Our Community
Blue Ridge, The Great Copper Basin and the Wilderness
Blue Ridge
Blue Ridge... the town the train made. Developed the town to address the needs of the railroad and to provide a link for trade with other areas. Blue Ridge boomed. Soon was the largest city in county and they moved the county seat there. The rail had passenger service till early 20th century. My grandmother took it to Marietta and she said she dressed up in her best clothes on a warm spring day and it was a coal burning train and by the time she got to Marietta she was covered in soot. The train station closed by WWII. Later it moved freight with a lot of industrial freight coming from the Copper Company. Now used just for excusions.
The Great Copper Basin
Mining Copper ...the mine shafts extend over into Mobile Ga just a few miles away. But all the processing took place at the plant in Copperhill. They mined copper sulfate and separated them to make copper and sulfuric acid. They made other by products too. The plant created lots of pollution during its production. Air, Water and Soil. At one time the area around Copperhill and Ducktown was totally devoid of any living plants due to this pollution. Much effort has gone into reclaiming this area.
The Wilderness
Locals call this Jack's River. Just before the depression this was a thriving area with many residents, farms and churches. Logging was the primary industry. My dad's first job was hauling out "acid wood". This was where the native American chestnuts had died in the blight and they had large tracts of them to cut down and sawmill for timber or making turpentine. After the logging ceased the government decided to buy out the residents and make it a National Forest. Still some pockets of land in private hands in the middle of this forest.
Kinda famous people from our Area
Mark Wills (known to us as Dwayne Williams)
Kinda famous people from our Area
Mark Wills (known to us as Dwayne Williams)
A little You Tube song from one of our home boys... Mark Wills... He has had some hit records...
He lives in Woodstock now a suburb of Atlanta, but he comes back to visit family often. Does some videos here.
He is a big supporter of Children's Miracle Network, he makes us proud....
He lives in Woodstock now a suburb of Atlanta, but he comes back to visit family often. Does some videos here.
He is a big supporter of Children's Miracle Network, he makes us proud....