Thu, Dec 13 2018 - Sope Creek Mill Ruins and More (Rescheduled) (View Original Event Details) Trip Leader(s): Holt Ward Participants: Holt Ward, Doug, Silvia B, Linda H, Rob Herman, Sharon C., Wendy B, Bob G, Allan, Carolyn Naser, Barry Polon, Zvia S, Marianna, Evy, James H., Martha Mock

Click for Album

What an enjoyable walk through history at Sope Creek this morning.  We visited various ruin sites in the park, some large, some small.  We hit the ruins of two homesites including the rubble piles from the downed chimneys.  Next we visited the site of the 1880s pulp mill.  Then we crossed Sope Creek, viewing the piers used for the former covered bridge that was burned in the early 60's.  Finally we visited the actual Paper Mill site which sits on the east bank of Sope Creek. 

Along the way we learned a bit about the history of the Paper and Pulp mill business which was burned by Sherman towards the end of the Civil war and was rebuilt two more times before finally ceasing operations in the early 1900s.  We rounded out the day with a few more miles of hiking before reaching the cars and the end of our 4.2 mile hike.  We had four relatively new club members on the hike today.  Bob, Rob, Silvia and Barry, welcome to each of you and look forward to seeing you on future AOC hikes.  ~ Holt