Driving Through Time - The Digital Blue Ridge Parkway
Oral History Interview with William Hooper, January 6, 2001
Transcript (33 p.) | |
Complete Audio File (MP3 format) | Unavailable |
Abstract | William "Bill" Hooper served as the Blue Ridge Parkway's agronomist, Land Management Specialist and Realty Specialist during his 30-year tenure from 1945 to 1975. Hooper talks about the complicated land legal issues that were faced during the construction of the parkway. He goes on to talk about how nearly 3,000 acres of land were leased to farmers and how those farmers were taught new techniques that helped fight erosion. Hooper also talks about the efforts to cover up scars along the parkway – giving it a seamless appearance – and what plants were used to help fight erosion. |
Date | January 6, 2001 |
Interviewee | Hooper, William "Bill" |
Interviewee occupation | Parkway agronomist, Land Management Specialist, Realty Specialist |
Interviewee DOB | March 3, 1911 |
Interviewer | Myers, Mary |
Subject | Landscape development Erosion Right-of-way Farming |