New historical marker honors Alabama’s first Black state park rangers

New signage is up at Joe Wheeler State Park in Rogersville, honoring the first two Black park rangers for the Alabama State Parks system.

At a park named after a Confederate general, Samuel Harden Sr. and Howard Fuqua made a name for themselves with a long history of contributions to the park system.

“Our goal is to preserve history. We want to make sure that history doesn’t get buried and buried in books and documents that people may not ever see.”

Beverly Henderson, East Lauderdale Historical Society

Fuqua was the first Black park ranger in the state’s history with Harden following in his footsteps. Harden would go on to serve nearly four decades in the state park system.

The park has also named a 0.7-mile stretch of trail the Samuel Harden Sr. loop.

Camp Drake

The new historical markers recognize contributions of Harden + Fuqua, specifically Camp Drake. The two helped run the small site in the park that hosted Black Boy Scout groups during the segregation era.

The signs were erected by the East Lauderdale Historical Society near the park’s main entrance on Highway 72.

The park held a ceremony over the weekend to unveil the new historical markers. Harden’s family members, including his children and grandchildren, were in attendance.

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