"Homestead Desired by 352 Shenandoah Park Families"
Dublin Core
Title
"Homestead Desired by 352 Shenandoah Park Families"
Subject
Mountain People, NY Times
Description
This source is a newspaper clipping from the paper, The Washington Star from March 18th, 1934 and reports the results of a survey conducted about feelings of the relocation plan.
Creator
NY Times
Source
Potomac Appalachian Trail Club Archives
Publisher
NY Times
Date
March 18th, 1934
Contributor
NY Times
Rights
Potomac Appalachian Trail Club
Format
Newspaper
Language
English
Type
Newspaper
Identifier
1934 article from the NY Times detailing the relocation of the Shenandoah mountain families.
Coverage
1930s Shenandoah National Park, VA
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
Census Enumerators Receive applications for subsistence projects to be started near area.
Luray, VA., March 17th. - census enumerators who several weeks ago began contacting families in the eight counties of the Shenandoah National Park, to get their views on leaving the park, and definite information for the Subsistence Homestead Office here, have completed their work. They have covered the entire park area and gathered data from every family in the park. They have established the fact that there are 465 families within the Kelsey line, which includes the condemned park area. There are approximately 2,500 people included in these families.
It was estimated that there were 5,000 people living in the original park area of 320,000 acres, of which about one-half is within the Kelsey line and now condemned.
352 Prefer Plan.
Of the 465 families in the park area, 352 families have expressed themselves as favorable to taking advantage of the subsistence homestead plan. This plan, known as subsistence-homestead-evacuation project, provides, according to E. Ferdinand Zerkel, in charge of relocating these people, for six subsistence homesteads, three on either side of the park, consisting of approximately 500 acres each. Heads of families with no money, or little money, if possessed of character and energy, would be permitted to live on this land with a house built from funds provided by the project. The money would be considered as a loan, and families living on these homesteads would pay about $9 a month to take care of amortization. They would be given preference in work in the Shenandoah Park and also would be taught handicrafts.
State Faces Problem.
The reports of the enumerators, which are now at Blacksburg to be printed, also show two other classes of families now living in the park area - those with money, who will move out of the park and buy land of their own, and those who are absolutely dependent upon others; lazy, shiftless or helpless, and unable to work either for themselves or others. The latter are entirely a State problem, and best methods of relief are now being worked out by State organizations.
The first class will be given carefully considered advice if they want it.
Mr. Zerkel estimates that at least 50 per cent of the families living in the park area are eligible for subsistence homesteads. These homes, he said, will be modern and will contain sufficient land to make them self-supporting. His office is working now to further plans for the relocation of these families, and plans are going forward to secure available land.
Both State and national authorities are anxious to get the park turned over to the Federal Government. Arno Caemerrer, park director, has said he will not accept the park until the families are removed. The work of moving them is expected to last through the Spring and Summer.
Luray, VA., March 17th. - census enumerators who several weeks ago began contacting families in the eight counties of the Shenandoah National Park, to get their views on leaving the park, and definite information for the Subsistence Homestead Office here, have completed their work. They have covered the entire park area and gathered data from every family in the park. They have established the fact that there are 465 families within the Kelsey line, which includes the condemned park area. There are approximately 2,500 people included in these families.
It was estimated that there were 5,000 people living in the original park area of 320,000 acres, of which about one-half is within the Kelsey line and now condemned.
352 Prefer Plan.
Of the 465 families in the park area, 352 families have expressed themselves as favorable to taking advantage of the subsistence homestead plan. This plan, known as subsistence-homestead-evacuation project, provides, according to E. Ferdinand Zerkel, in charge of relocating these people, for six subsistence homesteads, three on either side of the park, consisting of approximately 500 acres each. Heads of families with no money, or little money, if possessed of character and energy, would be permitted to live on this land with a house built from funds provided by the project. The money would be considered as a loan, and families living on these homesteads would pay about $9 a month to take care of amortization. They would be given preference in work in the Shenandoah Park and also would be taught handicrafts.
State Faces Problem.
The reports of the enumerators, which are now at Blacksburg to be printed, also show two other classes of families now living in the park area - those with money, who will move out of the park and buy land of their own, and those who are absolutely dependent upon others; lazy, shiftless or helpless, and unable to work either for themselves or others. The latter are entirely a State problem, and best methods of relief are now being worked out by State organizations.
The first class will be given carefully considered advice if they want it.
Mr. Zerkel estimates that at least 50 per cent of the families living in the park area are eligible for subsistence homesteads. These homes, he said, will be modern and will contain sufficient land to make them self-supporting. His office is working now to further plans for the relocation of these families, and plans are going forward to secure available land.
Both State and national authorities are anxious to get the park turned over to the Federal Government. Arno Caemerrer, park director, has said he will not accept the park until the families are removed. The work of moving them is expected to last through the Spring and Summer.
Original Format
Newspaper
Citation
NY Times, “"Homestead Desired by 352 Shenandoah Park Families",” "Map of The Stony Man Region in the Shenandoah National Park" Digital Map, accessed May 3, 2024, https://ashleypalazzo.org/SNPdigitalprojectcollection/items/show/22.