More Fannin Explorations

Sheldon H. and I made plans to explore several sites in east Fannin County, including an old gold mine and the remains of an old USFS Ranger Station.

Along the way... Old overgrown bridge across the Toccoa River
On our way to the mine site, we hiked through an interesting wooded cove area, that at some time in the past had been leveled and terraced, perhaps for agriculture. There are four distinct levels, separated by three rock-faced terraces (ranging from 4-7 feet high). Along the two "sides" of the cove, a few feet above the elevation of the terraces, earthen/rock flumes were built into the slope, and run all the way from the upper level to the end of the lower level. The old mine from the 1800s is nearby, but these earthen structures don't seem to be associated with it (except that perhaps the rock used in the terraces came from the old tailings piles from the mine cuts.

Sheldon at the upper terrace. This was the smallest of the three terraces.

Earthen flume running along base at east side of terraces. The terraced area is to the left of this view.

Sheldon standing in the flume, for scale.

Second terrace

Second terrace - I was standing near the edge of the second level, shooting at Sheldon who is down on the third level.

Another section of the second terrace

A big old Beech tree Carved, with some dates from the 1970s, but nothing real old was seen.

Down by the lower terrace, we came across some metal components from something...

Also, a section of riveted sheet metal pipe, about 14" diameter.

The third / lower terrace

From the size of the trees, these terraces have been here for a while.

Opposite end of the third terrace

The terrace walls here were about 150-200 feet long.

Section of the flume that runs down the west side. This is near the base, so the flume was wider here than near its upper end.

Part of this flume wall was lined with rock.

Near the lower terrace, we found what could be a cellar hole, but we weren't sure... It might be associated with the nearby mining operation. Another terrace wall is visible in the rear.

One reason we thought the hole might be a homesite cellar was this old dead cedar. We often find a cedar or two near old homesites.
A main objectives was to explore the old Rantze Hill Gold Mine. Placer mining took place here prior to the Civil War, and by 1900 the operation consisted of numerous cuts, shafts and tunnels, as well as a rolling mill.

Here we are in one of the larger pits. Due to the steepness of the terrain, and my still gimpy leg, we didn't explore all of the cuts.

There is at least one tunnel here, but it has been gated. I'm guessing because of White Nose Syndrome in bats. It looked like someone had been trying to dig around the grate...
One of the early Ranger residences of the Chattahoochee National Forest was a former private residence near Hightower Gap.

This section of stone work is the only remaining evidence of that station.

First warden residence Perhaps the stone in the previous photo was the chimney foundation from this building.
Another early Ranger Station was at Winding Stair Gap. This apparently was a Georgia Wildlife Ranger Station.

Foundation of the Ranger residence building

Residence building foundation from another angle

Residence building foundation - another view Note the concrete stairs on the right.

Cistern or other water storage structure.

Slab foundation of an adjacent Ranger station building.

Ranger residence (date unknown) Probably 1950s-60s, based on the webbed aluminum lawn chairs.

Wildlife Ranger in front of residence - 1959.

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