posted October 19, 2008
Not a lot has changed at Cave Spring, Ga. since the Civil War days when Sherman came calling - it's still the small town of yesteryear.
Old homes, towering old trees, crystal-clear streams add up to the tranquillity most modern towns have left far behind.
Sue Worshan said a lot of that has to do with the kind treatment that the townsfolk gave Gen. William T. Sherman and his men. She said Sherman spared the town the torch he administered to most other places along his "March To The Sea."
She said Sherman's injured soldiers were nursed back to health at the old academy that still stands just outside the cave and spring that gives the town its name.
That spring is still pumping two million gallons of pure water - even in the severe Georgia drought. Ms. Worshan says, "Some divers went back into the cave and said there is another 1,000 years of water there it is so deep. The flow hasn't slowed down a drop."
Sunday was the last day of the season that the cave is open for tours - at just a dollar admission. It will reopen next spring.
Dr. J.B. Rolater in 1931 deeded the cave and spring to the city of Cave Spring, which is near Rome, Ga. The 29 acres includes pure streams and a pool of water just outside the cave as well as a swimming lake downstream.
Ms. Worshan said there are actually two flows of water in the cave. One goes out to the park grounds. The other is diverted to a nearby treatment plant. It provides plenty of water for much of Rome as well as Cave Spring, Coosa and as far as Lake Weiss.
Many people bring their jugs and fill up at the point where the water flows from the cave.
Ms. Worshan said the cave was closed to the public for many years, and vandals got in from the top and broke out most of the formations. The top entrance has now been closed off.
There is a small ticket area where Ms. Worshan has held sway for 17 years. She also is in charge of reservations for the six popular picnic pavillions in the park. You need to save your spot about a year ahead.
In addition to the academy, other pre-Civil War structures at the park are a church and a home that is now used as a bed and breakfast inn. An old log cabin was also moved to the park.
Ms. Worshan said the generosity of Sherman also resulted in Cave Spring still being able to boast that it has 93 houses on the historic register.
One is the Tumlin House bed and breakfast and restaurant. It was already there in 1842 when records show improvements being made.
Cave Spring has fewer than a thousand people and only one traffic light, but there is plenty of charm to go around.
Cave Spring Annual Events:
April
Spring Fest
June
Art Festival at Rolater Park
Car Show
Fishing Rodeo
July
July 4th Parade
October
Fall Fest
November
Holiday Open House
December
Christmas Parade
Candlelight Service in Gazebo Park on the Square
For more information, call 706 777-3382.
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