Volunteer Spotlight
Each year when the busy summer season ends, park staff take the opportunity to catch up on maintenance projects, training, and program development. Last winter we were fortunate to have a volunteer in the Catawba River Office to digitally record our park’s scrapbook collection. Brandy Fender, a Nutritional Services manager at the J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center, logged in over 100 hours, scanning in newspaper articles and slide photographs, and the captured park history is a treasure trove.
A native to the Lake James area with a long-time love of the outdoors, Brandy proved an invaluable asset to the project by scanning historical materials for inclusion in the NC Division of Parks and Recreation’s online databases. “I have wanted to volunteer with the park for quite some time now,” Brandy said, “so I was excited when the opportunity came for me to help out with the archive project. I have so many fond memories playing and swimming at Catawba River area in the early 90’s. We would bring a picnic lunch and stay all day.“ Staff likewise enjoyed reviewing her finds, remarking on the changes that have taken place since the park’s creation in 1987.
Brandy brought local knowledge to bear when preparing newspaper article abstracts and examining unmarked slides. “I did find it very interesting to see familiar names and faces. Not only did I know several people in the newspaper articles, but I also recognized people in the slides. It was a blast from the past for sure.” As she became immersed in the development of the park through the decades, she was struck particularly by the passion felt by the residents of McDowell and Burke counties about protecting and preserving Lake James. We are fortunate that that passion is still felt today.
Brandy and her family still enjoy visiting Lake James State Park and look forward to when it can reopen to the public. “I’d say my favorite thing to do at the park would be kayaking. My son and I also enjoy the Holly Discovery Trail. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the park! I think the new Visitor Center will add so much to the experience.” Thank you, Brandy, for helping preserve the park’s history for future generations. We can’t wait to add to this rich history in the years and decades to come!