There's an old saying about too many irons in the fire. I'm guilty of that, but I haven't abandoned one of my research projects, The Mountains of Stanly County. Everyone near and in Stanly County, North Carolina knows where Morrow Mountain is, because of the State Park that bears it's name. The park actually encompasses 5 mountains: Morrow, Hattaway, Sugarloaf, Falls and Mill Mountain. These, and the other small mountains in Stanly County are part of the ancient Uwharrie Mountain range, which has weathered many eons.
Some background, genealogical research has taken me to spending lots of dusty time, in old deeds and records. Those records often used landmarks to describe where the particular plot of land was located. They named whose property it connected, or bounded. Often, bodies of water created a boundary, rivers, creeks and branches. Sometimes trees and roads we're named. Once in awhile, a mountain was mentioned.
Growing up in Stanly, I was familiar with a few of the mountains, because of the park, or because the mountain had a road named for it, like Nelson Mountain Road. But most of the time, I would read the deed and see a mountain I'd never heard of.
While that sweet gum mentioned in 1832 is long gone, and the roads, for the most part, have changed or even disappeared, the creeks and the mountains haven't gone anywhere.
It's one of my projects to find them.
Some, like Palmer Mountain, are named on old maps.
 |
| A view across Badin Lake towards the east. |
When the first attempt at building a dam was attempted upriver at Old Whitney, this canal was built around Palmer Mountain. The project would become bankrupt, but would later be restarted sucessfully again by a French Company several years later, but downstream from Palmer Mountain. Badin Lake and the Town of Badin would be founded.
The Charlotte Observer
Charlotte, North Carolina
07 Dec 1986, Sun • Page 96
Charlotte, North Carolina
07 Dec 1986, Sun • Page 96
Palmer Mountain still suffers the scars of the Quarry, Gold Mine, Canal and Dam work of it's past. Owned by the family of a former NC State Senator, today it quietly overlooks Palmer Lake and the sleepy old community of Palmerville.
Hello!! I stumbled upon your blog when looking for info on the boat launch at Palmerville. I wasn't sure it was still a public place until we arrived. My son & I went kayaking there last Saturday, and I was wondering if you had any pictures or more knowledge of what that area looked like through the years. I know the history of Badin, Old Whitney dam, the Narrows, the canal, etc., but I want to know more about the old concrete there & down at Old Whitney boat launch. We find it quite interesting how there is no way out of there into the main part of lake, but so many people have boats. What was that area used for through the years? Thanks in advance!!
ReplyDelete