On a fall trip sponsored by ASA Engineering and Surveying, Inc., several local surveyors retraced the steps of surveyors past and recovered the original boundary marker at the intersection of the North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia state lines.

Land surveyors and ASA employees Albert Slone, Michael Akins, Michael Cooper, and Jeff Guess, accompanied by ASA civil engineer Bill Kent and Atlanta attorney Mike Sheridan, traveled to the northeastern corner of Georgia to find the lost marker.

While hiking and camping on the Chatooga River, the group set out to find the famed boundary stone known as “Ellicott's Rock.” The rock is named after the most renowned land surveyor and astronomer of his time, Andrew Ellicott. In the early 1800's, Ellicott had already established the boundaries of Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, and several other eastern states. Due to his expertise in the field, Ellicott was commissioned in 1810 by the state of Georgia to find and mark the intersection of the 35th parallel and the Chatooga River, the mutual corner of South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. By Christmas 1811, he had determined the intersection and marked its location by carving “NC” in a large boulder next to the Chatooga River.

After a lengthy hike through the mountainous terrain along the Chatooga River Basin, the local group found themselves standing where Ellicott had so long before. Nestled in the dense vegetation along the river and partially covered with moss and sediment sat the stone, inscribed many years ago. After carefully removing the debris, the deeply etched letters “NC” were clearly visible.

Although Ellicott's Rock is the oldest known monument for this state boundary corner, the recognized intersection of the states is actually Commissioner's Rock, found about 10 feet downstream. Due to a conflict between Ellicott and the state government over his pay for services, Ellicott never finished marking the North Carolina-Georgia border. Thus, a second group of surveyors was commissioned to finish the boundary survey in 1813, and marked the states' boundaries.

Albert Slone and group also uncovered Commissioner's Rock on the trip. After clearing the face of the stone, the inscription “LAT 35, AD 1813, NC & SC” could be seen.

Both rocks mark the same theoretical point and offer further proof of man's propensity to establish and dispute his boundaries.