Escape to GA, after a summer of “shelter in place” … Thanks to COVID-19 – Day 12 – Friday 9/25/20

We depart Hartwell Lake and Watsadler COE campground in the little drizzle. This picture is how I want to remember the lake, not the overcast grey haze we have today!

We did have a great week with some awesome friends!

Our view this morning as we drove along US 29 to US 77 to US 17. Looks like the rain is here to stay with us for a while, but we can’t complain … it has been a nearly perfect weather week for us!

The Elberton County Fair is scheduled for October 15th - October 25th, 2020. It is the longest continual running fair in Northeast Georgia. Let’s hope that the fair board can figure it out, so COVID-19 does not ruin it’s “continually running” status!

We spent a great deal of time in Elberton, while we were at Richard B Russell State Park. We passed by this building several times and it always intrigued me. This Coca-Cola bottling plant was built in 1929. It closed sometime in the 1970s. The building was being used by a Safehouse Ministries, as a Resource Center, but it might be vacant. It sure looks vacant.

The town of Tignall is working one step at a time toward revitalizing the small town, the North Wilkes Steering Committee created a mural that would highlight an important turn-of-the-century building. The students at the Lamar Dodd School of Art completed the mural.

In Wrens, we passed these cute colored buildings. When we headed up, there were a few older guys sitting on the porch. Today, it is all quite over there. Nita's Look In Nooks, is an unique clothing, antique and what nots kind of store. I am not sure if it is open anymore or not … the other pictures on the web, show much more juntique on the porch and in the windows, but those chairs look pretty good!

Louisville was the first permanent capital of Georgia. Louisville, the county seat of Jefferson County, also served as Georgia's third capital from 1796 until 1807. The town grew as the result of both large-scale immigration to the Georgia upcountry after the American Revolution (1775-83) and the desire of many Georgians to enhance the state's commercial prosperity. Why is Louisville no longer Georgia's capital? The press for new Indian lands continued unabated, and Louisville would serve as the Georgia state capital for only ten years. Reportedly, the desire to move the capital also arose out of a concern about malaria in the Louisville area.

The name Lyons was given to the proposed town by Colonel Sam Hugh Hawkins of Americus, president of the railroad company. Hawkins had recently returned to the United States from a European business trip and suggested a number of European names for towns to be established along the new line. Lyons was named for Lyons, France. In 1905, the Elberta Hotel was built and served as the social center of Toombs County. In the 1920’s, the creation of U.S. Highway 1, the first highway built in the United States that runs from Maine to Key West, Florida, brought a tourist boom to Lyons. Some of the most famous guests to stay at the Elberta were Margaret Mitchell, who penned “Gone with the Wind” as well as the gangster, Al Capone.

Did you know there is a town in Georgia called, Santa Claus? Yes, there is! Santa Claus, GA is a small community near Vidalia and just south of Lyons, GA. The town was established in the 1930s. It started as a clever marketing ploy by a local farmer named C.G. Greene, who wanted to lure people off the highway to shop at his pecan stand. Greene was reportedly “a real jolly fellow with a red complexion and roly-poly figure who was always laughing and smiling” (sound familiar?) and had a real mind for business. To that end, he knew he needed to choose a name for the town that would make people laugh and then hopefully exit the highway to buy his farm goods. Naming the town Santa Claus did the job nicely. Thomas F. Fuller, a member of the Georgia House of Representatives, helped get the new Toombs County town of Santa Claus incorporated in 1941. Greene served as the town's first mayor and streets got names like Noel Street, Reindeer Drive, and Candy Cane Lane.

There is a great mural in Baxley, Georgia. It is along US 1 and very busy location. I tried to learn more about it, but no luck.

At least the weather has cleared for us and it is getting warmer!

The Appling County courthouse in Baxley has an octagonal domed clock tower that ornaments the exterior of the Appling County courthouse. Originally the county seat was located in Holmesville, Georgia until 1873. The current courthouse was designed by H.L. Lewman. It was built between 1907-1908 in the Neo-Classical Revival architectural style. It is on the National Register of Historic Place

We passed Fat Daddy’s ATV Park. It looks so interesting! It’s a 500 acre UTV / ATV park on the Satilla River. They have miles of ATV trails and UTV trails, both sand and mud for riding. They also have some awesome sand hills. They only offer primitive camping … sorry, I like my creature comforts!

Arrived at our home for the night in Folkston, Georgia. Tomorrow, we arrived in Rockledge and see our newest great-grandson and our granddaughter and her husband!

Escape to GA, after a summer of “shelter in place” … Thanks to COVID-19 – Day 11 – Thursday 9/24/20

I have been trying to get to this historical marker since we arrived here at Hartwell Lake. It's a  historical marker and stone monument that declares that this spot as the "Center of the World." At least it was to the Cherokee, who called it "Ah-Yeh-Li A-Lo-Hee." It was here that many trails radiated in all directions, so the designation made sense, at least, before people arrived from places that the trails didn't go, like overseas. Hartwell was also, according to the plaque placed here, a popular roosting spot for migrating Passenger Pigeons. 

The Daughters of the American Revolution erected the stone monument. But the garden around the stone monument needs some attention. Years ago there was a Center of the World Gift Shop, just down the road, where one could buy Center of the World t-shirts. But it's gone now, so people looking for similar gifts will have to travel to the other Center of the World, in California.

 

After we viewed the historical marker, we headed into downtown and walked the square. It is nice to see old building being revitalized for new business. What do you think is going in here? An Ice Cream Shop? A Toy Store? We will find out on our return visit to Hartwell.

A mural brings artistic flair to Depot Street in downtown Hartwell. The new mural is located on the side of the Blush Hair Studio building on Depot Street. It depicts many facets of life and historical places and people in Hart County, Georgia.

Sailboats of Hartwell Georgia, an Art Project, reminded me of the Horse on Parade in Rochester New York or the Bears we have seen in different cities. When the first colorful fiberglass sailboats were revealed in August of 2018, the hope was for the boats to multiply and eventually sprinkle the community’s landscape, much like the bulldog statues in Athens or the roosters of Gainesville. That hope has continued to become a reality.

The Sailboat Project was created by the Leadership Hart class of 2015 as part of their graduating project. All Leadership Hart classes are challenged to come up with a project that will unify and improve the community. The class of 2015 came up with the idea to put out sculptures similar to the Bulldogs in Athens, Ga. There was much debate as to the content of the statues, but ultimately they decided upon the sailboat which represents the community’s ties to Lake Hartwell which has a large sailing community.

Additionally, it was agreed that the project would raise money for Hart Regional Arts Center expansion fund which will allow them to increase the ways they can serve the community. From its inception to the first sailboat, project leader Henley Cleary tirelessly worked to make their idea a reality. It took 3 years and several tries to get their design right.

The biggest hurdle was actually finding a way to make the fiberglass sailboats paintable. When the fiberglass boats were first revealed, they found that paint would not adhere to the surface. They had to go back to the drawing board. And the ultimate solution? Covering the fiberglass boats in car primer allowed them to be paintable by local artists.

In fact, Cleary says everything is made locally. She credits Atlantic South Plastics in Royston, Ga for designing the boat as well as coming up with a solution to the painting issue. The steel stands that the boats are mounted on was custom crafted by Fabritex in Hartwell.

The cost of the sailboats is $1800 which includes a donation to the Hart Regional Arts Center located at 338 East Howell Street. The majority of the cost of each sailboat goes to the fabrication of the sailboat and stand. Remember that they are custom crafted, one at a time, here in the Lake Hartwell region. So each piece is truly a work of art. And it’s the uniqueness of each piece and the dedication to their community that inspires each purchaser to invest in their own sculpture.

Once built, the artist works with the individuals or companies commissioning the boat to come up with a unique design. The artwork on each boat represents the individual or business’s vision of what makes the Hartwell community special and unique.

 

We ventured into Southern Hart Brewing Company, this afternoon. It’s a local brew pub on the square in downtown Hartwell Georgia. Some of the group headed there, some are beer lovers, some came for the food and some came for the company. There were 10 of us, 6 ordered beers or ciders. We all ordered food! I have to say everything looked delicious and no one complained!

My beer was “Sex on the Peach,” Charlie had “Harvest Moon” and Paul had an “Irish Red Ale.” All of our beers were brewed by Southern Hart Brewing on site. 

Linda had a “Blood Orange” cider brewed by Austin Eastciders Brewing. 

I don’t know what the 2 guys at the other end had for beers.

The atmosphere was unique, as the brewing vats are right in the bar / dining area! But, even with COVID-19, they had no issues pushing 2 tables together for us to seat 10.

The varieties were plentiful, but the batches they make are small. So, if you see it get some. It might not be there next time!

Our food was delicious and not too pricey. For appetizers, there was a pretzel with beer cheese and jalapeno poppers. I had a Cobb Salad, Charlie had a BLT with fries, Linda and Roy had BBQ Pork Flatbread. Further down the table they had 3 Cuban sandwiches, a couple of burgers and an order of chicken wings.

Next to the brewery was Constitution Alley. Once just a walkway between buildings. Hartwell's Constitution Alley restoration project donated funds raised to the Hartwell Downtown Development Authority to help renovate Constitution Alley and make their beautiful town even more beautiful! 

Joan Saliba, the first female and longest serving mayor of Hartwell was the brain child of Constitution Alley. She lead the way for the town's downtown revitalization. For more than 20-years, she was mayor 24 hours a day. She loved this town.

The waitress at the brewery took a picture of the crew that went. It came out pretty good! It looks like the rain is going to squash our last night's fire ... but it has been a great week with some awesome friends!

Escape to GA, after a summer of “shelter in place” … Thanks to COVID-19 – Day 10 – Wednesday 9/23/20

Today, our morning began watching the Canadian Goose, I guess no one told him the border is closed! Also enjoyed seeing the schools of fish in the lake! The sunrise was obscured by the clouds this morning for us. Lake Hartwell is a well renown bass fishing lake and is a favorite of many legends of the sport.  Anglers can fish for bass, catfish, crappie, walleye, bluegill, sunfish, striped bass and hybrid stripers. 

Later we decided to visit the Hartwell Dam and learn more about Hartwell Lake. It is is one of the Southeast's largest and most popular public recreation lakes. Built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers between 1955 and 1963 as part of a flood control, hydropower, and navigation project. Impoundment of the lake began in February 1961. The lake reached its full pool elevation of 660 feet on March 12, 1962.

The Hartwell Power plant was completed in 1961; the first generator went on-line at on April 27, 1962. The power plant is a "peaking power plant” style, this means that power is not constantly generated. Instead, power is generated at times when electricity is in the greatest demand. The average yearly generation from the Hartwell Power plant is approximately 470,000 - megawatt hours. Megawatt hours produced in 2008 were 217,423. The 2008 total is below average because of reductions in generation due to drought conditions in the Savannah River Basin in 2008.

Now activities include recreation, water quality, water supply, and fish and wildlife management. Each year, millions of people utilize the many public parks, marinas, and campgrounds conveniently located around the lake to pursue a variety of outdoor recreational experiences. All this activity makes Hartwell one of the most visited Corps of Engineer lakes in the nation!

Hartwell Lake is a man-made lake bordering Georgia and South Carolina on the Savannah, Tugaloo, and Seneca Rivers. The lake is created by Hartwell Dam located on the Savannah River seven miles below the point at which the Tugaloo and Seneca Rivers join to form the Savannah. The Savannah River is approximately 315 miles long. The river ends in the Atlantic Ocean near Savannah, Georgia.

Hartwell Lake comprises nearly 56,000 acres of water with a shoreline of 962 miles. The entire Hartwell “Project” contains 76,450 acres of land and water. Interstate 85 bisects Hartwell Lake and makes the area easily accessible to visitors.

The lake is located in two states (Georgia and South Carolina) and 6 counties (Georgia – Hart, Franklin, and Stephens Counties; South Carolina – Anderson, Oconee, and Pickens Counties).

Hartwell Lake and Dam was the second Corps of Engineers project to be built in the Savannah River Basin. The first, J. Strom Thurmond Lake and Dam, was completed in 1952. A third project, Richard B. Russell Lake and Dam was completed in 1985. Congress authorized Hartwell in 1950 and construction began in October 1955. The project was completed in 1963 at a cost of more than $89 million. Hartwell Dam is built of more than 880,000 cubic yards of concrete (enough to build a sidewalk from the dam to San Francisco) and more than 3 million pounds of reinforcing steel.

Interesting facts about the Hartwell Lake and Dam. The top of the dam is 204 feet above the Savannah River Bed. The depth of the lake behind the dam is approximately 180 feet. The Hartwell Dam and Lake has prevented over $101,998 million in flood damages since 1962. The floodgates at the Hartwell Dam have been opened for flood control purposes three times - in 1964, 1965, and 1994. They have been opened at other times for maintenance and inspection purposes.

None of us realized the walk to the dam from the visitor’s center parking lot was almost 3 miles round trip! 

But, we took our time and took advantage of the benches and port-a-potties and we all made it!

None of us worse for the wear ... well most of us anyway!

We enjoyed a soup, stew and salad dinner with delicious desserts. We ended the evening with a campfire and group picture!

Starting tomorrow some of the group begins to head in different directions!

Escape to GA, after a summer of “shelter in place” … Thanks to COVID-19 – Day 9 – Tuesday 9/22/20

Today, we had a leisurely morning and we had planned on taking the people who have not seen the Georgia Guidestones and the Elberton Granite Museum to see them.

This is my third trip to both of these places. I will tell you a little about each of them, but for more information, visit an older blog of mine.

The components of the Georgia Guidestones were manufactured from Elberton "Pyramid Blue Granite." It is reported that it was one of the most challenging projects ever for the quarry and monument manufacturing concern. Partly because of the magnitude of materials and partly because of the exacting specifications from the mysterious groups of sponsors. They were so precise they had to be compiled by experts on stone as well as construction.

The "Guidestone" Facts:

Overall Height - 19' 3"

Amount of Granite - 951 Cubic Feet

Weight (Grand Total) - 119 tons

4 Upright Stones - 6' 6" wide x 16' 4" high x 1' 7" thick

1 Cap Stone - 3' 3" wide x 16' 4" high x 1' 7" thick

4 Support Stones (Bases) - 7' 4" wide x 9' 8" long x 1' 4" thick

1 Support Stone (Base) - 4' 2.5" long x 2' 2" wide x 1' 7" thick

Lettering - over 4,000 sandblasted letters, each approximately 4" high

Jack & Julie, Cathy, Charlie & Pucha, Roy & Linda and Janet all came to the museum. They all enjoyed the movie and all the history that the museum shared.

The rest of the group, that had been to these sights before, played cards and fished! 

Brian was trying to catch fish for dinner, but looks like we will have to stick with our original plan!

No seriously, he was catching bait fish for his fishing later for the big ones!

We made hobo pies for dinner.

Everyone has a different name for them: hobo pies, pie irons, mountain pies, or pudgy pies, but we can all agree they are delicious! 

What is a hobo pie? Traditionally a hot sandwich made over a campfire in a pie iron. There is no fussing with a grill or tripod, just a simple pie iron you stick into the fire to cook your meal. The exterior of every hobo pie is 2 pieces of bread with butter on the outside.

We made the pies we ate for dinner out of ham, cheese, taco meat, chopped steak & gravy and pizza ingredients!

We visited for a while and then made hobo pies for dessert out of pie fillings!