Georgia state park views [July 1962], Georgia state parks views State park views State parks views

GEORGIA STATE PARK
lN

July 1962

ON

AND

AROUND THE WA TEf~

Ch arles A . ~ollier Director

Bar b ara Rankin Ed i t o r

WATER FOR RECREATION
For years we have read in the various encyclopedia that v1ater covers about three-fourths of the earth's surface. That is not even including man-made lakes and swimming pools. Since this is true, perhaps it isn't surprising that recreation in, on, and around the water has increased tremendously during the past ten or twelve years. People love to swim, picnic near a lake or stream, beach comb, fish, sail, canoe, power boat, and water ski. The Outdoor Recreation Resources Review found that forty-four per cent of the population prefer water-recreation activities over other types, and there is every indication that interest and enthusiasm vrill continue to increase.
Our Department of Georgia State Parks, aware of this trend, has provided more water acreage for water sports, has improved beaches, built swimming pools and bath houses; restocked and fertilized Park lakes for better fishing, provided life guards and safe boats with safety equipment.
Parks, in contrast to organized camps, do not have an opportunity to teach swimming skills and the sa~handling and use of boats. They can, however, do some things that will help to inform and encourage water safety.
In this limited space it is impossible to go into detail about safety regulations for the various activities that take place in, on, and around the Park lakes and pools. Here are a few questions to ask yourself. Hopefully, you can give affirmative answers to each one. If not, what immediate action can you take to improve the situation?
Swimming Pool and Waterfront Safety
Was the person you chose as Life Guard selected vrisely - has mature judgment and commands respect?
Is the Life Guard(s) alert and on the job at all times during swimming hours?
Is each swimming section marked properly - by lemon lines, seine floats or oil drums?
Are waterfront or pool rules and regulations up-todate and posted in a conspicuous place?
Are docks, diving boards, slides and rafts in good repair?

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Boating Saf"ety
Are all rental boats and canoes kept in good VTorking condition and provided with essential safety equipment?
Do ~ know the Georgia Boating Safety Regulations?
Is some effort made to inform Park visitors who rent boats about these safety regulations and to enforce same?
Water Skiing Saf"ety
Water skiing is great fun and a popular activity on some of our Park lakes. The visitor, of course, brings his own power boat, equipment for skiers, and safety equipment. This means there is no opportunity and, generally, no occasion for Park personnel to advise or supervise this activity. In case some of you wish to post on your Bulletin Board some saf"ety factors for water skiing, here are a few suggestions:
- It is important to match boats and motors for best performance. Most boats carry a plate stating the recommended maximum horsepower any boat is designed to carry.
- Tow ropes should be attached to eyebolts installed on the transom.
Essential equipment in each boat: one life jacket or cushion for each person on board; oars or paddles; ample lines; whistle or horn; first-aid kit; knife; extra shear pins for motor; fire extinguisher; extra plugs; tool kit.
There should always be two in a boat - one to drive, one to observe the skier.
Everyone agrees that water is a key element in outdoor recreation, that it is a prime factor in many recreation activities, and enhances recreation on land. Many Georgia State Parks have good water resources that are attractive and properly maintained. At the same time, let us do what we can to promote safety in, on, and around the water.

TIMELY TOPICS

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

International Friendship -
Every day the General Office receives many letters requesting information about our Georgia State Parks. Approximately 80% of these come from outside the state. This month we received a letter from \'Jest Germany. Here are some excerpts:
"As a teacher in a big Grammar School here in Brunswick, I am interested in all kinds of information from various parts of the world that can be given to our intelligent and responsive girls (aged 10 to 19) .. \.'le would be most grateful for any descriptive and illustrated literature that you can send to us . The girls, their families and friends are keen on getting firsthand and reliable information on various parts of the world. It not only increases their interest in the English language but broadens their views generally . and brings us more closely together."
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Park Practice Grist -

Some 200 years ago, a scholar, writing about the decline and fall of the Athenian Republic, said: "A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It exists only until the voters discover they can vote themselves a gift out of the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority votes for the candidate promising the most benefits from the public's treasury."
Will we let such a tragedy happen to America?
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Georgia, Georgia Valley and plain,
Mountains caressing the sky, Sons and daughters greet Thee
again, Holding your emblem on high.
From your plateaus to your seakissed shore,
In honor, we hail Thee and pledge not to fail Thee,
God helping us to be Brave as our fathers, who loved
Thee before us, Georgia, forevermore!

As a newcomer to the Georgia Department of State Parks, I have read, for the first time, a copy of Grist, issued by the National Conference on State Parks.

(New Georgia Song passed by last Georgia Legislature)
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In my opinion, the May/June issue contains some of the best ideas and/or suggestions to be found in any "house organ" of this time. Though you are extremely busy, it is very worthwhile reading and you may find just the right answer to some of your problems.
---Sue Hammack

For Your Information
1) Sleeping in cars, other than camp trailers, in a State Park area is ~permitted.
2) Each group or family must be properly registered when staying overnight or longer in a Georgia State Park.

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OUT OF TliE M.t\IL BAG
Dear Mr. Collier:
we were pleased to receive a letter some time ago stating that we would be responsible or running our own canteen this year. We heartily agree that much less candy and drinks is in keeping with good health and good camping.
We enjoy Camp Stephens so much. It is a beautiful canp and it is kept in wonderful condition.
Cordially yours,
A. C. Mackey Children's Bible Mission, Inc., Athens
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Gentlemen:
Our fe~ily had a rather unusual e~~crie~ce in Black Rock Mountain state Park last year We've been intending to ~~ite to you about it ever since, thiP~ing you might want to publish our story in your State Park Newsletter. A year later, here's the tale.
We were ca~ping with a Nimrod traile= pulled by a Ford Galaxie. We had planned to spend the night in Black Rock Mountain Park, but missed the turn to the campground and continued climbing till we were abo~t one-quarter mile from the picnic area with its magnificent view. All o a sudden there was a horrible clanking noise and the car refused to go any further. We bo.cked of to a wide spot in the road and considered our situation with some uneasiness. \'Je were mother, father, teen-age boy, two dogs, and two cats, enroute rom our Florida home to a summer cottage in the Catskills, New York State. To be stuck on the side o

a mountain with that entourage on a Sunday night looked rather unfavorable. Very soon along came the park superintendent's truck, driven by a very kind gentleman named Mr. J. L. Christian, who reminded me o Burl Ives. It seems he was growing a beard for Rabun County's Pioneer Celebration.
He proved to be an angel in disguise. Permission was given for us to camp right where we were. On Monday morning the Ford people from Clayton took the car aw~y. Monday afternoon Mr. Christian drove me to Clayton to replenish our supplies. Tuesday nornir-g the Ford agency reported that the automatic transmission was conpletely shot. The cost of repairs, ru~d the time involved, made a new car seen advisable, so we purchased a Co:net st~..cion wagon from them. This is c~rrently taking us on CJ.nother cz..rilping trip this time without dogs and cats.
To retl_!:rn to cur Blac:c Reck rviountain stay - aside ro:n losing our car, the spJ.n ~.rc:: :-:;.~ 1::2re a plague last year. \'le .fel"t ccnc~n:ed because o the da"':lage they were doing to ~. Christic:::1. 's bez.u-::irul park. We only l:ope th-ay hc.ve left him for good this ye:!.r.
On this last t:rip, we stayed in Cloudland Canyon s-::nte Park and round the scper inte1~dent most friendly and helpful. T~e park is well-named, and the vie\'JS magnificent. The place rc~inded us of Pine Creek Gorge in Pennsylvania.
We think Georgia s ::ate Parks are beautifully si"'.:1:~.:!:cd t:'.nd are pleased to see the::: being modernized. All the e~plcyces are very polite.
Si::1ce:::ely yours,
Marjorie and C.nr1 Fmller C~.r1, Jr. Mi<>:.:ti, Florida

OUT OF THE IiAIL '~AG (continued)
Dear Sir:
It was recently my pleasure to camp at the Camp Stephen Foster State Park, Fargo, Georgia, and I would like to take this opportunity to commend the manager, George L. Sirmans, for the courteous manner in which he treated our party. He made our stay most enjoyable, which added to our pleasant memories of the Okefenokee Swamp.
You have a beautiful park and we are looking forward to going again sometime in the future.
Sincerely yours,
George R. Fellows Decatur, Georgia
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(Copy of letter received by General Office, addressed to Mr. Dodson Carter, Rutledge, Ga.) - as follows:
Dear Dodson:
Belatedly, I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank you for the use of your barbecue area for our Group Safety Dinner, which everyone enjoyed very much. I have heard numerous comments from all the people there on what an ideal place it is for outings such as this.
More than the location, we always appreciate your courteous manner, and the cleanliness and orderly manner in which you supervise the park. I have heard many favorable comments from many different people along this line, and everyone in Morgan County and surrounding areas are proud to have such an excellent park run in such an excellent manner.

With kindest personal regards, I am,
Sincerely yours,
c. A. Rhodes
Georgia Power Co. Madison, Ga.
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Dear Sirs:
We wish to thank you for providing Amicalola State Park with a most helpful and gracious Park Superintendent.
A group of adults and children, members of the "Rawhide Riders Trail Club" took their horses to Amicalola State Park the past week-end for a camp-out and mountain ride. Superintendent Collins met the horse vans and was very helpful and kind in assisting us prepare the animals for the trip up the mountain to camp. He offered to taxi some of the group to the top of the mountain.
In particular, we want to thank him for permitting us to park the vans in the rear of his home overnight in order to provide safety for the vehicles.
We hope that you will properly thank Superintendent Collins again for us.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Val B. Beaty Decatur, Georgia
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Good intentions are wasted if we're unwilling to make the effort to convert them into good deeds.
--Corinne Secor

CQii'JVlON THINGS

LOOK UP!

The things I prize of greatest v1orth,
Are just the common things of earth:
The rain, the sun, the grass, the trees;
The flowers, the birds, the glorious breeze,
Clouds that pass, the stars that shine,
JVJountains, valleys - all are mine! Rivers broad, and open sea, Are riches none can take from me.
Oh, God is here on every hand upon the sea, upon the land. And day by day my thanks I give That with these common things
I live.
---Author Unknown
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A potent factor in health is the cultivation of a habit of haleiness. There is a joy in healthful ~ving attainable at any age, and a conduct of life in harmony with each individual's needs and powers.
---Georgia's Health Dec. 1961 issue
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Don't be a litterbug. You can take it t1ith you!
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Nany take it for granted that Drogress means the gradual elimination of everything which God and Nature put into our world, and the substitution for it of the conveniences t-'Jhich Iran has made.
I like many of them well enough myself, and I have no illusions concerning the "Noble Savage". Civilized life is the only truly human life. I vlill take l'rild flowers and television if I can have them-both. But a civilization tJhich has no appreciation of or love for the beauties of Nature is only a new kind of barbarism.
It is good that we have our parks, our museums, our nature-study clubs. Nevertheless, opportunities to see ~ild birds in flight or a nild flm1er blooming in lonely loveliness grow few and
- - - fener because tJe do not value them
enough.
Of course, v1e need paved highways. !Jut we need quiet v1ood roads, too. :Je need television, yet v1e also need the opportunity to see geese flying against the autumn sky. Unless tJe realize hot-" much we need these simple pleasures, the time may come when we won't have them. "Nature is the Art of God", and a flower is more wonderful than the most ingenious of man's machines.
---Joseph ~Jood Krutch "~lords To Live Gy"

There is nothing so much alive and yet so quiet as a woodland; and a pair of people, svdnging past in Canoes, feel very small and bustling by comparison. I "I."Jish our way had alv1ays lain among woods. trees are the most civil society.
---Robert Louis Stevenson
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A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit.
---Matthew
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Those rainy days t-'Je save for usually turn up during vacation.
---The Right Hand

-PA-R-K- -N-E\-JS-

VICTORIA BRYANT STATE PARK

Royston

F. H. Hill, Supt.

We had the Rucker Family Reunion and the Argo Reunion on June 11. On June 15, we had a Youth Camp Group o 150 people rom North Carolina.

Sunday, June 17, there was just
a normal crowd. On Sunday, June 24, we had the Martin Family Reunion, the Shirley Family Reunion (the family o Mr. Ray Shirley, State Forestry Director), and the Crow Family Reunion. Also here was the Fairview Sunday School Rally. The C.B. Radio Broadcasters had supper at this park on June 16, with 250 present.

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L. S. vJALKER STATE PARK Waycross C. H. Morgan, Supt.

Our swimming pool is running
behind its scheduled completion date. We hoped it would be open before the season ended but now it looks doubtful. The lake
appears lonesome without boats and skiers, and that "long green" is missing, too. No doubt when we open next year it will be with a bang. Already we have organizations wanting to make reservations for group camps.

We are able to say the picnicking
crowds have increased by 50%
since we have the new shed with lights and water. We have really had some compliments about these sheds.

We are having some o the hottest weather - 100 degrees almost daily. Looks like we are going to have to requisition some air conditioners for some o our buildings i:f we stay in them much longer.

The new sewage disposal plant is a honey. It works so smooth. Never has given any trouble at all. The plant has been checked several times by the health authorities and it has always been just right. But, boy! Does it use the power!

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GA. VETERANS MEM. STATE PARK

Cordele

George Greene, Supt.

During June we had an estimated 23,350 visitors. A daily average of 7 2/10 cottages were rented to a daily average of 23 8/10 guests. We had 304 tent camper days and 298 trailer camper days, and we had 3,066 paid admissions at the pool, not counting the cabin guests. 826 people visited the museum during its :first full calendar month. They came from 22 different states, also China and Cuba.

We have been swamped with questions about the completion of our comfort station. I just hope that Roy and I will not be ridden off on a rail before it is ready for use.

Our main fishing pier is being rebuilt. This will serve and please many people, especially our night fishermen. Visitors certainly appreciate the addition to our restroom facilities at the Tackle Bar.

The electric cooling and heating equipment is 95% completed in the museum and restaurant. I urge each one of you to tell anyone coming this way about our museum. It is especially popular with campers. They are hungry for any historical and geographical information.

Some of you may not know that on opening day of the museum we received letters and telegrams from

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GA. VETERANS MEM. STATE PARK {cont 'd)
the offices of President ;cennedy and General Eisenhorter, and from Senator Talmadge, General ~-'.ark Clark, General A. R. Dolling, General Brougher; sometime later, a letter and an autographed picture from General Jirr.my Doolittle; and a letter in longhand from Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, ~ith an autographed picture containing a special note to World War II veterans.

CROOKED RIVER STATE PARK

K1.ngsland

!Vl. K. DeLoach, Supt.

Our new comfort station has been completed and turned over to the State by the contractor. It is a beautiful building in a setting of pine and oak trees - vJell-shaded and the people can \'Jell be proud of it. \)e hope that the land around this building will be cleared and roads built for entry into the new trailer area.

On or about July 12, we v!ill receive the Navy Lt. Commander uniform of Senator Talmadge.

Best uishes to Mrs. Simonton in her motel at Daytona Beach. A World War II WAC Sergeant, she gave her uniform to this museum.

I'd better check on my supply of aspirin. Tomorrow is July 4th.

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HARD LABOR CREEK STATE PARK

Rutledge

T. D. Carter, Supt.

During the month of June our facilities were used to full capacity.

Three of the larger groups using our Day Use Area facilities in June were: the f'1iorgan County f'1asonic Association's annual Family Day vJith approximately 400 attending; the International Furniture Company employees and families v1i th approximately 250 attending; and the Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross, Decatur, Georgia, with approximately 125 people attending. Numerous other groups - church and family reunion - also used our facilities.

We had a nice visit from r.Jiss Sue Hammack and we v1elcome her to our fold. lJJe v1ish for her much success during her stay v1i th us.

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1.\}e had 3 family reunions during June, totaling about 155 people who came from various small cities in South Georgia. St. ~ary's, Georgia, held their annual St. John's Day on June 24th in one of our picnic shelters and about 65 viere present. Also, the Baptist Church in St. Mary's held their annual outing of the Intermediate Class of Young People on June 29, vJith 25 people attending. All of these groups had a nice time and complimented the park on its beauty and neatness.
''Je are also receiving many compliments on our nev.r air conditioning units as well as our new filter system in the pool and new diving board.
'.'Je have v1elcomed visitors and guests from Jacksonville and other cities in Florida, as far south as Niami. Many people come to this park for its good salt water fishing. One of our guests this week caught 19 salt t'.Tater trout, weighing from one-half to t111o pounds each.
It is hoped that the Highway Department vJill soon pave the roads into our park; this will be a big asset.
Numbers of visitors are using our nice boat ramp to put in for a
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CROOKED RIVER STATE PARK (cont'd)

day's fishing in Crooked River, and going out as far as the "Jettes'' to the Atlantic Ocean and to return late in the evening.

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FORT Y~~GO STATE PARK

~ Jinder

Fricks, Supt.

At Fort Yargo we are having very good attendance, especially on week-ends. ltJe are crowded in our picnic area vJi th picnickers, church groups, clubs, and family reunions. ~Je have only two stoves and there is always someone waiting
for a stove.

Our lavms are looking much better since we have had a fevJ shoT/w'ers recently.

We enjoyed Miss Sue Hammack's visit to our park recently. Hr. Struble also came by last week.

There is much excitement around here over the prospects of work to begin soon for the further development of Yargo Park.

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UNICOI STATE PARK

Helen

Lat Vandiver, Supt.

We got through the Fourth of July with flying colors. There was a large crowd swimming, picnicking, with the camping area running over. This season, so far, is even better than the past season.

Last week we had campers from ten states in the camping area. We have another promise that part of our road will be paved. Roads are the biggest handicap at Unicoi.

The Comfort station is in use at the camping area, but not completely finished.

Our two Bulletin Boards have been delivered. I will put them up r1hen I find the best location.
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NE';JS NOTES
Construction of two more tourist information centers and the operation of a third have been authorized in Georgia.
One is located on Interstate 75, just south of the Tennessee line. Another will be on Interstate 85 near the South Carolina line. The third, constructed by Chatham County and the City of Savannah, tJill be on 17A in Savannah.
The new centers will be architecturally similar to the existing one in Sylvania.
--Georgia Commerce Dept.
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Lenox Square, Atlanta's fabulous shopping center, will be the scene of a special event called Salute to Growing Geortia on Aug. 27 through Sept Governor Vandiver has requested that each State Department present an interesting picture of their State Governmental activities. t11e expect thousands of visitors.
Needless to say, the Georgia Dept. of State Parks hopes to have an exhibit that will show the public hm..r their tax dollars are being spent. You probably will be hearing more about this event as the plans become more finalized.
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Too many Americans are more concerned with something jingling in their pocket than with something beating in their heart.
--Sen. Barry Goldwater