The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-08-22
Local News.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. %, 1900.
Historic Sandy Springs.

have been composed immOrtaliZing be-
loved scenes and localities and we be-
licvc that among the sacred and his
toric spots which deserve some mention
is Sandy Springs. On this sublime and
tinc-honorcd spot, many hearts, bowed
with pcnitcncc and others filled wit
patriotism, have throbbcd in grateful
recognition of the immutable prcccpts.
But ut the greatest, we shall attempt
only to cpitomzc the voluminous array
of facts and incidents connected with
this ObliviOus spot Of yOrc.
Several years after the close OF the
Revolutionary war, and yet while the
country was very sparscly inhabited, Il
desire dawncd upon the God liberated
patriots Of what is now upper Anderson
County to cOngrcgatc for the purpose
Of rcviving their religious aspirations.
And after some discussion and pI Os-
pccting. Il location was donated by Il
Mr.. Smith for the purpose of establish
ing Il consolidated wOrshiping ground.
In honor of several clear and sparkling
springs which bubblcd up in q bed Of
dazzling white sand on the donation.
the location was christencd Sandy
Springs.
AT first only Il small log church was
erected. between the present arbOr and
springs, and was called Ebcnczcr But
il was soon found that this was very
insufficient for the growing demands
OF the people, hence the construction
OF an arbOr was determined upon and
erected in 1890. The zeal and dctcrmi-
nation Of the people WIS shown in tlc
springing up of many tents simultanc-
Ously with the construction of the
arbOr. In Il few years the tents num-
bcrcd 300. They were arranged in
thrcc'rows around the arbor. During
the meetings q hundred cloth tents
would sometimes be pitched by visitors
from great distances.
In examining the timber embodied
in the structure Of this arbor, one may
learn today the virginity Of the native
forests in those days of old. The
slender, straight raftcrs, which meas
nrc thirty feet i'll length, were brought
from the surrounding forest. Such
poles as these could scarcely be found
in the forests Of Anderson County to-
day.
Among the relics Of Sandy Springs,
the camp meeting horn which called
together the first congregation Mt that
place may be seen Mt the residence of
Mr.. j. NJ. Blackman. Its first blast to
summon the assembled host to the altar
Of prayer was sounded by Mr.. Sattcr-
field. This horn, now more than SOW
cnty years old, is still capable OF awnk-
ening the still silence OF the hills and
valleys. as it did of old, when it's shrll
revcrberating peals emit from its
cavitOus iron mouth. But no more
shall its pcals resound upon the ears of
those gathering to the Peaceful arbor.n
Its work is done. 1t will be preserved
by those who follow in grateful remcm-
berance Of time that shall be no more.
In the seemingly short period Of sew
enty years, the camp -meetlngsa at Sandy
Springs rose, flOurished and decaycd.
The good that they have done cannot
be estimated. Many redeemed souls
date their conversion at one of these
meetings. It was with burning re-
morse that those who had visited this
cherished ground for many years to
see their beloved costumes demolished
forever. remember, was at the last
services held under this evenesccnt
arbOr, and there were some shouting
and wailing from the very thought of
parting with their dearly beloved Ordi-
nance.
During those stirring days Just be-
fore the beginning of the civil war,
Col. James l.. Orr drilled and mustered
lis Regiment Of invincibles Mt this
place. The service this Regiment did
all through the war, is too we'll known
to need further comments. 1t suffices
to know that some Of South Carolinn's
bravest and purest blood has been
van of many h0t.and smoldering bat
ties. Yes, Col Orr and Regiment could
be depended upon. Orr's Regiment
vas not frightened to stand in the
forefront of the hottest battles. To
perpetrate the memories Vt those sad,
sweet days OF old, it has been the Gus
tom Of the survivors Of this Regiment
to meet at Sandy Springs annually in
cthe f0ld embraces of glad reunion.
These forty years that have passed
ssince the opposing swords met at Ap-
pollattox to part no more, have carried
many Of those daring heroes to the
other shore. Col. james l.. Orr, with
his host of liberated followers in their
eternal peregrinations, assemble ut
Sandy Springs, and as the needle of
the graphophone their spirits in un-
movable dilemma pass over the cOrri-
dors of the civil war.
In 1874 the grangers erected hall at
Sandy Springs. The leading man of
the occasion was Walker Russell.
Here the grangers rallied and united,
as did also the Alliance.
Sandy Springs camp ground is n
location of beauty and picturesque
tranquility. Resting beneath the large
spreading oaks, while numerous birds
Hit through the branches DER head, the
association of ideas will be so great as
to draw ono far on the vista of yester-
days. The camp ground consists of
about fifteen acres with an average
NF Ik