Tuesday, August 24, 2010
The Oakfuskee Path Became The Old Alabama Road
The Oakfuskee Path was the main branch of the Upper Creek Trading Path from the Savannah River to the Creek Indians of Alabama, and passed through West central Georgia. Beginning at Augusta, the route led through Warrenton, Eatonton, and Indian Springs.
From Indian Springs in Flovilla it ran southwestward to what is now High Shoals crossing the shoals at the present day site of High Shoals State Park. Still heading south it crossed the Flint River via the Flat Shoals to headed toward Greenville, thence into Alabama to Oakfuskee Town, an early Upper Creek center, on the Tallapoosa River. White traders began using the trail in the early 1700s. Much of the old way remains in use today. Eventually it became a noted pioneer trace and early stage route.
The Oakfuskee Path eventually became the Old Alabama road. This road started in 1811, the “Old Federal Road,” was built from west to east connecting Fort Stoddert, Alabama, to Fort Wilkinson, Georgia. from South Carolina to Alabama and became a famous stagecoach route. Part of the New York and New Orleans Mail Line, its “excellent roads, accommodating agents, new coaches and good horses” made it one of the superior routes in the United States.
The 18 to 25 gaily painted coaches drawn by six horses in constant use on the Alabama road carried the famous men of the times. Various inns along the way entertained Martin Van Buren, Marquis de LaFayette, Henry Clay, Elijah Clark, James K. Polk, Andrew Jackson, Robert Toombs, and countless other travelers. The Old Alabama Stagecoach Road, a well-traveled stagecoach and wagon-freight line between Augusta and Columbus, ran from the northeastern section of Upson County, crossing the Flint River at Double Bridges in the southwest. Double Bridges is the site where two bridges spanned either side of Owen's Island in the middle of the Flint River. Part of the road eventually carried General Wilson of the Union Army during his destructive march from Columbus Georgia to Macon.