Green Pastures
A Sacred Place for African Americans in Appalachia
In collaboration with many partners, the proposed project aims to renew community interest in the historic Green Pastures site by developing an interpretive trail and a community play that highlights the many stories of Green Pastures over the years. The Green Pastures Recreation Area (also known as the Longdale Day Use Area) was set aside by the US Forest Service for African American use. The park was built in response to the nearby segregated Douthat State Park, which opened in 1936. Due to racial discrimination at the time, state parks were de facto whites-only. A group of individuals from Clifton Forge, particularly Reverend Hugo Austin, spearheaded this effort with the Clifton Forge Chapter of the NAACP, advocating for creating a recreational area for African Americans. When it opened, Green Pastures was the first and only US Forest Service recreation site opened to African Americans in Virginia and remained one of the few sites in the central Appalachians through the 1950s.
There are countless stories to share about Green Pastures – from its inception as a place of refuge and safety for African Americans to the many memories from the surrounding community of Green Pastures throughout the years. The Project Team wishes to tell these stories in two ways: through an interpretive trail along existing recreational trails at Green Pastures and through a stage reading at the Historic Masonic Theatre in Clifton Forge. Both monuments will highlight the rich history and many stories from Green Pastures. In addition to these two monuments, this project will also make improvements to the existing trail and historic picnic shelter on site.
Core Team
Charles W. “Chuck” Unroe (Town of Clifton Forge)
Chuck and his wife of 31 years, Karen, live in Iron Gate, Virginia. Together they have five children and 6 grandchildren. He was born in Clifton Forge, raised, and educated in Alleghany County and spent 30 years living and working in Richmond. He and Karen moved back to Clifton Forge in 2007 and in 2011 moved into Chuck’s childhood home, becoming involved in local politics shortly thereafter. Chuck served a two-year stint as a member of the Iron Gate Town Council, was elected Mayor, and served in that capacity until 2022. He also assumed the position of Town Manager of Clifton Forge in November of 2020 which he still holds today.
Chuck and Karen have a true and deep-rooted love for the Alleghany Highlands, especially the towns of Clifton Forge and Iron Gate and are proud to be able to make a positive impact on their future. They also enjoy much time with their grandchildren both in the highlands and Myrtle Beach, SC. It is a privilege for them to serve their community.
Joan Vannorsdall (What’s Your Story? Project)
Joan Vannorsdall received her B.A. degree (English and Political Science) from St. Olaf College (Northfield, MN) and her Master of Arts in English from the University of Minnesota. She is the author of two novels, “Solitary Places” and “The Hearts of Soldiers.” She is Contributing Editor of Blue Ridge Country magazine, where her column, “Our Blue Ridge Towns,” focuses on the history and forward movement of small mountain towns in Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, and South Carolina.
She is also director of the What’s Your Story? project in the Alleghany Highlands, which collects topical oral histories and photographs of the region. The group has published five books, with a sixth due in July of this year. The third volume—“Green Pastures at Longdale: Family, Memory, Renewal”—was a major contributing force behind the re-opening of Green Pastures under former Virginia governor Ralph Northam.
Josh Howard (Passel LLC)
Josh Howard is an Applied Historian and friend of the project providing volunteer historical services. He has researched and wrote the National Register of Historic Places nomination for Green Pastures and has completed other projects related to the history of parks and recreation throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. His most recent work is the book Hell's Not Far Off, published this year by West Virginia University Press
Ettrula Moore (Citizen and niece of Hugo Austin, who was instrumental in establishing Green Pastures)
Ettrula Clark Moore, graduate of Virginia State University (nee College), is a local historian and retired educator from the Clifton Forge and Alleghany County Public Schools. Ettrula’s devout passion for history has afforded her many opportunities to collaborate with historians across the country, as she has assisted with research for various books, articles, events, projects, and documentaries, as well as her own family history. The niece of the late Reverend Hugo Austin, who represented the Clifton Forge NAACP as the branch leader and campaign ambassador for Green Pastures Park opening, Ettrula has offered a rich tapestry of black history that spans decades and community organizations, including but not limited to schools, churches, charities, and clubs. Four generations of her family enjoyed recreation at Green Pastures Park, where her beloved Uncle Hugo also gave the dedicatory address in 1940. Following in his footsteps, Ettrula has shared her story in the oral project, "What's Your Story Volume 111 Green Pastures at Longdale." Visitors will find a quote of hers on the kiosk at the park entrance. Ettrula resides in Low Moor, Virgnia, with her husband, Irven Moore.
Scott Tate, Ph.D. (Virginia Tech)
Scott Tate serves as Deputy Director for Community Innovation and Extension Specialist, Economic and Community Engagement for the Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement and Virginia Cooperative Extension.
In this role, he helps advance economic and community prosperity and well-being in Virginia and beyond, through applied research, engaged partnerships, and targeted university expertise. Tate has over 25 years of experience working with community development, economic vitality, civic engagement, and entrepreneurship.
Tate helps lead the Vibrant Virginia initiative, a university-wide effort to bridge urban and rural divides across the state of Virginia. He also directs the Economic Development Administration University Center project in Virginia, in partnership with Virginia State University. The five-year initiative seeks to advance more inclusive and resilient economies in the most rural and distressed areas of our state.
Tate’s doctoral degree is from Virginia Tech’s College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. The interdisciplinary degree from the ASPECT program focused on theory-informed, problem-driven analysis across social, political, ethical, and cultural domains. Tate’s dissertation research focused on arts-based community change. He has written and published on this and other development topics in journals, books, and edited volumes.
He has a master’s degree in management from the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech. He regularly teaches courses at the undergraduate and graduate level on planning, policy, leadership, and community development.
Maria Saxton, Ph.D. (Hill Studio)
Maria Saxton is the Director of Community Planning at Hill Studio in Roanoke, Virginia. She leads a range of planning projects from comprehensive plans to feasibility studies. She has worked on a variety of projects for the Town of Clifton Forge, including the community-engaged planning study for the Jefferson School, a historically African American school in the heart of town. For the Green Pastures project, she is serving as the project coordinator and is looking forward to what’s to come!
Project Advisors
Pamela Marshall (Citizen who was instrumental in 2021 reopening and dedication of Green Pastures)
Pamela grew up going to Green Pastures. Upon her retirement and return to her hometown of Clifton Forge in 2014, she teamed up with the late Dr. Calvin Andre McClinton, Steve Nicely, and the Friends of Green Pastures to bring attention to this park that had fallen into neglect. She joined the ‘What’s Your Story Group’ and they wrote a book filled with the community’s memories of Green Pastures. With the hard work of historians, writers, news reporters, churches, community members, local, state, and federal governments then Governor Ralph Northam heard them and the park was reopened with much fanfare in Nov. of 2021.
This was a historically an African American Park and as the first African American Female to be elected to the Clifton Forge Town Council in 2018, this project is extra special to Pam. As mayor at the reopening, she was invited to take a speaking role and was one to cut the ribbon. She called it a “miracle in the mountains”, however, as the project continues to evolve and the books continue to sell, she now calls it “the gift that keeps on giving.” And her hope is that it will be a gift to many generations to come.
Gregory Keys (citizen)
Mary Cromer is a environmental law attorney for Appalachian Citizens Law Center, and also lives on a farm in Pound that has been in her family since the 1840s. Mary represents individuals in Southwest Virginia and Eastern Kentucky on a variety of environmental justice issues related to the legacy costs of coal mining, including landowners’ rights issues, toxic waste disposal, and safe drinking water.
Evelyn Cooper (citizen)
Marie Fitzpatrick (Alleghany Highlands Public Schools)
Key Partners
Adam Bresnehan (Douthat State Park)
Adam Bresnehan started his career with the DCR as the Park Manager of James River State Park, in November of 2019. He assumed the Park Manager position at Douthat, Green Pastures and Falling Springs Falls in August of 2022.
Adam received his B.S. from Penn State University and has over a decade of diverse experience in the Parks and Recreation field. One of his favorite accomplishments took place during a college internship in his hometown of Butler, PA. There, Adam took on a key role in the creation of Preston Park. The park boasts historical significance, unique landscape features, and a nature preserve.
Adam previously managed and operated Dellanera RV Park for the Galveston Park Board of Trustees. The beachfront property maintained a high level of occupancy and generated close to one million in camping revenue alone. As the Park Manager of Dellanera RV Park, Adam made a great deal of improvements to the facilities and operation as a whole. Before his employment in Galveston, TX, Adam worked as a Pennsylvania State Park Ranger. During his time with the DCNR he attended and graduated from the Pennsylvania State Police Academy. He spent time at Cook Forest and Clear Creek State Park, a large complex which is home to the largest hemlock trees east of the Mississippi. Eventually, he transferred to Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh, a site of great historical significance and the focal point of the city.
Adam is thrilled to be involved in the MAAV Grant for Green Pastures and looks forward to seeing the finished product. Adam enjoys spending time with his family, and exploring everything the Alleghany Highlands has to offer.
Hannah Johnson (Douthat State Park)
Hannah Johnson grew up in Clifton Forge, VA and has always had a love for nature, education, and the outdoors. She attended West Virginia University where she received her Master’s Degree in Secondary Education. After college, she taught biology and physical science at Bath County High School for 3 years and then biology at Alleghany High School for almost 2 years. While teaching, Hannah worked at Douthat State Park as a park interpreter during the summers and this experience allowed her to know she wanted to work in Virginia State Parks fulltime. In her free time, she enjoys, hiking, camping, and kayaking with her husband, Zach, and her dog, Tucker. Hannah is now the Chief Ranger of Visitor Experience at Douthat State Park.
