7/19 W – 8.5hr drive to Clemson SC and visit with Harold and Irmi
7/20 Th – 3.5hrs to Summerton SC to see sights related to the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision that – separating children in public schools based on race was unconstitutional.
Summerton High School, built in 1936, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was an all-white school that refused to admit Black students. The building is now used as administrative offices for Clarendon County School District #1.
Scott’s Branch High School, the former “equalization school” was constructed for African American students in 1951 under the guise of providing facilities comparable to those for white students. It is now a Community Resource Center owned by Clarendon School District 1.
Like many small towns, Summerton uses building murals to highlight its local history. These are related to our Revolutionary War.
Eutawville is a half hour away. It was the site of the American Revolutionary WarBattle of Eutaw Springs. The battle occurred on September 8, 1781, and was the last major engagement of the war in the Carolinas.
The Eutaw Springs Battlefield Park is an Affiliated NP Unit.
Our next destination was the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area (NHA) in GA.
Took a leisurely walk through the Savannah Rapids Park.
We started at the Headgates (1875) where water from the Savannah River is diverted into the canal.
This NHA interprets the story of the coming of the Industrial Revolution to the American South. Built in 1845 It is still a source of power (electricity), water supply for Augusta, and transportation. A canal boat ride is available at the Augusta Canal Discovery Center in the Enterprise Mill building.
There were seventeen gates along the 51ft drop of the canal that powered cotton mills and other factories beginning in the late 1840s. During the Civil War, the Confederate Gunpowder Works were located on the canal. This is the Jefferson Davis Bridge and towpath trail along the canal –
Additional textile plants and industries followed in the late 19th century – Enterprise Mill
Strolling the downtown Riverwalk along the Savannah River, we found this information on the Community of Springfield –
Checked into the Hampton Inn during a rainstorm and then called Kate to sing Happy Birthday!
7/21 F –2.5hrs to the Monastery of the Holy Spirit near Conyers GA. It is part of the Arabia Mountain NHA just E of Atlanta.
The Monastic Heritage Center was not open, but we were able to do the prayer walk to the monastery and tour the grounds.
The Abbey Church was open –
It was only a 15min drive to the AWARE Wildlife Center and the trailhead for hiking to the Arabia Mountain Peak (954ft).
A recent storm had damaged the entrance area.
The Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve is part of the Arabia Mountain NHA.
Arabia Mountain, Panola Peak, and Stone Mountain are all within 15-miles of each other and are “monadnocks.” Monadnocks are isolated hills or knobs of hard bedrock, formed by the erosion of the softer rock around them. The Native American word “monadnock” means smooth or isolated mountain. The granite gneiss of the mountain contains quartz, which makes it very hard. That explains the quarrying operations that took place in this area.
Diamorpha – the Red Stuff
The Top – 1.3-miles round trip
Arrived at Unicoi State Park GA about 4pm and registered for the Highpointers Konvention. We then went to the Hofbräuhaus in Helen GA, German themed village, for dinner. “The Charm of Bavaria in the Heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains!”
Helen taught the Venezuelan Girl behind her (in the dress) to do the Electric Slide!
7/22 Sat – hiked in the SP and then drove to Brasstown Bald (4,794ft), the Highpoint of GA, for the traditional Watermelon Feast.
This was my fourth time on top and Helen’s second
This was the first time I had seen the HP survey marker as the door to the tower is usually locked.
This is one of five informative markers along the walkway by the tower.
7/23 Sun – 8hrs (476mi) to Springfield
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