TrailMap

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Lake HaiglerLake HaiglerLake Haigler

NatureNatureNatureCenterCenterCenter

Rush PavilionRush PavilionRush Pavilion

Bath HouseBath HouseBath House

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Take a look at the old road bed under this bridge. Thisis part of Nation Ford Road that ran from Pennsylvania tothe Catawba Nation and southward to Augusta, Georgia.Imagine the year is 1640. You can see Catawba Indians,trappers and traders riding horses and walking alongthe trail. As you keep looking down through history,you will see American Revolutionary war troopsin 1779 and Confederate soldiers nearly ahundred years later. Now it is your turn towalk this way.

Lake Haigler was built in 1952 by Col. Elliott W.Springs and named for a great Catawba Indian King. Ithas been stocked with Largemouth Bass (Micropterussalmoides), Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), Shellcracker(Lepomis microlphus) and Channel Catfish (Ictaluruspunctatus). Sterile, grass-eating Carp (Ctenopharyngodonidella) have also been added to control aquaticvegetation. Enjoy your walk around Lake Haigler as wetell you about some of its features.

This land bridge was built as part of a pond restorationproject in 1993. It serves as a convenientcrossing as well as a dam. The resultingpond to the west serves as a settlingbasin for silt from the watershed.Lake Haigler provides habitatfor animals such as GreatBlue Herons (Ardea herodias), WoodDucks (Aix sponsa) and Beaver (Castorcanadensis). The Beaver, a vegetarian,is North America’s largest nativerodent. The “busy beaver” isconstantly cutting trees, eating theinner bark and using the rest of thetree to build lodges and dams.Primarily nocturnal, the best time forviewing beavers is in the evening.Beavers commonly grow 3 – 4 feet inlength and 45 – 60 pounds.

Note the climbing vineon the Southern Red Oak(Quercus falcata) tree.This is Poison Ivy(Toxicodendron radicans).Many people areallergic to the toxicchemical in the formof oil found in all partsof the plant.“Leaflets three, let it be.”

The vegetation on this hilltop is representative ofthe upland with the dry, mixed hardwood forest socommon in this area. Within five steps from thismarker are five species of trees:

1. White Oak(Quercus alba),round lobed leaves.

2. Southern Red Oak(Quercus falcata),pointed lobed leaves.

3. Mockernut Hickory (Carya tomentosa), seven leaflets on a stem.

4. Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboretum), large leaves, straight side veins with small teeth along the margin of the leaf. The leaves also occur singly along the stem, so they arealternate on the stem.

5. Dogwood (Cornus florida), medium leaves, curvedside veins with smooth leaf margins. The leaves occur inpairs along the stem, so they are opposite on the stem.Can you find these five trees? If you want to learn moreabout the flora and fauna of the Greenway visit theNature Center.

This area was heavily damaged by Hurricane Hugo in1989. Most of the large trees were toppled (windthrow),and many young trees have begun to replace these fallengiants. Windthrows permit more light to reach the forestfloor, allowing plants that have been shaded by the largecanopy to grow and fill in the new gaps in the canopy. Youcan now see that nature has the ability to “lick its wounds”and rebound.

Take a look at this Tulip Poplar or Yellow Poplar(Liriodendron tulipifera). Indians would build dugoutcanoes from trees this size, and their common names forthis tree were “Canoe Wood” or “Canoe Tree.” This specieshas the straightest trunk and is one of the tallest hardwoodtrees in North America.

This slope is covered with Christmas Fern(Polystichum acrostichoides). The common name isderived from the evergreen character of thisspecies. It is visible during the winter. This sloperetains more moisture than others along the trail,so the ferns are more successful. You may notethat the tips of some of the leaves look smallerand somewhat misshapen. If you will look onthe lower surface, you will see where sporesare produced. Spores are part of thereproductive cycle of ferns.

On the left is a tree with ashaggy bark ShagbarkHickory (Carya ovata). Thenuts from this species are quiteoily and were highly prized by the Indians and earlysettlers. As firewood, shagbark is unsurpassed. A cord ofthis wood (4x4x8) produces more heat than a ton of coal.Green hickory was used to cure meat – hickory smokedham and barbecue. Note the short trees with smoothbark that look like twisted muscles… Ironwood (Carpinuscaroliniana). This species occurs along the edges ofstreams and lakes, grows slowly, and produces woodthat is hard, heavy, close-grained and reputed to be asstrong as steel. In Indian and early pioneer days,anything that had to withstand strain was made of thiswood, such as rake teeth, wedges, cogs and toolhandles.

This large tree is the American Beech (Fagusgrandifolia). Beech nuts are a favorite food for wildlife.Beech wood is very close grained so that it is hard,strong and does not absorb liquids. It has been used formaking wooden bowls, tool handles and furniture.Medicinally, Indians chewed the nuts as a wormexpellant. A leaf tea was used for burns, frostbite andpoison ivy rash. On the slope behind the beech is agrove of small, dark-barked, crooked-stemmed Storax

shrubs (Styrax grandifolia). If you are here during theApril-May blooming time, the groups of white flowersproduce a very nice display.

Lake Haigler Nature Walk

This nest box was provided for Wood Ducks whichfeed on aquatic plants, acorns and insects. The circularmetal guard on the post keeps snakes and raccoonsfrom raiding the nest.

Here we are at nature’s banquet table. Three speciesseen here provide wildlife food. The large White Oak (upthe hill behind you) produces acorns. The Dogwoodproduces red, fleshy, one-seeded fruits (drupes) favoredby birds, which eat the fruit and spread dogwood seedsto other areas. Finally, locate the small grove of shrubs,about 4-5 feet tall, to the left of the dogwood and downthe slope– Hazelnut (Corylus americana). Although thesenuts are a favorite of many people, you really have to bequick to beat the wildlife. You may see a few nuts insidethe protective husk still attached to a branch. Natureprovides a wide range of food sources – supportingbirds, rodents and mammals. Our Nature Center hasmore information on the relationship between plants

and animals. Come learn with us.

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GreenwayHighlights

Great Blue Heron

White Oak Leaf

Large Mouth Bass

Southern Red Oak Leaf

Poison Ivy

Facility Rentals& Catering

We invite you to consider the Anne Springs CloseGreenway’s unique portfolio of facilities and cateringoptions for your next event. Whether the occasion is awedding, a family reunion, a meeting or a companypicnic, we offer various indoor facilities and outdoor sitesto meet the needs of large and small groups. Companies wishing to schedule strategic planning

sessions, board meetings, staff retreats, or companypicnics may find the peaceful serenity of nature awonderful complement.Leroy Springs Catering provides experienced,

professional services at all Greenway facilities. Contactour sales office at 803.547.1169 for information and rateson facility rentals and catering servicesWithin the beautiful, pastoral setting of the Anne

Springs Close Greenway are several flexible options:

Tulip PoplarLeaf/Flower

• The Dairy Barn: Built in 1947 and restored in1996, the Dairy Barn is one of York County’s mostunique and beloved venues. Accommodates up to400 amid the serenity of the Greenway.

• Adventure Center: 12,000 square foot, multi-purpose facility perfect for social and corporateretreats, outings and events, with trail access toLake Crandall and the low ropes challenge course.

• Field Trial Barn: Situated among scenic rollinghills, this rustic venue accommodates up to 175people in a casual setting.

• Bruce T. Rush Pavilion: Featuring a large stonefireplace, this open-air picnic shelteraccommodates up to 75 people for picnics,cookouts, and good times.

• The Nature Center: A meeting room integratedwith the many environmental exhibits, the NatureCenter offers a special venue for clubs andbusiness meetings. Accommodates up to 25.

Opened in 1995, the eight children of Anne Springs Closededicated the 2,100 acres of the Anne Springs CloseGreenway as a tribute to their mother and her lifelongcommitment to recreation and the environment. This naturalpreserve, located in Fort Mill, SC, offers countless activitiesfrom hiking, biking and horseback riding to picnics andkayaking and more, while maintaining a natural habitat forwildlife, protecting the Steele Creek watershed, and preservingseveral sites of historical interest. Its mission is to providestewardship and protect the cultural, and natural resources ofthe land, while also offering recreational and educationalopportunities that promote the health and wellness of thecommunity.

Owned and operated by the non-profit Leroy Springs & Co.,Inc., the Greenway receives no tax money to build, maintainand operate trails and facilities. It is funded in part by thegenerous donations from individuals and corporations, andmembership fees. Greenway memberships are available at theindividual, family, and student levels. The Friends of theGreenway Annual Giving Program allows individuals andcorporations to contribute beyond the standard membershiplevels and show their commitment to the mission andpreservation of the Anne Springs Close Greenway.

To find out more about making a donation, membership,volunteering, or corporate partnerships, contact the AnneSprings Close Greenway Headquarters at 803.548.7252.Become a member today.

www.ascgreenway.org

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The trails between the Dairy Barn and the RushPavilion run on top of or beside the historic Nation FordRoad. The road was a part of the Great PhiladelphiaWagon Road that extended from Philadelphia,Pennsylvania to Augusta, Georgia. It was the first majorinterior road on the Eastern Seaboard of the UnitedStates of America. For hundreds of years, the path wasan important conduit for trade, war, and settlement. Ifyou look closely, you will notice the old roadbed nowgrown over with trees. In some places, you can seewagon ruts - a reminder of the thousands of wagonwheels that bumped along the road so many years ago.The Nation Ford Road is listed on the National Registerof Historic Places.

An eight-foot wide concrete trail makes it easy forfolks who are physically challenged, have babies instrollers, or just prefer an even surface. The nearly 3/4mile long trail loop takes one from the parking areabeyond the Dairy Barn to an overlook of Steele Creek.

In between, you will enjoy the Coltharp log cabin datingback to the year 1800, a picturesque horse pasture, acotton patch, and a log home built in 1780 that was theboyhood home of Billy Graham’s grandfather.

Springfield House was built in 1806 by John Springs IIIon land he acquired from his father, Captain RichardSprings, a Revolutionary War soldier who commanded acompany of militia in the Gates’ army against LordCornwallis at Camden in 1780. John Springs III moved inon his marriage to his cousin Mary. The property fell to John’s son Andrew Baxter Springs

and was renovated and expanded in the mid-1850’s.Eventually, the plantation grew to over 3200 acres,producing primarily cotton. In 1858, 56 slaves worked theplantation and associated businesses. AB Springs was asignatory to the South Carolina Articles of Succession in1860 and a delegate to the state convention which ratifiedthe Constitution of the Confederacy in 1861.In April of 1865, Jefferson Davis, President of the

Confederacy, along with five cabinet members and an

escort of cavalry, traveled Nation Ford Road on their flightfrom Richmond in the waning days of the War. Stoppingat Springfield, they stayed in the area for three days,meeting on the lawn at Springfield before moving on tothe nearby home of Captain William White, where the finalcabinet meeting of the Confederacy was held.Renovated in 1946-47, Springfield House remains in the

care of the descendants of John Springs. Listed on theNational Register of Historic Places, it currently housesthe corporate offices of Leroy Springs & Co., and is notavailable for tour.

The Webb Grist Mill was among the first inthe area. Built c.1770, it served European settlers andtheir descendants for over 100 years, and iscommemorated in the name of “Fort Mill”, originallyknown as Little York. To be successful, a mill neededwater for power and accessibility for customers. As aresult, the mill site is on Steele Creek near Steele Road,once a spur on the Nation Ford Road. A representation ofthe original grist mill assists in interpreting the historicaland engineering significance of the site.

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