Driving down old Highway 280, one may catch a glimpse of the sign that says, “Small town Big Dreams.”
Camp Hill is home to roughly 1,260 people and sits between Dadeville and Auburn — just off from the main road. However, according to residents and researchers, it was booming years ago.
kAm(:E9 :ED AC@I:>:EJ E@ pF3FC? &?:G6CD:EJ[ 2 8C@FA @7 F?:G6CD:EJ C6D62C496CD 5@4F>6?E65 D@>6 @7 E96 E@H?’D 9:DE@CJ 2?5 AC6D6?E65 E96:C 7:?5:?8D E@ E96 pAA2=249:2? #68:@?2= r@>>:DD:@? Wp#rX 2E E96 6?5 @7 a_aa] k^Am
kAm“r2>A w:== :D 24EF2==J H92E DE2CE65 2== E96 @E96CD[ =:<6 s256G:==6 2?5 (2G6C=J[ E96J H6C6 DFA6C E:?J[” {@C: $25=6C D2:5] “%96J H6C6 32D:42==J H92E r2>A w:== :D ?@H]”k^Am
kAm$25=6C :D 2 8C25F2E6 DEF56?E 2?5 ;@:?65 E96 C6D62C49 AC@;64E :? 4@?;F?4E:@? H:E9 2 AF3=:4 9:DE@CJ 4@FCD6] u@C 96C A2CE[ $2?5=6C 4@==64E65 9:DE@C:42= A9@E@D @7 r2>A w:==’D 5@H?E@H? 5:DEC:4E 7@C E96 AC@;64E] z6:E9 w636CE[ 2DD@4:2E6 AC@76DD@C :? E96 9:DE@CJ 56A2CE>6?E[ 2?5 t=:;29 v255:D[ 2DD:DE2?E AC@76DD@C :? E96 9:DE@CJ 56A2CE>6?E[ 2C6 E96 724F=EJ >6>36CD H9@ @G6CD2H E96 AC@;64E]k^Am
kAm“$@>6 @7 E96 C6D62C49 :D p7C:42? p>6C:42? =:76 :? E96 =2E6 `hE9 2?5 62C=J a_E9 46?EFC:6D[” v255:D D2:5] “p?5 r2>A w:== :D 2 A=246 E92E :D C62==J[ C62==J :>A@CE2?E 7@C E92E 9:DE@CJ — ?@E ;FDE :? p=232>2[ 2?5 ?@E ;FDE :? E96 D@FE9[ 3FE >@C6 3C@25=J]”k^Am
k9b 5:ClQ=ECQms@H?E@H? r2>A w:== k^9bm
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ $25=6C’D E96>2E:4 ?2CC2E:G6[ r2>A w:== E@@< @77 2D 2 C2:=C@25 E@H? 27E6C E96 4:G:= H2C] xE H2D @?6 @7 E96 >2;@C DE@AD @? 2 =:?6 E92E H6?E 7C@> v@@5H2E6C E@ ~A6=:<2] k^Am
kAm%96 C2:=C@25 4C62E65 2? 62DJ >@56 @7 EC256[ 2?5 2D 2 C6DF=E[ r2>A w:== DE2CE65 E@ 56G6=@A 2 4@EE@? :?5FDECJ 2?5 E96 (]|] r@??:6’D r@EE@? v:??6CJ H2D 6G6? =2E6C 56G6=@A65] qJ `h_f[ :E AC@5F465 `d_ 32=6D @7 4@EE@? 2 H66<]k^Am
kAm“%96 H9@=6 E@H? H2D 3F:=E 2C@F?5 E92E 56A@E[ 2?5 :E H2D E9C:G:?8[” $25=6C D2:5] “%96? ‘H9:E6 7=:89E’ 92AA6?65 W2?5X E96J ;FDE =67E]” k^Am
kAm#6D:56?E y62? |@D=6J D2:5 D96 DE:== C6>6>36CD H96? r2>A w:== H2D :? :ED E9C:G:?8 J62CD] k^Am
kAm“(6’5 2=H2JD D2J :E H2D <:?5 @7 3@@>:?8[ =:<6 E9@D6 @=5 4@F?ECJ H6DE6C? E@H?D :? E96 >@G:6D[” D96 D2:5] “(6 925 2 >@G:6 E962E6C[ EH@ @C E9C66 8C@46CJ DE@C6D[ 2 92C5H2C6 DE@C6[ :?DFC2?46 4@>A2?:6D[ 2? 2FE@>@3:=6 562=6C[ 2 4@FA=6 @7 4=@E9:?8 DE@C6D 2?5 2 49:=5C6?’D DE@C6]” k^Am
kAm%96J 2=D@ 925 5CF8 DE@C6D[ 4=62?6CD[ 3FD DE@AD[ 7FC?:EFC6 DE@C6D 2?5 4276D[ H9:49 2E E96 E:>6 H6C6 D68C682E65] |@D=6J’D 72>:=J 5:5?’E 86E E@ 8@ E@ E@H? >F49 F?=6DD :E H2D 2 DA64:2= @442D:@? =:<6 r9C:DE>2D tG6] $96 D2:5 H96? J@F H6?E E96?[ J@F 4@F=5 32C6=J H2=<[ :E H2D D@ 4C@H565] k^Am
kAmp== @7 E92E 492?865 H:E9 :?E68C2E:@?] |@D=6J D2:5 D96 6IA64E65 D@>6 E9:?8D E@ 4=@D6 5@H? @?46 :?E68C2E:@? 3682? 3FE 4@F=5 ?@E 92G6 AC65:4E65 9@H BF:4<=J 3FD:?6DD6D D9FE 5@H? 2?5 >@G65 @FE] k^Am
kAm“xE H2D 5:D2AA@:?E:?8[ 3FE 2D q=24<D[ H6 H6C6 FD65 E@ ?@E 92G:?8 E@@ >F49 2?JH2J 2?5 H6 5:5?’E 92G6 E96 7C665@> E@ ;FDE A6CFD6 2C@F?5 :? E96 DE@C6D[” D96 D2:5] k^Am
kAm(96? |@D=6J H2D 2 8:C=[ D96 H2D 2==@H65 E@ D9@A 3FE H2D?’E 2==@H65 E@ ECJ 2?JE9:?8 @?] v@:?8 D9@6 D9@AA:?8[ D96 H@F=5 FD6 2 DEC:?8 E@ >62DFC6 96C 7@@E 2?5 E96? >62DFC6 E92E H:E9 E96 D9@6 E@ D66 :7 :E H@F=5 7:E]k^Am
kAmk:7C2>6 E:E=6lQ*@F%F36 G:56@ A=2J6CQ DC4lQ9EEADi^^HHH]J@FEF36]4@>^6>365^eb+qr_uBG%|Q 7C2>63@C56ClQ_Q H:5E9lQde_Q 96:89ElQb`dQmk^:7C2>6mk^Am
k9b 5:ClQ=ECQmt5F42E:@?k^9bm
kAm%9C@F89@FE 96C 49:=59@@5[ D49@@=D H6C6 2=D@ DE:== D68C682E65] %96 3FD6D 5:5?’E 92G6 962E @C 2:C 4@?5:E:@?:?8] xE H2D 4@>>@? E@ 92G6 2 3FD 3C62<5@H?[ H9:49 7@C465 DEF56?ED E@ H2=< E@ D49@@=] $@>6E:>6D E96J H@F=5?’E 86E 2 3@@<[ 2?5 :7 E96J 5:5 :E H2D E2EE6C65] k^Am
kAm“%96J’5 3C:?8 :? @=5[ C28865J 3@@<D E92E 925 366? E@C? FA — E92E H6C6 5:DA@D23=6[ C625J 7@C E96 EC2D9 5F>A 7C@> E96 H9:E6 D49@@=D[” D96 D2:5] “W%96J’5X 3C:?8 E96> E@ @FC D49@@=D 2?5 A286D H@F=5 36 >:DD:?8 2?5 4@G6CD H@F=5 36 >:DD:?8]” k^Am
kAm(9:=6 r2>A w:== 925 AF3=:4 3FD6D[ q=24< :?5:G:5F2=D D2E :? E96 324< C@HD @7 D62ED] x7 E96J H6?E E@ D66 2 >@G:6[ E96J D2E FADE2:CD 2?5 76H H6?E E@ 4@==686[ =2C86=J 3642FD6 :E H2D :?2446DD:3=6] |@D=6J D2:5 D96 42?’E C642== :7 2?@E96C 4=2DD>2E6 H6?E E@ 4@==686 2D D96 =2E6C 5:5] k^Am
kAm|@D=6J C6EFC?65 E@ r2>A w:== 27E6C D96 C646:G65 9:896C 65F42E:@?[ 2?5 E2F89E 2E E96 D2>6 D49@@= D96 @?46 2EE6?565[ t5H2C5 q6==] %9@F89 2E E96 E:>6 D96 2EE6?565[ :E H2D 42==65 %2==2A@@D2 r@F?EJ %C2:?:?8 $49@@=] %96 EC2:?:?8 D49@@= H2D 2 #@D6?H2=5 $49@@=[ H9:49 H2D 2 4@==64E:@? @7 D49@@=D >62?E E@ AC@G:56 q=24< 49:=5C6? H:E9 65F42E:@? :? E96 $@FE9] k^Am
kAm|@D=6J =2C86=J E2F89E H92E6G6C E96 D49@@= ?66565 7C@> >2E9 E@ D@4:2= D4:6?46] %9C@F89@FE 96C E6249:?8 42C66C[ D96 2=D@ E2F89E 2E s256G:==6 w:89 $49@@=] k^Am
kAm$2=56C D2:5 @?6 @7 E96 4@>>6?ED D96 962C5 H9:=6 E2=<:?8 E@ C6D:56?ED H2D 9@H E96J H:D9 E96J 925 2 8C@46CJ DE@C6] |@D=6J D2:5 D96 E@@ H@F=5 =:<6 E@ D66 r2>A w:== H:E9 >@C6 3FD:?6DD6D 282:? DF49 2D 8C@46CJ DE@C6D[ 5CF8 DE@C6D 2?5 6G6? 4=@E9:?8 DE@C6D] k^Am
kAm“(6 925 2? 2FE@>@3:=6 562=6C[ D@>6 D6CG:46 DE2E:@?D 2?5 2 H6=5:?8 D9@A[ 2?5 2 s2:CJ "F66?j x =:<65 E@ D66 2== E92E DEF77 324< 282:?[” |@D=6J D2:5] “(6 6G6? 925 2 7@@E32== E62>[ @?6 @7 E96 36DE :? E96 2C62]”k^Am
k9b 5:ClQ=ECQm$92C64C@AA6CD’ >@G6>6?Ek^9bm
kAmu@C 2 49F?< @7 :ED 9:DE@CJ[ r2>A w:== H2D 2 4F=EFC2=\64@?@>:4 46?E6C[ 244@C5:?8 E@ v255:D] w6 D2:5 E96 E@H?’D D:8?:7:42?46 H6?E 36J@?5 E96 C68:@?[ :?4=F5:?8 :ED 7@F?5:?8 C@=6 H:E9 E96 &?:G6CD2=:DE r9FC49 :? E96 D@FE962DE 2?5 :ED 92?5 :? E96 D92C64C@AA6C’D >@G6>6?E]k^Am
kAm|@D6=6J’D A2C6?ED H6C6 D92C64C@AA6CD[ 8C@H:?8 4@EE@? E@ A62?FED E@ DF82C42?6] qJ `hbh[ E96J H6C6 23=6 E@ 86E E96:C @H? A=246] u@C >@DE @7 96C =:76[ =:<6 @E96CD :? r2>A w:==[ D96 962C5 DE@C:6D 23@FE E96 D92C64C@AA6C’D F?:@? @C82?:K6C[ #2=A9 vC2J]k^Am
kAmvC2J H@F=5 =2E6C 5:6 3J =J?49:?8 27E6C 2 H9:E6 >@3 2EE24<65 @?6 @7 E96 F?:@? >66E:?8D] pD 2 H2C?:?8[ 9:D 3@5J H2D 2=D@ 5:DA=2J65 @? E96 4@FCE9@FD6 DE6AD] k^Am
kAmv255:D =62C?65 23@FE vC2J’D DE@CJ 62C=J @? 5FC:?8 C6D62C49:?8 r2>A w:==] $FCAC:D:?8=J[ @?6 @7 9:D DEF56?ED 7@F?5 E96 3:== 7C@> E96 4@F?EJ 7@C E96 C6>@G2= 2?5 3FCJ:?8 @7 vC2J’D 3@5J] v255:D D2:5 H9:=6 :E’D 8C:D=J 2?5 EC28:4[ 2 56E2:= =:<6 E92E :D 2? :>A@CE2?E A2CE @7 E96 @G6C2== 9:DE@CJ 2?5 vC2J’D DE@CJ] k^Am
kAm“%96C6’D 2?@E96C H2J @7 E6==:?8 9:DE@CJ E92E x E9:?< :D :>A@CE2?E H96C6 E96 D92C64C@AA6CD’ F?:@? 2?5 E96 r2>A w:== >2DD24C6 2C6 46?EC2= A:646D @7 9@H H6 F?56CDE2?5 9:DE@CJ :? p=232>2 2?5 :? E96 D@FE9[” v255:D D2:5] “%96 DECF88=6 E92E H6 ?@H E9:?< @7 2D E96 4:G:= C:89ED >@G6>6?E[ :? E96 d_D 2?5 e_D[ 9@H 62C=J E92E H2D 8@:?8 @? :? A=246D =:<6 r2>A w:==]” k^Am
k9b 5:ClQ=ECQmpAA2=249:2? #68:@?2= r@>>:DD:@?k^9bm
kAmv255:D D2:5 AF3=:4 9:DE@CJ E6?5D E@ 4@>6 7C@> 2C49:G6D 2?5 4@FCE C64@C5D[ 3FE :? E:89E\<?:E 4@>>F?:E:6D =:<6 r2>A w:==[ 2 =@E @7 9:DE@CJ 4@>6D 7C@> A6@A=6 — H:E9 E96:C DE@C:6D[ A6CD@?2= :E6>D 2?5 A9@E@D]k^Am
kAmp7E6C E96 D6>6DE6C\=@?8 C6D62C49[ E96 DEF56?ED 925 E@ 3@:= 6G6CJE9:?8 5@H? E@ a__\ad_ H@C5D 2?5 2 4@FA=6 @7 :>286D 2D AC6A2C2E:@? 7@C E96 AC6D6?E2E:@?] p== D6G6? @7 E96 DEF56?ED E96? 4@==23@C2E65 E@ >2<6 2 `d\>:?FE6 AC6D6?E2E:@? D9@H42D:?8 r2>A w:== E@ E96 4@>>:DD:@?] k^Am
kAmp#r H@C<D H:E9 64@?@>:4 96C:E286 2D :ED D=@82? DE2E6D :EVD 2== 23@FE[ “:?G6DE:?8 :? pAA2=249:2’D 64@?@>:4 7FEFC6]” pD DF49[ E96 @C82?:K2E:@? @776CD 8C2?ED 2?5 @E96C 7F?5:?8 @AA@CEF?:E:6D]k^Am
kAmv255:D D2:5 ?@E @?=J 5@6D 96 9@A6 E9:D C6D62C49 AC@;64E 2:5D :? E96 2446DD E@ D@>6 @7 E9@D6 7F?5D[ 3FE 2=D@ E92E >@C6 A6@A=6 D66< @FE r2>A w:==’D 9:DE@CJ 2?5 E92E E96 :?E6C6DE C6G:G6D 282:? 2D D@ >2?J :? E96 4@>>F?:EJ 2C6 H@C<:?8 E@H2C5]k^Am
kAm“xE :D @3G:@FD=J 2 E@H? H:E9 =6256CD9:A 2?5 G:D:@? 7@C :ED 7FEFC6[” v255:D D2:5]k^Am
kAm$25=6C :?E6C;64E65 E92E E96 E@H? 2=D@ A@DD6DD6D :>>6?D6 AC:56]k^Am
kAm“%96 A6@A=6 H9@ =:G6 E96C6 92G6 2 =@E @7 AC:56 7@C E96:C 4@>>F?:EJ[ H9:49 :D 8C62E[” $25=6C D2:5] “*@F ?665 E92E E@ 3C:?8 :E 324<]” k^Am