In the Colonial period, water transportation was the lifeblood of the North Carolinasounds region and the Tidewater areas of Virginia. The landlocked sounds were entirely dependent upon poor overland tracks or shipment along the treacherous Carolina coast to reach further markets through Norfolk, Virginia. In May 1763, George Washington made his first visit to the Great Dismal Swamp and suggested draining it and digging a north-south canal through it to connect the waters of the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia and Albemarle Sound in North Carolina. As the first president, Washington agreed with Virginia Governor Patrick Henry that canals were the easiest answer for an efficient means of internal transportation and urged their creation and improvement.
The Dismal Swamp is a wetlandecosystem located in an
urban environment. The swamp covers nearly 650 acres (3km2) with 12 acres (0km2)located in
Metuchen with the remaining portion in Edison and South Plainfield. The swamp
contains a number of wildlife species, including the endangeredloggerhead shrike. There are an estimated 165 different species of birds
in the swamp.
Relics found in the swamp, believed to be from prehistoric times, include stone axes, spear heads, and arrow points indicating that the swamp was
inhabited by early man.
A vineyard was planted in the southern section of the swamp during the 1700s with subsequent agriculture development during the 1800s.
In the early 1900s a Russianexilesettlement was established in the swamp near the Metuchen border.
SouthMills and the Great Dismal Swamp are among the 15 destinations featured in the state of North Carolina’s inaugural guide to “trail towns” that offer what Visit NC describes as “signature outdoor experiences.” ....
Meteorologists are expecting another day of excessive heat in Hampton Roads going into the weekend ... to 8 p.m ... A pair of men set out from the Dismal SwampCanal ramp at Ballahack Road at about 1.30 p.m ... Cpt ... Some relief is possible Sunday ... .
(Photo by Bob Ruegsegger/freelance) ... Hitchings ... “That was a little fast ... The toll house on the highway, now Route 17, that ran parallel to the Dismal SwampCanal served as a checkpoint for examining the credentials and identification of local citizens.
CAMDEN — A state transportation official is urging motorists not to stop on the side of the road and take photographs of dead bears after two of the animals were apparently struck and killed on U.S. Highway 17 last week ... .
SOUTH MILLS — Nearly 350 kayakers and canoeists took advantage of early Saturday's 60-degree weather to make the 7.5-mile trek on the Dismal SwampCanal from SouthMills to Chesapeake, Virginia... .
CAMDEN — A recreational park with boating access to the Dismal SwampCanal has been proposed for the land the county will acquire in its purchase of the SouthMillsWaterAssociation... 16, at Taylor’s Oak Restaurant ... Featured Local Savings. .
CAMDEN – A recreational park with boating access to the Dismal SwampCanal has been proposed for the land the county will acquire in its purchase of the SouthMillsWaterAssociation... 16, at Taylor’s Oak Restaurant ... Featured Local Savings. .
Corps of Engineers will be closing the Dismal SwampCanal to navigation for several months starting next week so that work can begin on refurbishing the canal locks at Deep Creek in Virginia.
Who said work is supposed to be fun?. As we celebrate another Labor Day, it is worth contemplating the Dismal SwampCanal, dug by hand in 1796 under the direction of George Washington. Digging through the swamp and mosquitoes was no chuckle fest ... .
Appointed/elected. Gov ... Dr. Andrew J ... Awards and honors ... 72 ... More than 70 KPMG volunteers teamed up to clean Deep CreekPark and Dismal SwampCanalTrail ... On Aug ... More than 70 KPMG volunteers teamed up to clean Deep Creek Park and Dismal Swamp Canal Trail.
Rocky Mount Telegram
21 Aug 2024
Rocky Mount Telegram
21 Aug 2024