FRIENDS OF ETNA TURPENTINE CAMP INC

Our mission is to preserve and research the history of this turpentine town that started in 1898 and transitioned to a lumber mill with a railroad spur to it. Etna was on early 1900's maps, had a post office and commissary that also served the local population until 1926, some 50 shanties, twin turpentine still, sink for water, and has oak draped roads that lead to the long leaf pine forests surrounding it. Peonage labor was used at first but the lumber mill utilized the harsh leased-convict labor. Most workers were African American so Etna and the naval store industry are important to their history. We hope to build an interpretative park with informational kiosks telling the story of this early Post Civil-War industry in the South. Etna was listed on the National Register in 2009.