Thing 2 was taking the ACT up in Duluth. After dropping her off, we decided to explore hiking trails in the vicinity. McDaniel Farm Park popped up on my internet search and little did we know we were in for a treat!
Run by Gwinnett County Parks & Recreation, the park boasts a playground and a large covered pavilion with grills at the entrance. It struck me as a nice city park, especially after we passed a man with two dogs entering the large enclosed dog area.
The Trails
The feature drawing us to the park was the three miles of trails. As soon as we got on the path, the scenery changed to a shady, wooded area. We could hear an airplane in the distance to our left and ducks quacking to our right.
The paved path curved around to an open field and I saw two walkers standing still. I thought they were just taking a break and we kept going towards them. Suddenly I heard a noise and realized I was looking at a deer. We stopped just as a smaller deer came out to graze alongside the bigger one.
Soon, we continued straight on the second loop and crossed over a fast-moving stream. At the next intersection, we followed the map to the third loop which wound around the McDaniel Farm.
The Farm
A modest, one-story white house appeared. Rocking chairs on the front porch added to the laid-back appeal of simpler times, albeit without air conditioning. According to the historical plaque, the McDaniel family owned the property since 1859. In 1933, John McDaniel, grandson of the original McDaniel owner, died suddenly. His only surviving son, Archie took over the farm – at age 12. He and his sister, Louise stayed on the farm until his death in 1999.
A walkway took us past the original covered well to the chicken coop and barn. Rudimentary tools lined the path including a plow and a turner, both pulled by horses. A newly restored 1954 tractor resided in the old barn.
As we reached a second parking lot, a fenced-in area called Archie’s Garden contained flowering plants and herbs. The farm continued to be self-sustaining until 1999. Although primarily a cotton farm, the McDaniels also grew soybeans, vegetables and other crops.
Looping around, we could see the rolling hills cascading from the front of the farmhouse. This area served as cattle grazing and cotton fields. At the far end appeared a wooden shot-gun style house with an outhouse behind it. This is where the tenant family who helped plow the land would live. Records show McDaniel farm used tenants until WWII.
Another area showed where crops had been planted in rows. Trying to get my bearings, I looked at the map on my phone. Imagine my surprise when I saw how close we were to Gwinnett Place Mall and Hennessey Lexus. I had been to this mall in the mid-1990s when Archie and Louise still farmed this land. Thankfully, the county has done an excellent job of restoring and maintaining this area.
An interesting side note is that Eli McDaniel purchased the land in 1858 for $400. He sold it to his two sons that same year for $432. After Archie died, Gwinnet County purchased the land for approximately $9.7 million.
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