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Archiver > PABEDFOR > 2005-09 > 1128010270


From: Debbie Velez <>
Subject: Re: Looking for Lake Caledonia in Bedford County
Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2005 12:18:52 -0400
References: <4339FC8F.1080708@comcast.net> <6.2.3.4.2.20050928091014.02700cd0@pop3.mountain.net>
In-Reply-To: <6.2.3.4.2.20050928091014.02700cd0@pop3.mountain.net>


Carto wrote:

> Hi Debbie,
> Very interesting you should mention Caledonia. My wife and I were just
> talking about that the other evening.
>
> Caledonia (including Lake Caledonia) is just past (south of) the
> Springs Hotel on what was (and maybe still is) called "Sweet Root."
> This is the road that is adjacent to the golf course; I think your
> distance estimate is close, but I'm not sure.
>
> It is a large spring-fed lake containing "seriously" cold water (the
> point of our family discussion: most every kid in Bedford took
> swimming lessons there early on June mornings when the water was too
> cold for man or beast). It got almost tolerable in August.
>
> There was a very small man-made beach (i.e., merely a pile of spread
> out sand) and a big red barn for changing. There was a sign at the
> entrance road (a small one-car-wide set of rocky ruts) that lead off
> to the left and up a small incline to the barn/lake. The sign read
> "Caledonia" and became more weather-beaten over the years. Now the
> sign reads Red Oaks Lake (or did several years ago when we drove out
> that way).
>
> At some point, for reasons unknown to "us kids," the name was changed
> to Red Oaks Lake. When swimming lessons were announced that year we
> all wondered where That place was ! Most of the kids then and the
> old-timers still referred to it as Caledonia.
>
> So, today it is Red Oaks; don't know if it is still part of the
> Springs property but as I understand it, it was a nice carriage ride
> out there with a chance to get some "mineral water" along the way back
> in the heyday of the Springs. BTW, many citizens from Bedford used to
> fill up jugs at that spring a short distance from the Club House.
>
> I'm not an official historian (although I majored in it for a few
> semesters and study it still), and my memory isn't always accurate but
> I'm pretty sure of the above info. I was born and reared in Bedford,
> caddied at the Springs, and during the war (WWII) my father was an
> administrative executive at the Springs when it housed the
> "Appalachian Navy" - The Keystone Radio School for Navy code
> operators. THAT's what I'd like more info about.
>
> Hope this didn't overwhelm you - I'm sure someone will chime in to
> correct any errors.
> Best Regards,
> -Joe Gardner, Ph.D.
>
>
>
>
>
> At 10:14 PM 9/27/2005, Debbie Velez wrote:
>
>> Hi, does anyone know if a Lake Caledonia exists about 4 miles south
>> of the Bedford Springs Hotel in Bedford County? I've read the Civil
>> War Bucktails encampment was at this lake but can't seem to find a
>> Lake Caledonia in Bedford County on any map. If the lake still exists
>> does it go by a different name today? Thanks for your help &
>> suggestions.
>> Deb in FL
>>
>>
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>
Hi Joe, wow, thank you you for this wonderful information - others say
there's a Caledonia Lake in Clinton County as well & so I was becoming
VERY confused. Your information led me to an on line article in Hotel &
Motel Management about the Historic Bedford Springs Hotel in Bedford
County:

http://www.hotelmotel.com/hotelmotel/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=178875

Sure enough, an outdoor pavilion on RED OAK LAKE is mentioned as one of
the additional activities when the newly restored & expanded Bedford
Springs Hotel reopens in 2007. I am thrilled & can't wait to see the
newly remodeled hotel!
As a resident & Historian in that area I wonder if you'd ponder a guess
why my ancestor Simon EVANS, who was a blacksmith at the crossing of the
Juniata (in Everett?), relocated from there to just below the Bedford
Springs Hotel just above Burning Bush. He moved during or immediately
after the Civil War between 1860-1868. Do you think it's realistic to
surmise Simon moved to this busier area teaming with dignitaries & Union
troops (lots of horses to be re-shod) rather than remaining on the main
road at the Juniata Crossing? Sure would welcome your opinion, and
thanks again for this wonderful info!
Deb in FL

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