Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1919-07-02
OLD pICKENs SECTION IS AWAKE
Mr.. Cary Finds Traces Of the Past
and Notes Present improvements.
Old Pickens, June 22, 1919.

Old Pickens, June 22, 1919.
EDITOR Keowee Courier:
In looking up data for my history
Of Old Pickens have had occasion
to spend several days in this historic
neighborhood, and whilst have
heretofore written much Of the early
days Of Old Pickens, | deem it will
not be amiss to tell Of few changes
which have recently taken place
here.
The large brick building on the
Norton plantation, which is one Of
the oldest brick buildings in Oconee
county, and was once the residence
of Col. Miles NJ. Norton, back in the
early days, has been, through the
generosity of the Norton heirs, con-
Verted into graded school building,
and fine school is there taught,
is we'll patronized, and is Of untold
benefit to the surrounding country.
The large tract Of land on which it
is situated has been divided into
small tracts, cleared up and ter
raced; good houses have been built
and rented to good, thrifty tenants,
who make good crops and are con-
tented, prosperous and happy.
The same spirit seems to pervade
the whole community, and lands
which few years ago were consider
ed of little value are now in demand
at good prices, for sale or rent.
| hiked it for ten miles along the
ridge road from Old Pickens to Jo-
cassee. and was surprised to note
the vast improvements that have
been made in that section Forty
years ago there were only two or
three houses on this road from the
High Falls to Salem. Now one may
travel the whole distance and hardly
be out Of sight Of good dwellings and
large fields cultivated in corn, wheat
and rye, cotton and sorghum. The
uncleared lands still have considera-
Bile pine and oak timber, while the
native grasses furnish fine pasturage
for cattle, sheep aud hogs.
Warsaw School District is estab-
fishing, and will soon have in opera
ton, a graded school near Stamp
.reek church, which speaks we'll for
the community, and will no doubt
be a success: was told by people
living on the ridge that within the
last five years lands had increased
in value from two to three hundred
per cent.
The Messrs. Vaughn, Clark, Haw-
kins, Whites, Smith, Bowers, Hunni-
cutt and Barker, and others, live on
this ridge and have made wonderful
improvements. Werner Clark, near
High Falls, in connection with his
farm, operates a store and grist mill,
and the Messrs. Hawkins are engaged
in sawmilling as we'll as farming
Mr.. Vaughn. one Of the best farm
ers In this section, told me that, pro-
perly managed, these ridge lands
could be made to produce bale of
cotton per acre and corn wheat. rye,
sorghum, peas, melons, potatoes. and
all kinds Of vegetables grow equally
as we'll.
The crops are fine and promis-
ing. the people healthy, prosperous
and happy.
saw two old-time mlestones on
the Jocassee road. such as your ver-
satile correspondent, S. K. Dendy,
alluded to in his recent article. One
Of them is marked "P. C. II. NJ"
and the other ''P. G.. II. 13 NJ" In
the early establishment Of public
roads in this district each mile was
indicated by one OF these stones,
which was Of rock. sometimes of
wood), with "P. G. H." and the dis
tance to the court house marked
thereon.
Another great advantage to the
traveller through a strange country
was what we called Sign boards"
Wherever the roads forked on an
elevated pest were nailed boards or
plank with the name Of the place to
which The road led painted thereon
M-.hkEn hCpIptN