Photos of the area during the
drought of 2007-2008.
All photos by Tom Connor unless noted otherwise.
Group shot from a recent trip.
Photo was taken on the Old Highway 45 Roadbed, looking West. Church
Island is in the background. If the lake were full, we would have a water
level one foot above our heads. Photo by Tony Dantzler
Heading out of what is known locally as Simmon's Landing we see the small
creek bed that once flowed northward out into the Santee river.
Looking Southwest
near the mouth of the creek, we find wide open spaces.
Many old building
sites are visible in the sand and mud of the lake bed. Here, two
chimney bases come back into view.
Near the site of
the Lumber Mill at Ferguson, a well gets a once over by some visitors.
A old structure
near the Ferguson Mill. No one seems to know what it was used for.
Photo is looking West, toward Eutaw Springs.
This is the base of the old
Water Tank at Ferguson Mill site.
Many old concrete piers dot the landscape to the west of the old lumber
kiln. This is the site of the mill itself. These piers supported
the floor and columns of the mill building. The lumber kiln is visible
in the background. This "minefield" of concrete projections is approx.
four acres in size.
A closer look at the piers.
A old rusting anchor rests
atop a pier at the edge of the receding waters
A brick structure near the old
kiln.
More of the same. They
resemble ancient ruins to some.
A large circular brick
structure near the kiln.
This is the old
kiln, or what is left of it. Constant wave action has caused much of
the old building to collapse.
This is what the kiln looks
like on the inside.
The Ferguson Site
from the air.
Photo by Jeff
Britton
Another shot from the air,
different angle.
Photo by Jeff
Britton
Another shot from the air,
different angle.
Photo by Jeff
Britton
The Kiln is in the middle of
this shot.
Photo by Jeff
Britton
A very long ( about 300 feet)
concrete wall near the mill site.
More brick-work
ruins. This is on the lake side of the kiln. Possibly used for
loading lumber into or out of the kiln.
Unknown brick structure
located near the kiln.
One of the many old bricks in
the area. This one has the word "Killian" stamped on it.
Looking West. Just
beyond these stumps was the town of Ferguson, South Carolina.
An old home site on the East
end of the Island. This would normally be covered by water.
Chimney or foundation bricks
from a home that once housed a family
