Marion in Smyth County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Hungry Mother State Park

— Marion History Walk —

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 22, 2022

1. Hungry Mother State Park Marker

Inscription. One of the original six CCC parks, Hungry Mother State Park opened June 15, 1936 on land donated by local landowners. The 2,200-acre park features a 108-acre lake and swimming beach, and is home of the park system's first conference center, Hemlock Haven. Originally to be named “Forest Lake State Park,” local legend and folklore forever changed its name to “Hungry Mother”.

Erected by Marion Main Street.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical date for this entry is June 15, 1936.

Location. 36° 50.009′ N, 81° 31.094′ W. Marker is in Marion, Virginia, in Smyth County. It is at the intersection of East Main Street and South Chestnut Street, on the right when traveling east on East Main Street. Marker is on the sidewalk near the intersection's southwest corner. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 142 E Main St, Marion VA 24354, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Virginia

and in the Blue Ridge Highlands.

It is also in the American South,

specifically

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in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Carnegie High School (here, next to this marker); Marion College (a few steps from this marker); Home of Mountain Dew (within shouting distance of this marker); R.T. Greer & Company (within shouting distance of this marker); Nolan Ryan and the Marion Mets (within shouting distance of this marker); The Lincoln Theatre (within shouting distance of this marker); Marion & Rye Valley Railroad (within shouting distance of this marker); Southwestern State Mental Hospital (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Marion.

Regarding Hungry Mother State Park. Excerpt from the National Register of Historic Places nomination for the

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 22, 2022

2. Hungry Mother State Park Marker

park:

The park derives its name from the creek that was allegedly named for an incident that occurred during the Indian occupation of the area prior to any formal or permanent English settlement. There are varying versions of the story. … The versions of the story all include the story of a hungry child crying, "Hungry, Mammy" or "I am hungry, mammy." One version states that a woman named Molly, who had a cabin on the what is today Molly's Knob, was found dead and the child beside her dead body was crying, "Hungry, Mammy." Another version states that in the pioneer days a young woman whose husband died wandered off the trail heading toward her relatives. She perished on the trail in the vicinity of the creek and a child was found near her body crying, "Hungry, Mammy." Another version of the story states that little boy wandered off into the woods from a settler's cabin and was lost. When found near the creek, his first words were, "I am hungry, Mammy." What was considered the most reliable version of the story was that Indians raided a settlement and killed the husband of a pioneer couple and carried off his wife and child. The woman
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was able to elude her captors with her son and marked her trail, which rescuers were able to follow. When they came across the woman and her son, the young boy cried, "Hungry, Mammy."

Also see . . .
1. Hungry Mother State Park Historic District (PDF). National Register of Historic Places nomination for the district, which was listed in 2007. (National Archives) (Submitted on November 8, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. All Because One Man Had a Dream. Will Carson saw his dream of a state park system fulfilled. It helped that he knew someone who shared his view: President Franklin D. Roosevelt. (Amy Atwood, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation blog, posted Aug. 18, 2015) (Submitted on November 8, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 8, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 8, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 500 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 8, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.