Rhodes Pond #7 - Why is this pond here?
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Congrats on the FTF - Rhodes Pond Warriors - team consisted of Nocona1,lukedrywalker,CanterGirl,PinkDolphin,cazziliz,dflye,RPStew,2Alxndrs,3eagleshigh,Cissy839, ChucKremer,TerrificTingens,HawaiianCanoe,she_007, Wally from Raleigh,Team_Ducky17,htomc42,nightranger
Rhodes Pond has a very diverse ecology. These series of caches places have a common theme celebrating some of life of this wonderful place. They are all designed to be terrain 5 using a kayak or canoe and done best in their sequence. This is about a 3.5 to 4 mile "loop" through the pond, the swamp and the headwaters of the Black River. A couple of the deeper caches in the swamp may be harder to reach at lower water levels. Portage is hard back here, but not impossible. Take precautions and prepare! Also, this is gameland - hunters of ducks and fishermen fruquent these waters - bright colors help during hunting season.Most of all ENJOY this magical place. **All caches are reachable from the comfort of your craft BUT make sure not to over reach, or else you will be swamp food!** Also note - these were placed to be done in sequence #1 and #2 then the black river swamp cache, onto #3 through #7. It will take you on an "ecological" tour of sorts. Enjoy!
Sadly, this is the last in the Rhodes Pond Series. I also get a sense of calm but sadness when I see the jettis up ahead of this cache - it means the paddle is about to come to an end and the swamp is behind me. But, by this time, you have hav wondered - why is this pond even here? Wasn't this all swamp land? Where did all the cypress tress here go? Rhodes Pond was built back in the 1700's by an old log dam crossing the Black River (which is what feeds this Pond). It was orginally called the Smith Mill Pond back in the 1800's as part of the John Smith Plantation. A historical monument and museum of the battle are just a few miles away. There is quite a history to this pond and I do hope you read this page
Sherman's men marched through the area, sparing homes but picking up livestock, poultry, and dry goods as they went. Before they reached Averasboro, a skirmish between General Joseph Wheeler's Calvary and the Calvary unit at the pond - then called Smith's Mill Pond.
After the war, it is rumored the the Rhodes' family purchased the property for a "gray mule and 40 bushels of corn." The Rhodes Pond Mill House was used as a post office from 1882 until 1900. During the early 1900s it was owned in divided interests by prominent businessmen. From the 1920s until 1964 this property was known as Hollands' Lake.
It wasn't until 1964 that the. Pond was purchased by Jerry S. Honeycutt who dubbed his family's lake Rhodes Pond Fish Camp.
Rhodes Pond Fish Camp has a strong reputation as a well-loved fishing spot. Historical men - such as the famous General William C. Lee, "Father of the Airborne," were dedicated visitors to the pond.
The remains of the old mills site and dam are intact. Travelers of old highway 301 have enjoyed a rest at the Fish Camp - once they realized the pond was open to the public. Some stopped habitually in their travels, maybe to share their thoughts with the "Black River Philosopher," owner Jerry Honeycutt. Until his unexpected passing on November 6, 2000, Mr. Honeycutt was always ready to share area history and nature with passerby.
"In December 2004, the State of North Carolina purchased a spectacular natural area known as Rhodes Pond, protecting and preserving in it's perpetuity." Quoted from SALTWorks 2005
As well - the cypress you now see "missing" was logged until it was finally protected. As mentioned above as well, the old mill site, whichs still stands, milled the usual corn and wheat.
This cache is in honor of humans who relied on these waters as much as the wildlife. You are looking for a mason jar, not too unlike the jars used to hold the grains sold at the mill.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ba gur qel cneg bs n pyhfgre bs nobhg 6 be 7 plcerff gerrf. Wne vf grguref gb n fgvpx jrqtrq va gur gerrf, fgvpx znxrf ergevriny rnfvre.