History of Wilson Creek
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Wilson Creek has a full and vibrant history. The area was once used as summer hunting grounds for the Cherokee Indians. Shortly after 1750, pioneers settled here and began logging the dense forests. Mortimer, the largest community, was the site of the Ritter Lumber Company sawmill and a small textile mill, which provided jobs for the community’s 800 residents. Substantial logging took place between Wilson and Steel Creeks, and the trees were hauled to the mill via narrow-gauge railroad.
In 1916, a fire burned from Grandfather Mountain to Wilson Creek, and was immediately followed by a flood, which destroyed the logging railroad. In 1925, a second fire swept through, this time from Upper Creek to the south. The railroad, which had been rebuilt, was lost again. When a second flood hit the area in 1940, it washed away both the sawmill and the textile mill. The foundation of the textile mill can still be seen from the road.
During the late-30s, early-40s, Mortimer was the site of one of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps, which operated across the United States. The main structure still stands serving as a Forest Service work center. The old CCC camp at Mortimer is eligible for listing on the Nation Register of Historic Places.
On May 11, 1999, U.S. Congressman Cass Ballenger introduced H.R. 1749 to designate Wilson Creek as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, which was supported by U.S. Senators John Edwards and Jesse Helms. On August 18, 2000, this bill became Public Law 106-261.
Now, the USDA Forest Service, in cooperation with the Caldwell County and various State agencies, is developing a Comprehensive Management Plan to protect those outstanding, remarkable values which led to the designation of Wilson Creek as a Wild and Scenic River. A draft will be available for public review this summer.
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