Jocassee Journal Information and News about the Jocassee Gorges www.dnr.sc.gov Spring/Summer 2011 Volume 12, Number 1 Showing off the new monument honoring Dr. James A. Timmerman Jr. at the Jumping-Off Rock Overlook are (from left) Michael McShane, chairman of the S.C. Natural Resources Board; Tommy Miller, former board member; and DNR Director John Frampton. (DNR photo by Greg Lucas) Monument dedicated to Dr. Timmerman unveiled at Jocassee Gorges overlook DNR director was fond of saying, ‘God instrumental in South Carolina's purchase and protection visits the beaches, but He lives in the of more than 50 square miles of land surrounded by Lake Jocassee. By resolution of the South Carolina Senate, the mountains’ area was named "The Jim Timmerman Natural Resources A monument honoring Dr. James A. Area at Jocassee Gorges" on Dec. 7, 2000. Doc's Timmerman Jr., who helped protect thousands lifelong devotion to conservation is remembered with of acres of mountain lands, was dedicated Sept. swift mountain streams, rare plant habitats and the 13, 2010, at Jumping-Off Rock Overlook, the abundance of wildlife that combine to give Jocassee hallmark vista of the Jocassee Gorges. Gorges its unique character and scenic beauty. His "I honestly believe this view here is the most legacy for future generations is the preservation and spectacular in the state of South Carolina," said enhanced appreciation of our natural heritage. Doc John Frampton, director of the S.C. Department often remarked, "God visits the beaches, but He of Natural Resources (DNR), "and it absolutely lives in the mountains." would not have been possible without the vision Timmerman, who died in 2005, protected of Jim Timmerman." thousands of acres of land for conservation during A large contingent of family and friends Timmerman his tenure as director of the S.C. Department of made the long trek down the Horsepasture Natural Resources (DNR) and was one of the Road in northern Pickens County to Jumping-Off Rock key figures in the state's acquisition of Jocassee Gorges. Overlook to see the unveiling of the monument. The During Timmerman's tenure, the DNR acquired monument reads: thousands of acres in heritage preserves, protecting many Dr. James A. Timmerman Jr. was director of the S.C. rare and endangered species. The ACE Basin Project Department of Natural Resources from 1974 to 1997. also became one of the nation's premiere land protection Known as "Doc" by friends and colleagues, he was efforts during Timmerman’s tenure. The view from the western side of Sassafras Mountain at the new overlook provides a gorgeous view of the surrounding mountains of South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia. (Photo by Heyward Douglass) New overlook at Sassafras Mountain gives view from the top of South Carolina Group would like to see highest point that promotes visitation of the summits in all 50 states, in state become Pickens County tourist www.highpointers.org), Easley Chamber of Commerce, attraction Foothills Trail Conference and Duke Energy. "When our school children visit the highest A partnership of state and county groups has peak in our state, the new overlook now gives them resulted in an overlook on Sassafras Mountain, with a view of which they can be proud," said Mark Hall, a beautiful view of the surrounding South Carolina DNR wildlife biologist and Jocassee Gorges manager. mountains along with the mountains of neighboring "The long-term goal is to have an impressive structure North Carolina and Georgia. atop the mountain, similar to Mount Mitchell in North Sassafras Mountain is South Carolina's highest Carolina or Clingman's Dome in the Great Smoky point at an elevation of 3,560 feet, and members of Mountains National Park, which will permit long-range several groups met at the overlook recently to admire views in all directions from the top of Sassafras." DNR, it, including the S.C. Department of Natural Resources Pickens County and interested groups will continue (DNR), which constructed it. The groups included to work toward improving the state's highest peak as a Pickens County, The Highpointers Club (a group tourist destination. Master Naturalists focus on Jocassee Gorges In late November 2010, Certified Wildlife The new Biologist and Forester Mark Hall of the S.C. overlook at Department of Natural Resources provided an in-depth Sassafras presentation of the Jocassee Gorges to the Upstate Mountain, Chapter of Master Naturalists. with an Well attended, the morning session began at the awesome view Laurel Valley Lodge off US Highway 178 where Hall, a of nearby 10-year veteran working in Jocassee Gorges, presented ridges and a comprehensive look at the history, acquisition, distant lakes, management, and the environmental and political provided a impacts this special mountainous area has had in the great place recently for an Upstate Master Naturalist past and is experiencing today. Afterwards, Hall led the field trip, hosted by Mark Hall, DNR Jocassee Gorges group on a short drive to the top of Sassafras Mountain land manager. (Photo by Steve Marlow) where lunch and the last business meeting of 2010 were held at the newly constructed overlook. the Clemson University-sponsored Master Naturalist The Upstate Chapter of Master Naturalists program and who elect to join the association. For more Association is comprised of graduates who complete information, visit www.clemson.edu/public/naturalist/. 2 Lady Luck flies with Alabama man Young soldier was scheduled to be on plane that crashed in Jocassee Gorges but had gotten off when aircraft made unscheduled fuel stop By Jimmy C. Jones Until recently I had never heard of Jocassee Gorges, but I now feel somehow linked to the location because of an event that dates back some six decades. I barely missed being in a fatal airplane crash there back in November 1950. And all this time I never knew the details of the accident; the media only revealed that the plane crashed into “a mountain,” giving no further details. During a recent Google search of the Internet, I came upon the Spring/Summer 2004 edition of the Jocassee Journal newsletter, and was elated to finally read the exact location and the details of the tragedy including photos of parts of the wreckage after all these Jimmy C. Jones of Clanton, Ala., was a passenger years. Please accept my gratitude for publishing the on the ill-fated C-82 "Flying Boxcar" that crashed article and my hope that the lives of these men may be into Bully Mountain in northern Pickens County in memorialized by some sort of shrine on the location. November 1950, but by a strange twist of fate, Jones Some 60 years ago, I was at the kitchen table in my got off the plane during an unscheduled fuel stop in home in Clanton, Ala., an 18-year-old fledgling Alabama, not too far from his hometown. member of the Air Force on leave from McCord Air Force Base in Washington State. My dad had just brought in the afternoon newspaper containing an article describing the a Sgt. Walter Lott from Florida took fatal crash of an Air Force C-82 my place as a passenger and was killed headed to Greenville from Maxwell with the others in the crash. Air Force Base in Montgomery. I After returning to McCord, I had to was stunned. It was the plane I had sign off on a parachute left on the just disembarked from the night airplane and I still have a copy of the before. affidavit. At that time my first name Just the day before, I had was spelled with an “ie” instead of gotten a hop on the same aircraft “y.” The affidavit reads as follows: which had undergone a major I, Jimmie C. Jones, AF 14 318 763, renovation at McCord and was being hereby swear and affirm that while transferred to Greenville. The crew flying aboard C-82 #7739 from was made up of three members of McCord AFB to Maxwell AFB talked the Pennsylvania National Guard just to the pilot, Lt. Schmitt, about a called back into regular duty because parachute belonging to McCord AFB. of international conflicts. I talked This photo of Jimmy C. Jones and He said that apparently one of to them at length during the flight a fellow soldier and friend known the McCord personnel who flew the and the pilot made an unscheduled as "Chief" was taken in 1952 when test flight at McCord must have left fuel stop at Maxwell, just 50 miles Jones was stationed at Lajes Field on it aboard and that he would see that from my home. They were all great Terceira Island in the Azores, where it would be shipped back to McCord guys. The pilot and co-pilot told Jones was crew chief on a C-47 from Greenville. me that they were jewelers back in Gooney Bird. (Photos courtesy of (Jimmy C. Jones is a retired pharmacist Pittsburgh, Pa. When I disembarked, Jimmy C. Jones) who lives in Birmingham, Ala.) 3 Jumping-Off Rock Overlook is now the subject of an Earthcache, which is similar to a Geocache, except that the designation is virtual, as there is no physical "cache" on the site. The Earthcache website gives potential visitors natural history information about the northern Pickens County beauty spot. (DNR photo by Greg Lucas) Earthcaching arrives at Jumping-Off Rock Overlook GPS units used to find beauty spots in Majestic Table Rock Mountain awaits the hale and South Carolina mountains hearty in its nearby namesake state park. Venture farther into the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area to the brow By Tony McDade of an Emperor (Caesars Head) and to a Place called Pretty (Cleveland Cliffs).