A few days ago my Aunt Betty sent me a link to some really cool images that someone had taken a long time ago of the Ishkooda Mines along Red Mountain. This spawned a river of memories and now I find myself drifting away from the gardening tasks that I am already behind on and into the middle of the swift waters; only to be drowned by the rush of thoughts that are pouring into my head.
I was raised in a mining camp along Red Mountain. Number 11 Camp, to be exact. The camp was named after the mine shaft tipple number. Most of the adults called it, and still refer to it as "The Camp." To me back then, it was simply "Home." The area is known as Ishkooda. I believe there were only sixteen houses in the neighborhood back then. Mostly two bedroom homes with one bath, living room, dining room and kitchen. Our house was special though! We had a bonus room! Paw-paw closed in the old back porch and made us a combination walk-in closet and pantry. We didn't know pantries back then, so we just referred to it as the "little room." I remember when stuff got misplaced, Granny would always ask, "Did you look in the little room?" I don't know how all that stuff ended up in such a small place.
There will be more ramblings about my early life later. I can't help it, you see? But first, I want to relate this chapter part to the parks relating to industrial archaeology.
Horticulture and gardening aren't the only things I enjoy in life. Lately I have been interested in history. Most especially, the history surrounding central Alabama and the impact our natural resources have had on our lives for the past 200 or more years. (I am only referring to the industrial period right now.)
Seeing the images of the old mine ruins from my childhood reminded me that there are industrial historical sites all over the state just loaded with interesting things to explore!
Just last fall, while identifying wildflowers at a local state park, I ran into a friend that I hadn't seen in a few years. Dr. Jack Bergstresser, Director of the Iron & Steel Museum of Alabama was working on an archaeological dig at Brierfield Ironworks State Park. After an hour or so spent catching up on what we had been doing for the last four or five years, he gave me a tour of his dig site and laboratory. See the images below.
Another interesting thing that I discovered a few months ago is that the old Ishkooda mines have been declared an historical entity!
I remember a fellow from back in the early 90's named Howard Penuel who was with the Alabama Abandoned Mine Lands mentioning that he was working to reclaim the land for safe use now that the mines are no longer in operation.
Now, it seems that there is a plan for a park in that location where iron ore was mined and steam locomotives once rounded the mountain along the tramway, carrying product from tipple to furnace as we watched from the little silver-roofed camp houses below.
Here's a great link that explains some of the things in the works for the park and how it all came about. Red Mountain Park
Later, I'll have more details about this park along the historical trail including some images of the flora of the mountain.
Thanks for reading. -Kenn
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