Geography of Dorseys Knob

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Geography of Dorseys Knob

• Preserving the rock for future generations
• Morgantown, West Virginia

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Overview

• Introduction
• Physical Geography
• Historical Geography
• Urban Geography
• Economic Geography

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Introduction to Dorseys Knob

• Dorseys Knob is a 71-acre plot of lush
  green space that was purchased June 25th 2002
  through loan acquisitions by the Greater
  Morgantown Community Trust.
• A total of 1.32 million thus far has been used
  to purchase and improve the property.

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Introduction

• Dorseys Knob is located adjacent to U.S. 119
  and offers a breath-taking view of the
  surrounding area from a large rock, referred to
  by local Native Americans as Sky Rock.

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Introduction

• Dorseys Knob possesses physical
  characteristics which are unique to this area.
• This is why many people have been
  attracted to Dorseys Knob as a place to relax
  and enjoy the view with family and friends

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Introduction

• In acquiring this property both the city, and
  BOPARC plan to add this Green Space to the
  already existing network of parks across the city
  with future plans of interconnecting trails.
• However the publics help is needed in
  accomplishing this goal.

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Physical Geographyof Dorseys Knob
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Location of Dorseys Knob

• Dorseys Knob is located on the Appalachian
  Plateau at approximately 39.61ºN 79.96ºW.
• Plateau An extensive land area having a
  relatively level surface raised as a result of
  uplifting. The plateau in Morgantown is a
  sedimentary strata which is extensively dissected
  by eroding streams causing high local relief.
• The park is Located along U.S. Route 119 near
  the intersection with County 857 one mile north
  of the I-68 exit onto U.S. Route 119.

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View to the Northwest
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View to the North
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View to the Northeast
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View to the East
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View to the South
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View to the West
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Elevation

• The elevation of pool level of the Monongahela
  River is around 823 feet above sea level.
• The highest area at Dorseys Knob, located at
  the top of Sky Rock, sits at 1,438 feet above
  sea level, which allows for a picturesque view of
  the city of Morgantown and surrounding areas.

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Geologic History

• 570-260 million years ago sedimentary rocks
  began to accumulate on the sagging crust as
  horizontal layers.
• 300-245 million years ago, the mountain
  building process began. The folding uplift and
  faulting of sedimentary rocks occurred as the
  North American and African lithospheric plates
  collided.
• 245 million years ago until the present,
  fluvial erosion (caused by rain) has formed the
  landscape. Streams have eroded away the top
  8,000 feet of sedimentary rock layers. Streams
  formed valleys and erosion resistant cap
  mountains, such as Chestnut Ridge.

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Geology

• Dorseys Knob is on the crest of a gentile
  anticline whose axis (trend) is oriented towards
  Stansbury Hall on the WVU campus.
• Anticline- A structure of bedded rocks in which
  the beds on both sides of an axis or axial plane
  dip away from the axis.
• The rock itself is Pittsburgh Sandstone, which is
  located on top of a layer of Pittsburgh Coal
  formed 280 million years ago.

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Climate and Precipitation

• Dorseys Knob is located within a temperate
  climatic zone.
• It receives approximately 40 inches of rain per
  year.
• The average temperature is 52 degrees Fahrenheit.
  
• Temperatures vary from hot and humid in the
  summer months to cold in the winter, with
  abundant precipitation year round.

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Average Temperature and Precipitation Morgantown,
WV
         
Source MORGANTOWN MUNI AP, MONONGALIA COUNTY
data derived from NCDC TD 9641 Clim 81 1961-1990
Normals.
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Source NCDC TD Clim 81 1961-1990 normals
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Vegetation

• Dorseys Knob lies in the temperate broad leaf
  deciduous forest region.
• Common types of vegetation.
• Rhododendrons
• Oak
• Beech
• Maple
• Chestnut
• Hickory trees.
• In Autumn, with the fall foliage turning, viewing
  the array of colors from the rock is spectacular.

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Natural Resources

• Instead of only coal, timber, and oil being
  seen as natural resources, now parks and other
  open green spaces are being viewed as natural
  resources.
• More specifically these are known as Amenity
  Resources.
• Amenity Resource a resource valued for
  non-monetary characteristics such as beauty or
  uniqueness.

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Historical GeographyofDorseys Knob
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Overview

• Monongalia County
• Morgantown
• Monongahela River
• Dorseys Knob
• Timeline

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Monongalia CountyMother county for northern West
Virginia
Data located at http//www.statehousegirls.net/wv/
counties/monongalia/ Picture found at
http//www.wvdhhr.org/wvlocalhealth/lhd_profiles/l
hdreport/index.asp?CountyNameMonongalia
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Monongalia County

• Created by an act of the Virginia Assembly in
  October 1776."

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Morgantown County seat of Monongalia County

• Thomas Decker, the first European settler in
  the area, arrived in the fall of 1758.
• The settlement was destroyed a year later in
  an attack by a party of Delaware and Mingo
  tribes.

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Morgantown

• "Until the Treaty of Paris in 1763, what is
  now know as Morgantown was greatly contested
  among settlers and Native Americans, as well as
  the English and French.

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Morgans 1785 Plan
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Morgantown

• Morgantown became incorporated on February 3
  1838

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South Morgantown 1894
Morgantown A Bicentennial History. Printed by
the Monongalia Historical Society. Pioneer Press
Morgantown, WV. March 1985.
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Monongahela River "Formed some 20 million
years ago."
http//www.historictowns.com/page5.htm
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Monongahela River
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Monongahela River
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Native Americans on the Monongahela River

• "Archaeological evidence indicates that Native
  Americans occupied the Monongahela riverfront
  from 8000 BC to about 1600 AD."
• Shawnee, Mingo Indians, and other tribes
  claimed and used the Upper Monongahela region as
  a hunting ground."
• No permanent Native American settlements.

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Monongahela River

• Indian traders and outcasts from colonial
  settlements along the coast came to the upper
  Monongahela as early as 1694.
• Transportation
• Coal
• Rye Whiskey (Old Mon Rye)

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Dorseys Knob
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Cobuns Fort

• One of the first two forts in the area was
  built near Dorsey's Knob in 1776, by Jonathan
  Cobun.
• At the eastern base flows Cobun's Creek, along
  which Cobun's Fort was built.
• Destroyed by Native Americans in 1778.

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Ownership of Dorseys Knob

• 1770-1807 Jonathan Cobun
• 1807-1824 George Dorsey
• 1824-1858 John S. Dorsey
• 1858-1867 Benjamin M. Dorsey
• 1867-1925 John F. Vangilder
• 1925-1940 Charles B. Shriver and Charles Smith
• 1940-1947 Chesapeake and Potomac Company
• 1947-1957 Elizabeth Coal Company
• 1957-1969 John and Delores Soloman
• 1969-1987 Okey B. Fawley, Jr.
• 1987-2002 Laurel Development Company
• 2002 Purchased by Greater Morgantown Community
  Trust for BOPARC

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SKY ROCK

www.dorseysknob.org/photos
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Graffiti
and Petroglyphs
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Graffiti and Petroglyphs
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Graffiti
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Events

• 8000BC-1600AD Native American's occupied the
  Monongahela riverfront
• 1758 Decker's settlement
• 1759 Decker's settlement attacked and destroyed
  by Indians
• 1763 Treaty of Paris
• 1766 David Morgan gave his settlement rights to
  his brother Zackquill Morgan
• 1770 Fort Corbum was established near Dorsey's
  Knob
• 1772 Colonel Z. Morgan settled Morgantown
• 1776 Cobun's Fort was built
• Monongalia County was formed
• First organizational county meeting was held
• 1778 Cobun's Fort was destroyed by Indians
• 1783 Z. Morgan formed Morgantown
• 1785 Charter of Morgan's Town by the
  Virginia General Assembly
• 1790 Only 4 log houses occupied Morgantown
• 1791 Population increased
• 1807 George Dorsey purchased the Cobun farm
• 1838 Charter of 1838 - Incorporated Morgantown

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Urban Planning and Geography
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Overview

• Planning of Dorseys Knob Park
• Demographics of Greater Morgantown Area
• Map the City and Park System

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Planning of Dorseys Knob Park

• Reasons for the Acquisition
• Aesthetic reasons
• Gateway Project
• Preservation

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Goals of Acquisition

• Eventually make Route 119 exit off Interstate 68
  a Gateway to Morgantown.

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Acquisition of Dorseys Knob

• Originally Private
• Outside the City Limits
• City Council Meeting
• Greater Morgantown Community Trust

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Acquisition of Dorseys Knob

• Park operated by BOPARC
• The land is unzoned

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Possible Risks of Purchase

• City owes 1.3 Million
• No loss Proposition for the City.
• Gain attractive park
• Land goes in default, City recapture investment
  through taxes on development
• Risk not to buy land
• Losing Green Space and Spectacular Vistas

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Future Planning

• Conceptual Plan
• City will study impact of Park before further
  actions
• Unused land on both Mountaineer Mall and
  Correctional Facility property

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Demographics of the Greater Morgantown Area
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Region Demographics

• Populations
• Monongalia County
• 81,866
• Marion County
• 56,598
• Preston County
• 29,339

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City Demographics

• Morgantown, WV
• 28,809
• West Virginia University
• Student Population
• Total 23,492

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Population Growth

• From 1990 through the year 2000 there was a
  steady increase in the population of Morgantown.
• The growth in population has been propagated by
  the expansion and creation of new business and
  job opportunities.

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Reasons for Growth

• Morgantown has been rated the 1 small city in
  the east The New Rating Guide of Life in
  America's Small Cities
• Also, Morgantown has been rated the 1 small city
  in the nation by Bizjournals.com

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The New Morgantown

• The population make up of Morgantown is heading
  in a younger direction.
• 63 of the population falls under the age of 30
  years of age.

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Reasons to Expand

• A younger population leads to the situation of
  not having enough recreational outlets.
• Solutions to this situation are many, one of them
  is to create more outdoor recreational areas.

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Park Location

• Location of Dorseys Knob is important for future
  development
• The proximity to the adjacent amenity resource
  areas, such as rail trail and existing paths at
  White Park and Cobun Reservoir

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Effects of Location

• City hopes this area will develop with the help
  of Dorseys Knob
• Currently located next to parcels of undeveloped
  land that city hopes to develop

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Economic Geography

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Economic Geography Overview

• Economic Shifts
• The BOPARC System
• Amenities and Benefits
• Dorseys Knob

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Location

• Within a 500-mile radius of Morgantown is
  one-half of the population of the United States
  and one-third of the population of Canada.

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Location

• Morgantown is one day's drive from 6 of the 7
  largest U.S. metropolitan areas, 20 metro areas
  with populations of 1 million or more, and 22 of
  the nation's top 35 industrial markets.

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Old Economy
The economy has switched from an industrial
economy to a post industrial service based
economy.
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New Economy
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Technology
"Generate and disseminate new knowledge,
techniques, and other scholarly and creative
works through basic and applied research, and to
promote economic development through
Technology                                       
                                           
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Economic Development through Parks and Recreation
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BOPARC Parks and Facilities
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Parks and Facilities
Krepps pool
Krepps Park
Suncrest Mini Park
MEA Fishing Pier
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BOPARC Activities
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Caperton Trail
The Caperton Trail is BOPARCs greatest
achievement. We have seen what BOPARC can do and
the great outcomes that are possible. The
Caperton Trail has done great things for the
community and has sparked economic activity in
Morgantown.
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The New Economy and Developments
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• Dorseys Knob is the new focal point of The
  BOPARC system.
• Dorseys Knob has the potential to benefit the
  community much like the Caperton Trail.
• The unique value of Dorseys Knob is found in
  its amenity resources.

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Amenity Resources

• Amenity Resource
• Amenity resources are those natural or physical
  qualities and characteristics of an area that
  contribute to peoples appreciation of its
  pleasantness, and cultural and recreational
  values.
• People place a high value on a healthy and safe
  working, living and recreational environment.
• Access to green and open spaces is a valuable
  community asset.

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Source National Association of Home Builders
www.NAHB.org
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The View

• The View from Dorseys Knob is an important
  amenity resource, not to mention breathtaking.
• The View
• 360 degree panoramic view of Morgantown
• Local points of interest

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Open / Green Space

• Providing open space in an urban environment is
  a positive feature.
• People who live in urban areas need to get away
  sometimes. Dorseys Knob can be a green space for
  people of all ages to enjoy.
• Most importantly, the green space will be used
  to give the residents of Morgantown a retreat
  close to home.

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Historic Preservation

• As the Historic group mentioned, Dorseys Knob
  has an interesting and important past.
• We must preserve it for the future, and we must
  not forget the people who made it popular many
  years ago.

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Natural Habitat

• Dorseys Knob is approximately 71 acres.
• These 71 acres contain many species of flora and
  fauna that should be preserved and appreciated by
  the community.
• Prevent the displacement of plants and animals.

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Amenity Resources

• The park will serve the people of Morgantown in
  two ways
• 1. By allowing them to get a taste of the
  country while
• having only to drive to the other side of
  town.
• 2. Preserving the visual quality of the area by
  prohibiting Blight from occurring.
• Blight- is defined as financially profitable
  land-use development which includes, outdoor
  advertising like billboards, and other roadside
  industries.

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Benefits

• Individuals
• Health
• Communities
• Economy
• Environment

http//www.indyparksfoundation.org/supportus/index
.asp
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Individuals

• As individuals, parks and recreation programs
  can greatly contribute to the social,
  recreational, and cultural climate in which we
  want to live.

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Community Health

• Deaths due to
• Cardiovascular Disease in 1998
• West Virginia total 6,839
• equivalent to 379 deaths per
• 1000 residents
• Monongalia County
• Obesity rate 19.2
• (1995-1999 Statistics )
• Source West Virginia Bureau of Public Health

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Community Health

• There is no doubt about the strong link between
  exercise and good health. By providing a place
  for so many types of recreational use, parks and
  trails can greatly improve public health.

Source www.Railtrails.org
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Communities

• As a community, parks and recreation programs
  offer a multitude of opportunities to engage in
  arts, music, and sports.

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Economy

• Our parks can also strengthen our economy.
  Families build homes near parks and businesses
  move into cities after consideration of many
  factors including recreational opportunities.

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Environment

• Our environment can also benefit from our parks.
  Trees and open space contribute to many of lifes
  essentials making water clean and safe for
  drinking cleaning the air and returning pure
  oxygen to the atmosphere and providing habitat
  for wildlife.

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Other Potential Uses

• Meetings
• Conventions
• Weddings
• Recreation
• Museum

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Business

• The Lodge at Dorseys Knob can accommodate a
  small business meeting (about 18 people).
• The Lodge can also be used for multipurpose
  meeting.

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Weddings

• The Lodge and surrounding area could be rented
  for a weekend wedding. While only about 20 people
  can stay in the Lodge, others in the party could
  stay in hotels providing more economic
  stimulation.

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Recreation

• Dorseys Knob can be used as a multipurpose
  recreational facility.
• These activities include
• Biking
• Hiking
• Cross-county skiing
• Picnicking
• Sledding

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Museum

• Dorseys Knob can provide important educational
  value.
• A centralized museum, which Morgantown does not
  have, can be established to formally display
  other local collections and exhibits.

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If not us

• Who???

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If not now

• When???
• John F. Kennedy

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Class of 2003-2004
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Class of 2003-2004

• Michael Ricker
• Michael Bertsch
• Scott Streisel
• John Winston
• Laura Cathers
• George Hall
• Lauren Hamilton

• John Baron
• Michael Walnoha
• Patrick Haslett
• Jared Anderson
• Dwayne Vaughn
• David Sambursky

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Acknowledgements Dr. Alan Donaldson Mark
Wise Debbie Benson
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Geography of Dorseys Knob Preserving the Rock
for Future Generations