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If you have information about the Stephens family or the Hyde family or their ancestors, or about anything else on this Website, I'd love to hear from you. Just use the e-mail address above and drop me a line.

 

Incredible stories
If you enjoyed this tale of the lost summer camp, be sure to check for other stories that will leave you shaking your head in awe and wonder.



More photos of old Camp Highland

The railroad cut before the footbridge was built. Camp Highland is on the hill to the right. See the old locomotive above? It is just about at the place where I'm standing in the color picture in the main panel. Can't find it? Look for the handsome man in blue coveralls.


In this later picture, the footbridge is visible on the right. It crosses the railroad toward Camp Highland. The building at the left is now just a small pile of rubble.

View from footbridge at Camp HighlandRemember that there's a steep, treacherous drop to the tracks from here. Looks like there are no fences or safety rails.

 

Camp Highland girls doing gymnasticsApparently the young women were healthy and athletic. This is impressive.

 

This girl is sitting near Nickajack Creek in her middy shirt, bloomers, and heavy shoes. The railroad trestle is behind her. This dam was a popular place for the girls to swim.

It's still there today, looking much the same. (above pictures courtesy Emory University Library Special Collections)

Dam at Nickajack Creek with railroad overpass in background


This stone chimney and another one (not visible in this picture) are all that's left of the main building.

Stone chimney in the woods at Camp Highland

 

If you have any stories, information, or pictures related to Camp Highland, please drop me a line.

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The mystery of the lost summer camp: part 5

In December of 2009, I decided I just had to see the site of Camp Highland. These two aerial photos of the site were taken 50 years apart.

This is what can happen in 50 years. New images from Google Earth showed me it was overgrown and surrounded by office parks, industrial sites, and subdivisions. But the railroad and the bend in the creek are still there as perfect landmarks.

 


Almost there
The railroad cut! The old Camp Highland site is up the hill to the right. This is the area where the footbridge crossed the tracks. Atlanta was built around the railroads, and this rail line is very old. And it's still very active. And of course, the old man is none other than your Webmaster, James, dressed for the December drizzle and fog.

James on tracks near Camp Highland in 2009

   

My friend Amy holding a sign as train speeds by in the backgroung

My adventuresome friend Amy with speeding train.

 


On a later trip, my neighbor Will stood on the trail to the top of the hill. And of course, there's another train in the background. You have to be very alert on this dual track.

Will is about 50 feet from the ruins of the newer swimming pool, up the hill and to his left.

My neighbor, Will, at Camp Highland with train in the background.

 

This is what's left of the concrete pool at the top of the hill, and a view of the same pool in the 1960s. This earlier photo courtesy of the Smyrna Historical Center.

Ruins of newer Camp Highland pool in 2009

Camp Highland pool in the 1960s


 

This is all that's left of one of the cabins.

Ruins of cabin


Absolutely amazing
Believe it or not, the flagpole is still there, hidden among the trees and vines. You can see the six-sided concrete base. This is where my aunt Elsie was sitting about 90 years ago.

Camp Highland flagpole in 2009


Want to know more about the day-to-day life of Camp Highland girls? Click below to read an account from someone who was there.

Everyday life at Camp Highland

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Last update: April 7, 2014