Progress Report Of Warren Memorial Forest, Inc., 1958 - 1966
BULDJNG WHERE COINC1L WAS FORMED IN 1958
For several years four rural church groups adjacent to each other
and located In the Hecks Grove School Community were working co
operatively to Improve the civic, educational, religious, and social life
of the families In the area.
This cooperative venture took on a new dimension early in 1958
when Rev. G. E. Cheek and his brothers N. A, Cheek and G. C. Cheek,
dedicated one hundred five acres of land for the development of a
Memorial Forest.
Each of the four churches appointed a committee to form a Recrea
tion Council. At about the same time the Shiloh Association, made up
of 30 rural churches, in a five-county area, appointed a special com
mittee to also study recreational possibilities .within the geographic
five-county area of the 30 churches of the association. These com
mittees requested the North Carolina Recreation Commission to ap
praise Memorial Forest as to its educational, cultural and recrea
tion potential.
Mr. Hubert Henderson and Miss Virginia Gregory of the North
Carolina Recreation Commission made an on the spot study of the
area and on May 28, 1958, presented their findings to the joint com
mittees, representing the four local churches and the committee
appointed by the association. Their report was very favorably re
ceived by the joint committee on May 28, 1958. Two represen
tatives from the North Carolina Recreation Committee suggested to
the committees present, that a special committee be appointed to
carry out the following objectives:
1. "To provide suitable grounds and facilities for constructive
leisure - time activities for individuals, the family, and larger groups;
also, to provide a natural laboratory lor nature study of native trees,
shrubbery and flowers."
2. To enhance the aesthetic, cultural and recreational appreciation
of both old and young.
3. To provide and care for upkeep of the Forest through the coopera
tive efforts of the Council with the sugge.'Mo-.s of the N. C. Recrea
tion Commission and the Federal Government (through the local A. S. D.
Office). The North Carolina Forestry .Division,?The?Agricultural
Extension Division cf N. C. State College, and any other individuals,
agencies or organizations who may be interested in working with the
Council to sustain its objectives.
4. To work with the Recreation Council in keeping fully informed
of the leisure time that creeps upon the old and the young of the com
munities, and shall therefore keep a well-planned program five years
ahead that would offer the youth and aged cultural and Recreational
Opportunities the year round.
5. The Recreation Council is a non-stock and non-profit organiza
tion whose membership working- cooperatively together, shall bring
as many likeminded people together in membership as possible, to
carry out the above objectives. After deducting current expenses what
ever cash remains will recur to the project to make it bigger and
better.
Alter cifc... y-..rs the following has been added:
Studio, Head Start office, A fine atheltic field, Family play ground
area, (An unspoiled natural forest for nature study), (Sunday School
retreat), Suitable picnic grounds for the family dind larger groups.
The foundation is now being laid for Neighborhood Youth Corps office
building to give 100 Warren County youth summer employment.
Stone Seats-and a bell that was shipped from Clnclnattl, by Miss
A. L. Cheek, a public school teacher from that Ohio city.
Rev. Cheek And Mr. Davis Visit
Washington To Obtain Vista Funds
i
June 6, 1965, G. E. Cheek, Executive Director, and
S. A. Davis, President of the Council and two other
members drove to Washington to have a special
conference on Rural Vista Projects. We were treat
ed most royally and were Introduced to other divi
sions of OEO.
During the following summer three Vista work
ers were signed to Warren County. They were young
people who did not fit Into our area so well. They
were tra.i ?f erred and In their stead, two elderly Vista
workers were sent to us. Mr. and Mrs. Burnds.
1 hey were concecrated workers and did a most ef
fective job In our three county area, especially In
Warren County where they met the entire Health,
Education and Welfare staff. Here they got a pic
ture of the counties needs and how to use their
time most effective In meeting these needs. Mrs.
Burnds Is an artist In her own rights, during her
leisure time, painted a picture of the late Anna
Pritchett's homestead and the Old Brodle Post Office.
Mrs. Burnds had planned to paint a picture of the
remains of the Old Jones Spring Hotel, where Mrs.
Robert E. Lee and her daughter, Annie were visit
ing during the war between the sections.
Mr. and Mrs. Burnds, because of sickness in their
family in the far Western state, Oregon, was called
home before she completed this last painting job.
We were Indeed sorry to see the Burnds leave during
the first of April, 1966.
During the weekend of April 22, S. A. Davis Presi
dent of the council, G. E. Cheek, Executive Director
and Charles A. Cheek, Secretary, were called to Wash
ington to complete NYC program to meet the dead
line April 30th.
Washington has approved, a 50,000 dollar package
to give one hundred young people of Warren County
between the ages of 16-21 summer jobs to aid them
In a successful returning to school in September.
A hundred percent of these young people must come
from low income families.
I
On April 20, 1966, a year round Head Start pro
gram was approved by OEO in Washington, and on
May 12, Governor Dan Moore embracing the total
grant of 166,969.00 dollars to be spent In our area
for the next six months.
The Recreation Council of the Memorial Forest
Inc., Is Grantee Agent for eleven Head-Start Child
Development Centers; Seven in Warren County, two
in Franklin County and two in Vance County. The
age emphasis is the five year olds from low income
families. This program embracing $166,969, was
During the week of May 23-27 a Head-Start Train
ing Institute was held in the three county area.
Dr. X. M. McMilllan, professor of Education at Shaw
University, Mrs. Kathryn Y. Shepard, a. B., M. A.,
Associate professor of Education at Shaw University.
Mrs. Anita Thompson, R. N. were Professional Con
sultants.
Visitors To Memorial Forest
In 1962 persons visited the Memorial forest from
the following places in the nation:
1. Morris Mitchel's Group representing Vermont,
New Jersey, New York, Ghana, Africa, Puerto Rico,
and Mexico.
Group from Kenya East .Africa, Sierra Leone,
West Africa.
2. Group from Kenya East Africa, Sierra Leone.
"Wesf^Africa. ~
3. Camporee - Saponi, John Penn, Vanwarco, Boy
Scouts of America.
4. Camporee - Girl Scouts from Louisburg, N. C.
5. Camporee - Boy Scouts from Raleigh, N. C.
6. S. S. picnic group, 125 from Na|h County.
7. Picnic Group - High School Class from Perry's
High School, Franklin County.
8. Picnic Outing Group from Oxford, N. C., Gran
ville County.
9. YWCA Women from Hampton and Newport News,
Va -Sp chartered bus
10. July fourth-County-wide picnic?500.
11. Halifax County group?125.
In 1962 individual visitors (two or more on cars;,
to the Memorial Forest were from the following
The Foundation Is now being laid for Neighborhood
routh Corps Office building to give 100 Warren County
fouth summer employment.
The Rtr. C. E. Cheek and hamper are shown spreed
inf cement tor the foundation of atone seats.
Dr. N. M. McMillan of Shaw University talk
ing to his class of HEAD START teachers, May
25, at Mitchell Baptist Church.
places:
Maryland?Baltimore.
Ohio?Clnclnatl.
Connectlcutt?Bridgeport.
Vermont?Putney.
Pennsylvania?Philadelphia.
Michigan?Detroit, Flint, Ann Arbor.
North Carolina?Durham, Greensboro, Charlotte,
Winston-Salem, Reidsville, Oxford, Franklin, Raleigh,
Chapel Hill, Zebulon, Selma, Rocky Mount, Green
ville, Garner, Roxboro, Loulsburg.
New Jersey?Englewood, Lakewood, Patterson.
New York?Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Mt. Vernon,
Garden City, Springfield Gardens, Jamaica.
Virginia?Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Richmond,
Newport News.
Tennessee?Nashville.
Florida?Tallahassee.
Number of countries who know about the forest
through correspondence: England, Sweden, Denmark,
Africa, Columbia, Ceylon, Canada, and U. S. A.?
Tenn., Ky., Ohio, Kansas, Mo., Mass., Conn., Vt.,
N. Y., N. J., Md., Pa., Va., S. C., Ga., Fla., La.,
West Va., Texas, Ala.
Life Members
Mr. Oscar Williams, a 1929 graduate of the Warren
County Training School (now North Warren High
School), has a $100 life membership in MRF's
Recreational Council, Inc., as does Mr. Spencer Skip
per of Rldgeway.
The scale of memberships into the Recreation
Council is:
Contributing member?$5.00
Sustaining member?$10 or more.
Lifetime membership?$100
Gifts?any amount.
MR. OSC AR WILLIAMS
Life Memhpr
i iic tuunaauon or lnnuences which made the Recreation Council of the Memorial Forest
possible began to be laid during the early 20's. (Story continued in next issue of the Record.)
Advisory Board Is Appointed
In 1960 the Recreation Council selected the
ollowing persons as an advisory board to the
Memorial Forest Council, Inc.:
R. E. Jones, State Farm Agent, Chairman,
Jreensboro; Dr. E. Norfleet Gardner, Chair
nan. Southern Baptist Missionary Board; Dr.
3aul Green, Dramatist, Honorary Chairman,
Chapel -Billi Virginia-Gregory, Asslstant Di?
?ector, N. C. Recreation Commission; Mrs.
\da M. Jernigan, President, StateConferenceof
Parents and Teachers; Dr. W, J. Kennedy,
Jr., member Higher Board of Education; Dr.
John A. Larklns, State Welfare Consultant;
the Honorable Claude Phllpott, Lieutenant Gov
ernor; Dr. John W. Parker, Director, Carolina
Playmakers, Chapel Hill.
The above Advisory Board was approved by
Goveiiror Terry sanford In "a letter-to Dr. Paul
Green, the noted dramatist In Chapel Hill, dated
Feb. 24, 1961.
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
GOVERNORS OFFICE
RALEIGH
February 24, 1961
Thkt Sanpokd
OOVCRNOM
Dr. Paul Green
Greenwood
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Dear Dr. Green:
Reverend Cheek from Warrenton has talked with me recently
about his plans for the development of a recreation center on
land he inherited from hi* father. He tells me that you along
with a number of other distinguished citiaens of this state are
working as members of an advisory board for this project. 1
think that the objectives of this project are commendable and
I found it an interesting and encouraging discussion.
I certainly feel that the efforts of Reverend Cheek and your group
deserve the encouragement of this office, and 1 hope that you
will pass along to those present at your meeting on February 27
my best wishes for success in your work.
I understand that Lieutenant Governor Phil pott may be with yew
and that members of the State Recreation Commission will
certainly be present.
With best wishes always,
Slnceri
icerpfry,
Uw,
ry Sanford 1
Terry