Sep 14 Sax Island

 

This fish spits out kids. A very unorthodox playground sits in the middle of this island surrounded by Haw River. On the north end of the island, someone has placed 4 double hammocks, another unusual feature on Saxapahaw Island. A loop trail follows the perimeter of the island with occasional views of the river. We saw many Spice bushes, sunflowers, Jewelweed, Sea Oats and lots of Hackberry trees. Many of the trees had north facing scars at their base. So, this island must flood occasionally. The island is accessed via a road bridge which crosses the Haw River.  

Hidden in those riverside trees is a hiking trail. It gets a lot of use since the old cotton mill buildings are now condominium lofts.  

A well maintained and sandy trail

Glimpses of the river. This side has very little flow.

In 1701, on his walk through the Carolinas, John Lawson described this area as "the flower of Carolina". 

Two Hackberries are joined together.

Fish weir visible from the island.

Bridge and mill building

I found the history of Saxapahaw fascinating. A quaker, John Newlin, built the first cotton mill in 1844-1848. His slaves dug the mill race and helped with the construction. That didn't make sense at first. Quakers opposed slavery. The story goes back to 1838 when Newlin inherited about 40 slaves from Sarah Freeman. Newlin intended to free them but Freeman's will was contested for ten years, even going to the NC Supreme Court. When the case was settled, Newlin did free them and brought all the slaves to Ohio, a free state. I read an account in which he also provided housing for them in Logan County, Ohio. 

The mill produced woven cloth and later, cotton yarn. It passed through a number of owners. Abandoned at one point and bought by B Everette Jordan in 1927. It thrived until the 1980s and finally closed its doors in 1994 after suffering tornado damage. The mill buildings began their transformation in 2006. The former mill buildings now house businesses, restaurants, a ballroom, a brewery and lofts.  

Not your typical graffiti