Big Canoe, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Big Canoe, Georgia is a common interest development gated community
, consisting of over 8,000 acres (32 km²), located in the mountains north of Atlanta, Georgia
.
It is located between Jasper, Georgia
, and Dawsonville, Georgia
, about 60 minutes north of Atlanta; it has about 3100 full time residents and as many weekenders.
, discovered marble
on his property and began buying up the surrounding land through the land lottery. In 1850, Tate entered a partnership which opened a quarry near the present-day town of Tate
.
By 1880, however, the Georgia marble industry was suffering. Fortunately, the construction of the Marietta and North Georgia Railway allowed the stone to reach new markets, and the Tate family founded the Georgia Marble Company
in 1884 in response to growing business and newly interested investors.
In 1905, Tate's grandson, Colonel Sam Tate, became president and general manager of the company, and oversaw a period of dramatic growth and profit.
Colonel Tate was responsible for bringing numerous improvements to the area, including Wolfscratch School. The school was established and operated in the building now housing the Big Canoe tennis
pro shop, and two large chimney
s standing next to the real estate office are all that is left of a house built in 1913 for the school's principal
and teacher
s. As other educational alternatives became available, the school was eventually closed. The house with the two chimneys became the primary residence of Steve and Lucille Tate until it burned down in 1959.
in Atlanta and the Sea Pines Corporation of Hilton Head
partnered to create the community of Big Canoe in 1972.
Fifteen years later, in 1987, the Byrne Corporation assumed responsibility for developing and marketing the community, until 1997, when it merged with Greenwood Development Corporation as Big Canoe Company, LLC.
and Pickens
counties. It includes 3 man-made lakes, Petit, Sconti, and Disharoon. Lake Petit, the largest, supplies the community's drinking water.
Nearly one-third of the total property has been set aside as wildlife areas and parks.
Gated community
In its modern form, a gated community is a form of residential community or housing estate containing strictly-controlled entrances for pedestrians, bicycles, and automobiles, and often characterized by a closed perimeter of walls and fences. Gated communities usually consist of small residential...
, consisting of over 8,000 acres (32 km²), located in the mountains north of Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
.
It is located between Jasper, Georgia
Jasper, Georgia
Jasper is a city in Pickens County, Georgia, United States. The population was 3,684 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Pickens County...
, and Dawsonville, Georgia
Dawsonville, Georgia
Dawsonville is a city in Dawson County, Georgia, United States. The population was 619 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Dawson County...
, about 60 minutes north of Atlanta; it has about 3100 full time residents and as many weekenders.
Tate Family
In the 1830s, Samuel Tate, the owner of a hotel on Federal RoadFederal Road (Cherokee lands)
The Federal Road, originally called Georgia Road, was a federal toll highway passing through the Cherokee Nation in the northern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. From 1805 to the 1840s, the road linked Savannah, Georgia with Knoxville, Tennessee...
, discovered marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
on his property and began buying up the surrounding land through the land lottery. In 1850, Tate entered a partnership which opened a quarry near the present-day town of Tate
Tate, Georgia
Tate is an unincorporated town in Pickens County, Georgia, United States. Originally called Marble Works post office by the United States Postal Service, then Harnageville after Ambrose Harnage, it was the first county seat for Cherokee County, which functioned as a large territory rather than a...
.
By 1880, however, the Georgia marble industry was suffering. Fortunately, the construction of the Marietta and North Georgia Railway allowed the stone to reach new markets, and the Tate family founded the Georgia Marble Company
Georgia Marble Company
The Georgia Marble Company was founded in 1884 by Henry Fitzsimmons. Fitzsimmons leased out all the land in Pickens County, Georgia, that contained rich Georgia marble. Pickens County has a vein of marble long, half as wide and deep.-Company history:...
in 1884 in response to growing business and newly interested investors.
In 1905, Tate's grandson, Colonel Sam Tate, became president and general manager of the company, and oversaw a period of dramatic growth and profit.
Colonel Tate was responsible for bringing numerous improvements to the area, including Wolfscratch School. The school was established and operated in the building now housing the Big Canoe tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
pro shop, and two large chimney
Chimney
A chimney is a structure for venting hot flue gases or smoke from a boiler, stove, furnace or fireplace to the outside atmosphere. Chimneys are typically vertical, or as near as possible to vertical, to ensure that the gases flow smoothly, drawing air into the combustion in what is known as the...
s standing next to the real estate office are all that is left of a house built in 1913 for the school's principal
Head teacher
A head teacher or school principal is the most senior teacher, leader and manager of a school....
and teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
s. As other educational alternatives became available, the school was eventually closed. The house with the two chimneys became the primary residence of Steve and Lucille Tate until it burned down in 1959.
Development
Following the death of Steve Tate, the Wolfscratch property was sold. It lay unused for a number of years, until Cousins PropertiesCousins Properties
Cousins Properties, Inc. , headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is a real estate investment trust, and one of the oldest publicly traded real estate companies in the country. It was formed in 1958 by Tom Cousins and has been publicly traded since 1962. It became a real estate investment trust in...
in Atlanta and the Sea Pines Corporation of Hilton Head
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Hilton Head Island or Hilton Head is a resort town in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. It is north of Savannah, Georgia, and south of Charleston. The island gets its name from Captain William Hilton...
partnered to create the community of Big Canoe in 1972.
Fifteen years later, in 1987, the Byrne Corporation assumed responsibility for developing and marketing the community, until 1997, when it merged with Greenwood Development Corporation as Big Canoe Company, LLC.
Geography
The community is quite large, covering over 8,000 acres (32 km²) in both DawsonDawson County, Georgia
Dawson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 3, 1857 from Gilmer and Lumpkin counties. As of 2000, the population is 15,999. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 21,484...
and Pickens
Pickens County, Georgia
Pickens County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The 2000 Census showed a population of 22,983. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 30,488...
counties. It includes 3 man-made lakes, Petit, Sconti, and Disharoon. Lake Petit, the largest, supplies the community's drinking water.
Nearly one-third of the total property has been set aside as wildlife areas and parks.