author and blogger. Her favorite hobby is horseback riding in DuPont Forest. Other leisure activities include hiking, gardening, and volunteering within the community. Nancy serves on the DuPont Trails Committee, works in the Visitor Cen-ter, and is chair of the Newsletter Committee. She and her hus-band have three grown children.

Brian Spotts relocated to Brevard in 2012 with Oskar Blues Brewery from Longmont, Colorado. Brian, a manager at the brewery, helped to open the new Brevard facility and continues to assist in their growth and development. Prior to joining the Oskar Blues team in 2008, he was a fly fishing guide in Telluride, Colorado. Brian is an avid mountain biker and outdoor enthusiast. He holds a degree in Political Science from The University of Florida. He is a member of Pisgah Forest Rotary. Brian and his wife Katie are the proud parents of Emmaline Lindsey who was born one month after they moved to the area.

Fred Weed spent time as a naval officer from 1959-1963, serving as his ship’s Executive Officer. From 1963-1993 Fred filled admin-istrative positions at several liberal arts colleges. He was an admis-sions counselor, vice president for development, assistant provost, and dean of admissions and financial aid. His volunteer activities in Transylvania County include litter pick-up and Tour de Falls for Friends of DuPont Forest, crossing guard with the Brevard Police Department, Transylvania County RSVP Committee, Chair of Mis-sion Endowment Fund, and a trustee of Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy.

Page 8

Among the mysteries in DuPont Forest is the saga of an abandoned station wagon that is slowly rusting away on Poplar Hill Loop, a 1.4 mile trail that encircles Poplar Hill in the southeastern portion of DuPont State Recreational Forest. Near the gently sloping top of Poplar Hill is an open meadow (photo 1) populated with tall grasses, shrubs, and young yellow poplar trees. The rectangular shape of the meadow, its location less than 400 feet from Turkey Knob Road, and the complete absence of fallen trees or stumps suggest that this one acre field was intentionally cleared by humans. There are no visible signs of any struc-tures, but perhaps a thorough search in the winter would reveal rem-nants of a stone chimney or foundation for a cabin.

Early mountain settlers preferred home sites next to a spring or stream. Not far downhill from the Poplar Hill meadow is a spring for an unnamed tributary of Briery Fork Creek. The flow from this spring is minimal and may be dependent on seasonal precipitation. Perhaps a small dam was constructed to contain the water during drier periods. More dependable water would have been available from Little Briery Creek, but fetching water from this site required a 0.3 mile hike to the stream and a strong effort to carry gallons of water uphill (an elevation change of 200 feet) everyday. If the trickle from the nearby spring was insufficient, the family may have taken a wagon (or perhaps a station wagon) approximately 1.2 miles down Turkey Knob Road to a 0.5 stub road that ended at Briery Creek (this stub was Little Briery Trail but is no longer maintained as a trail).

The fact that only shrubs and young trees are growing in the meadow suggests that the field was occupied or used by humans within the last 40 years. This speculation is supported by the presence of the rusty remains of a 1957 Rambler Custom Cross County Station Wagon (photos 2 and 3) that came to rest on the eastern side of Poplar Loop Trail approximately 400 ft from the meadow. It is reasonable to assume that the 3000-pound vehicle got close to its final resting site under its own power, but it is com-pletely immobile now. The hulk lies at an angle and is buried in dirt up to its bumpers. Scavengers have removed hubcaps, three tires, the battery, radiator, and other engine parts. Vandals have smashed windows, lights and mirrors, removed chrome trim, destroyed the upholstery, and dented the body. The interior is filled with debris that provides habitats for numer-ous nest-building creatures. Without a license plate or serial number, it is impossible to trace the ownership of this vehicle, but the general history of the 1957 Rambler Cross County Station Wagon is informative.

The 1957 Rambler was built by AMC (American Motors Corporation). AMC was created in 1954 by the merger of the Nash Motors Corporation (based in Kenosha, WI) and the Hudson Motor Car Company (based in Detroit, MI). When George Mason, president of Nash Motors, passed away in 1954, his assistant George Romney (father of Mitt Romney) be-came president of the newly formed AMC. Mr. Romney committed the company’s resources to the design and marketing of a smaller car called the Rambler that would be an attractive alternative to the larger cars pro-duced by General Motors, Ford and Chrysler. The 1956 Rambler debuted on December 15, 1955. It was marketed as a compact, safe, economical, roomy car that could average 24 mpg (13 mpg in town, 20 mpg on the highway at 50 mph based on test results published in Popular Mechanics).

Poplar Hill Rambler By Kent Wilcox

Photo 1 - Meadow on Poplar Hill

Photo 2 - 1957 Rambler on Poplar Hill

Photo 3 - 1957 Rambler on Poplar Hill

(continued on page 9)

Photo 4 - Restored 1957 Rambler

The 1957 Rambler Cross Country Station Wagon (photos 4 and 5) was offered in solid colors or a dozen different two‑ or three‑tone paint schemes. It came standard with 4 doors, automatic transmission, a roll-down tailgate window, a roof rack and a straight 6-cylinder engine with 125 hp for $2,500 or an optional V-8 engine with 190 hp for $2,630. For comparison, the list price for the 1957 Ford Thunderbird was $3,408 and the 1957 Corvette sold for $3,200. The federal minimum wage in 1957 was $1 per hour, equivalent to an annual salary of $2,000.

A “Weather Eye” air conditioning unit, power steering, and seat belts were available as options. Approximately 32,000 units were produced with the 6-cylinder engine and 7,000 units were produced with the V8 engine.

The two-tone Rambler Station Wagon on Poplar Hill Loop has a straight 6-cylinder engine (photo 6) and the optional Weather Eye air condition-ing unit (photo 7), presumably because it was originally purchased by someone living in the hot south. The 74,445 miles on the odometer (photo 8) suggest that the vehicle was driven for 7 to 10 years, assum-ing the owner was not a long distance traveling salesman or a runner hauling moonshine every week to Charleston or Atlanta (not too likely in an air-conditioned 3000 lb station wagon with 125 hp). How and why this vehicle came to its final resting place on Poplar Hill Loop perhaps more than 40 years ago may forever remain a mystery but it will no doubt serve as a conversation piece for at least another 40 years.

Information for this article was obtained from an article about the Ram-bler Six and V8 engines on Wikipedia.com and links therein to informa-tion on howstuffworks.com and articles published in 1956 in Popular Mechanics and Life Magazine. Photos 4 and 5 of the restored 1957 Rambler were taken by Christopher Ziemnowicz at the 2011 Potomac Ramblers Club meeting in Maryland and placed in the public domain on Wikipedia Commons. All other photos were taken by the author in 2014.

Page 9

How do you want your Friends of DuPont newsletter delivered?

The Little River Watermark is published three - four times a year. We send out an electronic copy of the newsletter to all members

with a valid e-mail address. You can also read the current issues and archived issues on the www.dupontforest.com website.

Click on Newsletters on the left of the screen. For members who do not have an e-mail address or who have not requested e-mail

delivery, we send a printed copy by first class mail. We are happy to supply The Little River Watermark in the form you like best. If

you wish to receive an e-mail copy instead of the printed version or if you are currently not receiving a printed version and wish to

request that form of delivery, let us know at membership@dupontforest.com and we will update your profile so you get the news

that is the best way for you!

Photo 5 - Restored 1957 Rambler

Photo 6 - Six cylinder engine block on Poplar Hill Rambler

Photo 7 - Climate control on Poplar Hill Rambler

Photo 8 - Odometer on Poplar Hill Rambler

Poplar Hill Rambler (continued from page 8)

The deep leaf litter that lined the path used to

view the Blue Ghosts in years past was se-

verely trampled last season by a few over eager

forest visitors. In order to protect the “grain of

rice-sized” female Blue Ghosts that nest on the

ground, the Rangers parked a Goliath of a

dump truck and a Do Not Enter sign at the old

trail head.

As if on cue, the Blue Ghost Fireflies of DuPont once again delighted visi-tors along a new trail that seemed to have been made for the occasion. From mid-May until the first week in June, hundreds of young, old and in-between found their way down the white limestone path that led to the deep leaf litter habitat of Phausis reticulata. And those hundreds were not disappointed for the Blue Ghosts were out in large numbers, weaving their dim blue glow dance through the forest in the early evening hours.

New rules, posted by the Forest Ser-vice, helped to direct and control the crowds on the new route that led down the white stone path from the

The Blue Ghosts! By Aleen Steinberg & photos by Gloria Clouse

Visitor Center, over the small bridge and then back to the parking lot on Buck Forest Road.

Members of FODF manned an infor-mation table at the entrance to the new route, helping assist the visitors with answers to questions, sugges-tions for the walk and red cello-phane covers for bright flashlights. That the Blue Ghosts might con-tinue their lives and seasonal flights in DuPont Forest, and to help the Forest Service reinforce these new rules, Deputies from the Transylva-nia County Sheriff’s Dept. were on duty at High Falls entrance three weekends during the Blue Ghost’s appearance.

Bruce Amig Cara and Andy Applegate

Betty Ashley Allen Baldree

Jeana Ballentine Cynthia and Dane Barrager

Nancy W. Beale Phyllis and Philip Bentley

Crystal Bradley Sandra and Don Brown Don and Kathie Briola Sandy and Don Brown

Erol Caglarean Alan Cameron Janice Carney

Penny Christian Gary and Lynne Cipro

Myron Corley Michael Cowal

Felix Cox Frank and Pamela Crachiolo

Chris and Jane Dauster Alice Dehart

Denise and Sara DeWitt Wes Dickson James Evans

Lynn Fennema Glenn Fleming

Wayne and Cynthia Foresman Terrell Garrard

Woody and Elaine Gales K. Sue Gray Peter Harris Bill Hayward

Gerald Hayward Toni Hawkins

Steve and Pam Jacobs Jeff and Elizabeth Jennings

Randy Johnson Cliff Jollie

Faith Jorgenson Jenna Kelly David King

Dawn Kucera Albert Kunze

Paul and Judy Lerwick Page and Mark Lemel

Delia MacMillan Fred and Pat McGarrahan

Dixon Moseley Graydon and Kathleen Nance

Peter Newsome Art and Lydia Odell

William Owens Judy Packard

Jane Park Laura Patch

We have so many new members to welcome and celebrate! They are:

Welcome New FODF Members!

Carroll W. Rivers Eric and Nancy Robbins

Jennifer Roberts Brooks Rogow and Laura Lester

Bill and Karen Rouse Sue Russell Peter Russ

Brian and Kathryn Spotts Margaret and Clarence Stricker

Marsha Stopa Marshal W. Welch

Judy and Paul Welch Michelle Wells Jackie Wells Jean White

Sandra Willan Sam and Sherry Williams

Melissa D. Wynn David Zugelder

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May the Forest be with you!

Devin Gentry Friends of DuPont Forest President

President’s Report By Devin Gentry, FODF President

I would like to begin by thanking our immediate past-president Bev Par-lier for her great leadership and amazing dedication to DuPont State Recreational Forest (DSRF). Her love for the forest and the recreational opportunities that abound within its borders along with her enthusiasm for protecting its resources are truly contagious. With that in mind, I'd like to remind everyone that our newly revised mission statement is, "Friends of DuPont Forest (FODF) is a non-profit, volunteer organization dedicated to enhancing the public’s enjoyment of the forest while protecting its natural and historic resources." And so you see, that's what FODF is all about. We are a group of like-minded folks who care deeply about Du-Pont State Recreational Forest, doing what we can to make sure present and future generations are able to enjoy great trails surrounded by healthy and diverse ecosystems.

That is exactly why I chose to get involved with FODF several years ago. I had been hiking, biking, kayaking, hunting, and fishing in DSRF for ten years, always grateful for the public land that provided me with these magical outdoor experiences. It wasn't until a few years ago, when I heard some rumors that there were some possible changes in store for DSRF (a potential result of the move of the NC Forest Service from the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources to the NC De-partment of Agriculture), that I chose to stand up for what I believed to be a great multi-use management model. It wasn't until I realized that our forest was threatened with potential changes that I began to get con-cerned. However, being concerned is not enough to make a change. I knew I had to get involved. Friends of DuPont Forest seemed like a great place to start and I am so glad I became involved. I chose to attend a FODF Board of Directors meeting and immediately realized the impor-tance of the organization, the voice it gives to the forest users, and the vital support that FODF provides to the NC Forest Service staff.

Well, a lot has happened in those three years since I first attended that Board Meeting and became a member of FODF! I now write to you as your new president, honored to have accepted this leadership position in April of 2014. I am a graduate of Brevard College with a degree in Envi-ronmental Studies. I currently work for the Cradle of Forestry in America Interpretive Association as the Director of Programming and Partner-ships. I feel that my education and experience with public land partner-ships will help FODF and the NC Forest Service collaboratively tackle the many challenges that the forest faces. Most of the challenges result from the huge increase in visitation that our forest is experiencing. Forest users are flocking to the waterfalls and enjoying our world-class trails in unprecedented numbers. Although visitation numbers and the subse-quent impact on the resources are increasing, at this point state funding is not following suit. DSRF is literally in danger from being “loved to death.”

By becoming a member of FODF, you are doing your part to help miti-gate this danger by providing much needed funding and volunteer ser-vices for a variety of forest projects. Plain and simple, we need more FODF members. Please join me during our current membership drive and ask your friends, family members, neighbors, local businesses, and colleagues to join FODF. There are a variety of monetary levels at which one can become a member, and there are many volunteer opportunities. If you haven't been out to DuPont State Recreational Forest lately, I urge you to do so. I suggest going to the High Falls or Hooker Falls parking areas on a busy summer day. Then go explore a trail in a far corner of the forest that is new to you. The trip to the falls will shed light on why we need more forest users to become members of Friends of DuPont For-est. The latter will remind you how special DuPont State Recreational Forest truly is. Always, feel free to contact me at presi-dent@dupontforest.com with any questions or comments.

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Friends of DuPont Forest

PO Box 2107

Brevard, NC 28712

Membership Get Involved

Friend (1 Year) $25 I would like to volunteer

Family (1 Year) $35 Trail Building & Work Crew

Donate at a level of $50 or more, receive a free Friends of DuPont Forest T-shirt ( S, M, L, XL, XXL ) Circle one

Adopt-a-Hwy Litter Pick-Up

Partner (1 Year) $50 Special Events (Tour de Falls, Canoe Day, etc)

Supporter (1 Year) $100 Special Forest Interest/Educational Programs

Hooker Falls Contributor (1 Year) $ 250 Membership Services

Triple Falls Contributor (1 Year) $ 500 Parking Lot Greeters

High Falls Contributor (1 Year) $1000 Grant Writing

Forest Angel (1 Year) $1001+ DuPont State Forest History Program

Additional Donation $___________________ Fundraising Efforts

I’ve already joined online through dupontforest.com Other ___________________________________________

Save the stamps. Please E-mail my newsletter to the E-mail address listed below

Name ______________________________________________ Address___________________________________________________

(Please print clearly)

City ________________________________________________ State___________ ZIP_______________________________________

Phone (_______)_____________________________________ E-mail ____________________________________________________

Mail this form to: Friends of DuPont Forest ~ P.O. Box 2107 ~ Brevard, NC 28712

Devin Gentry, President

Helen Lee, Vice President

Jerry Clouse, Treasurer

Rella Allred, Secretary

Bev Parlier, Past President

Dan Breshnahan

Jerry E. Brown

Lyle Burgmann

Dick Childs

Carmen Durham

Donna Hakala

Nancy Kay

Valerie Naylor

Susi Platt

Chuck Ramsey

Kathy Reiff

Brian Spotts

Aleen Steinberg

Fred Weed

FODF Board of Directors

EC