NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1977 SESSION

CHAPTER 941

SENATE BILL 407

AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE SITE SURROUNDING THE OLDEST AND LARGEST AMERICAN HOLLY TREE IN THE WORLD.

Whereas, in the community of Olympia in Pamlico County, North Carolina, there stands the oldest and largest American holly tree in the world; and

Whereas, in 1964 the State of North Carolina purchased two and one-half acres of land surrounding this ancient tree for the purpose of insuring its permanent preservation and care; and

Whereas, in the same year the North Carolina Holly Arboretum Commission was established by the Governor to administer the affairs of the holly tree site; and

Whereas, the holly tree is one of the rare and unique natural treasures of North Carolina and is visited yearly by thousands of interested Americans; and

Whereas, the State of North Carolina, commensurate with its ownership, has not to date provided continuing support for the maintenance of the site and the care of the tree and has allowed the site to fall frequently into disrepair; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  There is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the Division of Archives and History of the Department of Cultural Resources for the 1977-78 fiscal year the sum of two thousand dollars ($2,000) and for the 1978-79 fiscal year the sum of two thousand dollars ($2,000) to be used for the maintenance of the site of the holly tree in Olympia, Pamlico County, to be used for continuing care for the holly tree as needed, and to be used for any other purpose required to protect and preserve this unique American wonder.

Sec. 2.  This act shall become effective July 1, 1977.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 1st day of July, 1977.