HISTORIC HOT SPOTS
Little Drummer Boy. Seven-year-old Nathan Futrell was said to be the youngest drummer boy in the Revolutionary War. The childhood adventures of this little American patriot have become the stuff of legend; by 1820, the North Carolina-born Futrell had settled right here on Ford's Creek, where among other things he planted the area's first apple orchard. He and his wife, Charity, are buried up a hill a mile or two beyond Wranglers Campground. The Daughters of the American Revolution erected a plaque in honor of Futrell's war contributions. (Kindly tether your
horses outside the cemetery when you pay your respects.)
Tobacco Barn. Tobacco was -- and still is -- a staple crop in the region. Evidence of its importance can be seen at this abandoned farm and homestead, in the southern end of Wranglers off Road #172. This old tobacco barn has been standing for decades, yet its construction was so solid, it barely shows the passage of time. Other structures nearby -- an old chicken coop, shed, and the homestead itself -- wear their age with grace and dignity.
Laura Furnace. Iron ore production helped the area prosper during the mid-1800s, but it also took its toll on the environment. On the eastern boundary of Wranglers, Laura Furnace Creek flows right by the site of the old Laura Furnace. Notice the blue slag covering the forest floor, a by-product of the smelting process. Up the hill, large stones are testament to the furnace structure, now long gone.  Now observe the uniform size of the meadow's trees. This means they are all about the same age. Timber near an iron furnace was cut for charcoal, the iron furnaces' fuel supply. The Laura Furnace ceased production in 1880, and the forest is still recovering.
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