 The Dan River region is rich in history and never
fails to offer surprises. One example of a hidden gem lies in the new Mayo River
State Park in western Rockingham County, North Carolina. The study area for the
park extends along the Mayo River for a dozen or so river miles, from the
NC/Virginia state line to the town of Mayodan. Just north of Mayodan, and
included in the park property, is the remains of the old Mayo River Park
established by Washington Mills in 1948.
The park’s picnic shelter and bath house were
designed by famed architect, Antonin Raymond. Born in the Czech Republic,
Raymond joined Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin in 1916 and helped with the design
and construction of the Imperial Hotel in Japan. Raymond is revered for his
contributions to modern Western architecture in that country.
Raymond’s firm, Raymond and Rado Architects in
New York City, was engaged to design the structures for the park. Crafted of
hickory and cedar, the building material
 was unvarnished and unpainted, and the
fireplace was made of local stone. All supporting beams were visible, and the
open nature of the construction was intended to, according to Raymond, “keep the
buildings in harmony with the surroundings.”
While the bath house is beyond repair, DRBA has
worked with the NC State Parks to recover and store as many intact elements of
the bath house as possible for future use and interpretation in the park. The
picnic shelter, with its massive stone fireplace, will be restored to its former
glory.
 DRBA works to protect other cultural and historic
resources, including the Dan River Batteau Navigation System.(Download sides
one
and two of
the pdf brochure.) DRBA is
investigating National Historic Landmark status for the navigation system and is
in the process of developing area-wide strategies for identifying and protecting
heritage resources across the region. DRBA recognizes the value of efforts to
collaborate across borders to develop and foster a regional identity |
