Slipstream
07-30-2009, 01:31 PM
This Monday was warm and sunny, so my girl Julie and I decided to take a boat ride on Fontana to explore the North Shore cemeteries and do a little evening fishing on Hazel. I picked out several cemeteries to visit on a topo map, all near the Hazel drainage -- including Cable, Fairview, and Proctor. The easiest way to locate a cemetery from the lake is to look for the small gravel paths that the park service maintains to access them. You'll usually see a gravelled landing area and a small road into the woods. Most of the lake centeries are also connected to the Lakeshore trail.
Why visit these cemeteries? If you spend much time in the park it's hard not to become interested in the lives of the settlers who made these coves home. Apart from the other relics that can be found in the park -- such as old cabin chimneys, rock walls, and streamside rusted jalopies, the cemeteries are a glimpse into what life must have been like here at the turn of the last century. Just read the stories that are revealed on the markers.
The first thing you will notice when you reach a cemetery is the picnic areas for families who visit. Each plot has one. You can only imagine the Sunday home cooked meals enjoyed here when families come to pay their repects.
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/robfreeman_photos/P7270181.jpg
The sites are always situated on a knoll, and the ground kept clear. Some headstones are simple field stones. Others have more ornate carved stones or new markers. Here's the Proctor site.
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/robfreeman_photos/P7270223.jpg
About half of those buried are children, often under the age of 3. Many are newborn. Aside from the children, the average age of the adults who passed away is under 40. It's rare to find a 60 year old. It's a testimony to the difficulty of the life endured here. Beyond this, there are literally dozens of life histories on display. One example is the tomb of Ada McDonald, the 18 year old wife of O.D. McDonald. Ada had a baby in October, 1918, who died at birth. Ada then died two weeks later in November, 1918, probably from complications from birth. O.D. is not buried here. Did he move away after the death of his wife and child?
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/robfreeman_photos/P7270197.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/robfreeman_photos/P7270198.jpg
After paying our own respects, we eased over to Hazel Creek as the cool of evening set in. There were two local fellows spin fishing near the Old Calhoun place, so we walked upstream about a mile. On the other side of the stream is a large cave, and just in front of the cave we suprised a mature black bear. The bear turned and barked into the cave, and out popped four cubs. One cub started climbing a tree, and momma paced nervously along the bank. Julie and I started a slow retreat, and during the hub-bub I got a poor picture of mamma and one of the cubs before they eased around the ridge. You can just see the cave to the left.
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/robfreeman_photos/P7270227.jpg
Julie was a little un-nerved, but I convinced her to hang out a ways upstream while I fished for a half hour. I rarely fish Hazel Creek because it stays crowded, and there were wet boot prints on the rocks where I got in. So it surprised me a bit when a small brown took my dry on the third cast. I had 8 strikes and caught 3 fish on a parachute dry/ dropper in about 200 yards of water, which I thought good for late July. The water conditions are great for this time of year. All the fish were hand sized, but I bumped a 12 incher with my wading.
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/robfreeman_photos/P7280234.jpg
On the way out to go get supper, we noticed a fisherman casting right in front of the cave. The bears were gone, but for those visiting Hazel in the next few weeks I'd advise keeping a watch. All in all, a great day.
Why visit these cemeteries? If you spend much time in the park it's hard not to become interested in the lives of the settlers who made these coves home. Apart from the other relics that can be found in the park -- such as old cabin chimneys, rock walls, and streamside rusted jalopies, the cemeteries are a glimpse into what life must have been like here at the turn of the last century. Just read the stories that are revealed on the markers.
The first thing you will notice when you reach a cemetery is the picnic areas for families who visit. Each plot has one. You can only imagine the Sunday home cooked meals enjoyed here when families come to pay their repects.
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/robfreeman_photos/P7270181.jpg
The sites are always situated on a knoll, and the ground kept clear. Some headstones are simple field stones. Others have more ornate carved stones or new markers. Here's the Proctor site.
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/robfreeman_photos/P7270223.jpg
About half of those buried are children, often under the age of 3. Many are newborn. Aside from the children, the average age of the adults who passed away is under 40. It's rare to find a 60 year old. It's a testimony to the difficulty of the life endured here. Beyond this, there are literally dozens of life histories on display. One example is the tomb of Ada McDonald, the 18 year old wife of O.D. McDonald. Ada had a baby in October, 1918, who died at birth. Ada then died two weeks later in November, 1918, probably from complications from birth. O.D. is not buried here. Did he move away after the death of his wife and child?
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/robfreeman_photos/P7270197.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/robfreeman_photos/P7270198.jpg
After paying our own respects, we eased over to Hazel Creek as the cool of evening set in. There were two local fellows spin fishing near the Old Calhoun place, so we walked upstream about a mile. On the other side of the stream is a large cave, and just in front of the cave we suprised a mature black bear. The bear turned and barked into the cave, and out popped four cubs. One cub started climbing a tree, and momma paced nervously along the bank. Julie and I started a slow retreat, and during the hub-bub I got a poor picture of mamma and one of the cubs before they eased around the ridge. You can just see the cave to the left.
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/robfreeman_photos/P7270227.jpg
Julie was a little un-nerved, but I convinced her to hang out a ways upstream while I fished for a half hour. I rarely fish Hazel Creek because it stays crowded, and there were wet boot prints on the rocks where I got in. So it surprised me a bit when a small brown took my dry on the third cast. I had 8 strikes and caught 3 fish on a parachute dry/ dropper in about 200 yards of water, which I thought good for late July. The water conditions are great for this time of year. All the fish were hand sized, but I bumped a 12 incher with my wading.
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/robfreeman_photos/P7280234.jpg
On the way out to go get supper, we noticed a fisherman casting right in front of the cave. The bears were gone, but for those visiting Hazel in the next few weeks I'd advise keeping a watch. All in all, a great day.