Project Scroll Research Note 2026-42: Swamp Rose Nature Preserve is the "New-Oak-Road Bog" of 1969: what became of the two natural areas in the northeast corner of Potato Creek

In 1969 Lindsey, Schmelz and Nichols's statewide survey, Natural Areas in Indiana and Their Preservation, described two sites in Liberty Township, St. Joseph County, inside the planned Potato Creek State Recreation Area: "Inez Clingenspell Woods and New-Oak-Road Bog." Of the woods it wrote, "The only old-growth stand we located in this area is Clingenspell Woods." The authors asked that both be made a natural area. The Natural Resources Commission dedicated Swamp Rose Nature Preserve in 1974, between the Academy of Science's spring and autumn meetings. In 1987 John A. Bacone and Michelle L. Martin of the state's Division of Nature Preserves traced every site in the 1969 book. Their Table 1 of protected areas lists the 1969 "New-Oak-Road Bog" under its current name, "Swamp Rose." Their Table 5, "Severely degraded or destroyed areas," lists "Clingenspell Woods." The bog was saved; the old-growth woods were not. The park's nature centre followed with its first building program: the department's 1982 guide announced "a nature center/warming hut" for that summer, to serve in winter "as a cross country ski rental building."

Project Scroll Research Note 2026-42, version 1. The note sets out the record quoted, where it is held, what it changes, its limits, and what was searched before calling it new. Web version: projectscroll.com/discoveries/notes/2026-42/.