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https://www.facebook.com/groups/133508490120427/ SEE MY INSTAGRAM FOR PHOTOS!!!!! So today started at the campground on Douglas Lake, Beautiful day in East Tennessee. Sunshine and 60 degree weather. We explored the surrounding area for a couple hours. Every which was you look there was a sparkle blinding you from the sand. Such mineral rich soil here, let's not forget how many farms, homes, and villages are under those waters, and were destroyed to make way for the dam. This area is prime for Hermiker Diamonds, which originally were found in New York and name after their finder. Instantly I started showing Amanda how you follow the leeching of the soil and boom there it was I flipped over a rock and a smoky quartz just laid there for the taking. With every find brought one serious smile, and my passion/desire grew more to find the next. I found many small instances of perfect douglas diamonds but they are nothing to write home about. Between Amanda and I we found about twenty quartz crystals, and about ten geodes. The geodes we found were extremely eroded and must of traveled a great distance to where they were found. Came across an area behind a boulder that had a congregate pile of flint all scattered in one contained area, couldn't keep my imagination from wondering if Native Americans once sat here and fastened their tools on this very spot. Wow East Tennessee leaves so much for one to discover! Hermiker Diamonds are also a powerful metaphysical tool: Herkimer Diamonds are ascension stones, and they will take you to the highest spiritual vibration possible while still being in your physical body. These crystals have powerful metaphysical properties and are strong stones to aid astral travel, as they help to connect the astral plane to the physical plane. https://www.healing-crystals-for-you.com/herkimer-diamonds.html Here is some info about Hermiker Diamonds: Herkimer diamonds are not actually diamonds, but are double-terminated quartz crystals of exceptional clarity (water-clear) discovered within exposed outcrops of dolostone in and around Herkimer County, New York and the Mohawk River Valley. The "diamond" in their name is due to both their clarity and natural faceting - crystals possess double termination points and 18 total facets (six on each point, six around the center). Because the first discovery sites were in the village of Middleville and in the city of Little Falls, respectively, the crystal is also known as a Middleville diamond or a Little Falls diamond. Herkimer diamonds became widely recognized after workmen discovered them in large quantities while cutting into the Mohawk River Valley dolostone in the late 18th century. Geologists discovered exposed dolostone in Herkimer County outcroppings and began mining there, leading to the "Herkimer diamond" moniker. Double-point quartz crystals may be found in sites around the world, but only those mined in Herkimer County can be given this name. The geologic history of these crystals began about 500 million years ago in a shallow sea which was receiving sediments from the ancient Adirondak Mountains to the north. The calcium and magnesium carbonate sediments accumulated and lithified to form the dolostone bedrock exposed as the Little Falls Dolostone today. While buried, cavities were formed by acidic waters forming the vugs in which the quartz crystals formed. While the dolostone unit is Cambrian in age the quartz within the vugs is interpreted to have formed during the Carboniferous Period. Waxy organic material, silicon dioxide and pyrite (iron sulfide) was present as minor constituents of rock made of dolomite and calcite. As sediment buried the rock and temperatures rose, crystals grew in the cavities very slowly, resulting in quartz crystals of exceptional clarity. Inclusions can be found in these crystals that provide clues to the origins of the Herkimer diamonds. Found within the inclusions are solids, liquids (salt water or petroleum), gases (most often carbon dioxide), two- and three-phase inclusions, and negative (uniaxial) crystals. Anthraconite is the most common solid inclusion.
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Below is a snippet of the adventures I had in Elkmont over last 4 years. As of late, the NPS has raised the buildings, destroying them and bringing about the end of an era.
If you are not already a Friend of Historic Archaeology on Facebook, please login below to view the rest of the Elkmont Photos and more! AS I WILL BE CONTINUING TO EDIT THIS. Beginning as a logging town, Elkmont gradually evolved into a haven for the socially prominent and wealthy members of nearby Knoxville, Maryville, and Chattanooga. Many cottages were built and used for the summer. Today, Elkmont is primarily a campground within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The peacefulness you will find there is unsurpassed. Elkmont Like many towns which sprang up during the early part of this century and centered around the utilization of natural resources, Elkmont, Tennessee was quick to expand and just as quick to fade back into small town obscurity.Near Townsend, Tennessee along the banks of the Little River, Elkmont saw its booms and busts. The town saw its beginnings in the early 1900s when three Pennsylvanians, Colonel W. B. Townsend, J. W. Wrigley, and F. H. McCormick, came south searching for virgin timberland. They found large, beautiful stands in the watershed of the Little River. Acquiring 75,000 to 80,000 acres of prime forest land from the previous mountain inhabitants, the Little River Lumber Company was born. Its headquarters were located in the town which became known as Townsend after the firm's president, Col. Townsend. Soon after, the Little River Railroad appeared extending from Townsend 18 miles into Elkmont and beyond. Elkmont itself served as a junction between the conventional locomotive, the rod engine, and the "Shays" or geared locomotive which were used to haul logs from the steeper grades of the higher mountains. Originally built as a logging train, the line became popular with weekend travelers from Knoxville. Col. Townsend soon added an observation deck and a passenger car to make those travelers more comfortable. The Knoxvillians traveled on the weekends to the area to engage in some of the best hunting and fishing around. Trout, bear, deer, and smaller game animals were abundant. The men reached Elkmont by a long route beginning in Knoxville on the Southern Railway Line. They rode to Walland and Townsend and then transferred to the Little River Railroad for the final stretch into Elkmont. In 1910, the Little River Lumber Co. deeded a tract of 50 acres of land to the existing Appalachian Club on which the group erected a clubhouse. Founded in 1907, the Appalachian Club was a hunting and fishing club of which many of the Knoxville weekenders were members. A few months later, the lumber company accorded the club a 10-year lease of exclusive hunting and fishing privileges to the Appalachian Club covering some 40,000 acres on the headwaters on the Little River above Elkmont. The Club was to undertake all game and fish management of the area. Originally established as a sportsmen's club, the Appalachian Club soon grew more social in its activities. The men's womenfolk heard of the beauty and fun in the forests of Elkmont and soon joined their husbands on their weekend trips. A hotel annex was added to the clubhouse. It later burned down and was never rebuilt. This hotel served as a place for bridge tournaments, dances and other social functions. Beginning as a rough and tumble logging town, Elkmont gradually evolved into a haven for the socially prominent and wealthy members of Knoxville, Maryville, and Chattanooga. Many cottages were built and used for the summer. Until recently, 50 or more were inhabited by third or fourth generations of the original owners. The Appalachian Club became rather exclusive as well, denying access to its facilities and functions to all outsiders. A beautiful area in the summer, Elkmont provided a haven away from the hassles of the city for some of its residents. However, the mainstay of the town was still timber operations. In its heyday in the 1920s, Elkmont was the second largest town in Sevier County. Among the many homes and cottages existed a general store, post office, boarding house, church and theater. Early travelers reached the area on foot or horseback along a hazardous 7-1/2 mile route from Gatlinburg. As noted before, the railways also brought in many visitors and residents with accommodations on the logging train not always very comfortable. Later a rough, narrow road was graded from Gatlinburg to the area. When the railroad was discontinued in 1926, its rails and cross-ties were removed and gravel was laid to make a better road. The present Elkmont road still has as its base the former railroad bed. Besides the Appalachian Club and the area's many homes, Elkmont had in its vicinity a glorious hotel. As lands became clear-cut the Little River Lumber Co. sold off more and more of its holdings. The largest piece sold was in 1912 to the three Carter brothers, John P., Charles P., and A. E. Their company, The Wonderland Park Company, built the Wonderland Park Hotel on this 65 acre tract of land. Besides the Appalachian Club and the area's many homes, Elkmont had in its vicinity a glorious hotel. As lands became clear-cut the Little River Lumber Co. sold off more and more of its holdings. The largest piece sold was in 1912 to the three Carter brothers, John P., Charles P., and A. E. Their company, The Wonderland Park Company, built the Wonderland Park Hotel on this 65 acre tract of land. In 1914, the land and hotel were sold to a group of Knoxvillians who had been denied access to the Appalachian Club. They formed their own club and the Wonderland Club's Hotel was born with an additional hotel annex. Some of the rooms were owned by the members and others were rented out to the public. It was surrounded by hundreds of miles of trails and was a mecca for hikers. A white, two-story clapboard structure, the hotel was surrounded on the front and one side by a large porch complete with rockers and swings. The scenery is breathtaking, and many came there to escape from the outside world. Another tract of land was sold to Appalachian Club member, R. S. Hommel. Here Mr. Hommel planted acres and acres of apple trees and began a successful apple orchard business. Minor problems and disturbances including a train wreck livened up the town but mostly things ran smoothly. The area was excellent for fishing and hunting, fresh vegetables were available from gardens and from Gatlinburg. People were friendly to one another and major problems non-existent. All that changed when talk about a national park began to circulate. There were two sides on the issue--one wished for a national park and one wanted the area to be preserved as a national forest. Colonel David C. Chapman was the driving force behind the national park for he wanted roads and facilities erected so all Americans could enjoy the area. He also believed the visitors would bring in money for local businesses. James Wright, a Knoxville lawyer and owner of a cottage in Elkmont, led the opposition. A dedicated conservationist, Wright believed the area would be contaminated by hoards of crowds. He thought the area would be best protected if classified as a national forest. In the end, the national park idea won out. Col. Townsend helped in its creation by agreeing to sell 76,500 mountain acres to the state which would then be transferred to the Federal Government. He also agreed to give up his lumbering empire. The town was facing its demise, for the public was not allowed to reside in national parks. Logging operations were stopped and the government began to buy the homeowners' property. Great opposition arose from the residents and members of the Appalachian Club. They hired James Wright to defend their rights in court. Neither side would back down and no compromise was in sight. The State Park Commission was faced with two conclusions: either exclude the area in question from the proposed park or acquire the lands through purchase at the discretion of the owners and at their stated price. The National Park Service would not agree to the exclusion, and the Commission did not have the funds to pay the owners' set prices. A solution was finally found when the Commission and the Secretary of the Interior devised a plan whereby the landowners would be offered long-term leases to live on the property which would be purchased by the government at reduced rates. Upon grudging Congressional consent, the plan went into effect. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park became a reality in 1934, and the residents of Elkmont remained in their homes now owned by the Government. However, the battle was not completely over. The leases expired in 1972 but were renewed for another 20 years among much criticism. About 50 leases expired on December 31, 1992 and four more expired on December 31, 2001 Update as of November 2017 Society Hill cabins have been removed. Over 17 structures have been destroyed alot of them photographed below. http://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/tennessee/gatlinburg/2017/09/22/cabin-restoration-completed-historic-elkmont-great-smoky-mountains-national-park/690736001/ additional articles http://www.wbir.com/article/news/local/elkmont-will-shine-cabins-and-conflict-in-the-smokies/51-433531059 login to facebook to view more! Check out more! When best friends come to visit, amazing things can happen. Good beers, good friends, good times. My good friend Nate finally is coming to town! Woohoo! We haven't seen this guy in like two years now. We got one hell of a weekend to conquer! Sadly my other half Amanda fell sick while Nate was here and wasn't able to go on all our outings. But we did all get together at Ross Mead Quarry in Knoxville, Tennessee. An amazing venue for hikers, cyclist, climbers, kayakers and more! Coolest thing to me is YEEHAW Brewing out of Johnson City, Tennessee has a remote Taproom right there at the entrance of the quarry. Party on Wayne!! Party on Garth!! We explored the old train tracks down to the old coke ovens, you can still see the entire mining process. From pink marble that built most of midtown Manhattan, to the Limestone operation that went for years after. There must be ten miles of bicycle trails and banked curves. A keyhole area shows you some cave features in the earth, as well as a great photograph spot where the quarry rocks were stacked long ago, they leave a small tunnel a human can pass through. Nate and I climbed down and then up the quarry walls, very carefully pulled ourselves up the giant blocks of limestone. We had found a access in the rock you would call a cave, that was no bigger than two people wide. Well curiousity always gets the cat... Nate was half way in when I decided to dive in head first. Not knowing even if I was able to comprehend the clostrophobic situation I was about to experience. How would anxiety take hold? We crawled on our bellies in about forty feet where suddenly a baby stalagmite was on the surface of the floor and we had to crawl over it painfully. we crawled on a little farther and I personally decided to stop because of how small the tunnel was, Nate on the other hand kept on and made into a room where he could sit indian style. Amazing experience for him I'm sure coming from Oviedo, Florida days before. Well we figured out that was the farthest it went and out we were. When we were back outside we realized we made some friends and they decided they wanted to follow us in the next crevice we saw in the distance. Onward we go... under the surface Nate is in, Amanda goes next and decides last second "NO WAY", In I go and our new friend follows. we could stand entirely and crawled/scuffled over a boulder into a tunnel type chamber that led again to another room ended that ended abruptly. Now I can imagine in the rainy season this isn't accessible and is probably filled with water. Experience of a lifetime for my buddy. Next day We head out to US 129 better known as The Tail of the Dragon. My first stop for us was Look Rock on Foothills Parkway section G/H on Chilhowee Mountain. We set off on the paved trail and took the short cut to the left as you get started. This becomes a eight minute walk if that, dumps out right at the foot of the ramp to the look out tower. Just Beyond the tower are bluffs known as Three Sisters a very cool spot to climb around and to take a moment to realize those that were here before you. To think how small you are amongst all the things in this universe. Being here is really surreal only thing maybe ruining it is the minor graffiti in the beginning of the bluffs but its seems the more you climb down the less people have gone. So back on the road, did I mention we took Amanda's 1993 Mazda Miata Mx5. We are going to the dragon to have a blast!! Nate had stocked up on Drammine prior to our journey, and it came in handy for sure! Paid our respects to fellow Z brother Kyle Moroney near mile 1.5 found some parts of the exhaust and headlight on the cliffside and placed them near the marker. We paid visit to the ghost town of Calderwood, showed my buddy the churches that are still present. Showed him the huge Cherokee burial mound in the lake. We went off freestyling as I like to call it and we found three openings in a rock face and voila! We found ourselves a cool little cave with multiple entrances and high ceiling. Made the usual stop at Killboy's store, and Cheoh Dam filming location for the In dreams in 1999 and Fugitive in 1993. Of course Tapoco Lodge was on my list for lunch! If you want pizza and I mean good woodfired pizza in the south, Tapoco Lodge is a Historic hotel that is gorgeous just off the Dragon! When weather permits seating on the river is spectacular, combined with Craft beer selections you cannot go wrong!! Our last day was decided that we would head out to iconic Cade's Cove. Made the trip in better time than ever, I realized and knew we would never do everything in the cove that day so I wanted to hit key points. We stopped off at John Oliver's Cabin which I explained to Nate it's actually a newlywed gift from him to his son. The Park would rather show you a structure standing or a structure from a different place set there than to show the real homesite just behind off in the woods. Sad but these are the realities, onward we go off to what is said to be Crawford Olivers car stuck on the old road. Always cool to see the old cars stuck in the woods from a time before the park. Not too far away we find the fireplace of George Drake's homesite. Back to Loop Rd and onward to the Gregory families property, we parked just beyond the old driveway that is blocked by a ranger gate. Hiked up the parallel manway and instantly you are reminded of the past on your right about one hundred yards are the remnants of picnic tables from when this was a major spot on the old Cade's Cove tour. In fact the Gregory Family opened it to the public in 1925 by J.J. Gregory and Elvira Gregory, with fifty cent admission and free for all kids. The cave had walkways and electric lights powered by a Delco system. During the cold war the cave was a fallout shelter for more than one thousand people. Twenty to fifty feet wide, fifteen feet tall and four hundred thirty five feet deep. Three hundred feet down the right wall there is a side arm passage that goes another one hundred feet long and in here you can see the pick marks on the walls from when this cave was most likely mined for saltpeter in the Civil War. Saltpeter mining went on from 1818 to 1865 in the area, this would of been a small mining operation. In the distance we see the boulder field and we walk the narrow path to the mouth of the cave. Now already familiar with the parks laws you cannot go inside the caves due to white nose fungus but this one in particular is barred off to stop access. So you can go in about twenty feet and not harm anything. looking up you can see the roof is stained black with soot from many fires over the centuries. Imagine the Dallas tribe or Cherokee in here keeping warm by the fire after their otter hunts in the land of Tyashi. We shined lights in to see as far as we could, we weren't well prepared for a lighting spectacular but we saw enough and out we were back on the trail when Nate got my attention that we weren't alone. Ranger Looney had arrived hiking straight toward us he asked " Did you just see that Bobcat?? " In my own mind im thinking something has set off a alarm to alert him of our presence? Is this his ice breaker in communication to feel us out? I immediately start rambling off the history of this place and we ended up in great conversation which led me revealing I am sponsored by Clif Bars. Of course I had a backpack full with me and I offered Ranger Looney a handful in exchange for a pic together! Check out my picutres and follow along on my next adventure!! Tom Gaskins Sr founder of the Cypress Knee Museum In the 1930's Tom homesteaded on Fisheasting creek. He was fascinated by the cypress knees in the swamp. Knobby root growth that actually assist in stabilizing the plant in the swamp. Tom had experiments in the swamp to the east of U.S. 27 where a 3/4mile 2x4 catwalk sunk into the mud led tourist through Gaskins swampy world. He put weights on the roots even grew a telephone into a knee. Tom encourage people to eat wood for its nutritional properties " That's the cambium layer, " he'd say through a mouthful of pulp licking a newly peeled knee. " Without it there'd be no life on this Earth." He displayed his cypress knees at the Florida pavillion in 1939-40 New York City, he still holds the only U.S. patent 2,069,580 on article of manufacture made from cypress. In 1951 Tom finally opened a museum west of U.S. 27 right across from the catwalk stop. The museum had multiple showcases with hundreds of knees scattered inside. Each knee had a name for what it most commonly resembled on a tag in front. Once I-95 and I-75 were built the traffic to the Museum dwindled to a trickle. Army corp of engineers also built dykes and canals off Lake Okochobee which slowed the flow of water through his area as well. 1990's proved to be a battle when Lady Bird Johnson law forced removal of all their homemade cypress billboards from the Florida highways. But the federal goverment did make laws prohibiting cutting of cypress trees. So in theory the museum's collection could never be duplicated. 1998 Tom Gaskins Sr passes away. 2000 Break in at the museum most of the prized knees and exhibits were stolen. Tom Gaskins Jr Tom Sr's son, closes its doors and it hasn't been reopened. |
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