MOUNTAIN REST COMMUNITY CLUB, Oconee County, SC Recreation Version 2.3, 1-Apr-2003, MR-09.TXT **************************************************************** REPRODUCING NOTICE: ------------------- These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit, or presentation by any other organization, or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Paul M Kankula - nn8nn Seneca, SC, USA Oconee County SC GenWeb Coordinator Oconee County SC GenWeb Homestead http://www.rootsweb.com/~scoconee/oconee.html Oconee County SC GenWeb Tombstone Project http://www.rootsweb.com/~scoconee/cemeteries.html http://www.rootsweb.com/~cemetery/southcarolina/oconee.html **************************************************************** DATAFILE INPUT . : Linda Flynn at ke8fd@@bellsouth.net.com in Apr-2003 DATAFILE LAYOUT : Paul M. Kankula at kankula1@innova.net in Apr-2003 RECREATION In the early days, during the school term, the most recreation children had was at school - ball and the usual playground activities. In the summer, youngsters would congregate in someone's pasture on Saturday or Sunday for a fun-filled afternoon of ball, tag, or whatever you thought of to play. There weren't very many commercial toys; but you could always manage to have a good time, and all went home tired but happy. In the early 1940s, the boys who were lucky had bicycles; only a few had them, but those who did were quite popular with the many kids in the community who didn't have one. On Sunday afternoons, several would get together for a hike of several miles and would take turns on the bicycle so that, by the end of the hike, everyone who wanted to had had a chance to ride. The creek was a favorite place in the summertime. It was such fun to jump in after a hot day of working in the field. The boys kept the water dammed up so it was deep enough to swim in. They felt that entitled them to boss the girls about who got to use the swimming hole and when. They could all swim together until one or two of the boys decided to go "skinny-dipping," and then the girls left in haste to tell Mama what those mean boys had done! It would be interesting to know how many young people Mr. Clifton Lyles taught to swim. He had an A-model roadster, and on Saturday afternoons beginning in June he would go around in the Double Springs-Whetstone community and gather up the boys and girls and head for Earles Ford on the Chattooga River for an afternoon of swimming for those who knew how and lessons for those who didn't. They swam above the ford because where Warwoman Creek ran into the river there was a whirlpool in the water and a dangerous place because of the undercurrent. By summer's end, several new swimmers would emerge; and for those who were slow learners, there was always next summer. Earles Ford was also a popular spot for wiener and marshmallow roasts held by the young people, family, and church picnics. It was one of the favorite "courting" places of the young folks. In the 1920s, the young men of the community built a platform of lumber at Earles Ford. Local musicians provided music on Saturday night for square dances held during the summer months and on the 4th of July. Over the years, music has been an important part of the everyday pleasures of life. There were usually one or two boys, and sometimes a girl, who could play the guitar, banjo, or piano, just to name a few. They would hold "jam sessions" and always had a listening audience. It was always a special treat when two or three of the musicians would get together and make music for a square dance at someone's home. After Oconee State Park was opened, dances were held there weekly during the summer months. At first, the music was from the juke box; but in recent years, there is always a live bluegrass band to provide music. People from the community look forward to the summer season at the park and especially to Friday night square dances. Clogging has become such a popular pastime for dancers that you will find a special article on just it elsewhere in this book.--[MSQ] OCONEE STATE PARK In July 1935, the State of South Carolina acquired 1,165 acres of land from Oconee County by donation for the purpose of establishing a park, and consequently it was given the name of Oconee State Park. The deed to the property contained a reversion clause that stated the land would revert to Oconee County if for one year the park ceased its operation. This almost happened in 1963 when the parks were closed to the public by an act of the legislature; but in June 1964, they were reopened on a limited basis by legislative act, and on July 1, 1966, they were opened on an unrestricted basis. Soon after the acquisition of the land, Oconee was established as one of the Civilian Conservation Corps camps and was given the number 75. Work began with the plan to build a twenty-acre lake, twenty family vacation cabins, picnic areas with shelters, and hiking trails. Lumber was sawed from trees on the property, mostly from dead chestnut that had been killed by an earlier blight and was invaded by worms which gave it the famous wormy chestnut name. Three of the cabins were built of logs, and one of these is made entirely of huge chestnut logs. The rock bathhouse, the many chimneys, picnic shelter floors, and underpinning for the cabins were made from rock removed from the nearby Blue Ridge Tunnel. Work was completed by the CCC's in early 1937, and the swimming area was opened to the public on June 1, 1937. The rest of the park was opened to the public on June 17 of that same year. From the beginning and until July 1, 1967, Oconee and all other state parks were a division of the SC State Commission of Forestry. Through those early years, the system operated on a limited budget with just enough to keep the parks open, that is, if they straightened out the old nails! July 1967 marked the end of a thirty-three-year era with the Commission of Forestry, and it was at this time that all the state parks became a division of the newly created Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Commission. At that time, Oconee had thirteen campsites, and this had been enough to meet the needs; but people were beginning to camp and finding out how much fun it was. It opened the door for young couples with families to be able to afford a vacation, and from that time it has been popular with all ages, rich and poor alike. In 1967, Ray Sisk was an assistant director in the state parks' Columbia office; and with his help and planning, Oconee opened forty more sites. This work had to be done mostly with hand labor because little equipment was available and very little money in the budget. Soon after CCC Camp 75 was established, Joel P. Keys of Walhalla became superintendent of the camp. He was in charge of construction of the new facilities of the state park. When the Oconee State Park officially opened on June 1, 1937, Keys was named director of the park. Bill Dillard was recreation director and served in that job for several years. He headed the CCC's and was director of the park for about a year, and he and his family lived in the new superintendent's house until 1938, when he was transferred to another CCC camp in South Carolina to do similar work. Keys's wife, Theodosia, opened a tea room at the bathhouse building in June of 1937, 1938, and 1939. After Keys was transferred from Oconee, she and their three sons moved to one of the park cabins and lived there the remainder of the time that she was employed at the park. The architect of buildings, etc., for the new park was a Mr. Muckenfuss, who worked closely with Mr. Keys. He was a native of Switzerland and had been in the Swiss navy, serving aboard their ship, which was near the shoreline of the United States. He jumped ship, came ashore, and remained in South Carolina. He was hired to design buildings for the new Oconee State Park. In 1938, Harley G. Thrift of Long Creek became the superintendent at Oconee. During his early days, the recreation building with kitchen and dining room and assistant superintendent's house were completed. While Thrift served, square dances were held in the new recreation building with music from a juke box. People staying in the park, as well as those living in the area, enjoyed the dances, and it is still one of the most popular activities offered. In 1940, when the new dining room was ready, the tea room was closed. A Mr. and Mrs. Brock from Seneca were the first to operate it, and Mr. and Mrs. Henry followed them. There have been so many over the years who have run the dining room it would be impossible to mention all of them; but the present operator is Mrs. Ollie McCall of Mountain Rest. It is open full time in the months of June, July, and August and is open weekends in spring and fall months. Harley Thrift is deceased, but his widow, Laura, and daughter. Ruby Hollifield, still live at Long Creek. J.W. Ray was hired in 1945 to replace Mr. Thrift. During his twenty years as superintendent, there weren't many changes until the legislation in 1963 that closed all state parks. Mr. Ray was a serious natured person who could handle almost any situation. Like the time some of the boys decided they would go skinny-dipping in the lake during a square dance one night. Everything went well until Mr. Ray found out they were in the lake. He quietly slipped down by the bathhouse where they had undressed and put all their clothes in a pile. He then turned on the floodlights at the bathhouse, stood guard, and ordered, "Boys, here's your clothes, you can come and get them." J.W. Ray and his wife, Bessie have both died since retiring from the park. Bob Cothran came to Oconee in February 1965, following Mr. Ray, and is still here. Many new attractions have been added during his time, including carpet golf, a fishing lake, paddle boats, and multi-purpose recreation building called "The Barn." A country store is near the campground, which has been expanded to a total of 140 sites. There are now four picnic shelters in the park. The old recreation building now houses the kitchen and dining room, antique museum, and the superintendent's office. Cothran and his wife, E.Z. have four children: June, who is married and lives in North Carolina; Jimmy, who is a graduate student at Clemson; Johnny, who is an undergraduate there; and Janice, a nursing student at the Medical University School of Nursing in Charleston. It was about 1968 when again, under the guidance of Ray Sisk, an advertising and promotional campaign began to let the public know about their parks. Through newspapers, television, and radio, the good word was spread, and in a short period of time attendance increased. During the summer of 1968, with the help of the first Clemson interns, a planned recreation program began. Since its beginning, Supt. Cothran has said attendance and revenue have increased. It was after this program was started that the Friday night square dances became so popular. For the inexperienced dancers, the recreator would hold a practice session on Thursday night using the juke box for music, but on Friday night a live bluegrass band would provide music for the dance. It was here that clogging in Oconee County first began, for in prior years heel taps were not allowed, and anyone wearing them on the dance floor either stopped dancing or pulled off their shoes. In 1969, Bobby Ramey was a summer employee and loved to dance. By this time, there were several accomplished cloggers; so Bobby organized the first clogging group and named them The Oconee State Park Cloggers, and Friday night square dances have never been the same! The members of the clogging group were high school and college students from the local area and became so good that besides dancing at the park they were asked to perform for private and civic groups near and far, whenever work and school permitted. In August of 1971, Senator and Mrs. Strom Thurmond and family spent their vacation in a cabin at Oconee State Park. While there, they attended the Friday night square dance and saw the cloggers perform. The Senator, seeing how skilled this young group had become, right away came up with the idea they should be invited to perform at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. Of course, it was no simple task, but finally, after several contacts by Senator Thurmond, Grand Ole Opry manager E.W. "Bud" Wendell agreed to let the cloggers appear, provided Thurmond would make the introduction, which he did in his best South Carolina drawl. The Opry stage was so small that the cloggers had to perform in groups of eight instead of the usual sixteen. The program for the Grand Ole Opry, Saturday, February 19, 1972, lists the lineup for the 8:30-9:00 p.m. STEPHENS WORK CLOTHES SHOW as follows: HANK SNOW, MARION WORTH, BILLY WALKER, THE FOUR GUYS, THE FRUIT JAR DRINKERS, and OCONEE STATE PARK CLOGGERS. Later that night on the 11:00-11:30 show the lineup was as follows: HANK SNOW, CONNIE SMITH, RAY PILLOW, SAM AND KIRK MCGEE, THE FRUIT JAR DRINKERS, and THE OCONEE STATE PARK CLOGGERS. At each performance, the group hit the stage with the traditional mountain clogging steps with some untraditional leaps and shrugs, stamping harder than ever on every fourth beat. They brought down the house, and when they had finished, made their bow and left the stage, immediately they were called back to pleas for "More! More!" A comment by Ralph Sloan, leader of the Opry's Tennessee Travelers square dance group, was "They're good. Theirs is different from ours--it's a newer, wilder kind of square dancing. Ours is more traditional Appalachian style." A friend passing heard Sloan's comment and cuffed him on the arm. "Aw, Ralph," the friend said, "you're just too old to kick that damn high anymore." This group of young people went on to receive many awards and trophies which are on display at the park and continued to dance together as long as they could manage to get together; but in a few years distance between members forced them to disband, and all they have left are many fond memories of their good times together. Oconee State Park is open year-round for camping, cabin users, picnicking, and nature lovers who just want a quiet place to spend an afternoon of relaxation. During the three summer months, for people staying in the park, either in cabins or camping June, July, and August, the activities are plentiful under the direction of the recreator, naturalist, and chaplains: softball, basketball, volleyball, badminton, horseshoes, ping-pong, hikes, field trips, Sunday worship services, campfire programs, to name a few. The swimming area is open daily, and several lifeguards are on duty when the pool is open. They also rent boats that are used on the lake. A multi-purpose building is used for Friday night square dances, as well as Saturday night talent shows. The number of full-time year-round employees at Oconee is five, but during the summer, twenty-five are required to keep the park going. Without the help of some volunteers, this number would be even larger. The park has provided many young people summer jobs, especially those living in this area. More importantly, it has provided a fun place for all ages.-[MSQ] CLOGGING Clogging and square dancing have been and still are very popular entertainment throughout Oconee County. The name Oconee State Park is synonymous with square dancing and clogging. You cannot think of one without the other coming to mind. The Mountain Rest Community Club is another good friend and supporter of this dance. Many cloggers would not have had the opportunity to learn clogging or dance on a team without the practice area that is provided by the Community Club. Over a period of years, at least seven different teams have benefited and called the Community Club building "home." These teams have traveled considerably and carried the name "Mountain Rest" to areas that did not know there was such a place. The Mountain Rest Cloggers was formed in 1974 and as time passed on, members would drop out and new ones join. This team is still performing. Other team names were Oconee State Park Junior Cloggers, Oconee State Park Midgets, Westminster Sashays, Keowee-Toxaway Cloggers, Dawson Dillies, and Oconee Belles.--[MD] MOUNTAIN REST CLOGGERS In April of 1974, a group of sixteen junior high school kids got together under the direction of Mrs. Miriam G. Dawson and formed a clogging team known as the Mountain Rest Cloggers. There was no fee for the dancing lessons, and Mrs. Dawson did it all on her own time. She had as many as seven teams going at once (approximately ninety cloggers). The Mountain Rest team made its first public appearance in May 1974 at the Walhalla, SC, Jaycees' talent show. The team won first place over sixteen other entries. It was in 1975 in the Gatlinburg, Tennessee, auditorium that the team's career began to take off. They won the title of the Third Place World Champion Square Dance Team. They competed against several other teams and won third place over all. In May of this same year, the Mountain Rest Cloggers, along with another of Mrs. Dawson's teams, the Sha-Shays, received an invitation from Congressman Butler Derrick to come and perform at South Carolina Day in Washington, DC. The cloggers eagerly accepted this invitation and took off. Once there, they performed for Congressman Derrick, Senator Strom Thurmond, and other political officials. They clogged at such historical landmarks as the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, and in Lafayette Park across from the White House. The trip was both educational and enjoyable, but it wasn't over. From Washington, DC, the cloggers boarded a bus and headed for Knoxville, Tennessee. After a performance in DC and an all-night ride to Knoxville, the Mountain Rest Cloggers entered the clogging competition and won best over all! Another important trip that the Mountain Rest Cloggers had to add to their memories was one to the Grand Ole Opry in 1977. They performed on stage with such country greats as Hank Snow, Roy Acuff, and many others. On this trip they also performed at Opryland, USA, as they did on one other occasion. Twice they performed at the Theater by the Lake in Opryland, USA. This was a very exciting and interesting trip to the "Capital of Country Music"--Nashville, Tennessee. The Mountain Rest Cloggers were a very successful dogging team, as were many of Mrs. Dawson's other teams. The teams were good, but it all came from Mrs. Dawson herself. Time, patience, and love were the things she gave to each of her teams. She worked equally long and hard for each team. In the summer of 1982 at Oconee State Park, all of the teams together awarded Mrs. Dawson a plaque for all of her time, love, and devotion, given to each team. So to "Grandma Dawson," as she was known to each of us, we thank and love you very much.--[DD] CHATTOOGA LAKE, Better Known as FOWLER'S LAKE Back in the years of 1956-57, Sam and Juan Fowler constructed one of the largest farm ponds ever built in South Carolina up to that time. The dam, built according to Soil Conservation Service design, is fifty feet high, 565 feet long, and contains more than 68,000 cubic yards of soil. There are fifty surface acres of water above this dam. The lake was stocked with bluegills and bass and is a very popular fishing place. Lots were sold around the lake, and many houses, cabins, and mobile homes went up, and there are several permanent residents now. There is also a gate across the road, which is kept locked, and a caretaker lives just inside the gate. The lake has been used for swimming, water-skiing, and boating. CRYSTAL LAKE In 1954, Relton Vissage's long-time dream of having his own lake was fulfilled when Crystal Lake was completed. It covered 75 acres, on Jerry's Creek (or headwaters of Chauga). Mr. Vissage, realizing the popularity of boating and water-skiing, welcomed these sports to his lake and for several years Water Shows sponsored by the Walhalla Jaycees were held there during the summer. Once a skier thrilled the crowd by attaching a large kite to his back and flying over the lake. Another crowd pleaser was the daughter of Dr. Sam Kellett, who owned a home on the lake. She drove their motorboat over the ski jump. It was one of the first lakes to offer instructions in skiing to those who wished to learn. Vissage's son, Benjie, was quite a talented water-skier and in 1962 was third-ranking in the United States for barefoot skiing. He and Billy Darby were also favorites at the Water Shows. Vissage's wife, Annie, was a schoolteacher, and when the lake was first full, she was attending summer school at Clemson University. They had a sign on their station wagon about Crystal Lake, and when Mrs. Vissage returned to it at end of class, there was always a throng of students waiting to ask where the lake was located. Thus, the sign on the station wagon was one of the best advertisements for the lake. There are about twenty families who own property on the lake. Some of them live there year-round. Others only spend weekends and vacations at their places. Very few people who boat on Crystal Lake realize that the western exit of the old Blue Ridge Tunnel is under the waters of this lake.--[MSQ] LAKE BECKY Lake Becky dam was built on Chauga Creek on the C.N. Bonner property in 1955-56. The principal investors were C.N. Bonner, Wofford Bonner, Bessie Bonner Burgess, Fred Chastain, and Bruce Rochester. The lake covers approximately 100 acres. The name "Becky" came from C.N. Bonner's granddaughter.--[RL] CHAUGA RIVER Chauga River, in upper Oconee County, holds the distinction of being one of South Carolina's few remaining streams to be preserved almost entirely in its natural state, and as yet pure and unpolluted by the thoughtless efforts of man. Chauga was named many centuries ago by the Indians--but whether they were the early Creeks or the Cherokees is not definitely known. However, the original interpretation of "High Lifted-Up River" offers a fitting description of Chauga's tumbling waters, and of its rocky, meandering course through Oconee's primitive mountain regions, where only a handful of sightseers have ever found their way. Abounding in fish and game, the area was truly a "happy hunting ground" for the early Red Man; but it also has been a favorite with the White Man for many generations. Its scenic beauty offers a wild panorama of Nature's handiwork which never fails to impress the outdoor camper or hiker who may venture into its rugged domain. Many years ago, the Indians navigated some parts of the stream in their fragile canoes, but numerous rapids and cascades, along with the unusually rocky river bed, made it necessary to abandon the stream at frequent intervals, carrying their craft along steep and treacherous trails which by-passed the impassable rapids. Just off the Whetstone Road, perhaps a mile from the old abandoned Blackwell Bridge, Chauga River is pinched quite abruptly into an amazing rock channel, perhaps less than eight feet in width, where the entire flow of raging torrent is forced through the narrow confines with a deafening roar. A frothy spray is catapulted into the air, and darting shafts of sunlight reflect a myriad of colors, as the surging current races madly down the incline. This sight, probably the most spectacular along the entire water course, is easily accessible over a winding foot trail, with slippery, moss-covered rocks presenting the chief hazard.--[Seneca Journal, August 1970] YELLOW BRANCH Though swimming was a conscious effort to have fun, camping was often a necessity which could be turned into a good time and a business opportunity. People lived long distances from town, there were no automobiles, and roads were poor. "Going to town" was often limited to once or twice a year trip, highly anticipated by all. It was a time of great excitement and celebration. "Going to town" was done to handle the business of selling farm produce for "hard money" to buy essential supplies such as cloth for clothes, shoes, salt, sugar, coffee, and tools or equipment which could not be raised or made on the farm. Such trips were often limited to fall or early winter after crops were harvested. Going to town meant something new for each member of the family but particularly the children. Candy and a loaf of "store bought white bread" were unusual treats for youngsters who had cornbread or biscuits as daily fare. Normally the entire family would make the trip by horse or mule drawn wagon with the children riding on top of the load or produce. Roads of the period were barely wide enough for a wagon to pass between trees, steep, winding, and deeply rutted. Travel over them was slow, passing another vehicle virtually impossible in some places. For this reason, wagons going to town generally had the right of way since there were heavily loaded. Wagons coming from town, being less heavily laden, could be more easily backed up to a wide place to permit the other to pass. Camping along the road was necessary if the distance to town was too great to be done in less than a day. Since mountain families could not afford to stay in the hotels, they camped at Yellow Branch (a recreation area on Stumphouse Mountain) if business necessitated being in town more than one day. Often people would camp at Yellow Branch overnight, go to town the next morning, and return to Yellow Branch the following night before returning home. People who were travelling to town for the day would also stop at Yellow Branch to water their horses. Peddlers travelling to or from town stopped over for the night or tarried if they suspected in-bound trading opportunities. During the "Going to Town" season it is probable that several families would be in the area each night. The camp provided a period for men to talk business, politics, world happenings, crops, etc. Women could visit with friends about children, clothes, and what they were going to buy or had bought. Children had a rare opportunity to meet and play with other youngsters. Musical instruments, brought along to while away idle hours while riding in the wagon, provided entertainment around the campfire. Impromptu jam sessions accompanied by buck dancing evolved and it can be theorized that "Dueling Banjos" started as competition between "pickers" in a session similar to those at Yellow Branch. Instruments such as Jew's-harps or harmonicas which could be carried in a shirt pocket were used as well as banjos, fiddles, mandolins, and guitars. Yellow Branch was used long before it was developed as a campground by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the 1930s. The CCC built the picnic shelter, restrooms, picnic tables, and a wading pool for the children. A horse watering trough remained in the area until well after horse drawn wagons faded into the past. Yellow Branch was also a popular "courting" spot for young people throughout the 1940s and 1950s. Sometime during the 1960s a gate was installed and closed at night, much to the dismay of area youths.-[JW] CAMP CHATUGA "Gordon and Pigg to Build Camp Chatuga" was the headline in the Keowee Courier at the close of the 1960 season at Camp Jemiki near Walhalla. Camp Chatuga is the outgrowth of that camp established by Nield Gordon and Everette Pigg in 1956. Located some three miles from Mountain Rest near Bethlehem Baptist Church, the camp is ideally situated on a former private farm with rolling hills that surround a beautiful ten-acre lake. Basketball clinics are held during the summer months, and usually the last two weeks of the season are devoted to band clinics. Other activities include swimming, water-skiing, canoeing, hiking, riflery, softball, horseback riding, and go-carting. Several trips by bus are taken to different locations, including Six Flags over Georgia, the Cherokee Indian Reservation, a skating rink in Andersen, SC, and square dances at Oconee State Park and Hillbilly Day on July 4th. Coach Gordon is athletic director and basketball coach at Winthrop College, and he and his family live in Rock Hill, SC. Coach Pigg is retiring in June 1984 after many years of teaching and coaching at North Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte, NC. He and his family live in Huntersville, NC. Lanny Pigg, the coach's brother, caught the first greased pig at Mountain Rest Hillbilly Day. Mr. and Mrs. Donald Hubbard and son, Chris, live at the camp year-round and serve as caretakers.--[MSQ] FHA GIRLS' CAMP FHA Girls' Camp off Highway 107 was established many years ago by the South Carolina State Department of Education for high-school home-economics students in the state. Low-country students especially enjoy coming to this mountain camp where they can go hiking or spend time at nearby Oconee State Park.--[MSQ] CAMP AKELA In the 1940s, the Walhalla Rotary Club purchased some land just off Highway 107 and gave it to the South Carolina Vocational Education Department for the establishment of a camp for trade and industrial high school students of this state. Upon completion, the camp was used on weekends during school session and for summer retreats by students from all over South Carolina. During the 1960s, use of the camp by vocational students decreased until at this time it is not being used. For a few years during the 1970s, band clinics were occasionally held there.--[MSQ] ISSAQUEENA BIBLE GROUNDS Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Young own and operate this camp on Highway 28 during the summer. There's a large open-air shelter where camp meeting is held for about two weeks around the 4th of July.-[MSQ]