Hale reclaims historic spring-He works to make permanent path as Eagle Scout project

Eagle Scout candidate William Hale is setting his sights to uncover the historic spring located behind Warren County Middle School.

‘We couldn’t find our way in and we had no idea where the spring was because it was so overgrown,’ said Hale.

After slowly making their way through the woods, his group discovered a small stream. While moving slowly upstream, they found the spring’s beginning marked with large stones and a rock wall.

All projects chosen as Eagle Scout projects must be ones that give back to the community and help candidates develop leadership skills. As a general rule, no project is redone. Because of this, his chosen project almost wasn’t allowed.

Hale is the second Boy Scout to attempt to reclaim the spring for the benefit of education as an Eagle Scout project. In 2004, Trey Webster took on the job of beating back the overgrowth and making a trail to the spring.

Despite hard work done at the time, nature has a way of reclaiming the land without continued human interference. Four years later, the spring was once again surrounded by overgrowth and the path was no longer visible from the school.

After asking for permission to take on this project, he had to reassure the review board that the project would be permanent. Where his predecessor used mulch and landscaping timbers to make a path to the spring, his idea was to use landscaping cloth, gravel and treated cross-ties.

As an added touch, an archway will be added to mark the location of the path. Made from cedar, the archway will hold a sign that reads ‘Towles Family Spring.’

The significance of the area was recounted by history enthusiast Jimmy Haley during the first project in 2004:

The spring was the property of the Towles family, circa 1840, and had at one time been overtaken by Union soldiers along with other houses located on Rebel Hill during the Civil War.

At that time, this area was made up of large homes with 30 or 40 acres each. While the Yankee soldiers camped, they used the spring and had slaves from some of the area homes cook.

Many years ago, when the middle school was the high school, teachers would take classes on trips down to the spring. As time passed, the trips stopped and the spring was hidden in overgrowth.

As a result, not many recent students knew of the spring’s existence.

‘I went through middle school and never knew about it,’ said Hale who is now a sophomore. ‘I never knew it was here.’

When the project is complete, teachers will be encouraged by WCMS principal Betty Wood to use the spring in history and science classes.

‘Mrs. Wood wants to incorporate the spring into some of the history and science classes, so those students can come down,’ said WCMS guidance counselor Nancy Hale. As grandmother to the Boy Scout, she was on hand for the placement of the graveled path May 3 by Hale and numerous volunteers.

Once access to the spring has been made with gravel, efforts will begin to clear around the spring without disturbing the rock wall.