Park History

GEOGRAPHY AND ORIGINS

The heritage preserve contains a rich ecological tapestry of blackwater wetlands and hardwood forests with a wide variety of elevation changes carved by the paths of ancient waterways. This ecosystem grew over thousands of years from the clay and sand deposits of a plain which was once submerged beneath the Atlantic Ocean.

This region's earliest inhabitants navigated the waters by canoe, hunting and fishing for sustenance and establishing villages which engaged in trade along the banks. The first contact of European settlers with inhabitants of the region occurred in the late 16th century, appearing in the records of a Spanish expedition to modern-day Gloaming.

A charcoal sketch of a blackwater swamp. Bald cypress trees rise out of the water.

THE CATERWAUL FAMILY and PLANTATION

In 1819, the parcel of land which would become the heritage preserve was granted to Earnest S. Caterwaul, an established young member of the burgeoning township.

The land had previously passed through many hands. Settlers found much of it to be inhospitable and unprofitable, being untamed swamplands. Today, most of the preserve's vast territory remains in an untouched and wild state.

When cleared, however, it was discovered that this land contained fertile soil which could be cultivated for the purposes of cotton, tobacco, and rice crops, among others. By the 1830s, Caterwaul had established a plantation operation of 1,204 acres on the western side of the territory. Caterwaul continued to live in a large manor on the property with his family of seven until his death in 1861.

An image of a large, tall plantation home in a field. Other houses are barely visible in the distance. The boughs of a tree cover the top of the image.

The Caterwaul Estate

A photograph of a patch of dense wetlands. Thin trees rise up from the waters against a clear daytime sky.

It is thought that the dense, difficult to traverse terrain of swamps such as these once offered refuge to enslaved people seeking freedom from plantation life.

FOUNDATION OF THE PARK

A black-and-white photograph of a campsite set up on a hill with two tents. At the base of the hill, a canoe is waiting to be used. A board nailed to a tree on the lefthand side of the photograph reads "8-06."

Pokeberry Campsite, 1958

Over the years, the Caterwaul family transformed this historic site from a private property into a place of leisure, education, and botanical research open to the public.

Gertrude Caterwaul, a direct descendant, took an interest in the wildlife of the preserve. After inheriting the property, she formed The Camellia Club, an organization of groundskeepers and researchers tasked with documenting the flora and fauna of the preserve while closely following her grandfather's plans for its upkeep.

With the rise of industrialization in the US, logging efforts increased. Hundreds of acres of the preserve were purchased by a lumber manufacturer for the purposes of clear-cutting in the 1900s. This operation came to a standstill in 1913, though large swaths of the park are still owned by the company today in an ongoing dispute.

After the park obtained public preservation status, outdoor recreation such as camping and fishing became frequent pastimes for the people of Gloaming as well as a draw for tourism. With its proximity to Lake Abel and the establishment of Camp Gloaming in 1927, the park was soon popularized as a spot for summer vacations. By the fifties, Gloaming was widely known for its beautiful natural resources and secluded lakeside retreats.

A black-and-white photograph. Five individuals of pale to medium complexion in 19th century attire—three women and two men—pose in the garden in front of a tall white house. The women wear layered dark dresses, while the men wear dark suits and jackets. All are standing except for one woman in front who is seated in a chair. A sixth subject stands behind them, partially turned away from the camera, their attention focused elsewhere in the garden. This individual has a dark complexion and wears a sunhat, a white shirt with rolled up sleeves, and a vest.

The Camellia Club, pictured 1882

Weaver's Wood, 1870

glass plate

ECHOES OF THE PAST

A painted oil portrait of a young woman with long black hair and a warm medium brown complexion. She looks over her shoulder at the viewer with a slight smile. She wears an embroidered silver and yellow dress with her shoulder exposed, and a thin yellow cloth headband around her forehead. ("Portrait of a Woman" by Edwin A. Harleston.)

Eudora Greene, artist-in-residence who founded the preserve's annual Plein Air event, 1927.

Today, Earnest S. Caterwaul Nature Preserve remains a place of respite for the people of Gloaming, serving as a center for education, public outreach, the arts, recreation, and more. As you traverse the trails, admire the gardens or peruse the visitor center, may you go forth with gratitude for this place's existence and care for all of the Lords' creations within.

Animated gif. A forest surrounding a rippling body of water at sundown.

A slightly crooked color photograph of a cross-shaped headstone behind a wrought iron fence. A dense patch of forest can be seen behind the headstone.

The historic Caterwaul family gravesite can be found near the park's western entrance.

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