HISTORIC LANDMARK - Tim Vest (right front), District 5 Manager for
Virginia State Parks, congratulates Josh Ellington (left), Manager of
Staunton River State Park, while park staff displays the new historic
markers. From left Ryan Franklin, Reed Stanley, Stephanie Allen, Nathan
Younger, Thomas Paulette, Carol Conner, Rosemarie Paulette, Richard
Martinson, Sydnor Scott, Louis Beadles, Adam Layman, Wayne Moorefield,
Devin Griles.




STAUNTON RIVER STATE PARK DESIGNATED AS HISTORIC DISTRICT

It's official - Staunton River State Park, first opened in 1936, is now
listed in the in the National Register of Historic Places as a Historic
District. The National Park Service maintains this official list of
properties that have historic significance. The park is also registered
as a Virginia Historic Landmark by the Virginia Board of Historic
Resources. Both registers use the same evaluation criteria.
Park Manager Josh Ellington recently received notification of the
honors. Soon plaques will go on display to indicate the parks' historic
status. Staunton River State Park qualified for listing as a historic
district because the park retains a number of original buildings
constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) between 1933 and
1938. In addition, the park maintains its original development plan.
According to Ellington, the process of obtaining these designations has
been a lengthy one because of the extensive historical research
required. Virginia State Parks' resource management office in Richmond
provided technical assistance with the application,   along with an
outside consultant who conducted much of the research. Tim Vest,
Virginia State Parks District 5 Manager, said that "After such a
dynamic application process, we are very pleased with the outcome."
Registration as a historic site is important to encourage future
preservation of historic resources.
Staunton River State Park was one of the first six state parks in the
original Virginia State Park system. Two CCC camps of 200 men each
completed the initial construction of the park on land formerly known
as "Fort Plantation." The State and the counties of Halifax,
Mecklenburg, and Charlotte shared the $2500.00 cost to purchase the
property. Buildings were constructed of materials available on site as
much as possible, including timber cut for clearance and rock used for
foundations.
As stated in the parks' application to the National Register "Staunton
River State Park continues to fulfill its function as a public
recreation facility and retains integrity of building types, park plan
and landscape features." Staunton River State Park and the
award-winning Virginia State Park System are managed by the Virginia
Department of Conservation and Recreation. For more information visit
www.dcr.virginia.gov or call 1-800-933-PARK (7275).