OLD FEDERAL ROAD IN GROVE PARK Back in 1806 when the Nation was still young and rapidly growing westward, a horse path for postal riders was opened through the Creek Nation stretching from middle Georgia to coastal Alabama. As the likelihood of another battle with Britain increased, the crucial need to quickly move troops to protect the American Gulf Coast was becoming more evident. In June 1810, Fort Stoddert's commanding officer Col. Richard Sparks was ordered by Secretary of War William Eustis to inspect and document these horse paths in order to mark a military road so that troops and supplies could be sent to defend the Gulf Coast. A second scouting party from Fort Stoddert was led by 1st Lt. John Roger Nelson Luckett. Luckett made the first significant survey for road construction in land that would later become Alabama. In addition to being charged to keep journal notes of each day of his trip, Luckett’s party carved Roman numerals into trees marking each mile along their journey. On July 11, 1811, Brigadier General Wade Hampton was directed to immediately begin construction of three wagon roads through the Creek Nation – the second of these roads became known as the Federal Road.

With construction at last beginning in 1811, the “Old Federal Road,” was built from west to east connecting Fort Stoddert, Alabama, to Fort Wilkinson, Georgia. At that point, the Federal Road merged with the earlier postal riders’ horse path that linked Athens, Georgia, to New Orleans, Louisiana. Unlike the old horse path, the Federal Road went eastward making a connection with lands ripe for the recruitment of soldiers and obtaining supplies for the military. This path quickly became a major travel route for pioneers to the area once known as the Old Southwest.

From its start as a narrow horse path used to carry the mails, the Old Federal Road underwent great development and became a major military road connecting early American forts in the Creek Lands and the Mississippi Territory. Acting as the interstate highway of its day, when “Alabama Fever” raged through the Carolinas and Georgia, the Old Federal Road carried thousands of pioneers to the Old Southwest. As such, the Federal Road directly contributed to the dramatic increase in Alabama’s population between 1810 and 1820 – with Alabama’s population growing far faster than that of either Mississippi or Louisiana during this time. Alabama continued out-distancing both Mississippi and Louisiana in population growth through 1850.

In 1824, Adam Hodgson wrote Letters from North America Written During a Tour in the United States and Canada wherein he described his 1820 travel along the Federal Road from Chattahoochee to Mobile. Hodgson found adequate over-night lodgings and described one stop as having three beds in a log building with a clay floor. Noting the ground formed a “perpetual undulation,” Hodgson concluded that “[t]he road, which is called the Federal Road, though tolerable for horses, would with us be considered impossible for wheels.”

Nearly two centuries later, the Federal Road remains visible. For those interested in making a modern day trip along this important historical path, the Monroe County Heritage Museums has marked the

portion of the Federal Road through Monroe County with eight monuments along its route. The accompanying maps show the path winding through Grove Park; it looks like it passes just behind Oak Grove Inn, then crosses the Ash Grove area and winds out to Vaughn Road and east past Chantilly. Who knew Grove Park had such a rich history?

Grove Park

Neighborhood News

Grove Park 3500 Club Lane

Montgomery AL 36116 396-8408

Website: groveparkassn.com

Email: groveparkassn08@att.net

WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD The newest additions to the Grove Park family are Hannah Chadee, Kathy Sawyer and Marie Snider. Welcome to the neighborhood y'all!

April 2013

EVENTS • Social Hour

Fridays at 5:30 at the clubhouse

• Association Meeting

April 16th at 5:30 at

the clubhouse

NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSEKEEPING

• Pet owners, PLEASE KEEP YOUR DOGS CONTAINED OR ON A LEASH! Approaching others unleashed is unacceptable. RAB MEMBERS Oak Grove Area

Ronny Crocker, Chairman

Ash Grove Area Jeff Mayton

Club Lane Area Sam Windham

Turning Leaf Area

Bob Lane

Issue 4.2013

Vaughn Road

Bell Road

Grove Park

Greenville

Fort Benning Montgomery

Columbus

Auburn

Union Springs

Green Line = Old Federal Road

WOODWORKING The Grove Park Woodworking Shop located in the Maintenance Building near the Inn is being enjoyed by several woodworking enthusiasts. The tools and supplies in the shop were contributed or purchased using dues from current shop members. Examples of projects undertaken in the shop are seen in the accompanying photos – a headboard for a bed and a bookcase.

Equipment available includes a table saw, a radial saw, a miter saw and a band saw plus a wood lathe, planer and pneumatic tools. Limited supplies, hand-tools and workbenches are also available to undertake “hobby level” projects. Help in

REAL ESTATE REPORT from Inman News

Nearly twice as many people think now is a good time to sell compared to a year ago. A record 26 percent of respondents to Fannie Mae's March 2013 National Housing Survey said now is a good time to sell, up from 25 percent last month and 14 percent from a year earlier. The share of respondents who believe home prices will rise next year also was at a record high, holding steady at the 48 percent recorded in February's version of the survey.

"Despite an uptick in concern expressed about the direction of the economy, it appears consumers believe that the housing recovery will march on," said Doug Duncan, senior vice president and chief economist at Fannie Mae.

Mortgages rates slipped early this month, even as the S&P 500 Index and the Dow Jones Industrial hovered around record highs.

The reported decline comes just a day after a Federal Reserve official said that the Fed could begin to wind down its stimulus program as early as this summer and end it altogether sometime late this year.

Rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 3.54 percent with an average 0.8 point for the week ending April 4th, down from 3.98 percent a year ago. Rates on 30-year fixed-rate loans hit a low in Freddie Mac records dating to 1971 of 3.31 percent during the week ending Nov. 21, 2012.

GROUNDS REPORT Visions is becoming familiar to us once again as they begin mowing, blowing, spraying, etc. They will provide two lawn services in April and then start weekly maintenance in May. Meanwhile, Hal is completing irrigation inspections and plans to have the pumps turned on soon.

We plan to repeat the mowing and irrigation schedule used last year, which is as follows:

Mowing Schedule Monday - Young Meadows Road and Oak Grove Drive Tuesday - Oak Grove Circle Wednesday - Ash Grove area, Oak Grove Inn, Club Lane, Clubhouse and Playground Thursday - Turning Leaf area Friday - Detail work

Irrigation Schedule

Oak Grove Circle - Wed, Fri, Sun - will increase to 4 days, adding Thur, in summer Ash Grove Area - Mon, Thur, Sat - will increase to 4 days, adding Fri, in summer Club Lane - Tues, Fri, Sun - will increase to 4 days, adding Sat, in summer

Turning Leaf Area - Tue, Fri, Sun - will increase to 4 days, adding Sat, in summer

learning to safely use the tools and equipment is available to Grove Park residents interested in woodworking. New members pay a $100 initial fee and nominal annual dues to maintain supplies and equipment.

Interested residents may contact Sam Windham for further information.