Back to Jug Tavern

I know, you want to know where Jug Tavern is and why we are here. Back in the days of yore, that is, in the Colonial days, Winder, Georgia, where Fort Yargo is, was called Jug Tavern. I suppose there was a tavern here where one could get a “jug”, if one were so disposed. I’ll leave it to you to figure out what was in the jug.

So, we are back in Fort Yargo where the trees and bushes are in bloom and the road is being torn asunder in the construction of a new entry to the park. The construction promises better parking, a wider road and space for RVs. Promises I say. Were they fulfilled? The parking lot is prettier, but seems smaller.  The road is slightly wider. The RV parking is too small for the stated number (2) of RVs. The only thing lacking at this point is a new, and larger, kiosk. That’s where the attendant sits and collects the five dollars for parking. I’ll give you the final verdict and pictures next time. But it looks nice and new.

We are back in our favorite spot in Picnic Area 2, down by the lake. We were totally surprised by the look of the lake when we arrived. We looked, did a “double-take,” and wondered where the water was. We crossed the bridge with nothing but dry land beneath, where we normally saw turtles and blue-heron was nothing but brown ground and grass. What happened to the lake?

What you see in the picture that looks like beaches is just dry ground that used to be covered with water to the tree-lines. The lake was down eight feet. “Why,” we asked? The story is that the lake was lowered so that a new sewer line could be laid from one section to another. At this writing, the lake is now only about four feet down and coming back slowly.

When guests to the park ask when the lake will be back to normal. My stock answer is, “Depends on how many buckets of water you bring.” It really depends on how much rain we get, of course. We had some good rain the past week-end during our annual bike-triathlon. Another bike endurance race is scheduled for tomorrow; six hour and twelve hour races. Poor soles! Or maybe it would be better to say, poor rears and legs. And, wouldn’t you know, more rain is expected for the next several days. But we, as Carolyn is doing in the swing, just sit and relax and watch it all go by.

Carolyn is back working in the Office and I am back doing this and that. One of the first jobs that we did together was to take a road trip for the park. Fort Yargo is responsible for cleaning and maintaining State historical signs in a four-county area. So, we grabbed brushes, buckets, and water and took off in the Park truck to locate, clean, and record the condition of the various historical markers. You get an idea of what we were looking for by the picture. If you look closely to the left of the marker, you will see Carolyn posing with the brushes.

We were able to learn a little Georgian history along the way. The marker you see was standing in the front yard of the building you see, Eagle Tavern. Eagle Tavern, or hotel, was the center of social and political activity in Watkinsville, Georgia for more than a hundred years. It was saved from destruction in 1934 by Lanier Billups of Decatur, Georgia, who deeded it to the State in 1956.

The oldest section of the building, which is of the “Plain Style,” has been restored. It has two rooms upstairs and two rooms downstairs. Separate doors lead into the two rooms on the first floor. One door enters the tavern, the other a store or trading area. This part of the Tavern was built in the first decades of the 1800’s when Watkinsville was a growing frontier town, the County Seat of original Clarke County, and the crossroads of travel northward.

In 1836 Richard C. Richardson bought and, over a period of years, made additions to the original tavern, stage-stop, and store. Having removed these additions, restored the earliest sections, and installed appropriate furnishing and exhibits, the Georgia Historical Commission presents Eagle Tavern as a museum devoted to the pre-Civil War, pre-railroad era when wagon and stage travel was at its height.

See what one can learn by just cleaning signs. Amazing isn’t it. Now that you have been truly amazed, I can’t think of anything else worthy of telling you. Until next time, keep good thoughts.