Visit to Oconee Station State Historic Site.

Click here to return to Keowee-Toxaway SNA

While you’re camped at Keowee-Toxaway State Natural Area, be sure to take a half-day or so to visit Oconee Station State Historic Site. It’s only about fifteen miles from the Park, and you’ll get to drive at least thirteen of those miles on the Cherokee Highway, aka Route 11. The two miles or so of secondary roads from Route 11 to the Site are even more picturesque.

Here’s a map of the Site, courtesy of the informative www.OconeeCountry.com website. Oconee Station opens its gates daily from April 1st to November 30th. And from Friday through Sunday the rest of the year. If you’re not able to visit on a Saturday or Sunday, when the buildings are open from 1PM to 5PM, it’s best to call ahead to make sure someone will be around.

Folks have been living in this part of Oconee County, South Carolina, for quite some time. No wonder, given the beautiful scenery! Well, before this ever was “Oconee Station,” it was “Aconnee,” or the Cherokee “Lower Town,” according to the historic marker you see in the picture above. Click the photo for a more legible image. The Cherokee abandoned that town in 1755 or so. I don’t know when it was first established. Will have to ask.

So, how did “Aconnee” become Oconee Station? That’s an interesting story. You’ll have to dig a little to find it, though, since like most of the history of this part of South Carolina, customary sources are pretty thin.

Land-hungry Northern European settlers began filtering into the region following the Revolutionary War, a migration that understandably irritated American Indian tribes that had occupied the region for some time. The American Indian lifestyle required large tracts of unsettled land to support their traditional methods of hunting and fishing. Some violent interaction between the American Indians and the American Northern Europeans was inevitable.

South Carolina’s State Militia, in response, built a series of small forts, or “stations” along what was then the frontier to protect those Northern European immigrants as they occupied land throughout the region. Oconee Station, pictured above, was one of those “stations.” Begun in 1792 it served its military purpose until 1799.

As you see in photos above, these stations were little more than blockhouses into which soldiers and settlers could crowd when necessary. Nothing like the more elaborate military installation at Fort Prince George, down the river a bit.

But they have been wonderfully restored and maintained. Look at that wall!

And here’s a close-up of the stonework on the other side. That gray mortar you see above looks as if it was part of the restoration process. But I’m not sure. Those have to be original stones, though.

By the mid-1700s, this essentially military installation had become a trading post. A focus of commerce in this region with the American Indians. William Richards made a good living here with this trading post and a brickyard. More on that in a moment.

You can read more about this station, or fort, in an interesting 1989 manuscript by Frederick C. Holder with a click here. And the Wikipedia entry for Oconee Station State Historic Site is here. Just click. For more detail, you’ll have to dig around for yourself. Don’t expect too much help from the traditional South Carolina historical sources. They seem to me a bit thin on this part of the State.

Just steps from the Oconee Station sits the house Mr. Richards built in 1805. It too has been carefully restored. At least on the outside. Failing to call ahead, I wasn’t able to see what it looks like on the inside.

This house has to be solid as a rock, though, since it was used as a residence until well into the 20th century. Click the photo above for a good view of one side of the house, including the chimney.

Now, brick lasts! At least, lasts longer than wood in this climate. Here you see the remains of what must have been a brick patio area in front of the porch. Holder mentions in his 1989 manuscript that Richards also operated a brickyard here. So be sure to take a good look at these bricks when you visit.

Here’s a short video on the site that I took during my visit.

Stay tuned, since we have one more side-trip to make from Keowee-Toxaway State Park. A nearby museum. The World of Energy.

Return to Keowee-Toxaway State Park, South Carolina.

Table of Contents

• Keowee-Toxaway State Park
• Oconee Station State Historic Site
• Duke Power World of Energy Museum

Keowee-Toxaway has to be one of the nicest RV camping Parks in the South Carolina State Park system. Built on the shore of Lake Keowee around 1970, if memory serves, with generous help from the Duke Power Company that controls the Lake.

You begin to enjoy Keowee-Toxaway well before you arrive. Since travel there from most any part of the State, or from other states, for that matter, takes the visitor over some of South Carolina’s most beautiful roadways.

For example, Route 11, also known as the Cherokee Highway. This road is well worth driving just for the scenery. So once you’re unhooked at your campsite, you may want to go back out the gate and drive ten or twenty miles in one direction on Route 11, and then ten or twenty miles in the opposite direction. It’s worth the gasoline, even at today’s prices! You see a small piece of Route 11 in the photo at the top of the page. It runs right through the Park.

Now, Keowee-Toxaway has only ten RV campsites. In addition to the tent sites just down the hill. Here you see Site # 4, a pull-through at the top of the ridge.

Did I mention that these ten campsites all have been carved into the side of a steep ridge. This mountainous terrain gives each site an inviting character. And they’re all nice and level, once you get there! Here’s an effort to reproduce the campground map that’s handed out to visitors, with site # 4 indicated by the red arrow. If you click for a larger image you’ll see the lines indicating elevation.

Once you’re set up this is the sort of view you’ll have from your picnic table or RV window. Here you’re looking toward Lake Keowee from Site # 4. Leaves on the trees at this time of year block the view of the lake, but it’s there. I’ll try to remember to take another photo from here during the winter, when the leaves have fallen. Quite a sight. A good excuse to come back.

The Park Office was on the other side of Route 11 when the Park was built. Part of the impressive Cherokee Museum complex over there. In the building you see on the left of the photo above.

But now it’s in the this interesting structure across the road. Just down the hill from the RV campsites. As you may have guessed, it’s an old church building, moved from its nearby site and renovated here. I didn’t get a chance to see inside this trip, but recall the Park had plans to create a museum area inside. One that would include many of the Cherokee-related pieces formerly displayed across the road and now in storage.

Soon, the office area, and more important, the trailhead just behind the office, will have a new parking lot. Look at this new construction! I suspect that Duke Power kicked in some support funding here.

And speaking of construction, even more significant, at least for an ElderKayaker like me, is this new canoe-kayak boat ramp! Look at that! Complete with its own parking area. When completed this will be an ideal place to put in and take out. Parking available just steps away from the water.

Well, time to get back outside to better enjoy this beautiful Park. But before signing off, just a word about Keowee-Toxaway’s cabin. They have only one. And it stays rented most of the year. So, be sure to reserve early. Right on the shore of Lake Keowee, with its own private dock. Oh my.

I didn’t get to look inside this trip. But according to a Park staff member, this cabin has three bedrooms, and sleeping facilities for ten people. You can find more detailed information with a click here. It’s not cheap. But if you have any reluctant, or campophobic, family members, this might well persuade them to come out and enjoy the woods and water.

Stay tuned next for a visit to Oconee Station State Historic Site, just a few miles away Click here.

CarolinaConsidered Visits Laura’s Tea Room in Ridgeway, South Carolina. Part Six, the Conclusion.

Click here to return to Part One of this series and the Table of Contents.

By now, Carol was about out of time. She didn’t say a word about it, but I could tell by the looks on the faces of the staff that she was needed. This is a Busy place!

Before letting her go, I had to ask about the Tea Room’s clientele. Where do all of these people come from? Well, as you might expect, Columbia, Charlotte, and Charleston patrons account for a goodly number.

But since Carol and her husband advertise in national tea magazines, people driving through South Carolina from all over the United States, and even Canada, stop for tea, and for a look at the building.

Even more impressive, Ridgeway residents too frequently drop in for lunch and a chat. Especially since Carol added the deli area downstairs and the deli menu. I met several Ridgeway residents during two visits, and found them very proud of “their” Tearoom. Oh, and don’t forget travelers who just pass by and see the WiFi sign!

Thanks again, Carol, for your time, and for creating this wonderful institution in Ridgeway, South Carolina.

CarolinaConsidered Visits Laura’s Tea Room in Ridgeway, South Carolina. Part Five

Click here to return to Part One of this series and the table of contents.

In this interview segment Carol Allen describes what one can expect when they visit to Tea Room to participate in High Tea.

The term “participate” is hardly out of place here. It’s a ceremony! Complete with costume, if you wish. See the ladies’ hats available above. Of course, you don’t have to “participate.” You can just attend to enjoy the incredible food and tea. Carol and her Mother, as well as the rest of the staff, take food preparation and presentation very seriously here. And it shows. Have a listen:

Click here for Part Six, the Conclusion, of this interview.

CarolinaConsidered Visits Laura’s Tea Room in Ridgeway, South Carolina. Part Four

Click here for Part One of this series and the table of contents.

In an earlier segment of this interview I mentioned that Laura’s Tea Room serves “high tea” between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays. And, as the Tea Room’s website notes, “reservations are strongly recommended.”

Strongly recommended indeed! If you plan to have high tea during your visit you’d better call ahead. This Tea Room has become popular with folks all over the Carolinas. Not just Columbia and Charlotte. It’s busy! And many of the visitors hope to enjoy Carol Allen’s version of “high tea.” Served, for the sake of customers’ convenience not in the early evening but during lunchtime.

In this segment of the interview, Carol describes the “high tea” experience, the Tea Room staff, and the role of her Mother. Who does all of the baking and kitchen supervision every day. At 90, Carol’s Mother has had plenty of experience. And it shows in the product. You won’t leave hungry, that’s for sure. In fact, “stuffed” is how Carol jokingly describes it. Have a listen:

Click here for Part Five of this series.