Blowing Cave became well known to the early settlers of the area and by the 1850's had become a prominent curiosity that brought frequent visitors from the surrounding region. The entrance was once apparently much larger.
Georgia's counties have political subdivisions called "militia districts". A GMD (for Georgia Militia District) could elect its own justice of the peace (an office which once held much more judicial power than today) and other political officers. The GMD's were first established in the early 1800's and were originally intended to be districts with enough adult male population to be able to produce a full company of the Georgia State Militia.
I have not done any historical research on the subject so I do not know exactly when the Blowing Cave Georgia Militia District was established. However, it was active in the 1880's at least and is still a district today.
I recently came across info on the 'Net about articles in two different publications relating to either an envelope and letter or just a stamp which was posted at Blowing Cave in 1855. This would be the oldest existing postmark for the old post office that I know of. Such an item should be in a museum here.
Blowing Cave Courthouse, the official voting site of the Blowing Cave Militia District. The courthouse is located on the historic Hawthorne Trail, the Camilla - Cairo highway (Ga. Hwy. 112), about 7 miles north of Cairo. I have no info on when this particular structure was built but a courthouse has served this district since at least the 1870's, when it was part of Decatur County.The militia district remained about the same after the formation of Grady County in 1908.
A pioneer village of Blowing Cave should become a focal point of the proposed park. It should concentrate upon the period 1800 to 1860. The village should be of such scale and visual appeal that visitors would want to spend several days just sightseeing and shopping.
A Stagecoach Inn should be a village center of activity. It would include a restaurant specializing in Southern cooking, with old-fashioned dishes and served "family style". A restaurant in the opposite end of Georgia became famous for just such food and style.
From the Inn, visitors could take horse-drawn buggy and carriage rides around the village and to other park sites. The Inn should be the transportation center for buses and vans that offer tours to sites throughout the park and to nearby Climax Caverns. A ticket booth would be inside the Inn, along with souvenir shops.
Several "general" stores should be erected. These type stores sold just about everything in pioneer times -- thus the name "general" stores. Stores would display reproductions of period products to give an idea of what products were available to our ancestors. Other items which are made and grown in the park as well as items made or grown by farmers and craftsmen in the area would be sold to visitors.
The shops would sell food stuffs grown and processed in the area such as jars of pickles, peaches, tomatoes, pickled melons, peppers, vegetables; boiled and parched peanuts; homemade peach, blackberry, mayhaw and other jams and preserves. Smoked hams and other cured meats grown by farmers in the area and the park could be sold along with fresh vegetables, melons, peanuts, fruit and other foodstuffs during season. Souvenir items produced in the area such as miniature bales of cotton, leather goods, artwork by local and Southern artists, period costumes, park photos and other keepsakes would also be sold.
A special brand label could be prepared for the park's products for such items sold here.
Every effort should be made to secure plans or photos of a mid-1800's county courthouse in Georgia and such a building should be recreated in the village. Copies of public records -- deeds, estate records, court records, etc. -- from courthouses in the region could be put on display. Reenactments of pioneer trials could be held for visitors.
An academy or school building would be an essential part of the village. During peak visitor periods, children of park employees could act as pupils attending the school in period costumes.
Afully functioning blacksmith shop would operate year round. A properly trained blacksmith could make farm tools, hand tools, horseshoes, fire irons, and other items for the village and pioneer farm, as well as for sale in the village shops.
Millinery items would be made and sold in the millinery shop, including ladies' hats, bags and clothing. This could become a "home" industry for local residents.
Pioneer carpentry would be on display at a carpenter's shop where visitors could watch as the carpenter made items used by pioneers in the early 1800's. It could be an educational experience for space age visitors to witness pioneer carpentry practices using antique tools.
Homemade clothing could be available for sale at a tailor's shop. It would specialize in men's and boy's clothing. Period costumes from the early 1800's would be displayed.
Horses would be stabled at a livery stable located next to the blacksmith shop. Horses should be stabled here during busy visitor days. A corral behind the stable would offer short rides by children.
Riding stables on the edge of the village would offer extended horseback riding along the park trails.
Wagons, buggies, farm carts and carriages would be built at a wagoner's shop. These vehicles were the only means of land transportation in pioneer times other than walking or horses. That made the wagoner a very important person.
Arail line could be built from the park area to Cairo offering passenger service between Blowing Cave and Cairo. Antique rail cars and engines could be copied for use to provide rail excursions. Visitors could ride the train into Cairo and back and perhaps from Cairo to Bainbridge with stops at Climax. The train could also be used by park employees for transportation from Cairo to work in the park.
A train depot would be located near the Stagecoach Inn in the village and another depot in Cairo. Old fashioned depots could be recreated at Climax and the old depot at Bainbridge could be restored for this operation. The village depot at Blowing Cave could also house a railroad museum as an added attraction.
The rail line should be constructed in the median of an intensely landscaped parkway connecting the park area and Cairo.
Several restaurants would be developed over time as needed, offering a variety of styles of food. The majority should specialize in Southern food but offer a regional blend: one could offer Southern bar-be-cue, others Louisiana Creole, Texas steakhouse, Georgia and Virginia hams, Southern catfish and seafood, etc.
Theater performances, small meetings, concerts and educational programs could be held in the village theater. The theater could also offer vintage or classic movies that emphasized pioneer life in Dixie. A pioneer drama could be written to highlight the lives of early setters in our region.
The theater could also host indoor concerts during winter months for popular singing stars and bands.
An amphitheater should be built in the escarpment area near Ochlochnee Falls. This site could offer outdoor concerts and plays year-round. National, regional and local talent could be booked for concerts. A full-time theater company could be developed (similar to those at other parks around the nation) to offer plays year-round.
A specially-written outdoor play that would be held in warm months at the amphitheater could be held during winter months at the village theater.
Streets throughout the village area should be paved with bricks. Some side streets should remain dirt rather than any paving at all. No asphalt paving should be used in the village area to distract from the 1800's appearance of the community. Brick sidewalks would be paved on each side of all streets, both paved and dirt, to accommodate visitors.
Trails would be developed throughout the park area, connecting the waterfalls, caves, Blowing Cave village and other sites. These could accommodate walking visitors and horseback riders. The trails should be intensely landscaped with native flowers and trees, especially live oaks, palms, native azaleas, etc. Wetlands along the trails should be restored with native plants that would become attractions for their appearance as well as the wildlife they would attract. Such trails would help get folks out of their cars in order to see more of the park -- and bring them back for repeat visits.
The natural wonders in this area need your help. If you want to see them preserved and restored to their former splendor, then contact your state senator, state representative and Governor Barnes and urge them to establish a major state park for this site to preserve these natural wonders -- and create much needed jobs for our area.
The link to the Georgia Governor has an email form that you can fill out. You can NOT send him an email directly.
These are links to their contact pages:
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