Hidden Treasures in the
Great Smoky Mountains |
When
the Great Smoky Mountain National Park was created,
more than 500,000 acres of land had to be condemned
and cleared to make way for the new park. More than
90 small towns and villages had to be dissolved, displacing
many families and businesses.Many of these settlements
had a connection to the great deal of logging operations
that characterized this enormous mountain range. The
villages were demolished and machinery used for the
logging industry was removed.
Some
of the remains from that era can still be viewed in
the wilderness area of the Park. In the Eagle Creek
drainage, there are the fenced in remains of a mine.
Proctor, accessible by boat or trail, has many concrete
footings that point towards a thriving community of
the turn of the century. Bone Valley has a cabin that
has remained there after the establishment of the park.
Below are photos from two of my more favorite artifact
sites. |
Greenbriar Area Steam Engine
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| Three miles up the Grapeyard Ridge area
is the remains of a Nichols-Shepard Steam Engine. Lying
in the shallow water of Injun Creek the engine has remained
here since the 1920's. Clearly visible from the trail,
the engine is in excellent condition. The engine was used
to saw timber in this area and was returning from a trip
to Webbs Creek. After a small miscalculation on the driver's
part, the engine slid off of the road (trail) and tumbled
into the creek. The driver jumped clear and no one was
injured by the mishap. Most of the wreckage was salvaged
and all that remains is the boiler and two wheels. |
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Forney Creek Trail Logging Locomotive
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Approximately one three quarters of a
mile from the Forney Creek trail, a logging locomotive
lays on it's side for eternity. Nestled in a rhododendron
cove, wreckage is scattered throughout this site. To
access this site you must hike off of the trail and
follow a very faint, unmarked trail. This area is very
dense in the Summer and off trail hiking is not recommended.
Getting lost in this area of the park can be fatal.
That being said, the path to the trail can be found
and navigated with reasonable ease.
This area was logged during the first world war and
the spruce that was logged here was used in the manufacture
of airplanes. At an elevation of more than 5200 feet
the surrounding forest is comprised of northern hardwoods
and spruce fir. Most of the trees are of second growth
and very few old growth trees can be found here. Want
to know more?
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The path begins in a dense spruce fir forest
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After a short walk, the path exits to an old railroad
grade
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The railroad grade is remarkably well defined. It hasn't
be used in more than 60 years |
After passing a scattering of brake parts and other wreckage,
the locomotive is located 100 feet below the railroad
grade. |
Most of the wreckage has been cleared, however, parts
can still be found scattered about
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Standing next to the firebox, you can still see the coal
that spilled after the wreck
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This wreck is located at the intersection of
a access road and the railroad grade |
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