1888年(nian),周蒼(cang)柏出(chu)生于武漢一(yi)個(ge)工商世家,祖上經營的周恒順機器廠是清末民(min)初(chu)湖北最大的民(min)營機器廠。早年(nian)就讀(du)于武昌文華書院,后轉入上海南(nan)洋公學(即今天的上海交通(tong)大學前身)。畢業后赴美國留學,在紐約大學攻讀(du)銀行(xing)系,獲學士學位。
1917年畢業回(hui)國(guo),曾任(ren)漢(han)口上海銀(yin)(yin)行經(jing)理,湖(hu)北省銀(yin)(yin)行總(zong)經(jing)理,重慶華中(zhong)化(hua)工(gong)(gong)(gong)廠、漢(han)中(zhong)制(zhi)革廠董事長。1945年后,任(ren)國(guo)民黨政(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)府善后救(jiu)濟總(zong)署(shu)(shu)湖(hu)北分(fen)署(shu)(shu)署(shu)(shu)長。1949年出席中(zhong)國(guo)人民政(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)治(zhi)協(xie)商會(hui)議第(di)(di)1屆全體會(hui)議。建國(guo)后,歷任(ren)政(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)務院財(cai)經(jing)委(wei)(wei)(wei)員(yuan)(yuan)會(hui)委(wei)(wei)(wei)員(yuan)(yuan)、中(zhong)南軍政(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)委(wei)(wei)(wei)員(yuan)(yuan)會(hui)委(wei)(wei)(wei)員(yuan)(yuan)兼輕工(gong)(gong)(gong)業部副(fu)部長、湖(hu)北省第(di)(di)1-3屆政(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)協(xie)副(fu)主席、湖(hu)北省工(gong)(gong)(gong)商聯(lian)主任(ren)委(wei)(wei)(wei)員(yuan)(yuan)、全國(guo)工(gong)(gong)(gong)商聯(lian)常委(wei)(wei)(wei)。全國(guo)政(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)協(xie)第(di)(di)2屆委(wei)(wei)(wei)員(yuan)(yuan),第(di)(di)3、4屆常委(wei)(wei)(wei)。1970年逝世。
一(yi)(yi)九三O年(nian),擔任(ren)上海(hai)商(shang)業(ye)儲蓄銀行漢口分行行長的(de)民(min)族資本家(jia)周蒼柏,見當時(shi)武漢市(shi)(shi)民(min)們多(duo)沉溺于鴉片和(he)賭(du)博之(zhi)中,十分焦慮。為使市(shi)(shi)民(min)們強身健體,他投入自己的(de)絕大部分收入,專(zhuan)門用于興建(jian)東湖西岸(an)的(de)“海(hai)光(guang)(guang)農(nong)圃(pu)”。“海(hai)光(guang)(guang)農(nong)圃(pu)”開發建(jian)設了一(yi)(yi)個(ge)苗圃(pu)、一(yi)(yi)片桃林(lin)、一(yi)(yi)個(ge)動物(wu)園、一(yi)(yi)個(ge)專(zhuan)門觀魚的(de)天鵝(e)池以(yi)及(ji)一(yi)(yi)間米坊(fang)和(he)一(yi)(yi)間香坊(fang),其(qi)主要功能是(shi)為武漢市(shi)(shi)民(min)提供(gong)一(yi)(yi)個(ge)休(xiu)閑娛樂場所,市(shi)(shi)民(min)們可以(yi)在“海(hai)光(guang)(guang)農(nong)圃(pu)”鍛煉身體、嬉戲(xi)游樂,同時(shi)還可以(yi)進行農(nong)業(ye)生產以(yi)及(ji)花木(mu)果(guo)樹的(de)栽培(pei)。海(hai)光(guang)(guang)農(nong)圃(pu)在當時(shi)成為極受群(qun)眾(zhong)喜(xi)愛的(de)“城市(shi)(shi)公(gong)園”。
一九三八年(nian)(nian)十月,武漢被日軍侵占,周(zhou)(zhou)蒼(cang)柏(bo)(bo)被迫遷往(wang)重慶(qing),海光(guang)(guang)農(nong)圃委(wei)(wei)托他(ta)人管理。一九四(si)二年(nian)(nian),日本侵略者強行霸占海光(guang)(guang)農(nong)圃,毀壞(huai)了(le)一些娛樂設(she)施、果園和房屋建筑。抗戰(zhan)勝利后,周(zhou)(zhou)蒼(cang)柏(bo)(bo)回到武漢,盡(jin)力恢復海光(guang)(guang)農(nong)圃,由于國家在(zai)動(dong)亂時(shi)期以(yi)及他(ta)本人經(jing)濟局限(xian),所以(yi)海光(guang)(guang)農(nong)圃的規模總不及當年(nian)(nian)。一九四(si)九年(nian)(nian),周(zhou)(zhou)蒼(cang)柏(bo)(bo)(當時(shi)任(ren)(ren)(ren)省政協副(fu)主(zhu)席,后任(ren)(ren)(ren)工業(ye)部副(fu)部長)主(zhu)動(dong)將海光(guang)(guang)農(nong)圃獻給了(le)國家,海光(guang)(guang)農(nong)圃隨即(ji)更名為東(dong)(dong)(dong)湖(hu)公園,并成立東(dong)(dong)(dong)湖(hu)建設(she)委(wei)(wei)員(yuan)會,周(zhou)(zhou)蒼(cang)柏(bo)(bo)任(ren)(ren)(ren)副(fu)主(zhu)任(ren)(ren)(ren)委(wei)(wei)員(yuan),當時(shi)的中南軍區政治部主(zhu)任(ren)(ren)(ren)陶鑄(zhu)任(ren)(ren)(ren)主(zhu)任(ren)(ren)(ren)委(wei)(wei)員(yuan)。一九五二年(nian)(nian),東(dong)(dong)(dong)湖(hu)風(feng)景區建設(she)全面展開(kai)。