McCammon Creek Park is the name of the newest property for Preservation Parks of Delaware County.
The PPDC Board unanimously approved the name change at its meeting Friday at Hogback Ridge.
McCammon Creek Park is near the Alum Creek Reservoir in Orange Township. The park consists of three areas, at Bale Kenyon and Orange roads, including the bicentennial barn.
“The McCammon family has owned this land, which contains woodland, farmland, creeks, and frontage along Alum Creek, for more than four generations,” said Deputy Director Mary VanHaaften in the stream name proposal. “Several years ago, the McCammon family approached Preservation Parks of Delaware County about its desire to protect this land in perpetuity for public benefit, and in 2016, Preservation Parks began acquiring portions of the property.
The land also contains a bicentennial barn, which Robert and Sue (McCammon) Postle donated the bicentennial barn and land it sits on to the Park District in 2019.
Preservation Parks is currently in the process of purchasing Irena (McCammon) Scott’s property, which will result in nearly 230 acres of public parkland in Orange Township.”
According to Preservation Parks, Zelma Bale’s ancestor, Lee Hurlburt, built a log cabin above the creek in 1812. Zelma married John McCammon (1875-1955) and owned the land at Bale Kenyon and Orange roads. They had five children who lived on three farms at Bale Kenyon and Orange roads.
“Several family members still live close by,” the proposal reads. “In honor of the family’s long history in the area and its commitment to land preservation for public enjoyment, the Park District is requesting to name an unnamed tributary to Alum Creek after the McCammon family: McCammon Creek. The Park District further intends to name the park McCammon Creek Park, in honor of the family and beauty of the protected creek.”
Preservation Parks will contact the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (which is part of the U.S. Geological Survey and within the U.S. Department of the Interior) to officially name McCammon Creek. It will also get added to future Delaware County maps.
Donna Meyer, Executive Director of The Delaware County Historical Society sent a letter of support for naming of the creek and park as a reflection of honoring the pioneers who first settled that property.
Donna Meyer, Executive Director of Delaware County Historical Society sent a letter of support for naming of the creek and park as a reflection of honoring the pioneers who first settled that property.
Preservation Parks of Delaware County is a member of the Delaware County History Network – a cooperation of the county’s history-related organizations with history-related content for the benefit of the communities, history researchers and visitors. The Network includes libraries, museums, a history park, and the county records center.