Trash Digger
Hero Member
I am still trying to pinpoint the exact location of the old recreation area near me. Yesterday, I talked to a gentleman that owns the property that borders the area I've been hunting. I had noticed a cinder block house on his property and contacted him to ask permission to hunt around it. When I called, his son answered the phone. I explained what I was researching, and not only did he grant permission to hunt the property, he asked me to stop by their house on my way to talk to his Father. He said his Father was 83 years old and remembered the area well.
Well, I did stop to see them yesterday and got quite a history lesson. We talked for an hour and a half. And of all the damned stupid mistakes I could make, I did not check the batteries in my tape recorder before leaving home. I got about 10 minutes of the conversation on tape before the batteries died.
Anyway, the red cinder block house on his property was actually built around 1960, not as old as I had originally thought. The current owner bought the property in 1999. It has a very colorful history, though, as it has been locally known as "The Party House" since it was built by the original owner. When I asked how it got the name of the party house, he told me the original owner (owners) used it for partying, drinking, gambling, womanizing, and moonshining.
As for the recreation area I have been researching, he pinpointed the location for me on my map. The area had a mineral spring, swimming area, dance hall, concession booths, and bath houses. I had previously been in the right general area, but my search had been about a hundred yards off. I did find the spring in an area of heavy brush.
The remains of the bottling plant had been bulldozed over the hill into a gulley. I found the remains of the concrete steps he had told me about, and a lot of debris such as bricks, cinder blocks, piping, and even large sections of an old iron fence.
The area where the dance hall, swimming area, and bath houses were at was clear, but I found nothing but a few beer cans. I believe too much dirt has been moved around in the area to ever be able to find anything.
The 5 memorial pennies, buttons, insulator, cartridge cases and .40 caliber bullet were found in front of the party house. The golf ball was by the pond. The other pics are of the old swimming and resort area.
Mike
Well, I did stop to see them yesterday and got quite a history lesson. We talked for an hour and a half. And of all the damned stupid mistakes I could make, I did not check the batteries in my tape recorder before leaving home. I got about 10 minutes of the conversation on tape before the batteries died.
Anyway, the red cinder block house on his property was actually built around 1960, not as old as I had originally thought. The current owner bought the property in 1999. It has a very colorful history, though, as it has been locally known as "The Party House" since it was built by the original owner. When I asked how it got the name of the party house, he told me the original owner (owners) used it for partying, drinking, gambling, womanizing, and moonshining.
As for the recreation area I have been researching, he pinpointed the location for me on my map. The area had a mineral spring, swimming area, dance hall, concession booths, and bath houses. I had previously been in the right general area, but my search had been about a hundred yards off. I did find the spring in an area of heavy brush.
The remains of the bottling plant had been bulldozed over the hill into a gulley. I found the remains of the concrete steps he had told me about, and a lot of debris such as bricks, cinder blocks, piping, and even large sections of an old iron fence.
The area where the dance hall, swimming area, and bath houses were at was clear, but I found nothing but a few beer cans. I believe too much dirt has been moved around in the area to ever be able to find anything.
The 5 memorial pennies, buttons, insulator, cartridge cases and .40 caliber bullet were found in front of the party house. The golf ball was by the pond. The other pics are of the old swimming and resort area.
Mike
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