Agenda - 02-15-2005-10a - Laserfiche WebLink

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Historic Blackwood Farm -Interim StewardsTrip Plan (DRAFT) 6 1. Overview of the Historic Blackwood Farm A. Brief Historv The historic Blackwood Farm is located near the intersection ofNC 86 and New Hope Church Road, The 152-acre property has been farmed since the mid- to late-1700s by some of the early European settlers of Orange County. This area was settled by Scots- Irish and German immigrants, who by 1745 had arrived in what was to become Orange County. After a brief period living in the Hawfields area (now Alamance County), members of six families-among them the Craigs, Strayhorns and Blackwoods- purchased land along a creek of the Haw River, which they named "New Hope Creek," Chain of title research documents the Strayhorn family's association with the farm from as early as 1815, and it is likely that Samuel Strayhorn is responsible for the construction of the earliest portion of the house dating to 1827. Herbert and Alice Blackwood purchased the farm in 1906, and with their eight children operated a dairy until the pazents' deaths in 1958-59. According to Miss Nannie Blackwood, from whom the County purchased the property, the family raised corn, wheat, sweet potatoes and cotton. They carried their milk, butter, eggs, and vegetables to sell in Durham until the 1950s, Mast agricultural activities were phased out by the 1980s, and for the past 10 yeazs or more have been limited to hay production. Today, most of the original farm remains intact, including the old farmstead and open agricultural fields that occupy roughly half of the property, Small portions of the property were carved off in the late 1980s for the construction of Interstate 40, for the straightening of New Hope Church Road, and for the New Hope Elementary School. B. Acquisition Orange County purchased the Blackwood Farm property in December 2001, The purpose of this acquisition was to protect this historic and scenic farrn property for a future park site in a location (the New Hope/LTniversity Station area) that was consistent with the 1988 Pazks and Recreation Element of the Comprehensive Plan, It was noted at the time of purchase that the pazk would be low-impact in orientation, to protect the scenic, natural and historic components of the property. Other notable reasons for acquiring this site was its strategic location midway between Chapel Hill and Hillsborough, with easy access from I-40 and close proximity to two schools (New Hope Elementazy and Stanback Middle). Finally, this site will protect a portion of an important natural area recognized by the NC Natural Heritage Program. The property was purchased from the Blackwood family for the appraised value of $13,600 per acre. Funding for the purchase came from the 2001 Parks and Open Space Bond, the SchooUPazk Reserve and Payment-in-Lieu Funds (Chapel Hill District). A newspaper account of the County's acquisition is provided as Attachment A,