Current Status Introducing Body:Senate Bill Number:1278 Primary Sponsor:Moore Type of Legislation:CR Subject:Miller, Mrs. Rosetta A. Date Bill Passed both Bodies:19940323 Computer Document Number:NO5/7739BDW.94 Introduced Date:19940317 Last History Body:Senate Last History Date:19940323 Last History Type:Received from House Scope of Legislation:Statewide All Sponsors:Moore Type of Legislation:Concurrent Resolution
Bill Body Date Action Description CMN Leg Involved
____ ______ ____________ ______________________________ ___ ____________
1278 Senate 19940323 Received from House
1278 House 19940322 Introduced, adopted, returned
with concurrence
1278 Senate 19940317 Introduced, adopted, sent to
House
View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
TO RECOGNIZE AND TO THANK MRS. ROSETTA A. MILLER OF NEW YORK CITY FOR HER GENEROUS DONATION OF TWO HUNDRED ACRES TO THE WILDLIFE AND MARINE RESOURCES DEPARTMENT FOR THE HERITAGE TRUST PROGRAM IN MEMORY OF HER GRANDFATHER, MR. FRANK PICKENS HENDERSON.
Whereas, a rare sandhills habitat donated to the State as a heritage preserve is being named for a conservation-minded former Aiken mayor who fought alongside Theodore Roosevelt in the Spanish-American War; and
Whereas, Frank P. Henderson Heritage Preserve, a one hundred ninety-seven acre tract located just outside the Aiken city limits near South Carolina Highway 19, protects both a longleaf pine sandhills habitat and two rare plant species, Piedmont three-awned grass and nestronia; and
Whereas, the land was donated to the Heritage Trust program by Mrs. Rosetta A. Miller of New York City in memory of her grandfather, Frank Pickens Henderson, who owned the property during his lifetime. Mrs. Miller's land donation is valued at almost two hundred thousand dollars; and
Whereas, "My grandfather adored this piece of property," said Mrs. Miller. "He walked over it once a week, and he loved to look at wildlife and plants. He had deep roots in the Aiken area, and I think he would be very pleased knowing that people can continue to enjoy his land"; and
Whereas, Mr. Henderson referred to the tract of land as "Chinette", and Mrs Miller said she wasn't sure why, except that her grandfather traveled widely and "had a lot of romance in his system"; and
Whereas, an Aiken merchant, Mr. Henderson was twice mayor of the town and was involved extensively in community and civic affairs. After graduating from the Aiken Institute, Mr. Henderson enlisted in the army to help free Cuba from Spain, and he took part in the famous charge up San Juan Hill with Theodore Roosevelt in the Spanish-American War of 1898; and
Whereas, his legacy lives on in Aiken thanks to the generosity of his granddaughter. Because of the preserve's proximity to Aiken, Heritage Trust officials say it will provide an excellent opportunity for education and research related to longleaf pine plant communities; and
Whereas, a hiking trail and parking area are planned for Frank P. Henderson Heritage Preserve, which will be open to the public for outdoor recreation and education. Heritage Trust will work with the Aiken County legislative delegation, city and county governments, and Aiken Open Land Trust to form a stewardship committee to take care of the preserve; and
Whereas, like all heritage preserves, Frank P. Henderson Heritage Preserve will remain forever in its natural state. Since the longleaf pine plant communities on the preserve evolved with fire, Heritage Trust biologists will introduce a regimen of controlled burning to restore the communities to prime condition; and
Whereas, the Aiken County heritage preserve is the second to be donated to the South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department's Heritage Trust program within a matter of months. Earlier this year, a four hundred acre preserve in Darlington County was donated. Land valued at almost six hundred ten thousand dollars was donated to Heritage Trust in 1993, and since 1986, land donations have totaled almost 5.5 million dollars; and
Whereas, forty-two state heritage preserves located throughout South Carolina now protect more than fifty-eight thousand acres of native wildlife habitat and cultural sites. Heritage Trust, established in 1976 as part of the department, protected four thousand, seventy hundred eighty-seven acres of significant natural and cultural land and forty-nine rare wildlife species and plant communities in South Carolina last year; and Whereas, locating and maintaining heritage preserves is funded in part by Check for Wildlife Funds, to which South Carolina residents contribute on their state income tax forms. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
That the members of the General Assembly recognize and thank Mrs. Rosetta A. Miller of New York City for her generous donation of two hundred acres to the Wildlife and Marine Resources Department for the Heritage Trust Program in memory of her grandfather, Mr. Frank Pickens Henderson.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Mrs. Rosetta A. Miller.