Former Rockefeller property burns down

Fort Bragg, N.C. — The Bird Song building, part of Fort Bragg's Overhills area that was formerly part of a Rockefeller family estate that gave it its name, burned down early Wednesday, according to Fort Bragg spokeswoman Sheri Lynn Crowe.

The fire was reported at 12:19 a.m., bringing Fort Bragg and Harnett County fire departments. The cause of the fire has not been determined.

The building had no electrical hookups. A Fort Bragg spokesman said trespassers have been known to roam the site, but it's not clear if that had anything to do with the fire.

Members of the second-generation Rockefeller family established Overhills in the Sandhills area, just north of Fayetteville, in the early 1900s. They used the estate as a hunting lodge and resort for themselves and guests.

The Bird Song house, built about 1962, had more than 20 rooms – including 14 bedrooms and 14 baths – and was 10,649 square feet. It was used as a residence for members of the family, which also had a nearby mansion named Croatan. Fort Bragg officials described it as a guest house and said it also had an indoor swimming pool.

The Army purchased the property in 1997 for $30 million so it could add the estate's 10,500 acres to its training grounds. The estate had 150 structures, including stables and a golf course.

No training was taking place at the Bird Song building during the fire.

The building had been released from historical protection. Fort Bragg officials have initiated a documentation plan to preserve information about the history of Overhills, which is north of Pope Air Force Base.

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I was born at Overhills,my father worked there.I remember fondly the old train station,the stables painted white & bright red. The main gate that opened with a pull of a rope,the stone bath house down by the lake&the water fall.Roaming around the golf course and the complete quite and stillness of the hole place. It seemed magical as a kid.

strickrdu
February 5, 2009 2:38 p.m.

THE GOV'T HAS NOT TAKEN CARE OF THE PROPERTY & THE BUILDINGS SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROTECTED RATHER THAN NEGLECTED. A LOT OF THE WONDERFUL BUILDINGS & HOMES HAVE BEEN USED FOR "TRAINING" & HAVE BEEN RUINED/SHOT UP. WE LIVED ON OVERHILLS UNTIL THE GOV'T GOT IT. MY HUSBAND WAS AN EMPLOYEE & THE HOUSE WE LIVED IN IS RUINED. WE HAD EVEN OFFERED TO PURCHASE IT & HAVE IT MOVED BUT WERE TOLD OFFICERS WOULD BE LIVING IN IT-WHICH NEVER HAPPENED. MOST OF THE ROCKEFELLER FAMILY DID NOT WANT TO SELL THE PROPERTY. AND YES THERE IS SLAVE BURIAL GROUNDS ON THE PROPERTY. I AM JSUT GLAD I HAVE ALL THE PHOTOS OF HOW WONDERFUL IT WAS WHEN WE LIVED THERE. ALL THE FAMILIES WHO LIVED ON THE PROPERTY TOOK GREAT CARE & PRIDE IN MAINTAINING IT'S PRISTINE BEAUTY. AND I WAS EVEN GIVEN A HORSE BY ONE OF THE ROCKEFELLER FAMILY IN EXCHANGE FOR A POEM I HAD WRITTEN ABOUT OVERHILLS. IT SURE IS A SHAME TO HAVE LET OVERHILLS GO TO RUIN.

jackiesandusky
February 5, 2009 9:54 a.m.

I'll give them $50 for the property, and the state can give my $1 Million in incentives to build a decent business on it.

TheAdmiral
February 4, 2009 8:08 p.m.

See folks, we don't need State Giveaway Incentives to lure people to beautiful North Carolina!

news4you
February 4, 2009 3:43 p.m.

My Uncle was the last farm manager of the Overhills estate and I grew up on overhills up until it was sold. It was beautiful place in its day. I have many great memories of hunting and enjoying the farm. My father was one of the last to play the golf course before it was sold to fort bragg. I have been there hunting over the past few years and if you didn't know where the golf course was you would not have any idea there was even a golf course there. Many people in the community from ages 20 to eighty were born and raised on the farm. I just feel lucky to of been fortunate enough to enjoy it while it lasted. It was really something else to see when it was a running farm.

angusray
February 4, 2009 2:45 p.m.