Notices
Annual Meeting on March 22 Features “Delaware’s Bats and the Threat of White-nose Syndrome”
Join biologist Holly Niederriter to learn about Delaware’s bat
species and their importance to our ecosystem. Although not yet found
in Delaware, white-nose syndrome, a tremendously devastating disease
that is wiping out entire bat colonies in the northeastern US, is a
threat to our bats. The talk will discuss white-nose syndrome and will
highlight what Delaware and other states are doing to address the
threat and what people can do to help. Holly Niederriter is a non-game
wildlife biologist with the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife,
Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program.
The meeting will start at 7:00 pm on Monday evening, March 22 at the
Deerfield Golf and Tennis club. It is free and open to the general
public. No reservations are required.
Deerfield is located at 507 Thompson Station Road, north of Newark.
From Newark, proceed north on Paper Mill Road. At Milford Crossroads
(location of Bank of America facility and Shell Station) go west on
Thompson Station Road and watch for the well-marked entrance on the
left.
Friends Survey Members on Trail Use Issues
In November 2009, the Friends Executive Committee conducted a survey of members concerning trail use issues as an input to the development of a new trail plan for the park. The survey drew a very strong response; 50.8% of memberships responded. The results showed overwhelming support (by a 184/10 ratio) for efforts (a) to keep a reasonable amount of trail in the park for use by pedestrians only and (b) to promote a greater degree of courtesy by mountain bikers toward pedestrians.
A more complete summary of the results, a copy of the survey itself, and a summary of recommendations made to the Division as a result of the survey may be viewed by following this link.
Friends Members Receive Special Recognition
On December 15, 2009, Friends Projects Coordinator Jim Ries,
Membership Chair Lisa Wool, and member Carole Walsh received
Outstanding Volunteer Service Awards from the Division of Parks and
Recreation. The awards recognize the high degree of dedication shown by
Jim, Lisa, and Carole and the many ways they serve the park and the
Friends organization. The awards were given out at the Holiday Luncheon
of the White Clay Creek State Park staff.
Over the years, the Friends of White Clay organization has received
many awards, both as a group and as individual leaders and members, for
consistent strong support of the park.
Donated Items Are Sought for Park and Friends
There are several items that are needed by the Park or the Friends that might be sitting in someone’s garage or basement, just looking for a new home. Purchase of such items by the Division is difficult to impossible in today’s budget environment.
If you have any of the following items and could part with them, we will guarantee that they will be well used and much appreciated. Also, your donation either to the Friends or directly to the Park would be tax-deductible. Please contact us if you have an item to donate.
- 10’x10’ pop-up canopy (for Friends and Nature Center Staff)
- Mountain bike (for the Rangers – to replace a damaged bike needed for off-road patrol)
- Old 78 rpm phonograph records from the ‘30s and ‘40s (for Judge Morris)
- Freezer capable of holding several water ice containers (~14” diameter x 20” long)
“Smash and Grab” Robberies and Graffiti Are Continuing Problems
There have been several recent “smash and grab” break-ins of cars in parking lots for the park. In particular, the Judge Morris parking lot has been among those targeted. Park visitors are reminded not to leave any valuable items in sight in parked vehicles.
As has been happening elsewhere in our communities, the park has been targeted recently by graffiti vandals. Park visitors are asked to report graffiti to the park office at 368-6900 so the Park Staff can respond. Visitors should not attempt to remove the graffiti, which could make it worse. The Park Staff have the proper chemicals and methods for safe removal. Prompt removal of graffiti tends to discourage further vandalism.
Check Out Recent Newsletter
Our November newsletter is full of news, events, updates, schedules, etc. Check it out by following this link. Our newsletters can also be accessed through the main menu item “News / Notices” at the top of each web page.
2009/2010 Hunting Seasons are Over
The hunting seasons for the Delaware and Pennsylvania parks for 2009/2010 are complete. There will be no more hunting allowed until the fall of 2010.
2009/2010 Hunting Dates in White Clay Creek Preserve (Pennsylvania)
Note: There is no hunting on Sundays. Areas of the Preserve open to archery or muzzleloader hunting are not closed to other visitors. Further details and rules are available on the Pennsylvania Game Commission web site – www.pgc.state.pa.us.
As a precaution, it is recommended that park users wear some blaze orange clothing when visiting the Preserve during hunting periods.
September 19 – November 28, 2009……Archery
October 17 – October 24, 2009……Muzzleloader/Archery
November 30 – December 12, 2009……Muzzleloader/Archery
December 14 – December 23, 2009…..Archery
December 26 – January 23, 2010……Muzzleloader/Archery
Friends Activities Listed
Our most recent annual report provides a brief summary of our volunteer activities during 2008. Follow this link to see the report.
Special Newsletter Articles Chronicle History of Park Area
Articles describing various aspects of the history of the area in or near the park have appeared in several newsletters. These articles can be accessed through this link or by clicking on "Park Area History" under the main menu item "Park Info & Links". Brief summaries are given below.
In collecting oral histories of the park area, one person frequently mentioned is "Dutch Billy," a local character who lived as a squatter for many years in what has become the Possum Hill area of the park. Andrea Cassel has summarized these recollections in an interesting article included as a special supplement at the end of the November 2006 newsletter.
Remember those old newsreels of motorcycle hill climbs in the days before television? They showed “crazy people” riding their motorcycles up extremely steep slopes until they lost traction, fell, or flipped over backwards. It turns out that the White Clay Valley provided venues for these events in the 1930s, and they were very popular with spectators. This interesting aspect of local history is described in a special article in our April 2006 newsletter.
Did you know that the eastern terminus of the famous Mason Dixon line lies in White Clay Creek State Park? Read all about how that came to be and other events surrounding Mason and Dixon's survey in a special article in our April 2005 newsletter.
Our June 2004 newsletter contains an article describing the visit by famous temperance advocate Carrie Nation to the 1904 Harvest Home celebration of the Ebenezer Methodist Church. This was held in Whiteman’s Grove, which now lies in the Possum Hill part of White Clay Creek State Park. The article provides an intriguing view of life in this area nearly 100 years ago.
The fascinating story of the Pomeroy and Newark Railroad is continued in a special supplement to our May 2003 newsletter. This article describes some of the old stations along the line, most of which have vanished, leaving hardly a trace.
Also in the May 2003 newsletter is a short article describing "The Horn", an area along the curved boundary between Delaware and Pennsylvania that was originally part of Delaware and later became part of Pennsylvania when the border was redrawn.
Another article on the Pomeroy and Newark Railroad appeared in the November 2002 newsletter.
The choice of "Chambers House" as the name for the nature center at White Clay Creek State Park honors both the structure's original builder and his ancestors, who were one of the first Quaker families to settle in the valley. The interesting history of the family and the house is described in an article in the May 2001 newsletter.