Mar 22 Birkhead Area Homesites & Dassow Tract Ribbon Cutting

 

In my wanderings and forages through the Birkhead Wilderness vicinity, I often come across homesites. Typically, a chimney fall or intact chimneys are a dead giveaway. Other characteristics are wolf trees (large trees with with low branches that grew in a yard), yucca, daffodils and other ornamentals, large Eastern Red Cedars and ground disturbances. 

Arriving an hour early for the Dassow Tract ribbon cutting, I wanted to get in a short hike to a nearby homesite. This one is on a small creek. There is a standing chimney, for now anyway. A spring was located about 60 feet away. There were no other typical homesite characteristics. And, I could find no sign of an old road to access the place. I walked in circles around the chimney but never found anything. This homesite is quite close to the Dassow Tract, probably just a couple hundred feet away. 

A flat lintel bar holds some hand formed bricks in place as the fireplace's lintel. 

I'm beginning to document these homesites in the Birkhead area. My current tally is 20 homesites and Gray Owl which is still standing. There are a couple more suspected spots. Only 2 have standing chimneys. 

After a brief visit, I headed back to the trailhead to socialize with the ceremony participants. District Ranger Susan Ladd Miller spoke and was accompanied by Rodney Smith, Corey Ledbetter and John Langdon who has assumed Terry Savery's Trail Specialist duties until someone can be hired for that position. Three Rivers Land Trust had about 6 staff present and there was a smattering of others. 

The ribbon cutting ceremony was for a 99 acre tract being transferred to the Forest Service. The Dassow family owned this land from 1970 until 2019 when Three Rivers acquired it for the purpose of transferring it to the Forest Service. During that time, hikers have hiked across the property via the Birkhead Mountain Trail which passes through it and  hunters have accessed it as well. We are all so thankful for the Dassows' generosity in allowing this recreation on their property. A planned timber cut was the wake up call for local conservationists. I credit Crystal Cockman of TRLT for orchestrating the fundraising needed for this purchase and transfer. David Craft and Mary Joan Pugh also played roles in conserving this land.  A plaque in honor of the Dassows is embedded on a rhyolite outcrop near the top of Coolers Knob. Crystal Cockman of TRLT led a hike past the plaque and on to the top of Coolers Knob.