Bluff Springs gravel lake
I've always called them gravel lakes. I thought of them as places to swim, boat and fish. The first gravel lakes I experienced were at Mystic Springs (near McDavid), and I've also spent a lot of time at the gravel lakes of Bluff Springs. There are also lakes along Old Flomaton Road in Century and probably other places in the area, but I have little experience with those.
As a child and teenager I often walked with friends, brothers and cousins to the Mystic Springs gravel lakes to swim, play in the sand and gravel, pick dewberries and search for Mayhaws. During my sons' childhood we often walked or drove to the Bluff Springs gravel lakes to swim, fish, boat and collect various items of interest. I have also took lot of pictures of the Bluff Springs gravel lakes and the various birds and turtles I find there.
The lakes are what are left after gravel companies extract sand and gravel. Gravel has been an important industry in our area. The one I am most familiar with is Campbell Sand and Gravel, but there are many others still operating. Even more operated in the past. Many people I know refer to the biggest lake along Old Flomaton Road as Rockymo, or Big Rockymo. A friend once explained to me that name came from the name of the gravel company that created the lake. (He said the name may have actually been Rockymore.)
The only reference to the Century area gravel industry I could find on the internet was in a Wikipedia article on Century. "Gravel and sand is mined in open pits in and near Century. These natural mineral deposits are essential to supporting the construction industries in nearby Pensacola and Mobile, especially for use as aggregate materials in concrete." If any readers can give more information, please contact me (850-417-9803 or [email protected]) or come to the next Alger Sullivan Historical Society meeting on Tuesday, January 21st at 6 pm in the Leach House Museum. (4th and Jefferson in Century) Perhaps someone would be interested in telling us about your experiences with gravel.
Our annual business meeting will be at 6pm on January 21st in the Leach House. Members, please join us if you can. Visitors and prospective members are always welcome.
Sawmill Day will be Saturday, May 2, 2020. We hope you can join us. Those interested in having booths or being in the entertainment line-up can call me (850-417-9803) or our president, Jerry Fischer (850-256-3980).
Our museums are open most Saturdays from 10 am until 2 pm. Old 100 is always on view. You are welcome to use our picnic tables anytime. We want to be of service to the community.
May we all have better vision in 2020.
