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