How the Lumber River got her name The Lumber River was previously called Drowning Creek because of the strong currents, sink holes, and the color of the dark water. It was renamed in 1809 most likely to symbolize the thriving lumber industry in the area, and its use of the river for transporting logs. They wanted a name more positive than Drowning Creek. John Privette, Lumber River Park Ranger said, "You can probably guess why it was called Drowning Creek. It's a black water river, which means it looks black when you look at it from a distance. But if you put into a glass it would almost look like sweet tea. The reason is just like your sweet tea, the leaves from these trees fall in the river, fall in the swamps, fall in the creeks that feed the river and they decompose. When they decompose, they release tannins into the river," Privette said. |
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