Entries by Steve Jones

Old CCC Camp Tranquility at Oak Mountain State Park

Fellow retired forester Chris Stuhlinger and I visited Oak Mountain State Park on June 8, 2023. I focus this Post on our exploration of Camp Tranquility, constructed by Civilian Conservation Corps artisans to house the work crews assigned to build infrastructure at the Park. The 1930s photograph below left depicts a youthful group at the […]

Four Natural Tree Sculptures at Huntsville, Alabama’s Goldsmith-Schiffman Wildlife Sanctuary

May 26, 2023, I lectured at the Residences at WellPoint Community in Hampton Cove, Alabama. I wandered the nearby Goldsmith-Schiffman Wildlife Sanctuary after lunch for 2.5 hours. I present four special trees…three of which I had not previously photographed. Each is unique, standing as Nature-created sculptures worthy of award and acclaim. I observe often that […]

Brief-Form Post #19: Aerial Tour of Joe Wheeler State Park!

I am pleased to offer the 19th of my new GBH Brief Form Posts to my website (Less than three minutes to read!). I tend to get a bit long-winded with my routine Posts. I don’t want my enthusiasm for thoroughness and detail to discourage readers. So I will publish these brief Posts regularly.   […]

Miscellaneous Treasures from a June 2023 Visit to the Belcher Addition at Oak Mountain State Park!

Fellow retired forester Chris Stuhlinger and I arrived at Oak Mountain State Park on schedule at 9:00 AM June 8, 2023, intent upon touring the 1,600-acre Belcher property addition, visiting historic Camp Tranquility, and orienting Chris to hazard tree control measures at the Park. I focus this Post on the miscellaneous Nature treasures we encountered […]

Revisiting the Old Recreation Site at Joe Wheeler State Park

On May 11, 2023, I revisited the Wheeler Dam construction era (1930s) recreation area (along the Multi-Use Trail) on the Wilson Lake side of Alabama’s Joe Wheeler State Park. The 90-year-old area, once serving thousands of workers and their families, now lies in decay, deep within the second-growth forest enveloping it. I am not yet […]