Reynolds-Frick Cemetery

On October 1, 2011
Nineteen volunteers gathered on old cannon road and toured the Reynolds-Fricks cemetery located on old post road near Kelly Mountain. The group also toured the Simmons-Farmer cemetery located on Farmers mountain. It is one of the oldest cemeteries in the area dating back to early 1800's but also has graves that date into the 1930's. The majority of the cemetery consisted of old brown stones, no names, lost to the woods. The Reynolds-Fricks cemetery holds so many stories that have been handed down over the years one of which is said to believe there are Indians and Slaves buried there. The volunteer group cleaned both cemeteries and toured other sites during the tour such as the Battle of the Narrows which was fought Oct 12, 1864 between Confederate troops and Union calvary. This battle was also known to the locals as the battle of Currahee. There was a confederate drill field located near the site of the battle. Just past the site is an old cotton gin and shingle mill owned by Plez Kelly and operated by George Newsome and Ervin Broom. Nearby is the Reynolds Mill located on Broad River. This area was used by the Cherokee Indians before the white settlers moved into the area. Benjamin Reynolds, laid to rest in 1899 in the Reynolds-Fricks cemetery, was the first millwright and built the first mill in the area. It was a combination gin and mill on the first road to Toccoa to Mt. Airy. His son, John Reynolds, was the first surveyor for Stephens county and was also a chaplain in the Confederate States of America (CSA) during 1861. Information was given to volunteers about the families and the house sites that were once located in the area before the federal Government took the land from families before 1935 to fashion the Lake Russell preserve in the area.