Our Voice

    Here’s an interesting story for you.
    In 1802, John Clarke and a group of federal commissioners were scouting recently attained Native American land to construct a new state capitol. They came across a beautiful bubbling spring not far west of the Oconee River on fertile ground that was peppered with massive live oak trees.
    The location was perfect. The land was pure. John Clarke collected a sample of the crystal clear water and mixed it with a cup of whiskey. He was pleased with the taste and it was settled. This would be Georgia’s gateway to the west.
    That was the birth of Milledgeville, the town we now call home. But where is the spring now? Why isn’t there a town celebration every year where everyone can taste the pure, sweet waters that made this spot so perfect?
    One would think that such a beautiful spot would be made into a park. The spring could be put under a fountain and people could lounge under the shade of the massive oaks. The description sounds like an ideal spot for family picnics or even another historic location to put on the map.
      Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Currently, the spring is located underneath the GCSU car garage at Plant Operations right by the Public Safety building.
    It’s not easy to find either. If you ever make it through the maze of GCSU Plant Operations you can only view the waters at the graces of Richard Campbell, the automotive shop foreman.
    Dr. Bob Wilson has actually drunk the cool water mixed with whiskey just like John Clarke. So the water is still just as clean and clear as ever.
    Here’s another story you probably didn’t know.
    On the same ground that we attend classes everyday used to be the state penitentiary. Ironic, isn’t it, considering some people see school and prison as one entity.
    In 1864 the penitentiary mysteriously burned. This happened right before Sherman and his troops entered Milledgeville on their way to Savannah. Thus, Sherman automatically bore the burden of guilt. Sherman did destroy many structures during his short pass through Milledgeville, but the penitentiary was not one of them.
    Even the New Georgia Encyclopedia credits Sherman to the fire, but they are wrong. In fact, no one really knows who started the inferno. Some historians believe that prisoners started the blaze trying to escape knowing that Sherman was coming. With Sherman’s pyromaniac reputation it wasn’t that hard to blame a fire on him. 
    Then years later, here we are.
    Now you can go home and tell your parents you learned something.

Send responses to
colonnadeletters@gcsu.edu

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Feb 2 2007. Filed under Opinion, Our Voice. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry