CARVER S FALLS. Cumberland County s Natural Beauty. What s Included In This Information Packette

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1 Cumberland County s Natural Beauty What s Included In This Information Packette History of the Falls Boy Scouts have acquired Right of Use Guidelines for Usage Application Check-out Report

2 HISTORY AND ANNOUNCEMENT Great News! The Occoneechee Council has acquired the right to use one of the most beautiful and unusual natural sites in the two Carolinas. It is here in Cumberland County and is not well known.the owners have tried to see to that to discourage trespassing and vandalism. Incidentally, the owners are three brothers who themselves are all Eagle Scouts. Our lease is rent-free except for insurance and maintenance. Carver s Falls HISTORY It is named for a man named Samuel Carver who received it along with 640 acres from King George II of England in Little is known about the early history but the book The Story of Fayetteville and The Upper Cape Fear privately published in 1950 by John A. Oates says on Page 6: In 1920 the author had some correspondence to get the Indian history about Carvers Falls. These Falls, at the junction of McPherson and Carvers Creeks, seven miles north of Fayetteville and threefourths of a mile from the Cape Fear River, have been a showplace for generations. The waters fall some fifteen feet and the combined creeks are forty feet across the Falls. Many years ago there was a mill at that point. Some of the old timers (sic) were still visible in There was a canal to divert the waters to the mill wheel. The author purchased this property about 1920 and later sold it. There is an old tradition that these Falls were called Lacuianda and it is possible that the meaning was The falling of the waters at the forking of the Creeks. This property is owned at this time, by Purdie Matthews and was leased for a while to the Girl Scouts of Fayetteville. At some point in time, a mill was built to use the water and the elevation differential for energy to grind corn. The elevations are remarkable for a coastal plain property with the highest point, Sparkleberry Knob, being 110 feet 1

3 above sea level and the top of the pool of water seen in the photograph above only 50.5 feet above sea level (with the Atlantic Ocean being about 100 miles away, that means it drops an average of only six inches per mile!). More about the still-existing Mill House later. UNIQUE NATURAL BEAUTY We have the use of 52+ acres of land that is home to plants that live in the swamps of the eastern part of North Carolina as well as plants that exist in the Piedmont and the mountains. An example is Bald Cypress living next to Mountain Laurel! It is land that is fragile in an ecological sense and we as Scouts must make certain that our use is low impact use in all its applications. For a few examples, we must be careful not to cut living plants and we must make sure that fires are only placed on the pre-approved location, and we must tread in a way that does not create erosion, we must keep automobile tires from running over the roots of the trees struggling to live in the poor soil in front of the Mill House. THE FALLS Carver s Falls is created at the point where two creeks come together on a stone-like material known as the Cape Fear Formation. (It is a soft material and can be vandalized easily so we must keep that in mind.) The two creeks are McPherson s Creek and Carver s Creek. After the waterfall, the combined creek is known as Carver s Creek and it flows into the Cape Fear River. Interestingly, King George gave another piece of land to Samuel Carver some years after the 1735 transaction and this piece of land is also located on the Cape Fear River and on the same side of the river. There is a Carver s Creek there too, making the Cape Fear River a river with two creeks of the same name emptying into it on the same side! You can see the sign Carvers on NC Highway 87 south of Fayetteville below Elizabethtown. Each creek is bridged upstream of the waterfall and we will have to maintain them along with the Mill House. These bridges let us have access to the property on both sides of the creeks and above and below the Falls. MILL HOUSE The Mill House is ours to carefully and respectfully use. The millstones are still there and were last set in April of 1927 as the markings in the cement indicate. The age of the Mill House has not been established. The two creeks were used to flume water to a water wheel located next to and below the Mill House. You can see the ditch that served as a flume and also the location where the old wheel was placed. The structural components that were used to exchange the mill stones and also to arrange the drive belts for the stones are long gone but the large pulley that turned the top stone on the bottom fixed stone can be seen underneath the Mill House. The Mill House also has electrical power. Our drinking water supply is furnished from the deep well that is located near the residence that you will note on entering the property. This house is rented to a tenant by the owners and is not part of the property that we as Scouts can use except for the use of the water that is piped to the outdoor sink on the grounds in front of the Mill House. We must make sure that we don t let this water run unnecessarily. And, we must leave any vegetative cover on the grounds in front of the Mill House to limit erosion. HIKING AND CAMPING There are hiking trails and a swamp as well as other ecological features that we can discover. There are several Eagle Scout projects on the property that have been done in the past and they include an observation bench located on the high side (left bank) of Carver s Creek, a footbridge over the tail water creek near the impoundment of Carver s Creek below the falls, a set of wooden steps on the south side of the Mill House to make access to the Creek Walk Trail easy to access. We may want to add to these as time passes. 2

4 SCOUTS ONLY One thing must be made clear - That to protect the land, trespassers are arrested by the deputy that lives in the residence there. So, when a scout is on the property as a part of a scheduled event, that is fine. A visit to the property on his own may get him an appearance before a Judge and a record that doesn t go away. So be advised not to give in to the temptation to visit the property on your own without authorization. To make camping reservations or to visit Carver s Falls, contact Ken Moore, the Council coordinator. Usage of the property is $1 per person or $40, whichever is greater. This is to cover the cost of port-o-lets, insurance, and maintenance. In summary, we are fortunate to have the use of a rare and beautiful treasure to learn from and enjoy. Ken Moore Council Coordinator (H) (C) More Pictures of Carver s Creek 3

5 GUIDELINES To protect land, trespassers will be arrested by Deputy Sheriff who lives on the grounds. Use of property is by permission only. Send application to use camp to Ken Moore, Council Coordinator, at least 10 days in advance of requested dates. The property is gated and gate to enter camping area must be opened (unlocked) to use gain access. Units will follow the guidelines found in the "Guide to Safe Scouting while on the property. Units will have an Occoneechee Council approved Tour Permit to use the property. Two Adults must be present at all times. Only registered Scouts and Scouters are to use camp. Registered Cubs must have parent/guardian with them while on property in accordance with BSA policy. Low Impact/ Leave No Trace camping only (as defined by BSA standards). Stay off water falls and out of water. No swimming or jumping off waterfalls or playing in or around water. Both are off limits. No marking or defacing property or walls in and around water falls area. Be aware of steep cliffs on back side of the falls. Area is off limits. All dams are off limits. No living plants or trees are to be cut or defaced. No open fires except in Campfire circle. No charcoal fires on ground. No digging or ditching. Park in approved areas only. You may unload at the Mill House then move vehicles to parking areas. No vehicles overnight in camping area. Leave vegetative cover on the grounds in front of the Mill House. Sweep Mill House, if used, before departure. Electrical power is available in Mill House. Before departure, make sure all electricity is turned off. Water is only available in front of Mill House. Do not let water run unnecessarily. Remove all trash and garbage when you leave. Pack it in, pack it out. Only human waste goes into port-o-lets. 1

6 All accidents, injuries, fire and any unusual circumstances must be reported immediately to person in charge and then to Council Coordinator or to the Occoneechee Council Executive in accordance with Council Policy. All incidents will be noted on check out sheet. Cost is $1 per person or $40 whichever is greater. This is to cover Port-o-lets, insurance, and maintenance. Donations to the Council to help maintain the property would be appreciated. Fees are due prior to use of property. Make checks payable to Occoneechee Council and submitted to Ken Moore or Doug Nunnally. If fees are mailed to Council, Ken Moore or Doug Nunnally must be notified by Council before you can use property. Report all damage and vandalism. Failure to do so could restrict your future use of property. This includes damage to property and plants and trees. Camp will be inspected prior to and following each use. Report any and all vandalism or damage to property to: Ken Moore (H) (C) OR Doug Nunnally

7 APPLICATION Unit No Today s Date District Name Date Requested: From To Arrival Time Departure Time Sponsoring Organization City Expected Attendance: Scouts Scouters Other Unit Leader in Charge Telephone (H) (W) (C) Alternate Unit Leader in Charge Telephone (H) (W) (C) Mail to: Ken Moore OR Occoneechee Council 1879 White Lake Drive P.O. Box PMB 7092 Raleigh, NC White Lake, NC (H) FAX: (C) moorekl@infionline.net

8 CHECKOUT Unit No Today s Date Please answer the following Questions. Be detailed to include location(s). 1. In what condition did you find the property and facilities? 2. What can we do to make your camping experienced at Carver s Falls better? 3. Describe any damage and vandalism you found when you arrived. 4. Describe any accidents you experience during your visit. 5. Describe any injuries you had during your visit. 6. Describe any fires you had during your visit. 1

9 7. Describe any damage to property and plants and trees you had during your visit. 8. Describe any unusual circumstances or conditions you had during your visit 9. Name of person in charge 10. Name of person filing this report 11. Signature of person filing this report 2