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That’s an intentionally mixed metaphor, since Barry Carter doesn’t golf. He’s mainly a tree man and as far as he’s concerned, nobody’s cutting down the trees in Occaneechee State Park, Clarksville, VA, to put in a golf course.
His family’s always lived in the area, they’re Indian to a large degree, so by the logic of “Who’s buried in Grant’s Tomb?” he feels a familial obligation to look after the legacy of the Occaneechi tribe who lived and were massacred there. As far as he’s concerned, those are his trees — his and everybody else’s in the country, since those trees stand on federal land.
The deal was about to go down without much opposition, but Barry jumped in, has spent the week on the phone calling every chief and tribal council in two states, several congressmen and assorted officials. Now the formerly done deal is coming undone.
He was bred to this manner of behavior. In the sixties, he was the first nine year old “colored” child to attend the formerly “white” primary school in Mecklenburg county. He is never happier than when he is shotgunning his way past whatever bogeymen, a/k/a authority figures, the rest of us are reclutant to cross.
If the Golf course scheme continues, he will too. His reaction will be the same as when his third grade teacher told him not to sit next to a particular boy since it made the boy nauseous to have to eat his lunch sitting next to Barry. Barry’s response was to make a point of sitting next to that boy each and every day from that day forward.
Whatever happened to that boy with the weak stomach? He got over it. His appetite returned and life went on. The same will happen for those few individuals who had been hoping to make big money off of free (federal) land. They’ll get over it, since it wasn’t a reasonable request to begin with.
My understanding is that 43 archeological sites lie in that vicinity. The Native descendants who visit there consider it sacred ground.
I heard a story this weekend, perhaps it’s a legend, but supposedly there was a story in the Richmond paper about an area that was being bulldozed recently for a highway. It was known to be an archeologically significant site, but no one fussed about it and it was bulldozed.
During construction, some of the workers were terrorized by the apparition of an Indian on horseback with a torch, charging down on them. Of course, the construction went on, and now there are those who are expecting a lot of accidents in that spot.
In the case of the golf course, there will be more than an apparition standing in front of any bulldozers. In this case, the opposing Indians will be in the flesh.
[This message has been edited by Linda (edited 08-27-2002).]
To: Linda & Barry
If there is anything I can do to help regarding the proposed golf course, just let me know. I haved received an email from E.C. Kelsey regarding this topic. I would like to know where the meeting will take place on Sept.6. Also, has anyone met personally with any polititians regarding this matter? Since this land is owned by the Federal gov. but is also a state park, then who has the last word?
Sincerely,
CoheeLady
Linda,
I think the story you are talking about when it came to spirits being seen, was on our new Pocahantas Parkway. It is true what happened with the sightings. A news reporter spent the night there, just to find out for himself. He left believing the stories that were being told. He taped the sounds that he heard that night. I remember the feeling that came across me when we crossed the bridge/parkway for the first time, & that was in daylight.
Yes archealogical digs were done, & Indian artifacts were recovered. But I was told that the only grave site is one of slaves from a plantation that once stood below the parkway. This was not disturbed, it was left intact. So many Indian artifacts but no remains, this to me makes no sense.
Sincerely,
CocheeLady
Sounds like they got crunched up by the bulldozers. And there’s nothing to say those slave burials weren’t their children’s.
To keep informed on any development regarding the golf course controversy, please mail barryc@winwinworld.net and ask him to get you onto his emailing list.
Linda,
I hope your wrong about the bulldozers! I just can’t understand why the state didn’t find any American Indian graves. If they did I do hope they left them intact. This was not a temporary settlement, so the project should have never taken place. If they did find graves it is better to not give out the location. As you then take the chance of people digging them up, thinking they may find something of value to sell. Sounds cruel, but it’s true.
In regards to the golf course I will call the state & get the information that I need. I may be meeting with a state offfical, to view my opposition to this project.
Archealogists should be made to have inscribed on their tombstone,”Archealogist”. So in a hundred years American Indians can dig them up & study them!
Sincerely,
CoheeLady
CoheeLady said:
“Archealogists should be made to have inscribed on their tombstone,”Archealogist”. So in a hundred years American Indians can dig them up & study them!”
Absolutely!!
LOLWhen we were teenagers my sister and I were watching a documentary on some archealogical dig somewhere. When they got to the part where they started pulling all these drawers out with full skeletons in them, my sister turned to me and said, “Cremate me, these damned archeologists got no respect.”
Patty,
Glad you enoyed my comment on Archealogists! Believe me, I have said this to a few Archealogists that I have spoken to. One was at a loss for words, the other one got a laugh out of it, as you did.
Coheelady
In this case, the archeologists can save the day. If any sites are found on this acreage, the project will be shelved. That one thing will stop this whole thing in its tracks.
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