Tallaseehatchee to Ohatchee

Ohatchee is located in the northwest corner of Calhoun County and is positioned on the Coosa River. The 2000 census showed that the town had a population of 1,215. It is located along Highway 77, a thoroughfare connecting Talladega, Lincoln, and I-20 to the south with Gadsden and I-59 to the north. 

Several historic sites are located in the vicinity of Ohatchee including the site of the former Fort

Strother at which Gen. Andrew Jackson was headquartered during part of the Creek Indian Wars in the early 1800's and Janney Furnace, which was a pig iron furnace built during the Civil War.

Today, there is also a granite memorial off 144, marking the battlefield of the Battle of Tallaseehatchee, a battle during the Creek War in 1813. There is also a marker, recapping the story of Lincoyer, General Andrew Jackson's adopted son.  The story says, after the Battle of Tallaseehatchee, Gen. Jackson found a dead creek Indian woman embracing her infant son. Jackson, for fear of the child being killed, became his protector, nursed him to health, and took him to his family home, The Hermitage. There, Jackson's wife Rachel, named the child Lincoyer, adopted him, raised him and educated him as their own. 

Neely Henry Lake

Ohatchee is also home to Neely Henry Lake, 11,000 acres perfect for skiing, boating and fishing along Hwy 77 North. This area has public boat launches, picnic areas and fishing piers perfect for the whole family.

Janney Iron Furnace

145 Janney Road, Ohatchee, 256-892-5198

This Civil War Era Furnace was constructed in 1863 using 200 slaves as labor, but was burned by Union troops destroying the shacks that were built for work and damaging parts of the brick chimneys. Even though it never went into production, the stone furnace remains standing today. Each spring, they host the Battle of Ten Islands Reenactment. Their Confederate and Native American Museum is now open to the public 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. on Tuesday through Friday and 12 to 5 P.M. on Saturdays. For more information, visit www.janneyfurnace.org.

*Near Ohatchee:

Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail’s Silver Lakes

1 Sunbelt Pkwy, Glencoe

This 36 hole course sonsists of three 9 hole championship courses and a 9 hole par 3 short course. These renowned courses are located along 431 between Gadsden and Anniston. For more information, visit www.rtjgolf.com.

 

Wright’s Dairy

241 Cane Creek Farm Road, Alexandria, 256-820-1020

Alabama’s only dairy farm where the cows are milked and the milk is bottled and sold on the farm, serves up ice cream and hayrides. For more information, visit www.wrightdairy.com.