Whitfield-Murray Historical Society



Whitfield-Murray Historical Society QUARTERLY

Vol. 28, No. 1 Spring 2009

_____________________________________

President -Ellen Thompson

1st Vice President- Sharon Seaton

2nd Vice President-Carolyn Luffman

Secretary-Melissa Burchfield

Treasurer- Marc Carpenter

Public Relations-Deborah Pritchett

Trustees - Randy Beckler (Chairman), Judy Alderman, James Burran, Earl Coker, Louise Coker, Tim Howard, Carlton McDaniel, Paul Ross, Marvin Sowder, Donald R. Thomas

Trustees Emeritus –Jeannette Brown, Nell Ruth Loughridge

Executive Secretary -Erik Gallman

_____________________________

The QUARTERLY is published four times per year for members of the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society and will be mailed out to all members. Extra copies are available for $2.00 at the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society Headquarters, 715 Chattanooga Avenue, Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Past issues may also be available in limited quantities.

Copyright ©2009 Whitfield-Murray Historical Society

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society.

Table of Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

A.J. Showalter Piano Ad . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

The Whitfield-Murray Historical Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Sears & Roebuck buggy Ad . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Where Are the Best Kissers in Whitfield County? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Unusual Visitors

Converge in Dalton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Memories of

Uncle Mitchell Gregory . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Queries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Coca-Cola Ad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Founding Families . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Vehicle Registry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Routh’s Ad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Good Eats from the Past . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Murray County As You Don’t

Remember it . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Directors note . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Upcoming Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Publications for Sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Special thanks to the following for their assistance in compiling this issue of our Quarterly:

Conway Gregory, Jr., Tim Howard, Joanne Lewis, Sharon Seaton, And Ellen Thompson

Erik Gallman, editor

Whitfield-Murray Historical Society

715 Chattanooga Ave.

P.O. Box 6180

Dalton, GA 30722

Phone: 706-278-0217

Email: wmhs@optilink.us

Website: whitfield-

The first Quarterly of the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society was published in July of 1976. It was twelve pages long and included three articles: The History of Chatsworth by Tim Howard, Dalton’s Early Drug Stores by Ellis Owen, and Mt. Zion Methodist Church by Kate Raine. Except for a two year period when it was superseded by the Journal, it has been published every year since.

Some things change. Only one of the authors of that first Quarterly is still living. We started out with little more than a vision of what our society could be -- Today the Historical Society is more than 350 strong and maintains the Blunt House, Chatsworth Depot, Crown Gardens and Archives, Dug Gap Battle Park and Hamilton Mountain Civil War Sites, Hamilton House, Old Spring Place Methodist Church, and the Wright Hotel.

Some things remain the same. Our “new” logo featured on the cover of this issue was selected from a number of entries during an area wide contest. The logo shows a drawing of Whitfield and Murray counties. Of course it was a little simpler, but that’s precisely what was featured on the cover of that first Quarterly in 1976. We began with one purpose in mind –protecting and preserving the rich history of our area. Many of our founding members are no longer among our ranks --still, that zeal and passion for preserving our local heritage continues.

This Quarterly represents the beginning of a new chapter for our society. Within the space of just a few months we have seen the appointment of new officers and trustees, the retirement of a beloved, long-time executive secretary and director of the Archives, the hiring of a new secretary, and the passing of yet another. Monies have been made available for the much needed repair of the oldest of our properties, we have launched a website, and the community’s attitude toward local history seems to be increasing favorably. We still have many obstacles to overcome; but, be it known to the skeptic, our vision is not blurred, our determination has not wavered. The Whitfield-Murray Historical Society is alive and well!

We are making every effort to shape our Quarterly to be more appealing to our readers -- regardless of his or her historical interest. We hope that you find within these pages something that sparks a greater zeal within you to preserve our rich heritage. We welcome submissions, comments, and ideas concerning the Quarterly. Please let us hear from you!

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The

Whitfield-Murray Historical Society

IT’S AMAZING how few people realize what the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society is all about. It would be impossible to give a complete history of the society within the confines of this Quarterly. Even so, we think this is an appropriate time to reflect upon who we are, where we’ve been, and where we’re headed.

The Whitfield-Murray Historical Society was formed in the 1950's as part of an effort to restore the historic Vann House in Spring Place, Georgia. In 1976, following a period of inactivity, the Society was reorganized as a non-profit organization seeking to preserve and document the history of Whitfield and Murray Counties. Much has been accomplished since 1976, and new and exciting things continue to happen with our society. 

The society is currently composed of more than 350 members from all across the country. Membership is open to anyone interested in learning about, or helping to preserve, local history. Various levels of membership are available (See the back of this Quarterly for details). The Society meets bimonthly to discuss topics of local historical interest. The meetings are held at various times and locations and are open to the public. If you are interested in joining the Historical Society, please attend one of our upcoming meetings to meet some of our members and see what we’re all about!

In addition to our regular meetings, the Historical Society engages in a number of special activities. We hold annual book and rummage sales at various locations. We sponsor classes related to the history of Whitfield and Murray counties. Each May the society awards scholarships to high school seniors in both Whitfield and Murray counties. We also present Historical Preservation Awards to individuals who have made substantial contributions to the preservation of our local history. Our members have also performed an occasional comedic production of “The Hysterical Society.”

The historical society currently maintains several local historical properties which would otherwise be in danger of neglect or destruction. A brief description of each of our properties has been included later in this article. Committees comprised of interested members have been formed for the upkeep and workings of each of these properties. “Friends of the Vann House” operates as an auxiliary of the society and works to enhance that historic site as well.

Besides maintaining historical properties, we also publish a bimonthly newsletter and the Quarterly magazine –both are mailed to you as part of your membership. We compile and publish a number of books related to the history of Whitfield and Murray counties. Some of these books include Murray County Heritage, Murray County School Days, the Official History of Whitfield County, and Whitfield Co. Cemeteries.

The historical society offers tours of our various properties and sponsors a number of other activities including our “Holiday House ” which highlights an area historical property decked out in holiday regalia.

Funds for the various projects within the Society are obtained through the sale of publications, membership dues, various fundraisers, and donations from historically- minded citizens.

We would love to have you as a fellow member of the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society.  History beckons you, and our organization abounds with exciting opportunities to heed its call. 

A SWEEPING GLANCE AT OUR PROPERTIES . . .

WHITFIELD-MURRAY HISTORY CENTER & ARCHIVES serves as the headquarters for the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society. This 1890's building originally served as offices for Crown Cotton Mill.  Also known as "Crown Gardens & Archives, our headquarters serves as a depository for historical records and research material relating to the history of Whitfield and Murray counties. One can find cemetery lists, marriage records, census indexes, county and family histories and more than 700 family files --all available to the public.  The Archives also houses revolving displays of local historical interests. Publications of the historical society are available for purchase at our headquarters.

The facility may also be rented for many other functions --meetings, seminars, family reunions, social affairs and fundraising events. 

The old Crown office building has served as headquarters since 1976 and is located at 715 Chattanooga Avenue in Dalton. The Archives is currently undergoing some renovations and improvements, but we're still open for business.  Please come by to see the progress.

THE BLUNT HOUSE, completed in 1848, is the second oldest house in Dalton. It is located at 506 S. Thornton Avenue. The architecture is Federal Style with a 1910 Victorian Style addition. The original house had four rooms – two up and two down with a central stair hall. The kitchen was probably a separate building with one room attached. The house was originally located on four acres of land with accompanying outbuildings and a barn.

The historical importance of the house is not that it is a fine example of Federal architecture but that it was the home of Ainsworth Emery Blunt, the first mayor of Dalton, the first postmaster, one of the founders of the First Presbyterian Church, and a leader in the 1851 formation of Whitfield County from Murray County.

During the Confederate occupation of Dalton, in the winter of 1863-1864, General Joseph E. Johnston and his staff officers were entertained in the Blunt house. When the Union forces took Dalton, the Blunts traveled to Illinois to stay with his son, John. The house was used as a Union hospital with outside brush arbors that protected the wounded Union soldiers. Many wooden structures were burned or dismantled for firewood during the occupation. The Blunt House survived possibly because it was used as a hospital, and possibly because Mr. Blunt was a Union sympathizer. The Blunts returned in the summer of 1865, and Mr. Blunt died in December, leaving the house to his wife and daughter, Lillie.

The house is also unique because it was occupied solely by Blunt family members from the time it was built until the death of Mrs. Emery Kirby Baxley in 1978. She had willed the house to the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society with the stipulation it be placed on the National Register of Historic Places, which was accomplished in 1981. The house is also part of The City of Dalton’s Historic Thornton Avenue District.

An extensive renovation was done in 1988 that included the installation of central heat and air. Most of the furnishings, clothes, books, linens, and objects are original to the house. Donated items must be from the period 1848 to 1978 and are marked according to their source.

“Miss Emery’s” gift has allowed her to continue teaching through the Historical Society’s docents. We hope she is pleased with our efforts.

The Blunt House will serve as the 2009 Holiday House during which time it will be beautifully decorated in Christmas regalia and open for tours.

THE HAMILTON HOUSE, completed in 1840 and the oldest surviving house in Dalton was built by John Hamilton who was employed as a civil engineer for the Western and Atlantic Railroad. The structure’s walls are brick, with massive wood beams running the width of the house. The original kitchen, located in the basement, was unusual in Southern homes of that era. Most kitchens were then located in separate buildings due to fire concerns.

During the Civil War, known locally as the War Between the States, the Hamilton House was used as a hospital for the wounded. The Hamilton Plantation also became the headquarters of Brig. Gen. John H. Lewis, who commanded a brigade in Bates division, Hardee’s Corp of the Army of the CSA. This brigade was also known as the Kentucky Orphan Brigade. Lewis’s brigade spent the winter of 1863-64 camped behind the house near the spring.

In 1884, the house was sold by the Hamilton heirs to the group organizing a new industry, the Crown Cotton Mill. The house served as the home of the Crown Cotton Mill’s superintendent, Frank Hamilton, and his family (The Frank Hamilton family was not related to the John Hamilton family).

In 1984 the house was restored by three great-grandsons of John Hamilton: David, Clay, and Lane Hamilton repurposed the house once more as the corporate headquarters of Crown America.

In 1997 the building was purchased by the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society. Since that date the society has used the house to display several collections, including their bedspreads and textiles collection, Native American collections, the Ellis Owen Collection of apothecary jars and pharmaceutical items, the Robert Loveman Room including his personal library, the Civil War Collection, and the Lesche Club Room. The Historic Hamilton House, Crown Mill, and Crown Mill Village are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Most recently the house and the historical society have been challenged by issues that threaten the very walls and foundation of The Hamilton House. Due to mud and limestone construction methods common during the 1840s and the moisture conditions existing today, the brick walls have weakened. At the same time the sheer weight of the house pushes down on the walls and has caused the walls to bulge and threaten an eventual collapse.

The house has been closed for approximately two years while experts have been consulted and a plan to save the house has been devised. Now the time is close for construction on a steel frame to support the back wall and attach to the rest of the structure to make it once again the strong fortress of earliest days. The society is diligently working with all available entities to ensure that this building is preserved for many generations to come.

The Hamilton House Committee has been peopled with many diligent, devoted individuals over the past dozen years. Those people of many diverse backgrounds and interests found common interests within the doors of this special house. Today the deadline until the doors will reopen seems to be rapidly approaching. The need for new people with new visions and ideas of what will be in store for the future of the Hamilton House is now. This invitation to contact the society and join the efforts and the committee is for every person who believes he or she can contribute through any effort, great or small, to the future of Dalton’s oldest surviving house.

DUG GAP BATTLE PARK, located on Dug Gap Mountain, offers a magnificent view of Whitfield County and a glimpse into the rich Civil War history of our area.   Stone fortifications located here traverse pathways from lookout points along the trail.   This Civil War site is maintained by the Civil War Round Table of Dalton and is open dawn till dusk year round. 

WRIGHT HOTEL. Thomas Wright opened his once flourishing business in 1909.  An influx of Northerners and Southerners alike flocked to the rural town of Chatsworth to drink the refreshing mineral waters, enjoy cool mountain breezes, and to dine on Southern-style cooking.  Mr. Wright, a farmer, builder and architect, along with his cousin, supervised the construction of the three-story hotel.  Not only was it a hotel, but also the home of the Wright family, which included his wife and six children.  Mr. Wright rented a brick plant for a year to make the rose colored bricks to build his hotel.  The heart pine lumber needed for construction was cut from his farm and aged for a year.  The hotel has served many including jurors, school teachers, judges, politicians, and honeymooners.

Many historic displays and memorabilia can be viewed here such as the rock that is present at the bottom of the stairs --mail for the guests was placed under this rock, the 7-foot tub in which Mr. Wright was baptized, original furniture and Indian pottery and baskets.  The hotel also houses a collection of nursing paraphernalia belonging to Kate Raine, daughter of Mr. Wright, who served as a nurse on the Indian reservations of the southwest.  Hotel registers dating to the 1920's give a glimpse of those who stayed there while it was a thriving business.

Mrs. Raine left the Wright Hotel to the historical society upon her death in 1986.  The society promised to preserve and maintain the site as close as possible to its original condition.  Today this site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is available for special event rental.

OLD SPRING PLACE METHODIST CHURCH- Spring Place is the former county seat of Murray County and second oldest township in North Georgia.  The old Methodist church is the oldest existing public-use structure in Murray County.  It began as an Indian Mission in the early 1830's.  During the "Trail of Tears," the group at Spring Place became a regular congregation.  The group first met near the old Moravian Mission on present day Ellijay Street.  In 1851, the congregation moved to Elm Street and built a brick structure.  This building later burned, and a new wooden church was erected on the same foundation about 1875.  Many events such as homecomings, conferences, revivals and ladies' group meetings highlight the history of the church.  The congregation began to decline when the county seat was moved to Chatsworth in 1913.  Eventually, a new church was built in 1976.  The Whitfield-Murray Historical Society saw the need to preserve and restore the old church.  It has been a special project of the society since 1977 and was rededicated in 1979. It now houses a museum of church, Spring Place, and Murray County memorabilia.  The building is used for historical society meetings and may be rented by other groups for special events and social functions. Each August proceeds from the Spring Place Community Festival go toward the preservation of this historic structure.

CHATSWORTH DEPOT: In 19o4 the Louisville and Nashville railroad system ran from Cincinnati, Ohio to Etowah, Tennessee.  In order to complete a direct line to Atlanta, the L & N railroad system began laying tracks from Etowah south.  In 1905, tracks were laid through Murray County.  The Chatsworth Depot, now located adjacent to the Wright Hotel, was originally built along the tracks during this period.  It contained two waiting rooms, an agent's office, an express and baggage room, and a freight room.  The L & N Railroad employed many Murray County residents, and trains would stop daily to transport residents traveling to and from Cartersville and other points. 

The only remaining depot in Murray County, the Chatsworth Depot was donated to the historical society in 1989 by CSX with the stipulation that it be moved to another location –hence it’s present location.

Considerable efforts were made in the restoration of the building. The restored depot currently houses two museums: one chronicles the growth of the local talc industry; the other documents more than a century of railroad service in Murray County. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is also available for use for social events and group functions.

The Talc Museum contains a collection of historical information and artifacts relating to the talc industry in Murray County, including maps, documents, photographs, news articles, tools and special equipment.

The Railroad Museum concentrates on passenger and freight service through Murray County.  Original items from several Murray County depots are on display along with an extensive display of tools, equipment, documents, and photographs related railroad history.

A caboose is also on display on the grounds of the Depot Museum. (

Where Are the Best Kissers in Whitfield County?

YOU never know just what might turn up in the pages of history! Who would have suspected that you could find out how all the girls in Whitfield County kiss?! The following originally appeared in the July 7th edition of The Dalton Argus, 1894.

 

“Kissing”

 

The Tilton girl bows her stately head,

  And fixes her stylish lips,

In a firm, hard way and lets them go,

  In spasmodic little snips.

 

The Dalton girl, so gentle and sweet,

  Meets the coming kiss

With a rapturous warmth and her youthful soul

  Floats away on a sea of bliss.

 

The Fillmore girl says never a word,

  And you’d think her rather tame,

With her practical view of the matter in hand,

  But she gets there just the same.

 

The Varnell girl makes never a move,

  Till she carefully takes off her hat;

Then she grabs at the prize in a frenzied way,

  Like a terrier shaking a rat.

 

The Dawnville girl removeth her specks

  And freezeth her face in a smile,

And sticks out her lips like an open book,

  But cheweth her gum all the while.

 

We have sung you a song of they that kiss,

  And it sets one’s brain in a whirl;

But to reach the height of earthly bliss,

  You must kiss a Deep Spring girl.

 

                                         -- “Blossom”

Deep Spring, Ga.     June 26, 1894

OF COURSE, we see that not everyone agrees with Blossom’s conclusion. A couple of weeks later “Effie Dots” from Mill Creek writes:

 

The Deep Spring writer has sung his song

Of Tilton girls whom he hath praised so long;

And the Dalton girls whom he sees and frequently meets

And the Varnell girl who snatches the prize,

And the Dawnville girl with specks on her eyes;

And he said to reach the height of earthly bliss,

A Deep Spring girl you had to kiss;

But the Mill Creek girls are just as sweet,

And the Deep Spring girls can be beat.

Unusual Visitors Converge in Dalton

WITH just a little effort we could compile a list of notable and famous personalities that have passed through the city of Dalton during its long and prosperous history; however, for about a two year period in the 1920’s, Dalton seems to have been visited by characters of the less famous and more unusual persuasion.

In August of 1923 the North Georgia Citizen reports: 

“SOME THINK ADAM AWOKE

IN DALTON

If historians have their data mixed and it was Adam who dropped off to sleep instead of Rip Van Winkle, then it must have been Adam who awoke last Friday morning in this city, thereby, strengthening Dalton's claim to being the site of the Garden of Eden.

People in a thickly settled residential district were amazed Friday morning to see a man dressed in the same garb worn by Adam before he ate the apple, stretching and sunning himself in an alley.  He appeared oblivious to his surroundings, and, after lingering awhile in such an unconventional garb, he entered a barn, donned a pair of overalls and beat it.

It couldn't have been September Morn, for it was in August, and it was of the masculine, instead of the feminine gender.  So it must have been Adam, for history doesn't record the life of any one other than the first man who wore such a costume.

The police are still looking for the man to find out what he meant: but he hasn't shown up yet.”

(

According to The Dalton Citizen, strange characters were continuing to visit the city in 1924:

“Dalton was visited the past week by two characters who, apparently, dropped out of the pages of fiction long enough to dig up the buried treasures, and then went back in. Here’s the story as it reached The CITIZEN:

Some boys walking in the road at the foot of the hill north of the Loughridge place saw two Indians engaged in digging at the roots of a large magnolia tree which stands east of the road on the hillside. The Indians, according to the boys, were all dolled up in their war paint, and hadn’t fallen for the hair-bobbing razor; for they had long locks like Indians were intended to wear.

The boys didn’t like their looks so they went for reinforcements and returned. They started over to investigate; but the wild looking strangers drew guns on them and drove them away.

Late into the night the Indians kept digging, some men joining the boys in watching them. Nobody mustered sufficient courage to go for a close investigation.

The next morning, the Indians were gone, and a number of people went to the scene. They found a deep hole at the foot of the magnolia tree, and at the bottom could be seen the print of what had evidently been a large iron pot. The pot was gone, and so were the Indians; but the hole was left, the diggers evidently forgetting to take it along with them.

The incident has set the people to speculating. This section was once inhabited by the Cherokees, and some of the old forebears of the diggers might have buried treasure there before leaving. It’s also said by the “oldest inhabitant” that at one time a man by the name of Ballew lived in the house which sat near the magnolia tree and that he was charged with getting away with a quantity of federal money, being convicted and serving time for it; but the money was never found.

That Captain Kiddy might have decided to come here to bury his fortune away from the ocean where no one would think of looking for it.

There are plenty of men and boys who will tell you they saw the Indians digging and saw the hole afterward and the print of the pot which may or may not have contained gold and jewels.”

June 11, 1925, Dalton Citizen:

Several months ago, Indians, or men painted and dressed to look like Indians, went to the Martin farm in the southeastern part of Dalton, and , digging at the root of a large magnolia tree, unearth an iron pot. They were seen at work, and afterward the hole showed the print of the pot.

Saturday, people on the Schneider farm a mile or so southeast discovered deep holes at the foot of five big poplar trees. On all of the trees, there was a distinct mark. The holes were several feet in circumference and several feet deep. One of the trees was dug up. Whether or not anything was found under the trees is not known.

Now, at the same time the trees were treated in this way, there was a crowd of people here that looked very much like Indians, leading to the belief that the same crowd made a second visit here in search of something that had been hidden in the past.(

NEXT Quarterly we will examine a number of hidden treasures in Whitfield and Murray. Some have been discovered, others are still missing . . . .

Memories of

Uncle Mitchell Gregory

conway gregory, jr.

From the Chatsworth Times, April 11, 1914 --“Body Recovered”

Our Colvard correspondent writes:

Mr. Mac Johnson, 27 years of age, of Tennessee, who was working at a saw mill here, and boarding at Mr. Joe Cox’, got into a boat just above Gregory’s Mill and attempted to get a boat off of the mill dam. He must have lost control of the boat and gone over the dam.

His pocket book, with several dollars and some papers in it was found in the river. On Sunday morning his hat was found just below the Gregory Bridge and Sunday afternoon Nick James and Neal Fowler found the body near where his hat was found.

Undertaker McLain of Cleveland took the body Monday morning to Tennessee for burial.

Mr. Johnson leaves a wife and several children.

There was a reward of $100.00 offered for the body of Mr. Johnson but neither of the men would accept a cent of it.

There have been hundreds of people on the river the six days Mr. Johnson was under water searching for the body.

We learn that two of Mr. Johnson’s uncles, Mr. Ratclett and Mr. Johnson, and his brother Taylor Johnson, were at the river when the body was found.

Sometime in the late 1960’s or perhaps the early 1970’s I was living with my Uncle Mitchell Gregory. During this time he told me a story about a man working for my grandfather, B.A. Gregory who drowned while working at the saw mill near the Conasauga River. I remember him telling me that his Uncle John Thompson was one of the men who searched for the missing man. After he was found, Uncle John took Mitchell (almost seven at the time) to see the body being removed from the river. The article from the Chatsworth Times recounts accurately my Uncle’s story.

While conducting research for a book, I discovered the article on microfilm. I gave a photocopy to Uncle Mitchell for his reading pleasure. After he died, I was going through his personal papers and found the article again. I filed it away in my genealogical files about the Gregory family; however, I discovered it again the other day and it brought back many fond memories of times I had with my Uncle Mitchell. It also made me realize that I should provide more background to the reader for this story.

In the late nineteenth or early twentieth century, my grandfather built two dams on the Conasauga River in northern Murray County. These were used for producing electricity to run his saw mill and grist mill and to provide electricity for his home. The northern dam was named the Brush dam and was located where the river divided and created a large island in the channel known as Pompeii’s Island. The brush dam diverted all of the water in the river down the left side of the island for approximately one-fourth mile and caused the right side of the river to become a dry riverbed. The water moved down the left side of the island and it became deeper as it approached the main dam. The brush dam was made of concrete and iron piping and stood six or eight feet high and ran at an angle across the river. The main dam was also made of concrete and iron piping but had a weir on its left side for lowering and raising the river level behind the dam during times of potential flooding. The weir was operated using a hand crank and chain for opening and closing. The main dam also had round metal shafts in it where small turbines were located and turned as the water went through it. The excess water overflowed the dam and all of the water converged at the Gregory Bridge where the southern tip of Pompeii’s Island is located.

As a child I often played on both dams and was fascinated by every aspect of my grandfather’s farm. I knew where the old saw mill was located, played in the grist mill, the cotton gin, his two large barns, the two story chicken house, the cotton seed house, the blacksmith’s shop, the rental houses and the cow dipping area with a large shed near it for storing farm machinery. I walked up and down the river and fields –each of which had a name given it by my grandfather such as Sack Field and Pumpkin Town. Many times I walked along the riverbank or in the shallow riverbed from Perry’s Rock to the Gregory Bridge.

Another interesting story my Uncle Mitchell related to me while I was growing up in his home was about Perry’s Rock. Perry’s Rock was located in the northwestern most corner of the farm and bordered Bob Hill’s farm. According to Uncle Mitchell, Perry’s Rock was the home of a Cherokee Indian named Perry. According to the legend, Perry is buried near the river on a knoll. My uncle pointed out the burial site to me many times when we visited the location. In later years Uncle Mitchell told me that Perry wasn’t really buried there and that the gravesite was actually where “Freez” Bowers, as a young man, had buried a dead cow as a joke. Someday I intend to ask Mr. Bowers who or what is actually buried there.

I always found my Uncle Mitchell’s stories about my Grandfather’s farm fascinating and just as interesting as any fictional story. Oh how I miss those times of youth and that farm in northwest Georgia. Oh, how much more I miss Uncle Mitchell.(

HAVE a nagging question about local history? Consider posting a query in the next Quarterly. Queries are free for members or $3.00 for non-members. Please limit queries to 100 words. Send your queries or answers to WMHS, P.O. Box 6180, Dalton, GA 30722. Answers to queries will be published in future issues.

QUERY: Where in Murray County is “Stingy Bend”? This place is mentioned in the Chatsworth Times during the 1930’s.

QUERY: I am looking for any information pertaining to my grandmother Johnnie Mae Renfro Springfield Brookshire of Dalton. Neither I nor my father ever knew her, but I would like to know where she is buried or if she was cremated. It was said that she died in a state hospital. She was born around 1920 and her last known whereabouts are in Dalton in the year of 1960 when she was arrested for public drunkenness. Any clues could be very important in my search if you know anything at all please let me know.

--Jimmy S.

QUERY: My husband is a 3-great grandson of Solomon T. Parker and Mary Ann Long, both from early Whitfield County families. Solomon was a tailor and operated the Dalton Tailor Shop with his daughter for many years. If anyone has information about either Solomon or Mary, we're far away in Nebraska waiting to hear from you. Thanks!

--Karen

QUERY: In 1903 the Spring Place Jimplecute carried the following story:

“A stranger came to town the other day to look about and now he threatens to bring suit against the town council. He says that the courthouse fence is so crooked it made him cross-eyed and he is going to sue for damages. We’ve often thought the fence needed something done for it but our timidity kept us from saying so.”

This rather unique iron fence was in place at least through the early 1920’s. It is known that various items from the courthouse were incorporated into other buildings when it was dismantled in the mid-1950’s. Iron fence sections identical to those in photographs of the courthouse exist in the Spring Place Cemetery. Is there any possibility that these sections of fence are from the original courthouse and were moved to the cemetery when it was removed from the courthouse?

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QUERY: Who presently holds the distinction of being the oldest living person in Murray County and the oldest living person in Whitfield County?

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After listening to suggestions on how to better assemble our Quarterly, we have decided to embark on a feature called “Founding Families.” We hope to use this reoccurring section to highlight interesting details from the history of early families. If you have ties to Whitfield or Murray and would like to share interesting or unusual information about your family or how they played a role in our early history, please let us know.

JACOB GALLMAN COMES TO AMERICA

Shared by Erik Gallman

I could tell you a number of interesting things about my family history –of general stores, moonshine, and politics -- how my grandmother lived through a tornado, how my grandfather watched helplessly as his baby sister burned to death –all of these are interesting when you start adding the details; but, frankly, I think that what my ancestors did to get to America is just as interesting as what happened once they arrived!

When I was a child my mother showed me a letter written by my great (several “greats”) grandfather. It was a faded copy that had been typewritten and used until it was very tattered. Mother eventually recopied the letter by hand and gave a copy to me and my siblings. Of course, with the arrival of computers and the internet anyone can now access a copy of this letter. The following letter is actually a translation of the letter written by Jacob Gallman to his family back in

Switzerland. The original is in the state archives in Zurich. This is how the Gallman Family came to be in America and eventually in Murray County,Georgia. Some spelling has been left untouched. This is Jacob’s account of his journey from Zurich, Switzerland to Charleston, South Carolina:

_____________________

 From Karolina God's Protection and Mercy.

 First  my friendly  regards and  wishes  for all  the best,  my very  honored

Godfather Major Walti and Godmother, your honored wife, also your dear son and

daughters. I cannot fail to write you an answer, that we are still hale and

hearty thanks to God's loving grace. To hear the same from you will give us

great pleasure. Besides I  ask you very kindly to report to  us again about my

daughter-husband Galmann  and  my  daughter -  husband  Ulrich Biniger  from

Utikon, same (about)  my beloved brother Hans Jacob Gallmann, and sister Rudi

Jagi,  same  (about)  all  good  friends  and  acquaintances,  and  the  whole

neighborhood and parish.

  It is now one and a half years ago that I have written to you and received no

answer,  therefore  I will  report  again  how we  fared  on  the journey.  We

travelled  with Pastor  Gottschi from  Zurrich to  Bassel, in  which place  we

stayed four days  and did not  know  when Gottschi would  get a ship.  Then 28

persons of us joined together and got a passport from Bassel, also a passport

from the commander  of Huningen.  Then we went into France on foot, travelled

through in what we would have had to pay for ship's fare, also could travel

free and safe, had three weeks and three days to Cali (Calais). There we met a

Londoner ship's captain, he contracted us on his ship, and each person had to

pay one thaler up to London, but we had to stay in Calais eight days until his ship

was loaded with wine. Then we set one and a half days and two nights until

we got to London, where we had to stay 8 days. Then the governor called me and

my family to the castle amid gave us a splendid meal, and when that had been

eaten, his servant had to guide us to the armory. There we saw something

artful such as I had never seen in my life.

 Then we contracted  for another ship, and  each person had to pay  5 guine to

travel to Carlistath ( Charleston ) and the persons that cannot pay must serve

for it. One  guine is 8 lb, and 1  lb is as much as 20  Swiss batzes. One must

serve 4 years for it.

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And so we went on the ship in God's name, and safely set out, from London and

from the English coast, and got on to  the high seas where it was very warm so

we  had to  take off  our coats  and camisoles,  until we  got to  Braffeidenz

(Providence), and  had to ride nine weeks.  During that time we saw no land and

met up with only one single ship which came from Affrica. During that time we

suffered considerable wind such as to break the rear mast in two, but no harm

was done to the ship and we were lucky all along.

  Up to Braffeidenz, we had several soldiers along that sailed with us.

Braffoidenz  is  a  pass  where  the  Spaniards have  to  pay  a  large  toll.

Braffeidenz is not fertile land because every year the sea throws off salt and

leaves it there two times a year.  Braffidenz lies straight under the sun where

it is very hot. We stayed there for eight davs because things had to be taken on,

our ship was loaded with Brazil-wood. Carlistath is 150 hours from Carlistath.

  We had another eight days to Carlistath and arrived at Carlistath the 7th day of

Hornung (February), the 1735th year. Thus our travel took eleven weeks from

London to Carlinstath, But we took a rather round about way because we had to

go to Braffeidenz.  Then we were supplied with new provisions, meat, rice and

salt, and a special kind of potato the likes of which are grown all over the

country, and which gentlemen and farmers like to eat.

  After three weeks we were taken to Ganganlist (Congaree) fifty hours to the

north of Carlistath. There they gave each person axes and hoes, in the town of

Farziganten (Saxa Gotha), one half acre of land for to have house and garden

in town; after that 30 acres land for each person, men and women, and that for

ten years free. Provisions they give enough for one year. By that time you can

grow you own, so you do not suffer want at any time.  When the ten years are

over, field rent and head taxes on one hundred acres comes to less than 4R(?).

 We were given an exceedingly beautiful place only half an hour from town.

The whole farm is garden-like ground.  It is a good four-and-a-half hundred

acres in one piece, all black-brown earth, nary a rock, all even land, wheels

need no brakes.  I have given five  acres land to  each of the  children, but

Heini has  150 acres  in one  piece: Heiri, too  has 100  acres in  one piece,

doesn't know yet how much he will get; Hanss, too has 100 acres in one piece.

 My children are all married, all except Hanss, he still serves and gets 9 lb

amonth,  he tans deer skins. Heiri lives with me and has a wife from the

Rhienthal and a little son. Heinni has Heiri's wife's sister; he lives on his

farm and is doing well. He has fivecows, milk and butter he has enough. I and

Heiri have 14 cattle, cows, and others more, three horses, more than 20 pigs,

bread and milk and butter we have enough. We can slaughter two fat oxen (when)

we want to, six pigs besides, so in winter we have enough meat for every day,

and in summer we have some too.

  Elssbeth is married to Master Jacob Schall (Spuhel) from Taurgau (Thurgau)

and lives in town. He has his farmland near the town and lives well, has four

cows, is able to have more if he wants to. He had a little daughter that died.

Annababeli has already another husband, from the first she has a little son,

he was an Irishman. This time she has (a husband named)  Eunicher, she comes

dressed  like our  pastor's daughters.  She has 20 head of cattle and many

horses, also many pigs. She has three negros; those are black people or Moors

that one buys. They bring whole ship loads from Affrica, and one of them costs

100 to 200 lbs (depending, on how they are, this year are a great many. And so

we are doing well, indeed very well, and we owe nobody anything.

  I wish that the neighbors that are much in need could all be with us. and

especially my children, Rudelli who is in Holland, and Anneli with her husband

and  children. I  therefore ask  very kindly,  my dear  godfather, that  if my

brother perchance is not alive anymore,  that you would be so good and report

to my son how things  are with us. If he does not wish to be a soldier a11 his

life, that it would be my wish for him to come here.

  Carolina lies under the sun which makes it very warm. In summertime it is

much warmer than in Switzerland wherefore it is called South Carolina, but in

wintertime rather cold but there is no snow and summertime no hail. The land

is real good and fertile with all kinds of grain. You fell the trees, then

you begin to till and sow corn. The first year you got plenty and good, after

that there is wheat, too, then corn again, everything you wish that you can

plant. Round the corn you plant peas and beans, melons, watermelons, a great

number of all sorts plants. If the land is good you begin planting all sorts of

grain, barley which turns out well here, rice is planted here aplenty, and

there is a very large trade with r? to Carlistadt and other places.

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There are many strawberries, many blackberries, very many mulberry trees,

peach trees in the woods, also many apple and pear trees, they do not have all

of those trees here, some have to  be brought in from far away. Cherries there

are too but we  don't yet have the trees, also very  many grape vines but all

which have small berries like juniper berries, black, make a good wine but are

not so easy  to get, grow way up in  the tall trees. Also many nut trees, a

great many with wild nuts so hard they have to be cracked with an iron

mallet. There are countless numbers of oak trees on which the pigs can fatten

themselves.

  They do not have fences here, only where things are planted, everything else is

left to itself. Cattle,  horses and pigs are left to  roam together, no fodder

is made, no cattle  herded, not even pigs, no horse is  shod, and everyone can

have as much livestock as he wishes or can handle. There are such that have as

much as up to 100 or 200 cows, and if there were 10 times as many, they would

all have enough to feed on.  There are very many rabbits in hollow trees,

turkeys, chickens, ducks, wild geese, in winter also wild pigeons, turtledoves,

bees can also be found in hollow trees.  There is a water near our place, it

runs down to Carlistath, a water full of ships and has much and good fish. One

does not have work half as much here as in Switzerland.  When the heat is

greatest one goes in shade under the roof and lies down to sleep.  One also

doesn't walk much but goes on horseback  to see one another. It is also very

good here for tobacco smokers, each grows it himself.

  This country is not at the end  of the world,  it borders on  several other

countries such as  Virgioln (Virginia) and (West) India. That is where a wild

people live; much trading is being done with them.  These savages live mostly

in part on shooting game.

  There is much deer here and there, for which reason, many traders ride there

with 20  or 30 horses  right through my pastures  with brandy, also  with shot

guns,  muskets, lead,  bullets,  belt  straps, pouches  and  deer skins.  Many

savages come here too, and shoot game.  We (don't do) anything to them, so neither they to us. When we give them something they give meat in return. And

so it is that Carolina is good and large. From  here  one can  also go  to

(Virginia)  by water  and by  land, it  is 100  hours. One can also get to

Pensillfanen, is 200 hours by water and by land. I could write you much more,

must keep it short.  We lived in our town Sageigten (Saxa Gotha) and built

huts. My daughter - husband Heirich Buchman from Trachsler (Dachlesen) had his own little  house, worked hard,  liked it here, but  both died, one  after the

other within two days, he and the wife, and had been sick no more than five days.

This happened in Autumn month  (September) 1735th year. Cousin Heinrich Walder from Knonau left London with us and staved in Carlistatt with Naffen (Naf)

from Kappel, did  not go with us  to our beautiful splendid  town of Sageigten

(Saxa Gotha) but to Buris Burg (Purisburg), is 100 hours.

 There would be room for many people, whoever wants to can come. It is a real good country, could almost be compared with an earthly canaan or paradise. Whoever wants to can come with this man, Master Hans Spring is a very honest man, stands in good credit. If some people, blacksmiths, shoemakers, came

here, they would do well in all trades. They give to one that does planting seven

and a half Swiss batzes a day, and to people with a trade they give much more.

Flax is doing very well here, grows a little larger than in Switzerland. There

is also very fine cotton. So  one can see that  I did well by  my children in

having left  my father land  and being here. God be thanked forever.  We live

under a good, mild government. The administration is quite favorable to us,

which the dear Lord may save and preserve for us.

Heiri sends his regards to his godfather and godmother, wishes they were all here with us.  My dear godfather and major, I send a thousand regards to all

of you. Please do not leave the man (Hans Spring), that brings this letter

unrewarded. The community of Metmenstetten will surely pay for it; give him another letter to take along.  Master Hanss Ulrich Stehrli (Scherli from

Bandeliken, the blacksmith) is also with us, he too is doing well. There are

all sorts of nations and people here, could write even more. Commend all of

you to the care of the Most High and to the care of God.

  South Carolina written in the town of Fassigaden the 15th of Autumn Tenth,

the 1738th year.

 --Jacob Gallman

[The following was written by Heiri Gallman upon the death of his father Jacob] 

God be with all of us:

 My friendly regards and well-wishes to you, my dear godfather and godmother

Major Walti in Bondler. I  cannot fail  to send you  some good news  that we,

through God's loving grace are still hale  and hearty, thanks be to God, but I

also report to you our mourning for  our dear late father, because he died on

the 20th day of Wine Month (October) and  was abed no more than one day, about

which I am very  sad, and we are deeply sorrowful, and he  was much mourned by

the Germans and  the English, and he has  led a praiseworthy life.  He had to

baptize children and join people in marriage for we still have no pastor; and

all that is written in my father's letter is true. I do not have anything else

to write, you will find it all in my father's letter, except I, too, send many

thousand regards to  my brother Rudolff and my sister  Anna and my brother-in-law,

and I and my  two brothers and sister send many thousand regards to  all our friends

and the  whole community, and  commend you to God's  care. I ask you  to please

write  me  again whether  or  not  you have  received  this  letter, mine  and

my father's.

The 12th of Winter Month (November). From me 1738th year. Heiri Gallmann

 in Saxigoten.

In June 1917, a total of 77 automobiles from Murray Co. were registered with the Secretary of State:

64 Fords

4 Maxwells

2 Saxons

2 Overlands

2 Studebakers

1 Chevrolet

1 Oakland

1 Gamon

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Good Eats from the Past

HYDEN SALAD –One gallon each of cabbage and tomatoes. One quart of onions chopped fine. Add salt, let stand a few hours, then squeeze out juice. Add four tablespoonsful of mustard, two tablespoonsful of ginger, three tablespoonsful turmeric, one tablespoonful each of cinnamon, cloves and celery seed, two pounds of sugar and one half gallon of vinegar. Salt to taste; mix well and boil twenty minutes. –Mrs. J. W. Walker, The Dalton Cookbook, 1910.

Do you have an OLD FAMILY RECIPE that you’d like to share? Please send it to us with information about who or where it came from.

[pic]As You Don’t Remember It . . .

ACCORDING to a 1927 issue of the Dalton Citizen, an examination of a curious old volume “Statistics of the State of Georgia” by George White, published by W. Thorne Williams at Savannah in 1849 has brought to light many interesting facts and incidents concerning the early history of this county when Dalton was known as Cross Plains. Excerpts from this document are reproduced below.

Boundaries: This county is bounded on the north by Tennesseee, east by Gilmer Co., south by Cass Co., and the west by Walker Co. Laid out from Cherokee, and organized in 1832.

Post Offices: Spring Place, Coosawatee, Dalton, Holly Creek, Red Clay, Sugar Valley, Tunnel Hill, Resaca, and Twinersville.

Population, Taxes, Representatives: In the 1845 Census, there were 6,160 whites and 518 blacks, total: 6,678. The population is rapidly on the increase. Sends one representative to the Legislature.

Rivers & Creeks: The county abounds with fine streams, the chief of which are the Connasauga and Coosawatee. The minor streams are Holly, Swamp, Sugar, Sumac, Rocky, Mill’s, Othoogata, Cooyehuttee, and others.

Mountains: The Chattoogata Ridge, in the western part of the county.

Towns: Spring Place is the county town, situated a mile and a half east of the Connasauga River, 230 miles northwest of Milledgeville, 12 miles from Dalton, 40 miles from Lafayette, and 30 miles from Ellijay. The scenery around this village is beautiful, the Cohutta Mountains being in full view. It was formerly a missionary station for the Cherokees. It contains the usual county buildings, two hotels, oneacademy, four stores, three groceries, one saddler, one carriage maker, two blacksmiths, two tanyards, three lawyers, and two physicians. Population 250. The water is excellent and abundant, there being 40 springs in the compass of one mile. Incorporated and made the county seat in 1834.

Dalton, formerly Called Cross Plains: It received its present name in honor of Mr. Tristram Dalton, merchant from New England. The lots were sold in 1846 by Edward White, who was sent by a company who had previously purchased the land. Since that period, the population has increased to 1,500. It is well situated on the Western and Atlantic Railroad, 100 miles north of Atlanta and 35 miles southeast of Chattanooga. It is environed by mountains, from the summit of which the eye is regaled with the grandest scenery. Much money and labor has been expended in grading the streets. It is a place of considerable trade, being at the time the market for a large portion of East Tennessee, Southwestern Virginia, Western North Carolina, and a large part of Northeast Georgia. Immense quantities of produce are brought here by wagons. It has one church, three or four hotels, eighteen stores, seven groceries, one cabinet maker, one jeweler, ten or twelve carpenters, two painters, three bricklayers, one candle factory, one large candy manufacturer, one tinner, three lawyers, four doctors, two schools, several societies, one newspaper, one extensive cooperage, and one wheelwright. The weather here is sometimes very disagreeable. The water is inferior, although near the town are some fine springs, particularly on the farm of Colonel Hamilton.

Religious Sects, Education: The religious sects are Missionary and Anti-Missionary Baptist, Cumberland Presbyterian, Methodists, Presbyterians, Roman Catholics, and Universalists. The inhabitants are beginning themselves in the subject of education. Number of poor children, 322. Educational fund, $278.26.

Character of the People, Amusements: Murray County is settled by persons from different parts of Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia, and it is therefore difficult to say precisely what are the peculiar traits of character. Upon the whole we think we may venture to state that religion and morality are on the advance. Practices which were formerly countenanced have now but few advocates. The amusements are dancing, racing, cock-fighting, gander-pulling, and bear fights.

Mineral Springs: Cohuttah Springs, 10 miles from Spring Place, on the waters of Sumac Creek. The water is said to be strongly impregnated with medicinal properties, and the place is beginning to attract notice from the public. Arrangements are being made to accommodate visitors. There are fine springs in almost every section of the county.

Forests, Trees, and Fruits: The forests abound with valuable trees, such as oak (various species) hickory, maple, black walnut, sycamore, birch, locust, pine, etc. The fruit trees are peach, apple, and plum. Nuts and berries are abundant.

Minerals: Gold, silver, zinc, hydraulic limestone, fluor spar, and graphite. Organic remains are abundant.

Face of the Country, Nature of Soil: A considerable amount of the county is mountainous. A view of the country from one of the peaks of the Cohuttah mountains, near Spring Place, is calculated to fill the mind with wonder at the grandeur of nature’s works. Here can be seen Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee and at a distance a continuous ledge of mountains. The lands of this county are generally very fertile, producing all the comforts of life. The lands on the river are valuable, and command high prices.

The following analysis of the soil of the plantation of Richard Peters, Esquire, in the Ootholaga Valley, was made by Dr. Antisett, Chemist of the American Agricultural Association, and is applicable to much of Murray County, as well as other portions of Cherokee, Georgia.

The constitution of 1,000 parts of the surface soil of:

Moisture 195.7

Vegetable Matter 73.9

Alumnia & Protoxide of Iron 94.8

White silicious sand 630.0

Carbonate of lime 1.2

Magnesia o.3

Saline Substances, soluble in

water, such as Chloride of sodium 2.1

Gypsum, and lime with organic acid 2.0

Potash and Phosphoric Acid traces

1,000.0

Productions: Corn, wheat, rye, oats, Irish potatoes, beans, and indeed, almost everything will grow in the highly favored region. Industry and perseverance will make it one of the garden spots of Georgia.

Road & Bridges: For a mountainous and new county, the roads are fair. There are five or six good bridges in the county.

Manufactures, Mills: Allaculsa Iron Works do good business. Fourteen saw mills, twenty grist mills, three merchant mills.

Climate: The climate is subject to great change, but cannot be considered more unhealthy than the other portions of upper Georgia. Many of the inhabitants are regardless of the precautions absolutely necessary to a climate so changeable, and therefore suffer considerably from sickness.

Antiquities: On the Cohuttah mountains are the remains of an ancient fort, but when and for what purpose constructed, we are unable to say.

Name: This county was named for Thomas W. Murray. He was the son of David Murray, who came from Prince Edward County, Virginia, and settled in Wilkes County just after the Revolutionary War. He was born in Lincoln county, in 1790, and received his education of Dr. Waddell’s school, Abbeville District, South Carolina, and studied law in the office of Mr. George Cook, of Elbert County. About 1819 he became a public man and acquired distinction, not so much for the brilliancy of his talents, as for his honesty and independence. He was for several years a member of the legislature, and once Speaker of the House, which office he filled with great dignity and impartiality. He was a candidate for Congress, but died before the election, of a disease of the heart. Mr. Murray belonged to what was called the Clark party, but did not always vote with it. His opinions were formed after much deliberation, and when formed, were difficult to be changed. The petty artifices sometimes resorted to by politicians met with no encouragement from Mr. Murray. He believed that virtue could be found among enemies and therefore treated them with justice. In stature he was five feet eleven inches, with remarkably large features. (

Director’s Note: Stirring Our History Back to Life

Erik Gallman

ON MY journey to work I usually pass by a rather inconspicuous old home place. My parents have often told me the story of how the house burned and the widow who lived there lost her life trying to save her belongings; otherwise, I would have been as clueless as everyone else that drives by --totally unaware that anything other than a briar patch has ever existed in that spot. To be quite honest, the only thing that even hints of it ever being a home place is the clump of large spreading oaks located a short distance from the road. Until last year, even that clue was beginning to disappear in a jungle of pines, sweet gum, and privet.

Last Spring, when someone decided to clear this property, a most wonderful thing was discovered. A rather large patch of old fashioned petunias in nearly every possible combination of white, pink, and purple began to emerge from the freshly disturbed ground. Admittedly, these petunias looked like every other old fashioned petunia I have ever seen; but what made these petunias so special was the fact that the lady who planted them was the same widow who died as a result of the fire –events which unfolded in 1955! Those tiniest of seed had lain dormant for more than fifty years but burst into life after someone stirred the earth around them. The result of that stirring was something most beautiful and intriguing –to the end that I paused from my everyday routine to take note of it.

As with similar organizations across the country, our historical society has seen a need to address the following question: How do we catch the interest of the younger generation? Indeed, this is a question that must be addressed if we intend to continue our efforts of preserving local history. As unfortunate as it may be, if we don’t garner that interest from younger people, we can kiss much of what we’ve worked for goodbye!

Answering this question is not an easy task. Many parents know little when it comes to family heritage and the education of school children in local history is lost in state standards and benchmark testing to the point that it is virtually non-existent –kudos to those teachers who make an extra effort to give their students an opportunity to learn about our heritage! And how do we get people excited about history when we have to compete with computers, cell phones, and whatever gadget just came out on the market?

The first thing we need to realize is this: Our history is out there just waiting for someone to stir around and bring it to light. People go about their everyday activities totally unaware of the history that surrounds them. As a historical society it is our job to help “stir things up.” If we stir it up, be assured it will bloom into a beautiful thing. Someone will stop and take note of it --just as I stopped and took note of those old-fashioned petunias. Rather than trying to figure out how to make our history more appealing to younger folks, realize that our history is, by its very nature, appealing. We just have to work it and clear away the brambles before we can expect it to bloom.

I will post further discussion on this topic on our new website: whitfield-.

Upcoming Events

• Saturday, July 25, 2009, − Annual Vann House Days, 10 a.m. -4 p.m. Demonstrations of 19th century pottery making, weaving, basket making, quilting, spinning, rug making, blacksmithing, blowgun shooting, woodcarving, and more! Call 706-695-2598 for more info. Sponsored by Friends of the Vann House.

• Saturday, August 15, 2009 – 8a.m. -2p.m. Spring Place Community Festival. A celebration of the historic Spring Place township in Murray County, featuring an indoor yard sale, raffle, auction, arts, crafts, and refreshments. The Old Methodist Church on Elm Street will serve as centerpiece for the day’s activities. All proceeds benefit the preservations of the old Methodist Church.

• Saturday, August 22, 2009−Eton Centennial Celebration, From 1-6 pm the city hall will be open for the public to view historical items on display. A parade will start at 6:00 pm, activities including food, music and a time capsule ceremony will continue at the Eton City Park. If you have any questions please call us 706-695-2652.

• Sunday, September 20, 2:30p.m. –Regular Historical Society meeting. Details will appear in the next Quarterly.

• Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4, 2009 − Fall Arts & Crafts Festival at the Chatsworth Depot. Artwork from local artists will be displayed at the depot. Both the railroad and talc museums at the depot will be open for tours, as will the Wright Hotel and railroad section house at the park. Refreshments will be available for sale. Sponsored by the Chatsworth-Murray Co. Library and the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society.

• Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 7p.m. --Carpet History with Jack Bandy, at the History Center & Archives. Dalton's tufted-textile industry grew from hand-crafted, tufted bedspreads sold off of rural spread lines to machine-made tufted carpet manufactured in large carpet mills. The Bandy family, beginning with B.J. and Dicksie Bandy, helped pioneer this industry. Join us a Mr. Bandy shares his experiences.

• Friday, December 4, 6-9 & December 5th, 2-5 -- Christmas at the Blunt House, 506 S. Thornton in Dalton. The house will be decorated with fresh greenery, vintage Christmas ornaments, and Christmas objects. Ladies' clothing from the 1800’s and early 1900’s will be displayed. Christmas related books, which belonged to the Blunt family, will also be shown.

Publications Available For Sale

We are proud to offer the following publications for sale:

□Murray County Marriages 1835-1905 (WMHS) ...................................... $25.00 + $2.50 S& H

□Murray County Marriages 1907-1941 (WMHS) ...................................... $25.00 + $2.50 S & H

□Murray County Men Who Served in the Confederate Army ………………$20.00 +$3.00 S & H

□Whitfield County Marriages 1852-1894 (WMHS) ................................... $20.00 + $2.50 S & H

□Whitfield County Marriages (Vo. 2) 1894-1918 ......................................$25.00 + $2.50 S & H

□Whitfield County Cemeteries (WMHS) ............................................... $60.00 + $5.00 S & H

□Ties N’ Tidbits-A supplement to the

Official History of Whitfield Co. (WMHS)............................ $20.00 + $3.00 S & H

□The Official History of Whitfield County, GA 1852-1999 .................... $70.00 + $5.00 S& H

□Civil War Stories, Letters and Miscellany of

Murray & Whitfield Counties (WMHS).......................................... $20.00 + $3.00 S & H

□Murray County Heritage (WMHS)......................................................................$50.00 + $5.00 S & H

Make checks payable to Whitfield-Murray Historical Society and mail to the above address. Be sure to include your shipping address.

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INTRODUCTION

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QUERIES

It is a real good country, could almost be compared with an earthly Canaan or paradise.

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