Lake
Hartwell...
Great Lake of the South
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Lake
Hartwell...
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Lake Hartwell Shoreline Tour (Section 2)
 "Riverside":
Further down on the right on a hill overlooking the upper Tugaloo River. This
beautiful twelve columned Greek revival antebellum home was built in 1850 by James D.
Prather with the labor of his slaves and timber from his plantation. During the
Civil War, General Robert Tombs, a close friend of Mr. Prather, used the house as a
refuge from northern troops hiding in a double closet to escape capture. |
 Prather's
Bridge: Across from "Riverside" Prather bridge road
leads to Prather's Bridge. The first Prather's bridge was a swinging
bridge built in 1804 by James Jeremiah Prather. This washed away and a more substantial
bridge was built in 1850 but was burned during the Civil War to keep the enemy from
crossing. This was rebuilt in 1868, washed away again in 1918 and rebuilt in 1920. Finally
replaced by a concrete structure, the bridge was was kept as a landmark until burned by
vandals in 1978. |
Historic Traveler's Rest was built on land granted to Major Jesse Walton (a Revolutionary soldier and political leader) in 1785. After Walton was killed by Indians near here in 1789 the family sold the land to James Rutherford Wyly who built the main part of the house between 1816 and 1825. Devereaux Jarrett bought the house on August 21, 1838, added to the original structure and opened it to the public where it served as an Inn, trading post, and post office. While the Jarrett family owned the house that they called Jarrett Manor, Mrs. Mary Jarrett White, the last family owner, made history. She was the first woman in Georgia to vote. |
  On US 123 just south of Travelers Rest this marker talks about "Old
Tugaloo Town", an Indian town settled around 500 AD and destroyed by American
patriots fighting these allies of the British in 1776. All that remains is a small island
in the center of the lake north of the railroad bridge. Across from this marker is
Stephens County park and the remains of the old 123 bridge, now used as a fishing pier. |
HISTORIC TRAVELERS REST A National Historic Site