Nygard, Margaret, 1925-1995

Margaret Nygard (1925-1995) was born in Nasik, India, where her father was a British civil servant. After leaving India, she lived in England and Canada. She married English professor Holger Nygard in 1944, received her masters and doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley, and moved to Durham, N.C., where she taught English at Durham Technical Community College and later became a social worker. In 1965, she and others formed the Eno Historical Society, which became the Association for the Preservation of the Eno River Valley in 1966 (often called the Eno River Association). In the early 1970s, the Association began acquiring land along the Eno River that became the Eno River State Park in 1973. While remaining active in the Association, Nygard was also involved in other local and state-wide groups that supported efforts to protect sensitive environmental areas.

Margaret Nygard was born on 25 January 1925 in Nasik, India, where her father was a British civil servant. Upon leaving India, she first lived in England and then later in Canada. She married English professor Holger Nygard in 1944. Nygard received her masters degree and doctorate at the University of California, Berkeley and then moved to Durham, N.C., where she taught English at Durham Technical Community College and later became a social worker.

Soon after arriving in Durham, N.C., she and her husband discovered the unmarked Eno River. Learning that a reservoir was to be built on the river, the two began leading hikes to raise awareness of the planned developments in the area. Nygard and the members of her hiking group formed the Eno Historical Society in 1965. The Eno Historical Society became the Association for the Preservation of the Eno River Valley on 14 October 1966 (often called the Eno River Association).

In the early 1970s, the Association received the endorsement of the board of the Nature Conservancy and the North Carolina State Parks Committee to begin acquiring land along the Eno River to create a state park. On 15 June 1973, this donated land became part of the North Carolina state parks system as Eno River State Park. Nygard continued her involvement in the Association, becoming Executive Vice President after the Eno River State Park was formed.

Nygard's environmental works extended beyond the Association. She became involved in a number of local and state-wide groups which supported efforts to protect other sensitive environmental areas.

Margaret Nygard and Holger Nygard had four children: Stephen; Jenny, an artist whose work was featured in Association calendars; Kerstin; and Eric, who worked for the North Carolina state parks system. Margaret Nygard died on 5 November 1995 at the age of 70.