• December 1985 James V. Morgan learns of Big Island tract availability from Dr. Jerry Stokes, sees potential for preservation, and begins to form purchase group.

  • January 1986 Ed Haile and Jerry Stokes begin survey of Big Island, Sears, Lumpkin, and Little Island tracts.

  • March 1986 VOF purchases Big Island from Mrs. Louise McKenna.

  • April 1986 Purchase group forms Friends of Dragon Run and begins incorporation process.

  • April 1986 VOF acquires Sears tract for FODR.

  • October 1986 VOF acquires Lumpkin Tract
  • November 1999 FODR acquires Powcan tract.
  • September 1999 FODR learns of availability of Dragon Bridge Tract. Applies for grant.
  • May 1987 Haile and Stokes complete survey.
  • June 1987 VOF acquires Little Island.
  • August 1990 FODR applies for IRS tax-exempt status.
  • July 1991 FODR attains provisional tax-exempt status, assumes ownership of VOF-acquired property.
  • November 1993 FODR learns that owners might be willing to sell Farley Park property at Mascot.
 Milestones                Davis Rhodes

There have been quite a few significant events or milestones in the history of Friends of Dragon Run, and we thought it would be interesting and informative to highlight some of them in this issue as we celebrate our 20th anniversary.

Jimmy Morgan’s vision for the protection of the Dragon Run and its watershed began to take form near the end of 1985, when he contacted friends and business acquaintances to form the Big Island purchase group. There were 28 of those individuals then, and their support for Jimmy’s initiative helped get our organization moving.

Today there are almost 500 individuals and families who have learned of our mission, found it to be worthwhile, and contributed to its success.

What started with a handful of Jimmy’s friends and a 27-acre island in the Dragon Swamp has burgeoned into an organization of practical, realistic, and hopeful accomplishment that can lay claim to making a difference in the watershed by protecting almost 308 acres through direct ownership, and another 60 through conservation easements.

This year, we will add another 165 acres to the total with the purchase of the Bulman and Thomas Revere tracts.

Not bad for a grass roots organization which started with the vision of one determined outdoorsman and a contagious idea!

As you read through the list of milestones we ask you to keep in mind that they were made real through the efforts of people just like you.

This is the year to step up to the task of becoming more involved in our work, and in contributing your own ideas for our success and improvement.

Tomorrow’s milestones very likely already reside in a member’s head today. Won’t you help them become a reality?

Call an officer or board member right away to find out how you can be a part of the action team and get started on the next milestone in our history. -

       News

  • September 1994 Farley Park tract purchased by FODR.
  • June 1995 FODR attains permanent tax-exempt status.
  • March 1999 FODR learns of Powcan tract availability from Mr. Ed Jones.
  • June 2000 FODR purchases Dragon Bridge Tract from Chesapeake Forest Products with grant funds and assistance from MPRA and MPLT, as well as funds donated by members.
  • November 2003 John Becker makes gift to FODR of lot in Dragon Farms.
  • September 2005 FODR applies to VLCF for grant to purchase Bulman and Revere tracts.
  • December 2005 FODR grant application approved by VLCF
  • ? 2006 FODR purchases Bulman and Revere from TNC.