2025 Snowstorm at the Farm

As we looked at the weather forecast for the week of January 19, 2025, a snowstorm was predicted for Albany and Ellaville. It was forecast to begin Tuesday afternoon. I decided to travel to the cabin Tuesday morning to do a few shop/mechanical projects I had planned over the last few weeks.

The snow started, as predicted Tuesday afternoon, as I was relaxing with a nap in front of the fire at the cabin. I quickly decided to document the snowstorm in photos for this journal article.

While waiting for the snow to start, I decided to build a fire in the bedroom. I kept the fire going all night, as I placed the last wood on the fire after midnight Tuesday.

This is a view from the dam looking toward the boathouse late Tuesday afternoon. You can clearly see the snow falling gently.

Hopewell Methodist Church late Tuesday afternoon. I was on a mission assigned by Jean to photograph the LaCrosse store. After driving to Ellaville and seeing the condition of the roads, I decided Jean’s photo request would be honored tomorrow morning.

The main gate on Hopewell Church Road at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday.

The view out the kitchen window at 7:27 a.m. Wednesday morning. This view showed me the photography mission would be successful.

The view toward the shelter Wednesday morning. I parked the green truck under the shelter to keep the windshield clear for my trip home by way of LaCrosse later today.

Looking toward the pond with the hand pump and pumphouse in view.

This may be my favorite shot of the cabin from a distance showing the pristine snow blanket surrounding the house. This is the photo shown in the heading of the article.

Closeup of the cabin.

Wider view of cabin.

View looking parallel to the cabin with rail fence on left of photo.

A beautiful sideview of the cabin showing the kitchen. Below you will see the same view after the sun rises.

As promised above, a side view of the cabin with the sun lighting the landscape. Notice the contrast between the cloudless, dark blue sky and the white snow blanket.

How deep was the snow? My tape shows 5-1/2” on the roof of the breezeway leading to the cabin.

A good view of the snow on roof of back porch.

One more cabin side view showing the McLendon farm bell in the sunlight.

As I was about to start my trip to the Bluff House, LaCrosse, and Albany I decided to check the temperature as shown on the weather channel.

At 7:48, the Weather Channel showed the temperature in Ellaville is 11 degrees! The cabin thermometer indicated 16. Either way, it was a very cold morning with no noticeable wind. Time to start my journey home.

The next three photos need no captions as I drove by the Bluff House shelter, Bluff House, and the treehouse before heading to the front gate.

This place could use eight or so excited grandchildren—running back and forth on the walkway to the deck, ringing the bell, up and down the stairs to play in the snow, having snowball fights, making a snowman, maybe even ziplining and falling into the snow, … Oh well, maybe next time!

This is the view toward our gate as I was heading to LaCrosse and then home.

View from the road prior to opening the gate.

The following photos are from the McLendon farm at LaCrosse. Jean’s request was for a photo of the LaCrosse store, but I saw several other scenes worth preserving in photos.

This is one of my favorites! Notice the sun highlighting the subject of Jean’s request at 10:11 a.m.! This photo alone was worth the stop!

A closeup of the store. Notice it is unspoiled by footprints.

A great photo of Jean’s childhood home. Any ideas on what we should do to preserve this historical dwelling?

A good angled view of the store with the eerie shadows from one of the large oaks.

No photo tour of the McLendon farm would be complete without the barns. This was one of my favorite and most ambitious projects. The history of the barn restoration project can be found here: https://www.harrisonwoodlands.com/journal/2021/6/24/rehabilitation-of-mclendon-farm-barns

It’s hard to believe it’s been 13 years since this project! I took this photo from the long-abandoned railroad tracks.

A great photo of the main farm entrance gates on LaCrosse Road. Again, look at the pristine snow cover with not tire, animal, or human tracks.

A view of the signs adjacent to the gate, with the sign Joni made when I erected the gates 15 or so years ago. The Tree Farmer of the Year—2021 sign is prominent atop Joni’s sign.

Joni, your sign only gets better with age, and it captures the history of the farm in a very understated way—the way Mr. Jesse, that master of understatement, would want it said.

My last photo and a good one to close my photo tour. As I was driving back to Highway 271, I was struck by the beauty of this view to the northeast with the sun brilliantly illuminating the snow on the roofs of the white house, the outbuildings, and the barns.

This ends my photo tour of the Snow Storm of 2025, but Jean is not one to be outdone! Following are a few of her photos taken of our yard in Albany. She is a master of photography, as you can readily see below!

This is a night photo (9:36 p.m.) taken from our front door. Don’t you love the lighting that accentuates the brilliantly white snow?

Another of Jean’s night time photos with the “streaks” of falling snowflakes!

Last photo for the article! Early morning photo (7:28 a.m.) taken from our sunroom deck facing the pool. A perfect view of unspoiled snow. You can almost feel the silence of the morning.

Post Script: This was the largest snowstorm to hit our area since Friday, February 9, 1973. (I googled it and found the exact date. This article may be of interest: https://www.weather.gov/ilm/feb1973snow.) I was a second quarter freshman at GA Tech and had planned to come for the weekend. I remember Mama calling me and saying it was snowing and that I might consider cancelling. When she called the snow was just covering the ground.

I decided to try it and left GA Tech around 2:00 with no snow in sight. As usual, I took US Highway 19 home. When I approached Thomaston, the snow had started and the further south I traveled, the worse it got. With no other good options, I decided to continue driving, in greatly reduced visibility, in the worst snowstorm I had ever seen. I was doing well, in spite of the snow intensity increasing. A few miles north of Butler, the highway was blocked by a jackknifed tractor-trailer and I had to stop and pulled off the road.

Not long afterward, the Taylor County Sheriff’s Department showed up with a large van and took a load of stranded travelers to Butler where we were housed in the large courtroom of the county courthouse. We slept as best we could on the benches. The hospitality of Sheriff Charlie Wright was great as he kept the room very warm and somehow managed to find some food for us.

Phone service was out, so I couldn’t contact my parents to tell them I was safe. I assume they were expecting the worst. The next day, I asked the police chief to contact Marcene Ellis, the Schley County sheriff, and ask him to tell my parents I was ok.

Daddy and Jimmy (I think) drove up to get me and take me home. I don’t remember what I did about my car, but I remember someone coming into the courthouse hours after we arrived and saying he had hit a couple of stranded cars before he had to stop. One of them was mine and it had a severe scratch down the driver’s side.

The total snowfall in Schley County was over 12 inches! Somehow I made it back to GA Tech in time for classes Monday. This week’s snowfall is the second only to the 1973 snowstorm and it has been almost 52 years! Will it be another 50+ years before we have another major storm that rivals the one we had this week?

Stella's Day and Night at the Farm and the Marion County Forestry and Wildlife Expo

I told Grandpa and JeeJee I wanted a day at the farm and had a list of things I wanted to do. Fortunately the very next Saturday was the date of the Marion County Forestry and Wildlife Expo in Buena Vista and it was only 15 miles from the cabin.

You can see from the expression on my face that I am VERY excited about spending the night at the cabin. This is the check-in photo for Grandpa's and JeeJee's B&B. You are probably wondering who is in my hands. It is James the Horse and he will keep me company in the room with all the animals tonight. "Now Grandpa, don't shoot James!"

It has been a long day! I had just finished my first week in second grade and attended a football game and was now ready for a good night's rest. I chose my bed to be in the living room with Grandpa's hunting trophies that also includes a deer and turkey killed by Mama. It was a very comfy bed and we had prayers together and Grandpa and JeeJee tucked me in for the night.

I awoke early the next morning ready to do all the things on my list and I am not known for short lists! Grandpa had a special surprise to start our day after breakfast. He joked that the surprise was to take a nap for the rest of the day. “That is not funny, Grandpa!”

Here I am dressed and ready to start our full day of adventures! What could Grandpa's surprise possibly be? I bet it will be fun. I always like his surprises.

Smokey Bear welcomed us to the Marion County Forestry and Wildlife Expo in Buena Vista. I like Smokey, but what will the surprise really be? I can't wait to find out!

I was excited to find out what a Forestry and Wildlife Expo was all about. I can’t wait to show my photos. First we took a tour through the exhibits and you won’t believe what I experienced! As you can see below I have the pictures to prove it!

There were two women from Chehaw Park who brought a couple of guests. Look what I bravely touched! But wait until you see what is next! "JeeJee, please don't scream!"

"JeeJee, I told you not to scream, although it is pretty scary to touch such a huge snake!" For a second I couldn't believe they would really let me touch it, but as you can see I overcame my fears.

After looking at the other exhibits, we went to two presentations—one discussing the decreased turkey population, which is of great interest to Grandpa and the other on the control of unwanted plants and trees found in pine forests.. I looked forward to applying my newfound knowledge on control of these invasive species.

Next Grandpa and I enjoyed lunch together. I had a hotdog and an ice cream sandwich and Grandpa had a barbeque sandwich with chips. Now it was time for my favorite part of the Expo!

Here I am in front of my new helicopter, but look at the photo! I thought I got caught by the pilot and he was about to fly me to prison. He was really a nice man and let me sit in the cockpit.

Don't you think I look good in this helmet? Let me know if you would like me to fly you somewhere.

It was great to see the helicopter, but why was it here? We were about to find out, but I was disappointed I was not the pilot. Mr. R. T. Lumpkin used a drone to start a fire and you won’t believe what happened next! Grandpa wrote an article a few months ago on the use of the GFC drone for prescribed fire on one of our timber tracts. You can view it here: https://www.harrisonwoodlands.com/journal/2024/2/24/prescribed-fire-by-drone

We heard the roar of an airplane coming straight for us. A Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) airplane dumped water on the fire as it flew over. But that wasn't all.

The GFC pilots flew MY helicopter over the fire and dumped their load of water on the fire, and they didn't even ask my permission!

The Expo was over and we left to meet JeeJee at the cabin to continue our adventures. We decided to first take a tour of the roads on the Plum Creek tract that Grandpa had mowed earlier this week. We took the Mule and I did the driving. Remember the presentation I mentioned about invasive species? As we started down the woods road, Grandpa spotted a few chinaberry trees. These are trees Grandpa said we try to eliminate on our forestland.

This photo shows Grandpa and me using the "hack and squirt" technique I learned at the Expo. I look forward to seeing the chemical killing this chinaberry tree we found on the road to the Plum Creek tract. Grandpa mixed 25% Arsenal (a forestry chemical) with 75% water in a squirt bottle and assigned me to apply the mixture to a cut he made with his hatchet. Mr. McClure told us at the Expo to apply one squirt per 3" tree diameter.

What we found next was a very pleasant surprise to me and one I intend to share with the rest of my family when we return home tonight.

Do you recognize what I am holding? This is my first experience with muscadines as we found lots of them on the vines along the road. They grow wild in the woods and ripen in August/September. Grandpa taught me how to eat them and separate the seeds. It's a little like eating boiled peanuts and it comes naturally to a country girl like me.

Don't they look delicious?

Now to the next thing on my list. I told Grandpa I wanted to drive a tractor. He let me drive the John Deere and mow the field next to the shop.

Yes, that IS me driving this big tractor, as the next photo will prove!

Grandpa taught me the basics of the tractor operation. As you can see, it takes concentration to do a good job of mowing. This is me after three minutes of instructions. I may be the only experienced tractor driver in my second grade class!

But, the little girl in me came out, as my always observant eyes spotted some large clusters of muscadines high above the ground in the path of the tractor. I think I will take a break from tractor driving to pick some more muscadines. I plan to take some home to share with my family. There was one problem though. How could I reach them?

I have an idea! Why don't I stand on top of the Mule?

Success! My plan worked! I picked so many that Grandpa had to go to his shop and get three plastic containers to hold them. "Sorry, Grandpa! Mowing this field will have to wait!"

Grandpa remembered he had to get his old blue truck from the Carlton’s Hole tract and move it to the dairy tract. I wonder if I can find something there to keep me busy.

I know! I'll ask Grandpa to teach me to drive his bulldozer!

It didn't take long for me to get comfortable in the operator's seat.

I still had one more thing on my list. I wanted to paddle the Gheenoe! So, now we need to return to the cabin.

It didn't take long to learn the basics of boat navigation. There are only two rules: Paddle on the right to turn left and paddle on the left to turn right. Simple! Grandpa said I am better than an outboard motor!

Grandpa always has something else on his list to do. What could it be? It didn’t take long for him to decide to take me to a logging site at the dairy and look at the equipment.

"Sorry, Ellie! I know Grandpa promised this to you for your first car, but it looks like I am claiming it as my own!" The loggers use this old truck to move empty and loaded log trailers in the woods. If I had time I would vacuum and wash the truck to surprise the loggers when they return Monday.

Since this was a Saturday and the logging crew had a day off, I was not able to operate the logging equipment, so you will have to be satisfied with some photos of me posing in front of this giant equipment.

Look at the size of this monster! This machine (Grandpa calls it a feller/buncher) cuts the trees and lays them on the ground for the machine in the next photo to drag them to the logging deck where the logs are delimbed, graded, cut to length, and loaded on the log trailer for transport to the sawmill in Albany where they are sawn into lumber. Can you believe the trees we grow on our farm will soon be used in home construction?

A massive log skidder--it can't be that much more complicated than driving Grandpa's tractor, can it? I wish I could find the key.

It’s time to go home after a busy day. All of us are exhausted. I will close with a final photo showing a loaded log trailer. This load is valued at $1000 and contains mature sawtimber sized trees from the dairy tract. These trees were planted 28 years ago. The money we get from our timber sales will help pay the college expenses for me, my brothers, my sister, and my four cousins. I can hardly wait until my next adventure on the farm and I am already working on my list for the next trip.

Yes, that's me. I am standing in front of a 25 ton load of high quality loblolly pine logs ready to go to the sawmill.

Stay tuned for future articles about my adventures on the farm. I always enjoy learning about what our family does on our land in the country. You probably think owning a farm is all for play, but I learned the importance of hard work and saw the benefits of owning forest land.

Well, I better close now and start work on my list for my next trip with Grandpa and JeeJee. Maybe next time we can work on other things—maybe fishing, hiking, ziplining, 4-wheeler riding, arrowhead hunting, …

See you next time!

Stella Jean Teague

Ellie's Day at the Logging Site and the Herpetarium

Mama, Vivi, Brigette, Marjorie, and I drove down Sunday to spend a few days with Grandpa and JeeJee.

Monday, Grandpa called and asked Mama if any of us girls wanted to go with him to the farm to look at a logging operation at the Carlton’s Hole tract. I quickly volunteered. The feature photo above shows me posing in what I hope will be my first car. We had a blast and I had a chance to try a number of activities I had never before experienced, as the photos and commentary below attest.

We enjoyed a delicious breakfast-to-go from the Saltlick Sausage Company and drove to meet Mr. Jeff Greene at the entrance to the tract. Mr. Jeff and his company (United Forestry Consultants) provides most of the management for our timber stands—planting, timber sales, herbicide applications, and a detailed management plan for each timber tract.

When we met him at 8:45, he was applying paint to the trees to mark those that would be cut for this second thinning. This allows the logging crew to take out the smaller and weaker trees, allowing the water and nutrients to be utilized by the crop trees that will be harvested as sawtimber in ten years or so.

When offered the chance to try my hand at marking trees with the nifty spray gun, I couldn’t resist!

This is me, applying paint to a tree that will be cut by the loggers later today. Don’t you think the blue paint goes well with my “Grandpa blue” eyes?

Mr. Jeff failed to warn me about the splatter from the paint gun. I had blue paint in my hair, on my face, my arms, and on my yellow “going to the farm” outfit! I learned my lesson and promise not to repeat it.

The log trailer behind “Ellie’s First Car” is loaded with pulpwood. This load will bring approximately $300.

This thinning will include both pulpwood and sawtimber, with a load of sawtimber being worth over three times the value of a pulpwood load.

While we were at the logging deck, the loader operator asked me if I would like to operate this huge piece of equipment. How could I say no! This machine sorts, delimbs, cuts the tops, and loads the logs on the trailer. It has an airconditioned cab and is very comfortable.

Before operating the loader, I first acquainted myself with the controls in the cab of this complicated machine. My first thought was it reminded me of a video game.

If you look closely you will see me in the operator's seat as I control the loader.

This is a load of sawtimber with a value of approximately $1,000.

When the final harvest occurs in ten years or so, most of the loads will be sawtimber. This will happen when I will be entering college and the income will come in handy with my tuition and other college expenses.

We have a large number of timber stands which result in regular income from timber sales. This allows us to invest in needed repairs and additions to our land and equipment, as well as funding the college educations for me, my sisters, and my four cousins.

I am standing next to a one year old loblolly pine. Grandpa said we will have a first thinning on this stand in about 15 years—when I am in my early 20s! (I hope I remember to look at this photo then!)

When we left the logging site, we drove around the other areas of this farm. Look below at some of the interesting things we saw.

This is a longleaf pine. Vivi named one of our longleaf sites near the Bluff House the “Dr. Seuss Field.” Longleaf pines produce the best pine straw valued by homeowners and landscapers. The lumber is also highly valued when it reaches sawtimber size in 40-45 years. I will be in my 50s by then!

My family loves blackberries. Mama and my sisters picked enough blackberries for a delicious cobbler earlier this week.

While Grandpa and I were riding around, I spotted some blackberries I couldn’t resist picking.

My bare legs didn’t keep me from wading into the briars for the fresh berries, and I have the scars to prove it!

We left before lunch and headed to Grandpa’s shop, where we enjoyed a cold bottle of water and then Grandpa offered me a big surprise! He saw how well I operated the loader and asked if I wanted to drive his new John Deere tractor. Again, how could I refuse!

I always like to familiarize myself with the controls before operating a new piece of equipment.

Now that I know what all the knobs, pedals, and levers do, it was time for me to demonstrate my skills!

I drove the tractor from the shop to the cabin and back to the shop. Not bad for my first time.

But the adventures were not yet complete. In case you were wondering what the title of this post included, wait until you see the “herpetarium”!

When we were approaching the cabin, we had to take a detour. There was a mother turtle (terrapin) laying eggs on the road! As she was leaving, I had to pose for a brief photo.

“Sorry, Brigette! This one is mine!”

OK, I am near the end of this article, but I saved the best for last! When we were at the cabin this past weekend, we found a six foot rat snake on one of the beams. When Grandpa and I visited the cabin a few days later, I spied the snake hanging on the wall. Mama and JeeJee requested we move the snake if he was still at the cabin, so we went to work. Below are a few photos.

Grandpa pulled the snake down from the wall and he coiled up and Grandpa scooped him up in a shovel. We relocated him to the edge of the pond.

“OK snake, if you know what is good for you, I suggest you leave now!”

“I’m ok with you leaving, but I at least need an affectionate touch!”

One more surprise! After fishing for a few minutes, we walked back to the tractor for our ride back to the shop. The snake was already nearly back to the cabin! Apparently he considers this his home.

“OK Grandpa! I think we have had enough excitement for one day. Hop in with me and we will grab some lunch on our way back to Albany.”

Prescribed Fire by Drone

THANK YOU DIRECTOR TIM LOWRIMORE AND THE GFC!

We received the great news in early February that the GFC had approved aerial ignition by drone for prescribed fire on private land. I had been following the developments on this since this firing technique began being implemented on public lands. After a number of very successful fires, the hierarchy in the GFC decided to allow a trial on private land and I quickly volunteered a 300+/- acre tract of thinned pines, primarily loblolly with a few acres of slash. The Google Earth image below shows the boundaries of the burn block we successfully burned on February 21, 2024 in the first application of drone ignition on private land in Georgia.

In coordination with R. T. Lumpkin, the GFC Prescribed Fire Burn Center Coordinator and drone pilot, we worked with Mark Shutters, the chief ranger for the Sumter/Schley GFC office to staff and conduct the burn.

R. T. Lumpkin conducts pre-burn planning and safety meeting with GFC crew.

Director Lowrimore sent the GFC helicopter and two pilots to monitor the burn and take aerial photos for later evaluation. They remained in contact with R. T. and the crew on the ground as the burn progressed.

The weather the day of the burn was perfect for our fire and conducive to the use of the aerial ignition. The temperature ranged from 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit, with humidity in the mid 20s, and light and variable winds from the east. The plan was to light the west side of the burn block first, followed by the north and south sides and allow the fires to back away from the breaks before launching the drone.

Shortly after 10:00, we began lighting along the breaks.

Under the watchful eye of Chief Ranger Mark Shutters, I prepare to light the test fire.

My sister-in-law, Donna Gawlas, uses a drip torch for the first time, assisting with the test fire on the farm that has been in her family for 75 years.

My son-in-law, Kemble Teague started lighting at the NW corner of the burn block while the GFC rangers from the local office started on the SW corner.

Once the backing fires gave us a safe buffer along the harrowed firebreaks, the burn participants and spectators gathered at the drone launch site near the middle of the burn block. R. T. gave us a short course on the aerial ignition process.

The source of ignition dropped from the drone is a plastic “egg” approximately half the size of a ping pong ball containing potassium permanganate. Immediately prior to ejection from the drone, glycol (common antifreeze) is injected into the egg.

I found the following brief explanation of the chemical process that results from the mixing of the two chemicals: The oxidation of glycol by potassium permanganate is an example of spontaneous combustion—combustion that occurs at or even below room temperature. The reaction proceeds relatively slowly at first; however, the rate of the reaction begins to increase as the heat produced in this exothermic reaction accumulates.

R. T. demonstrated how the process works by injecting two of the eggs with the glycol and tossing them on the ground. The chemical reaction produced heat excessive enough to ignite the grass where the eggs landed.

The photo and video below demonstrate the process.

A closeup of the egg with the drone in the background

After the demonstration of the egg ignition, R. T. and Beau Singleton prepared the drone for launch. R. T. programmed and flew the drone on a grid pattern, launching an average of one egg per acre. His flight plan used a back and forth pattern, with the parallel runs separated by 200 feet, and eggs dropped every 130 feet within the burn block. We used approximately 300 eggs at a cost of thirty cents each, for a total of $90.

As indicated in the video above, R. T. waited until the ground crew with drip torches confirmed the security of the breaks before he launched the drone.

R. T. and Beau prepare the drone for launch.

The drone is loaded and ready to fly.

Once the drone was prepared and the breaks were confirmed to be secure, the first ignition flight was launched at 11:15, about an hour after the drip torch lighting of the strips along the north, south, and west breaks. The video below shows the launch of the first ignition flight. (You will hear the sound of the GFC helicopter in the background.)

This closeup of the drone controller screen shows the grid pattern executed by the drone and the white circles show the drop locations shortly after R. T. started lighting in the NW corner of the burn block.

Approximately 75 minutes after the first launch, the burn was nearing completion as the 300 or so spot fires started merging together over the entire block. The photos below provide evidence of the integrity of the burn.

This photo is on the eastern edge of the small stand of slash pines. The black smoke shows the welcomed consumption of a large number of volunteer pines that had nearly taken over this stand.

This is a ground level closeup of the fire in the loblolly stand.

Photo taken from the north end of the burn block, facing southwest with the GFC helicopter in the foreground.

This view is facing west. The launch site for the drone was approximately at the intersection of the shadow with the sunny spot.

The following photos show the progress of the fire as viewed from the GFC helicopter.

This photo was taken at 11:12 looking west over the drone launch area at the smoke from the backing fire set by drip torches on the west line.

This photo was taken at11:17 Looking north from the south line along the backing fire on the west line.

This photo was taken at 11:19 looking west at the smoke from the north backing fire.

This photo was taken at 12:44 , looking north as the fire is nearly complete (two and one half hours since we started lighting the backing fires along the breaks).

Note the total absence of smoke on LaCrosse Road showing the smoke management benefits of even a 4 mph east wind.

This photo was taken at 12:46, looking west. Again, note the complete absence of smoke on LaCrosse Road.

When the burn was progressing well and according to plan, two women stopped by and showed a LOT of interest in what we were doing, so Donna and I took time to explain the process and the reasons for the fire. One of the women was from New York and was very fascinated with the entire operation.

Photographic evidence of the benefits of converting another citizen to prescribed fire as this New Yorker demonstrates her newly acquired skills with a drip torch.

As my “report” on our Prescribed Fire by Drone ends, I am concluding with two photos that explain our commitment to forest stewardship and our family’s love for the land.

As indicated by the sign, Jesse McLendon, my father-in-law, purchased his first tract of land in the LaCrosse community in Schley County in 1948. He was a member of the Greatest Generation, serving with distinction in World War II in the U. S. Army Air Force as a tail gunner in the air war against Germany.

He would be impressed at the major breakthroughs in aviation and would have been proudly and humbly watching the piloting skills R. T. demonstrated, while executing a picture perfect prescribed burn on a loblolly pine plantation growing in the soil he worked tirelessly for nearly 40 years growing row crops and livestock to support his family.

The charge for our family is to continue the stewardship practices he taught us, while teaching it to our grandchildren, and to pass the love of the land and a firm knowledge of the care it requires to future generations.

Thank you, Mr. Jesse, for entrusting us with this responsibility. We do not take this responsibility lightly!

Mr. Jesse M. McLendon (1915-2003)—“The Mayor of LaCrosse”

Summary

It was an honor for us to host this burn alongside the GFC professionals who executed this cutting edge application for prescribed fire. It will prove to be a force multiplier for the limited staff of the GFC and accomplish R. T.’s goal of “getting more fire on the ground.”

This is another tool that can be used in a broad range of applications, increasing the acreage that can be burned during our limited burn windows each year. Those involved in timber management recognize proper utilization of prescribed fire as THE most cost effective silvicultural practice we can employ in improving aesthetics, promoting timber stand health and growth, benefiting wildlife, and protecting the environment.

Once again, I thank the dedicated professionals who work daily on our behalf and on behalf of the citizens of Georgia as they serve faithfully with the Georgia Forestry Commission.

Mike Harrison (and family)

Georgia Tree Farm Field Day

As an outreach effort on behalf of the Georgia Tree Farm Program, we were asked to host a field day on our land. The event was held in our farm shop/equipment shelter in Schley County on Thursday, October 5, 2023.

The driving force in our family tree farm is the legacy aspect of the land. We have some tracts that belonged to my great grandfather and some that were purchased by my father-in-law. We have added a number of tracts through purchases we have made over the last 40+ years. Our desire, expressed often to our children and grandchildren, is that the land remain in our family and never be treated as “just other asset” which can be exchanged for other investments.

One of the main ways we work toward that goal is getting our daughters, their husbands, and their eight children on the land—show them a good time, make memories, have them contribute labor on various age-appropriate tasks, invite friends and other family members,…

Our family worked together to prepare our farm for the visitors. The Georgia Tree Farm operating committee under the leadership of Frank Green and Steve Chapman worked tirelessly with the Georgia Forestry Commission, other state agencies, private wildlife and forestry vendors, and various forestry organizations to plan the event.

A copy of the flier sent to area landowners is shown below.

In preparation for the day, we worked to completely empty the equipment shed, clean the floor, set up the audio and video equipment, arrange tables and chairs, and a host of other miscellaneous tasks. Both my sons-in-law worked with me to prepare the site. The following photos and videos show some of the prework.

Kemble Teague showing the finished product of his tractor wash operation

Kemble moving 1936 John Deere Unstyled Model A into position in the tractor wash queue. It served as the “sign post” for the various signs posted at the road welcoming our guests for the day.

Equipment lineup after exiting tractor wash

Frank Green, Program Administrator for the Georgia Tree Farm Program, gives a thumbs up to the field day preparations. (I think his joyful expression is the result of finding a piece of farm equipment that pre-dates him.)

Not shown in the preparation photos is Chip Lay who set up the audio and video equipment for the presentations and worked on last-minute details.

Following are photos and one video showing some of the various speakers and presentations for the day.

For obvious reasons the video above is my favorite, as my oldest granddaughter, Vivi Lay, addresses the attendees on what our family tree farm means to her and our seven other grandchildren. The primary goal my wife and I have for our tree farm is to pass on the heritage in the land to our grandchildren. Vivi’s speech gives us great comfort that we are moving toward that goal.

Chase Cook speaking on the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)

Lisa Duncan, Stewardship Specialist for the Georgia Forestry Commission, speaks with a landowner. Lisa has written most of our stewardship plans and has done all the updates to the plans for the last many years. Her plans are detailed, up-to-date, and provide road maps for managing the various tracts.

Wildlife Specialist with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources speaks with landowners on the declining wild turkey population

Dr. David Clabo, professor with the University of Georgia, speaks to landowners on pine genetics

Forester with F&W Forestry Services gives update and outlook for area timber markets

Travis Ingram, a fish pond consultant, gave a very interesting presentation at our pond on effective pond management. He covered fertilization, pesticide use, and supplemental feeding among other topics.

Regrettably, we have no photos of Mark McClure—GFC Forest Health Specialist, who gave a very interesting presentation on forest pests, with samples of the various enemy beetles of pine trees. Unfortunately, but timely, Mark was able to give his presentation under a canopy of natural growth loblolly pines recently killed in a small southern pine beetle infestation on our farm. Our first interaction with Mark was 25 years ago, when he contacted us concerning a pine beetle infestation spotted in a GFC air survey.

He is the cogon grass expert in the state and worked with us several years ago, successfully eradicating a small area of cogon grass on one of our tracts. Mark’s success in eliminating EVERY cogon grass spot in the state is the envy of bordering states who have all but given up the fight against this non-native invasive species. It ranks very high in the top 10 list of worst invasive species in the world.

Additionally, he has worked with us on treating other invasive species commonly found in our area, including chinaberry and privet.

Frank Green and Jamie Pitts talk at the Tree Farm table

The Georgia Forestry Commission took care of onsite transportation to the various field stations with their trucks and trolleys, as well as many other equipment and setup needs for the day.

Ken Parker, GFC Specialist—Wildfire Mitigation, brought us up to date on the latest in prescribed fire and the streamlined burn permit process

R. T. Lumpkin, GFC Prescribed Fire Burn Center Coordinator, speaking with landowners about his work in promoting prescribed fire in our area

Steve Lloyd, American Forest Foundation, which oversees the Tree Farm Program across the country, addressed the group on the importance of the program in promoting and supporting private landowners

Steve Chapman, current chairman of the Georgia Tree Farm Program, recognizes his predecessor, Aaron Burton, for his contributions to the program.

Tim Lowrimore, the always visible and always supportive Director of the Georgia Forestry Commission, addresses the attendees.

Tim speaks with Heather Brasell, the Georgia Tree Farmer of the Year for 2022.

Update: Heather was selected as the Regional Tree Farmer of the Year AND the National Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year for 2023.

Congratulations, Heather!

On behalf of our family, we want to thank the many who contributed to our field day. We could not have asked for more support and we look forward to participating in such events across our state in the future.

Mike Harrison

WOODLAND MAGAZINE ARTICLE

This past spring, we were approached by the editor of Woodland magazine, the publication for the American Forest Foundation (https://www.forestfoundation.org/), the national organization that administers the American Tree Farm System (https://www.treefarmsystem.org/), about being interviewed for an upcoming issue of the magazine profiling several landowners concerning their family tree farms.

We were honored to be included in these landowner profiles. Our story, along with stories on tree farms in Pennsylvania and Maryland, was featured in the Summer 2023 edition of the magazine. It was a pleasure to be interviewed by the writer of the article, and we were pleased with the finished product. We are grateful to the American Forest Foundation, the American Tree Farm System, and the Georgia Tree Farm Program (https://www.treefarmsystem.org/georgia) for the work these organizations do in support of family tree farms.

Following are scans of the magazine cover, the table of contents, and the article featuring our family.

The cover of the Summer 2023 Issue of Woodland Magazine

Contents page featuring all eight of our grandchildren, marching in order in front of the treehouse we built for them on the farm: Vivi, Brigette (holding Frankie), Henry, Ellie, Stella, Texas, Marjorie, and Pippa (with Homer prancing in the foreground).

Below are the cropped scans of the article on our family tree farm.

Page 1 of the article—the family photo showing all 14 of us was taken at Christmas, 2023 as we celebrated the holiday together at the farm. (See journal article: https://www.harrisonwoodlands.com/journal/2023/3/29/christmas-new-and-old-traditions)

I took the photo of the rainbow over the 100+ year old barns we renovated on my father-in-law’s farm. (See journal article: https://www.harrisonwoodlands.com/journal/2021/6/24/rehabilitation-of-mclendon-farm-barns)

Page 2 of the article. Cabin photo taken in early morning light (See article: https://www.harrisonwoodlands.com/journal/2022/8/28/the-log-cabin-history)

The Log Cabin History

The following post is written in honor of my father-in-law, Mr. Jesse McLendon. It was a great privilege to be the son-in-law of this man. He was a model husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, veteran of World War II, and a lifelong hard-working farmer. He was the possessor of great wisdom and kindness, as anyone who knew him will readily attest. One of my favorite all-time projects was turning the abandoned, almost a casualty of nature, place of his birth into a family gathering place that will hopefully survive for several more generations. It is a home away from home for us, his grandchildren, and now eight precious great-grandchildren he never had the privilege of meeting (but I see a little of him in each of them).

I thought it would be a good idea to write the history of the log cabin as it is an important part of our family’s story. Most of us have vague ideas concerning this, but I have much detailed information that should be preserved and passed down to future generations.

Jean and I had long thought a log cabin would be a unique home for our family, even when there were only the two of us. Jean’s father had told me on several occasions that he didn’t want to live in a log cabin—that he was born in one (in 1915!).

One day in the 1990s, I asked him how long the cabin had been gone, and he answered that it was still standing. When I asked the condition, he said the last time he saw it, it was in really bad shape. I asked where it was located. He told me it was on the farm of his nephew, Alvin McLendon, located north of GA Hwy. 228 on the Schley-Sumter County line. (His family were sharecroppers on this farm when they lived there. Later his brother George bought the farm.) He took Jean and me to the site initially in the spring of 1996. After deciding we wanted to pursue the project, we returned and we were greeted with what is shown in the photo below, taken in the fall of 1997.

Does this view inspire you as to the possibilities for this showplace?

I made a decision to try to salvage and relocate the cabin and Mr. Jesse asked Alvin about it and he readily agreed to give me the house to tear down, move, and reassemble the structure. (You can see several photos of Alvin much further below in the pictures of Mr. Jesse’s 85th birthday party. He visited the site of the new house several times. We are grateful for his generosity in giving this to us for our use.) Jean and I decided a good location would be on the pond on the Trice tract.

In the fall of 1997, we started the long process of tearing down the house and salvaging as much of the original material as possible for reassembly on our site.

This and several photos below show the condition of the house after the vines, chinaberry trees, and miscellaneous shrubs were removed by Merrill Bailey. You can tell at a glance this has amazing possibilities. Note the date on the photo—October 8, 1997. This is a view from the rear of the house.

This is a front view photo taken October 23, 1997.

The first of many steps in the process involved a cleanup of decades of debris and filth.

Jean and her daddy starting to clean the floor of the bedroom—October 23, 1997.

Cleanup crew taking a much needed break—October 23, 1997. (Mr. Jesse is 82 and Jean is 43).

Day 1 of dismantling, October 28, 1997. Daddy and his trusty dog are walking to the truck as I stand on the porch. The chimney on the left was the only one remaining. The bricks from this chimney were used for the fireplaces in the living room and bedroom.

Later on day 1 of dismantling, October 28, 1997. The gaps in the logs were never chinked, but were covered inside and outside with planks. As a result it was very poorly sealed and must have been very cold in the winter.

Day 2 of dismantling. Daddy is sitting on trailer of salvaged material to be stored in shop at the dairy. At the end of each day, we moved all the salvaged material to the dairy. It was later brought, as needed, to the new building site.

Front view of house on day 3 of dismantling, almost ready to start taking down log walls.

Day 3 showing log numbering scheme. Left photo shows living room and right photo shows bedroom. LR-N-E 2 is "Living Room North Side, East End, Second log from bottom.” BR-W-S 2 is “Bedroom West Side, South End Second log from bottom.” I also made sketches of the log walls to ensure everything was put back in the appropriate place.

Day 3—Mr. Jesse and his sister Minnie Jewel McLendon Peek, both were born in the house. I wish we were privy to some of the conversations they had as they visited the site.

Day 3—Left to right—Merrill Bailey, me, Joe Powell, and Bill McClellan as we are discussing taking down the log walls.

Day 3—Merrill Bailey lifting logs from structure with excavator. He lifted the long logs above the doors and we lifted the shorter ones by hand.

Day 3—Merrill Bailey on excavator, Darrell Bailey stacking logs on trailer. All logs were stored on this trailer borrowed from Merrill Bailey and kept under shelter near railroad until needed for reassembly.

November 10, 1997—Lyman Holloway house off Bumphead Road given to me by Bill Perry. Several long pine logs were salvaged and used on living room walls, as well as beaded boards in ceiling used in kitchen ceiling and bricks used for piers.

November 11, 1997—Closeup of Merrill Bailey lifting logs off Lyman Holloway house.

One of the long pine logs used in living room.

November 28, 1997—Joni and Ashley after loading bricks from Holloway house for use on piers for new house.

Photo given to me showing log cabin with handhewn white oak logs used for the living room. I purchased these from “Hondo.” He had labeled the logs and torn down the house and had them stored near Forsyth. (He claimed to have worked for the Allman Brothers Band and said Chuck Leavell had planned to purchase the logs.)

Spring, 1998—Building site prior to removing trees.

Floor framing complete.

Start of bedroom log wall erection. Original log cabin had bedroom logs 80% good and living room only 20% good. Good living room logs were used to complete bedroom. These were all split pine logs.

Joni and Ashley inspecting log erection process. Living room logs were hand hewn white pine logs primarily, supplemented as needed by hand hewn pine logs from Lyman Holloway house.

Log erection complete.

Main structure roof framing and fireplace erection complete. Notice front windows in living room not yet cut out.

July 10, 1998—Daddy inspecting start of front porch roof framing.

All roof framing complete and start of installation of roofing metal—notice a very busy construction site.

Fred Rockenhaus installing last pieces of metal on main structure.

Danny Beckwith working on bedroom fireplace. (Danny was an elementary school classmate of Jean and me.) Notice too the windows are installed and the chinking is complete.

Bedroom fireplace complete.

Joni doing jigsaw work as she helps me with rafter closures for installation above log walls.

Kitchen framing and another view of a very busy work site.

Two happy visitors inquiring about completion date.

October 14, 1998—Another view of a busy work site. Scaffolding surrounds living room chimney, living room windows installed, living room ceiling boards ready for installation. These were originally in the living room of the cabin and painted yellow (as were the inside of the bedroom walls). The paint was stripped by Tommy James in preparation for installing in new cabin.

Interior photo of living room showing windows and fireplace complete.

View from loft showing interior of living room.

October 28, 1998—Danny Beckwith proudly showing his work on the kitchen fireplace.

November 27, 1997—East exterior wall of kitchen finished.

November 27, 1998—Joni and Ashley posing in cabin loft windows.

December 2, 1998—Exterior nearing completion. Fireplaces and chimneys complete, exterior walls of utility room, bathroom, and kitchen almost complete.

December 2, 1998—Even “the old Dodge Caravan” made the photo!

December 2, 1998—This photo shows the jig I made to construct all the doors. ALL doors were a unique size, so I made the jig adjustable. The doors were all constructed with two layers of cypress, nailed and glued, with bracing on the inside made to fit the openings in the walls.

December 2 1998—Newly completed and installed front door to bedroom,

February 16, 1999—Excited guests invited to spend the very first night in the newly (and nearly) completed cabin—Gran (age 76), Papa (age 83), and Aunt Minnie Jewel (age 85).

February 16, 1999—Jean forgot to tell me she invited three guests to spend the night! As a result, I spent all day completing the plumbing, finally enjoying supper after dark in the not yet completed kitchen.

February 17, 1999—After a great night’s sleep, two of the three guests spending the night in the cabin for the first time in about 80 years, get ready to enjoy a hearty breakfast prepared by Gran using temporary wiring and a hotplate.

February 17, 1999—”Minnie Jewel, how many years has it been since we ate breakfast in this cabin?” “I don’t know Jesse, but it has to be close to 80 years!”

Five of us enjoyed the first meal prepared in the nearly finished cabin—and a very good breakfast it was. (I am standing out of view behind the camera.)

March, 1999—Four excited turkey hunters the night before opening day (L-R me, Jim Sellars, Steve Evans, Lee (aka Flash) Turner).

November 25, 1999—Thanksgiving—Uncle Billy, Mama, and Uncle Bobby.

Thanksgiving, 1999—Sisters and best friends for life!

Thanksgiving, 1999—Family gathering at the cabin.

Thanksgiving, 1999—Daddy and Uncle Billy

Thanksgiving, 1999—Supper at the cabin

September 9, 2000—This photo and the several that follow show Mr. Jesse’s 85th birthday party we hosted at the cabin.

Special Note: Alvin McLendon, Mr. Jesse’s nephew (and Jean’s first cousin) who gave us the cabin is seated with his back to the fireplace.

“This is my birthday celebration, this is my cake, and I am not sharing it with anyone!”

“OK, I guess I will share with the rest of you.”

It would be hard to find a better photo of this very special man!

As with the photo above, it would be hard to find a better photo of this man and his two granddaughters. You can see the mutual love they have for each other!

September 10, 2000—The sunrise provides perfect lighting to “the old cabin.”

September 10, 2000—The old pump I purchased at an antique store in Smithville, had powder coat paint applied, installed it near the back porch. Jean did the brickwork and added the flowers for Mr. Jesse’s birthday party.

Kelly Sellars took this photo after a snowstorm in 2010. What a beautiful sight!

Jimmy and Martha were married at the cabin in October, 2002 on a VERY hot day!

When Mr. Trice built the pond in the late 1970s, he left most of the timber standing as he loved to hunt ducks. As a result the trees died and broke off at the water line. I drained it in 1999 and had Harper’s Tree and Stump come in with a chainsaw crew, cut the standing timber and piled and burned it. We restocked the pond in 2000. This photo gives a great view of what it looked like before we cleared the standing dead timber.

2021 Tree Farmer of the Year

In March I received a call from Frank Green, the Program Administrator for the Georgia Tree Farm Program, informing me that Harrison Woodlands, LLC and I had been selected as the 2021 Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year. (Note: The terms Tree Farm of the Year and Tree Farmer of the Year are used interchangeably.)

He told me the award presentation would be in Hilton Head, SC at the 2021 Annual Conference of the Georgia Forestry Association in July.

We were honored to be selected for this award from among the nearly 2000 certified Tree Farms in the state.

Frank scheduled a video shoot for May 8 with a videographer, drone pilot, and representatives from the Tree Farm Program, the Georgia Forestry Commission, and our forester Jeff Greene with United Forestry Consultants.

The video shoot took most of the day and we were all pleased with the professional quality of the final eight minute video. It is posted on the Georgia Tree Farm Program website (see link in press release below) and YouTube.

Joni and Ashley quickly agreed for their entire families to join us in Hilton Head for a combination vacation and award reception. Jean and I attended the various conference meetings while the children and grandchildren enjoyed the beach.

The award presentation was at the awards breakfast on July 17. As the photo below shows, we had everyone in the family present at the breakfast except the three smallest grandchildren—Texas, Marjorie, and Pippa.

The presentation was made by Aaron Burton, the Georgia Tree Farm Program Chair. He invited the family members to accept the awards that consisted of a plaque, a bowl crafted from a longleaf pine handhewn beam from a circa. 1880 farm house, with a brass tag inscribed with my name and the occasion, and a sign commemorating the award that will be placed on one of our entrance gates. The note that came with the bowl (donated by Ed and Jan Withrow) reads, in part: “The Longleaf Pine, native to our state, stands for stability, longevity, and strength and so do the Tree Farmers in our state and throughout our nation. Our Tree Farmer of the Year for 2021 in Georgia demonstrates these same qualities.”

Photo of bowl, sign, and plaque

Henry and Stella with sign

Update: Friday, 1/21/22, a rainy and very cold day, I framed the sign with cypress (which should age naturally to blend with the fence) and installed it on the main gate at the McLendon Farm

Photo showing Tree Farm, Stewardship Forest, and Georgia Tree Farmer of the Year signs with Joni’s sign she painted years ago for the main entrance

Andres Villegas, the President and CEO of the GFA graciously invited the entire family to the stage for a photo with him and Aaron, and the grandchildren loved it.

On behalf of our family, I am thanking the Tree Farm Program and the Georgia Forestry Association for the award.

Our family with Andres Villegas (l) and Aaron Burton (r)

In addition to the various parts of the award presentation, I have a seat on the Executive Board of the Georgia Tree Farm Program.

Below is the press release from the American Tree Farm System with a photo from the awards presentation.

Frank sent the press release to the local paper “The Journal,” which covers Marion, Schley, Chattahoochee, Webster, and Stewart counties and they published his document in its entirety, including the color photo on the front page of the August 18, 2021 issue.

In early September Jeff Greene called and told me Wiregrass Land and Living Magazine, a publication of Southwest Georgia Farm Credit, was doing a feature article in the upcoming issue on his company, United Forestry Associates. He asked for permission to discuss his company’s relationship with Harrison Woodlands, LLC as part of the article, which I quickly granted. Following is the cover of the magazine, showing the title of the article and the Julie Strauss Bettinger’s four page article from the Fall, 2021 issue.

We were very well pleased with the Julie’s finished product and are grateful for Jeff Greene and United Forestry Consultants including us in their story. Julie took her information on our LLC from the Tree Farmer of the Year video and discussions with Jeff. Her article accurately describes the Tree Farm Program and the valuable contribution this organization provides to family tree farmers.

Thanks Julie, Jeff, and United Forestry Consultants!

Rehabilitation of McLendon Farm Barns

In late 2011, after much procrastination, Jean and I decided it was “now or never” concerning our desire to save the 100+ year old barns on the McLendon Farm. They had fallen into disrepair due mainly to the ravages of time—wind damage, rotten wood, termites, and old age had taken a toll on these historic structures. The photo above gives a good view of what we started with on the largest of the three barns.

Front view of two smaller barns, 12/1/11.

You can see that all three barns were in similar condition. Fortunately we and Jean’s daddy before us had kept the roofs intact, which saved the structures from complete destruction. Several years earlier, Jean and I had removed chinaberry trees that had completely surrounded the barns and largely obscured them from view. We used a chainsaw, bulldozer, our labor, and chemical application to the cut stumps to completely eliminate these invasive trees.

I met with Tye Bivins while he was between projects and talked him into this major undertaking. He and his two man crew worked with me for several weeks starting in December, 2011. Tye had earlier worked with me to build the Bluff House and had done other assorted jobs with me, so I knew he was the one to help me tackle this “dirty” job.

Most of the photos are of the largest barn. We decided to restore it first and once complete, to move immediately to the other two. I decided on cypress siding to replace the original weathered barn wood on the entire outside of the largest barn and the rear sides of the other two. This allowed us to use the old siding from the large barn to repair the other walls of the two smaller barns.

Cypress has several advantages for this use, among them rot resistance, weathering characteristics that would make it largely match the old wood after a few years, and resistance to termites.

We used new treated 4x6 and 6x6 structural timbers and some old beams to insure a strong and stable frame.

The old roofs were removed, the roof framing repaired, and new 26 gauge galvanized roofing installed with screws. Hopefully, with routine maintenance, inspection, and repairs, these roofs will keep the barns sound for another 100 or so years. We repaired the original doors on the fronts of the two smaller barns and built four new rolling barn doors for the front of the largest barn, including the hay loft.

Below are some before and after photos and this journal entry will end with two photos taken 9-1/2 years later on June 28, 2021 showing how the cypress siding has aged to nearly match the original barn siding.

Enjoy the slideshow!

In case you thought the comment above concerning the chinaberry trees was an exaggeration, this photo Jean found, probably from the 1980s or 1990s, with one of Mr. Jesse’s gardens (he maintained three gardens in those years) in the foreground shows the large barn almost completely covered with vines and chinaberries.

This photo was taken the same day as the one above. Again, notice the chinaberries growing all over the two smaller barns. It’s a wonder they didn’t destroy the barns. I remember telling Mr. Jesse once when he cut back and pulled up the chinaberry trees (not sure if that was before or after these photos), that if he cleared the barns of the chinaberry trees, I would keep them under control. I failed miserably, as a few years later, it looked as if no one had ever cleared them.

They may still pose a slight chance of growing back, but since we last cleared them several years ago, I have only had to deal with a very few very small new chinaberry trees. The best way to get rid of them, regardless of size, is to cut them near the ground and spray the cut stumps (even tiny ones) with Tordon RTU and they WILL NOT resprout.

Rear of Large Barn, 12/1/11, before we started work.

Photo of South End of Large Barn, 12/1/11.

This is a photo of the inside of the center section of the large barn looking from front to back before we cleaned everything out, 12/1/11.

Photo of feed trough and hay rack for mules. Notice the gnaw marks on the trough from continuous use for decades by the mules which worked the farm prior to tractors, ending in the 1950s. These were retained for their historical value. Photo taken 12/1/11 prior to start of rebuild project.

Jean is cleaning the hay from the loft and throwing it in the bucket of the loader in preparation for the start of the project, 12/1/11.

Wide angle photo of Jean removing hay from loft, 12/1/11.

Photo of start of work on rear of large barn, 12/6/11. Left to right—Me, Lance, Tye, Mike.

Front view of large barn with interior cleaned out prior to start of construction, 12/7/11.

Rear of barn open and ready to start framing with new treated 4x6 supports, 12/7/11. Fill dirt was hauled to the site and spread on the interior of the center section.

Looking through from back to front prior to start of framing, 12/7/11.

Rear view of two smaller barns, 12/7/11.

South end framing complete, 12/10/11.

Pouring foundation wall for rear center section, 12/10/11.

Vivi pays a surprise visit to the construction site, 12/10/11

Vivi talks her parents into letting her place her handprints in the newly poured concrete, 12/10/11.

Vivi invites Joni and me to admire her work, 12/10/11. Unfortunately not long afterward, the concrete crew erased her work. I redid her name and date, but could not replace her handprints! Sorry, Vivi!

Vivi’s sad expression appears to show she was expecting her work to vanish, so she invited Mama and Daddy to take one last look before it was erased, 12/10/11.

Vivi helps me with the final concrete on the front wall foundation (we had to mix by hand and pour from the loader bucket, as we were a little short of concrete on the truck). Vivi later remarked, “I’m sorry Henry and Texas, but I was driving tractors before either of you was born.” 12/10/11

Vivi relaxes with Mama and Daddy after an exhausting day working on the project, 12/10/11.

Vivi poses with the rest of the women in the family before leaving the jobsite, 12/10/11.

Vivi, never known for shyness in front of the camera, requests a closeup to end a long day, 12/10/11.

Front framing complete, 12/15/11.

Rear framing complete, 12/15/11.

Johnny Pritchard and crew working on nailers on roof and Tye and crew starting cypress siding on rear of barn, 12/16/11.

Start of roof on south side of large barn, 12/17/11.

Front siding nearing completion, 12/22/11.

Front siding and south roof complete, 12/23/11.

Vivi invited Mama, Daddy, Aunt Ashley, and Uncle Bubble to inspect the progress to date from the hay loft door opening and…they are suitably impressed, 12/26/11.

Vivi hosts JeeJee, me, Mama, and Aunt Ashley for a quick inspection of the ground floor, 12/26/11.

Front wide angle view of the completed large barn, 1/16/12. Notice the new look of the siding and contrast it with the following photos that show the effect of natural weathering of the cypress. You will note it blends well with the front of the other barns which had the old barn siding redone.

After several long weeks of work, our project was completed around the end of January, 2012. The only significant problem we have had since was a termite infestation Tye Bivins noticed a few years later in the large barn. It was successfully treated by the pest control company and is inspected annually by them.

We all take great pride in this accomplishment. Looking back we see, and the above photos document clearly, we could not have waited much longer if we desired to save these historic structures.

We have had, and granted, several requests for photo shoots from local parties. Old barns such as these are becoming rare. My father-in-law would be proud to know we worked especially hard, and at a cost of over $40,000, to preserve these barns that served him well for many years. They, along with other historic buildings at LaCrosse, provide a unique look back at history and preserve it for the generations that will follow us. (A few years later, we redid the old smoke house behind the white house.)

Below are three additional photos—one shows Vivi and Chip doing routine maintenance, spraying Roundup chemical to control weeds and grasses at the base of the buildings and the other two are recent photos showing the barns as they look today.

Vivi and Chip spraying Roundup, after weedeating around the barns, 5/22/17. (We even ate lunch under the barn before finishing this maintenance task.)

I was working at the farms at LaCrosse on 6/28/21 (9-1/2 years after our reconstruction project) and mowed around the barns and took this and the following photo showing their current state.

This final photo shows a landscape view of all three barns demonstrating the successful blending of new siding with 100+ year old siding.

I will now close this journal entry with a brief historical summary and a look into the future.

Jean’s father, Mr. Jesse McLendon, purchased these structures and the farm that surrounds them in 1948. He and Mrs. McLendon lived in the large white house on this farm at LaCrosse from then until 1969 when they built the brick house across LaCrosse Road. During the time they lived in the white house, Donna and Jean were born, in 1951 and 1954 respectively.

Jean and I are both children of the “Greatest Generation” and are called baby boomers. Both our fathers fought courageously in wars—Jean’s in WWII in the air war over Germany and mine in Korea. We owe our success to their selfless sacrifice.

The above project is a testimony of our thanks to them for all they gave us—moral values, a strong work ethic, dedication to family, and pride in America and what it stands for.

Jean and I decided it was worth the investment of considerable money and labor to restore these barns to their original glory—63 years after Mr. Jesse first took pride in his purchase of the land and these important farm structures. We today consider this undertaking our contribution toward preserving this visible part of our family heritage.

Our hope is that our children, grandchildren, and the generations that follow will similarly feel the obligation to preserve this and various other pieces of our family history.

We assume these barns were built in the late 1800s. If so, they are now 120+ years old. They won’t survive without proper care and maintenance, but we have given you a framework that should insure that, short of fire or tornado, should last until the end of this century, and hopefully beyond.

Thanks for listening!

P.S. I know I said I was finished, but I couldn’t resist one final photo. Could it be that Someone else put His stamp of approval on our work? It very well could be!

Photo taken 2/2/2016

Old Family Landmark Located and Preserved

Do not remove the ancient landmark which your fathers have set. (Proverbs 22:28)

Many years ago, Papa (Jean’s father, Mr. Jesse) told me on several occasions that he and Gran were so excited when they bought the Hudson Farm, that they walked to the SW corner, located at the Hudson Branch, and drove a pipe in the ground to mark the corner.

Early in 2020, Jean told me she wanted to see the SW corner of the Hudson Place, having never seen it before. On February 4, 2020 we walked west along the painted south property line to the approximate location of the property corner on the branch. On the way, I told Jean about the conversations I had with her father as noted above. I wandered off while Jean looked around and after a few minutes she called to me, telling me she thought she had found a rusty old pipe on the edge of the branch. Once I looked at her amazing find, sticking out of the ground only an inch or so, I knew it was the same pipe driven by her parents in 1953 (67 years earlier) and likely not seen by anyone since.

Jean Standing Beside Pipe. 2/4/20

Close-up of Pipe, 2/4/20

Fast forward to earlier this month, 5/15/21. Chip, Kemble, Henry, and I were walking various property lines and I was showing them key property corners. Jean and I had discussed the need to prominently preserve this historic corner marker, so the four of us walked to the location of the marker shown above and found it as before. We had taken a steel T post, driver, and surveying tape to better identify the landmark. Hopefully this will keep this little part of family history safely preserved for the next 70 or so years.

Pipe as found by Kemble on 5/15/21

Henry with Post Driver, 5/15/21

Hudson Place SW Corner—Originally Marked by Henry’s Great Grandparents in 1953 and Now Preserved for the Next Generations in a More Permanent Way by Henry, age 7, in 2021

A key point for all of us to keep in mind. Pay close attention to the treasure trove of information stored in the memories of those who may not be with us in a few years. I was likely the only family member who had heard Mr. Jesse make what he thought was a passing comment, but one I filed away in my memory banks. There is something special about “the land” and the stories associated with it, as hopefully this story demonstrates.

What memories do we have that will one day be lost if someone doesn’t ask questions, listen to casual conversations, and commit them to memory? We all enjoy a rich heritage in the land tracts the Lord has entrusted to us. We all must commit to preserve this heritage through solid stewardship principles, taking photos for historic preservation, and an abiding commitment to pass this along to the generations who follow us. This website is a great place for recording key facts and items of interest.

Closing questions: Are we being faithful in cultivating a love of the land, remembering the sweat of our ancestors that preserved this treasure for our enjoyment, and building memories that will accompany our precious children, grandchildren, and the succeeding generations in their journeys in this life? Are there journal ideas we need to record (I know I have some)? Will we commit to putting these in writing? Will we encourage the grandchildren to write their own stories for preservation here? Are there hikes we need to take, projects we need to be start or complete, fish we need to catch, animals we need to hunt, targets we need to shoot, landscapes we need to admire and preserve, lessons we need to teach, special places we need to show the children, four wheelers we need to ride, adventures we need to pursue, sunrises and sunsets we need to observe, values we need to reinforce, friends we need to invite, skills we need to develop, wood that needs to be split, camping trips we need to take, sweat we need to expend, property we need to explore, …?

Vivi's Playground Design and Construction Service

I have asked Grandpa to ghost write this post. Though my communication skills are "off the chart," my typing skills are minimal at best. The thoughts are all mine, but the typing belongs to Grandpa.

When the family completed the Bluff House, I was the only child/grandchild. I suspected I would not be the last, and was determined to make the place super child-friendly. Why have a special retreat in the woods without places to entertain ourselves? This project was a special challenge as all the decisions would be mine, and with it the responsibility to make it enjoyable for the siblings and cousins who would no doubt be joining me.

The notes below detail what went into the design and construction of this special project. (Design comes naturally to me, as I am blessed genetically with some very strong GA Tech genes.) Fortunately, JeeJee is a master at photo archiving as the images below will attest.

I remember Christmas Day, 2011 as if it was yesterday.  As I was deep in thought, I realized it was very unlikely I would be the only child to enjoy this place.  I don't mind taking turns, but this swing is MINE. What will the other children do for fun on the farm? I decided the only fair thing to do would be to add to our outdoor entertainment department--I would design and build a playground.  But first, who could I get to help?

I first talked with Grandpa about my idea, and then decided to call Uncle Jimmy.  He seemed to be pretty resourceful at "finding things," and takes great joy in making children happy. 

While Uncle Jimmy was busy looking for the playground equipment, Grandpa and I toured the site looking for the proper place for the new playground, confident Uncle Jimmy would come through for us. "Grandpa, I don't think the front yard is the right place for a playground.  Let's move a little to the west." (I hoped my poker face wouldn't betray my real opinion of Grandpa's site selection.)

Right on schedule, Uncle Jimmy comes through with the first load of equipment.  I hope he didn't get too cold riding all the way home seated on the slide.

No need to wait for the other children to come on the scene. This equipment must be properly tested, and there is no better place to start than the slide.

After pouring the foundation, Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Martha assist with the placement of the Merry-Go-Round. This part is trickier than you might think.

Sorry, Henry! I got here first, so I get to handle the front end loader for the precise task of setting the equipment properly.

It seemed only fair, that I as project manager would be the first to try out the Merry-Go-Round, but...

Uncle Jimmy had other ideas! So far, so good, but what if we have a boy in the family?

No problem!  Uncle Jimmy also found a jungle gym/monkey bars. Notice the laser level in the background--I insist on precise work!

You can't have a playground without swings!  After all, the white swing on the back porch is mine.  Where will the other children swing?

See how my foresight paid off?  Yes, that is Brigette underneath all that sun-shading clothing.  I'd say this project turned out pretty well, but aren't we missing something?

You guessed it! A water park! Complete with beach, swimming, waterslide, and comfortable pool furniture. Now that the construction is complete, why not invite some friends over for a swim?

What better way to initiate the opening of Vivi's Bluff House Playground and Water Park than to ask over a couple of the "bunnies."

Thanks for your patience. I know this post is a long one, but nobody ever accused me of being short of words! Hope you enjoyed my detailed account of one of my top ten projects.

Love,

Vivi Charles Lay, P.E. (Playground Engineer)

Henry Goes Turkey Hunting--April 15, 2017

A recent adventure is sure to go down in the annals of our family LLC.  I took Henry turkey hunting for the first time (even the title of this journal entry screams ADVENTURE!).  Ashley had asked if I was interested in taking him, and I quickly answered yes.  Tractor Supply outfitted my turkey hunting apprentice in John Deere camouflaged overalls, and off to the woods we went.  His mother made sure he was ready to leave his cozy Bluff House bed promptly at 6:15 a.m.  We drove to the Grantham tract, north of the highway, hoping to connect with the gobbler I had seen several times that week, but we heard nothing.  We did accomplish a number of things:  Henry made quite a fashion statement in the turkey woods, I made a new turkey hunting partner for life, and we enjoyed a delicious breakfast at the Main Street Grill where Henry told the waitress he was three and three quarters years old--to which she replied, "He is the cutest thing I have ever seen!".  Not bad for our first time out.

Henry (aka "The Big Man") is dressed and ready for action!  We are hopeful this photo will result in some serious sponsorship money from John Deere.

Posed photo of Henry and wild turkey hen (Real Henry and fake turkey, affectionately known as Gertrude).

My spotter, diligently searching the landscape for a glimpse of our target.

"Nothing to see here. What say we find some eggs and bacon?"

Henry's tutor and role model with a turkey taken April 1 on the Carlton's Hole tract.