Listen to oral histories about Prince William Forest Park
Oral histories are our window to the past. They are personal, telling, compelling stories of individual experiences within a historical context. Visit our various Oral History Pages to learn more about a particular historical period.
Farm Families
19th/20th Century
Civilian Conservation Corps
1936-1942
Summer Camps
1936-1980s
Office of Strategic Services
1942-45
Park Families Generations of families lived, farmed, and died on lands that today make up Prince William Forest Park. Remnants of their lives are scattered beneath this forest preserve. They are our park families, and their stories should not be forgotten.
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) The Civilian Conservation Corps built Prince William Forest Park from scratch. From 1936 to 1942, the CCC used locally harvested materials to turn farmland into an outdoor playground for D.C. area residents.
Summer Camps Prince William Forest Park was originally called Chopawamsic Recreational Demonstration Area (RDA). Chopawamsic was founded in 1936 as a place for inner-city kids to play in the country air. Learn more about the great depression-era summer camps that first used Prince William Forest Park in the 1930s.
Spies in the Park (Office of Strategic Services) From 1942-1945, the Office of Strategic Services occupied Prince William Forest Park. Beneath the cover of a vast forest, America's fledgling spy agency trained thousands of men how to win the hidden front of World War II - the clandestine war.
Cabin Camp Counselor, Part 1
Listen to Ann Seaton Witzig talk about the summer of 1972 when she was a camp counselor at Prince William Forest Park. “So we became very close to the counselors. And afterwards we stayed in touch for most of the summer. All five of us went backpacking, up in…did the Appalachian Trail up in Pennsylvania.” Interviewee: Ann Seaton Witzig Interviewer: Colette Carmouche Date of Interview: 7/31/08
Credit / Author:
Justine Rothbart
Date created:
10/14/2020
Cabin Camp Counselor, Part 2
“I remember I was to help the senior counselor of the group. And I stayed in her bunk…and each cabin had a counselor. And I really helped out a whole lot with curriculum.” Interviewee: Ann Seaton Witzig Interviewer: Colette Carmouche Date of Interview: 7/31/08
Credit / Author:
Justine Rothbart
Date created:
10/14/2020
Camp Fire Girls Canoe Trip
Listen to an oral history from the Camp Fire Girls who were counselors at Camp Mawavi (Cabin Camp 2) in the 1950s.
“So the first year, we took a canoe trip! Our unforgettable canoe trip! Eleven CITs [Counselors in Training], two counselors, seven canoes…and we lit on the Potomac for three days and went down Occcoquan Creek, cooked our own meals over the campfire, slept on the shore in the rain and the sun and the mosquitoes.”
Interviewee: Susan P. Allport, Joan Evans, Amy Hale, Elizabeth Hine Kight, Alice O'Boyle Shea, Stephanie Zarpas,
Interviewer: Colette Carmouche
Date of Interview: 5/23/10
Credit / Author:
Justine Rothbart
Date created:
10/14/2020
Camp Fire Girls Goodbye Song
Listen to the Camp Fire Girls sing a song that they used to sing when they were counselors at Camp Mawavi (Cabin Camp 2) in the 1950s.
Goodbye song: “We’re sorry you’re going away, we wish that you could stay…”
Interviewee: Susan P. Allport, Joan Evans, Amy Hale, Elizabeth Hine Kight, Alice O'Boyle Shea, Stephanie Zarpas,
Interviewer: Colette Carmouche
Date of Interview: 5/23/10
Credit / Author:
Justine Rothbart
Date created:
10/14/2020
Camp Fire Girls Song
Listen to the Camp Fire Girls sing a song that they used to sing when they were counselors at Camp Mawavi (Cabin Camp 2) in the 1950s.
Interviewee: Susan P. Allport, Joan Evans, Amy Hale, Elizabeth Hine Kight, Alice O'Boyle Shea, Stephanie Zarpas,
Interviewer: Colette Carmouche
Date of Interview: 5/23/10
Credit / Author:
Justine Rothbart
Date created:
10/14/2020
Camp Fire Girls Song
Listen to the Camp Fire Girls sing a song that they used to sing when they were counselors at Camp Mawavi (Cabin Camp 2) in the 1950s.
Interviewee: Susan P. Allport, Joan Evans, Amy Hale, Elizabeth Hine Kight, Alice O'Boyle Shea, Stephanie Zarpas,
Interviewer: Colette Carmouche
Date of Interview: 5/23/10
Credit / Author:
Justine Rothbart
Date created:
10/14/2020
Camp Fire Girls Camp Mawavi Song
Listen to the Camp Fire Girls sing a song that they used to sing when they were counselors at Camp Mawavi (Cabin Camp 2) in the 1950s.
“So come all ye campers for we are never blue. Be a member of our happy, laughing crew. You too!”
Interviewee: Susan P. Allport, Joan Evans, Amy Hale, Elizabeth Hine Kight, Alice O'Boyle Shea, Stephanie Zarpas,
Interviewer: Colette Carmouche
Date of Interview: 5/23/10
Credit / Author:
Justine Rothbart
Date created:
10/14/2020
Office of Strategic Services (OSS) Stories
Listen to an oral history about the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) from a descendent of a park family.
“Did you ever hear of German prisoners being held there?” “My father suspected that someone was being held there.”
Interviewee: Charlie Reid
Interviewer: Arvilla Jackson and Sue Taylor
Date of Interview: 6/8/05
Credit / Author:
Justine Rothbart
Date created:
10/14/2020
Civilian Conservation Corps
“Things were really rough. It was a Godsend to be able to get with the CC’s.”
Interviewee: Melvin Rau
Interviewer: Colette Carmouche
Date of Interview: 9/25/08
Credit / Author:
Justine Rothbart
Date created:
10/14/2020
The houses of park families
Listen to an oral history about the the physical layout of the land from descendents of a park family.
“My father lived in Prince William Forest Park which they called Hickory Ridge then….on my grandfather’s property. They name it Turkey Run now.”
Interviewee: Charlie Reid and Annie Bates
Interviewer: Arvilla Jackson and Sue Taylor
Date of Interview: 6/15/05
Credit / Author:
Justine Rothbart
Date created:
10/14/2020
Ghosts in the Park
Listen to an oral history about ghosts in the park from descendents of a park family.
“One of the things that we heard about were a series of spirits that walk the road. One is the headless man…do you know who that’s supposed to be? Could it by any chance be the guy that Mr. Davis mentions in the tape who was beheaded at the mine?” “I heard about that! I heard about that!”
Interviewee: Charlie Reid and Annie Bates
Interviewer: Arvilla Jackson and Sue Taylor
Date of Interview: 6/20/05
Credit / Author:
Justine Rothbart
Date created:
10/14/2020
Churches
Listen to an oral history about the role the church played in the community from a descendent of a park family.
“It didn’t matter whether your parents went to school or church. You were going to Sunday School. You were going to go to Sunday School. And you were gonna get baptized.”
Interviewee: Charlie Reid
Interviewer: Arvilla Jackson and Sue Taylor
Date of Interview: 6/8/05
Credit / Author:
Justine Rothbart
Date created:
10/14/2020
Story about moonshine
Listen to an oral history from a descendent of a park family.
“We’re gonna stay all night and were gonna drink some of that moonshine!”
Interviewee: Charlie Reid
Interviewer: Arvilla Jackson and Sue Taylor
Date of Interview: 6/8/05
Credit / Author:
Justine Rothbart
Date created:
10/14/2020
Something in the woods
Listen to an oral history from a descendent of a park family.
“Something screamed out. That was the last day I have ever been in those woods.”
Interviewee: Charlie Reid
Interviewer: Arvilla Jackson and Sue Taylor
Date of Interview: 6/8/05
Credit / Author:
Justine Rothbart
Date created:
10/14/2020
Funny Story
Listen to an oral history about a funny story from a descendent of a park family.
“What’s one of the funniest things you remember?”
Credit / Author:
Justine Rothbart
Date created:
10/14/2020
Hickory Ridge Midwife, Part 1
Listen to an oral history about the people who used to live here before the park was created. “So you were born in Minnieville ninety five years ago?” “That’s right. Ninety five years ago in 1893.” Interviewee: Annie Williams Interviewer: DeAnne Evans Date of Interview: 7/18/88
Credit / Author:
Justine Rothbart
Date created:
10/14/2020
Hickory Ridge Midwife, Part 2
Listen to an oral history about the people who used to live here before the park was created. Interviewee: Annie Williams Interviewer: DeAnne Evans Date of Interview: 7/18/88
Credit / Author:
Justine Rothbart
Date created:
10/14/2020
Hickory Ridge Midwife, Part 3
“And so the school where you went is back in near the mine. Is that right? In back in the woods.” “Yeah!” “And it’s not there anymore?” “Oh, no, no.” “It’s gone a long time?” “Oh, lord, years ago.” Interviewee: Annie Williams Interviewer: DeAnne Evans Date of Interview: 7/18/88
Credit / Author:
Justine Rothbart
Date created:
10/14/2020
Underground Railroad, Part 1
Listen to Barbara Kirby discuss the possibility of an Underground Railroad stop located in the location where Prince William Forest Park is today. “Well, we have always felt really strongly that there was simply because of the Muschette family who lived there.” Interviewee: Barbara Kirby Interviewer: Arvilla Jackson and Sue Taylor Date of Interview: 6/10/05
Credit / Author:
Justine Rothbart
Date created:
10/14/2020
Underground Railroad, Part 2
“And what they were looking for is basically up the eastern seaboard. ‘Cause they knew if they get to Phillidelphia of Boston that was gonna…they could meld in with what went there.” Interviewee: Barbara Kirby Interviewer: Arvilla Jackson and Sue Taylor Date of Interview: 6/10/05
