Our headquarters is open Monday-Friday, 10:00-4:00. You may drop off rummage for our two annual sales anytime. If you need other help, please email us at director@whitfieldmurray.org &/or call 706-278-0217.
Notice:
All Whitfield-Murray Historical Society properties are owned by the historical society, so are therefore private property.
If you would like to use the grounds for photographs, etc., please obtain permission by calling 706-278-0217, Monday through Friday.
Please note that if an event is occurring on the property, no one else is allowed to be on the property.
Professional photographers must schedule events for all outside & inside areas at all WMHS properties. The fee for the rental is $100 per session per property.
Rent a Whitfield Murray Historical Society Property for your next event.
As you plan upcoming family or organization events, consider using WMHS property. Contacts for information &/or reservations are:
Old Spring Place Methodist Church
Call Tim at 706-695-2740
Crown Garden and Archives
Call Tina at 706-278-0217
Hamilton House
Call Tina at 706-278-0217
Blunt House
Call Joanne at 706-271-8702
Huff House
Call Virgelia at 706-226-6774
Chatsworth Depot
Call Ted at 706-581-5482
Wright Hotel
Call Ralph at 706-695-9808 or 706-260-1320
Hand-pieced and hand-quilted Full Size Quilt
For Sale
Taking bids or $250.
Email director@whitfieldmurray.org to place a bid.
Call Tina at 706-278-0217 to purchase the quilt, or stop by the office.
Singin' At the Depot-Second Saturday Tours Continue
It's singing time at the Historic Chatsworth Depot! As this summer's Second Saturday events in downtown Chatsworth continue, the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society announces that August 14 will feature a Church Hymnal group singing at the old depot along with new displays and tours of the equally historic Wright Hotel nearby. Both buildings, as well as the caboose, will open at 1 p.m. and host tours until 4 p.m.
The Church Hymnal is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. Published by Tennessee Music and Printing Company in Cleveland, TN, this compilation quickly became one of the most popular gospel song and hymnbooks ever, especially in the southeastern U.S. Still in print today by Pathway Press, the songs are still known around the world. Among the composers included are "local" writers A.J. Showalter and Floy DeVaughan, as well as LeRoy Abernathy of Canton and Cleavant Derricks who lived in Chattanooga. (The latter wrote "Just a Little Talk with Jesus".) Hymns by Fanny Crosby and Isaac Watts along with spirituals by Thomas Dorsey are also in the book. Historical Society member Toby Westmoreland will be the "piano-pounder" for the day and folks who grew up singing from this book in church every week will lead the singing.
For the "Singin' at the Depot" anyone interested can grab a song book and just join everyone else in singing a variety of the more than 300 songs in the book. The singing will begin at 2 p.m. and last at least an hour in the freight room of the 1905 train depot. Visitors can tour the talc room, railroad history room, and the caboose both before and after the music. The Depot is located at 219 First Avenue in Chatsworth, just down the street from the park.
At the corner of Market Street and Second Avenue, the Wright Hotel will also be open 1-4 on the Second Saturday. Tours there will again feature a new display of needlework which includes embroidered bedspreads, linens with handmade lace, and other knitted, crocheted and even "tatted" needlework. The Hotel's new collection of paintings by local artist Nannie Lou Arthur will be on display. This amazing lady helped support her large family by selling her artwork after her husband's early death.
Second Saturdays are sponsored by Bradley Ace Hardware, Dr. John Robison, Captain D's, Bojangles, Krystal, Peeples Funeral Home, and Murray County's elected officials, so admission is free--but donations are always welcome, appreciated, and accepted at both the Depot and the Hotel. For more information, call Tim Howard at 706-695-2740 or check out the Depot and the Hotel on Facebook.
Whitfield County Historic Preservation Commission
Dr. McArthur
Donna Flood
Historic Preservation Awards, & Scholarships Highlight the May Meeting
Presentation of Historic Preservation Awards & Scholarships were the highlight of the May meeting at the Hamilton House. Historic Preservation Awards went to Donna Flood, Betsy McArthur & the Whitfield County Historic Preservation Commission. Scholarships were awarded to nine area students.
Donna Flood currently serves as the Clerk of Superior Court in Murray County. She has worked many hours with volunteers to review, categorize, and store historical records. Through her efforts, Murray County is developing a usable and well-preserved archive. She is active on the Chatsworth Depot Committee and volunteers at the Wrght Hotel's Tea with Mom event.
Betsy McArthur has revived the Journal, bringing it up-to-date while maintaining a high quality of historical research and a devotion to showcasing Whitfield and Murray counties. She has organized the Gertrude "Tut" McFarland Library at the archives and continues to maintain its focus on holdings pertinent to our area.
Whitfield County Historic Preservation Commission members Marvin Sowder, Bob McLeod, Kathryn Sellers, Judy Alderman, and Bill Blackman.
As a response to the opportunity to acquire Civil War sites, the county established the Whitfield County Historic Preservation Commission in 2004 to oversee acquisition of the sites. Whitfield County Board of Commissioners at the time were Mike Babb as chairman, Commissioners Mike Cowan, Jerry Albertson, Doug Kenner, and Leonard Cochran. They appointed these interested people to the Historic Preservation Commission: Phillip Cantrell, Marvin Sowder, John Hutcheson, Bruce Davies, and Judy Alderman. Kevin McAuliff, Historic Preservation Planner with North Georgia Regional Development Center served as secretary. Their main tasks were to identify and preserve historic sites and to educate locals and visitors about the sites. Current members of the Commission are Judy Alderman, Bill Blackman, Andy Carlson, John Hutcheson, Robert Jenkins, Kevin McAuliff, Bob McLeod, Kathryn Sellers, Marvn Sowder, and Adam Ware.
This year's preservation awards committee included chair Melissa Burchfield, Sue Crawford, and Dr. David Loughridge.
Nine area students for Scholarship awards
Historical Society Awards Scholarships
As it has done for almost four decades, the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society has awarded several scholarships to seniors at various local public high schools. The scholarships are based on the students' interest and work in local history and each scholarship is named in honor of local historic preservationists.
The recipients at Coahulla Creek High School are Cam and Colt Souther who have volunteered at the Prater's Mill Country Fair during their high school careers. The scholarships at Coahulla Creek honor Mrs. Judy Alderman and Dr. Don Thomas, both of whom serve as trustees of the Historical Society and have given much to the group's efforts to preserve the area's rich heritage.
Joe McDaniel of Chatsworth will receive the James and Nell Ruth Loughridge Memorial Scholarship given at Murray County High School. Joe has volunteered at the Vann House and at the Old Spring Place Methodist Church since he was in elementary school. He's also a second-generation recipient of this honor. The Loughridges were active in Murray County's historic preservation work for most of five decades.
Several North Murray High School graduates are recipients of this year's Paul Ross Memorial Scholarships. Some have been been visiting local historic sites since they were toddlers and developed that interest into volunteering at various historical society events such as Tea with Mom at the Wright Hotel, Vann House Days at the Vann House, and the Spring Place Festival at the Old Methodist Church. The honorees are Reagan Brown, Summer Johnston, Emma Grace Payne, Abby Stafford, and Macy Tucker. Mr. Ross, a well-known Murray County businessman, was chairman of the Society's Board of Trustees.
Elle Shirah, a member of the Historical Society who has spent much time researching artifacts and learning about the area's history is the honoree at Southeast Whitfield High School. There the scholarship is named in honor of the late Mr. I.V. Chandler, a former educator, businessman, and Society member, and in honor of Mr. Marvin Sowder, well-known Whitfield County Historian and trustee of the Society.
The WMHS Scholarships are funded this year by a grant from the Mashburn Trust. Members of the 2021 WMHS Scholarship Committee are Judy Alderman, Tim Howard, Deborah Ausmus, Whitney Grant, Jane Pate, Dewey Hughes, and Dr. Don Thomas. Dalton High and Northwest Whitfield did not have applicants this year.
All recipients will be recognized at their schools as well as at the May 16 meeting of the Historical Society to be held at the Historic Hamilton House on Chattanooga Avenue beginning at 2:30.
Historical Dalton City Directories are online
Researchers may now access Dalton city directories from 1940-1963 online, thanks to Georgia Public Library Service. They joined previously digitized Georgia city directories from Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Columbus, Gainsville, and Macon. To locate a city directory, go to the following link.
“Spring Place: Rooted in Red Clay” is the theme for the 24th annual Spring Place Community Festival, set for Saturday, August 21 at the Old Spring Place Methodist Church. A used book sale, breakfast biscuits, a bake sale, an indoor/outdoor flea market, and other activities will begin at 8 a.m. Highlighting the day is the auction including artist prints, collectibles and historical memorabilia, furniture, rugs, and gift cards donated by area businesses.
The outdoor auction begins at 10:00. The Festival is co-sponsored by the Spring Place Ruritan Club. Recent “finds”, pictures, and artifacts relating to the agricultural history of the area will be the featured display along with several antique tractors. Proceeds from the festival will go to Church Preservation Fund of the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society.
For more information contact 706-695-2740 or 706-264-3968.
Model Train Expo
--rescheduled--
Saturday, September 11, 2021
Noon to 4 p.m.
at the Chatsworth Depot
Model trains inside and outside the depot. Vendors will have trains and train-themed articles for sale. Train rides for the kids on the depot's Big Blue Train and other rides on model trains.
Free admission but doantions are appreciated.
FALL & WINTER GENEALOGY WORKSHOPS SCHEDULED
The fall and winter genealogy workshops have been scheduled for Saturday, September 18, 2021; Saturday., October 16, 2021; Saturday., January 22, 2022; and Saturday, February 19, 2022.
These are full-day workshops at Crown Gardens & Archives, 715 Chattanooga Ave., Dalton.
Beginner and intermediate research topics are on the agenda for Saturday, September 18 and Saturday., January 22.
From 9:00am-12:30pm topics are Basics of Genealogy (Where to Look for Information, Types of Historical Records to Hunt, Where to Locate Them, Where to Get Help), and Walking the Paper Trail.
From 1:00pm-4:30pm, topics will include Women in Your Line, Basics in Genealogy with DNA, and Secrets in the Census Records.
Brick Walls workshops are scheduled for Saturday, October, 16, 2021 and Saturday, February 19, 2022, 9:00am-4:30pm. This workshop is available for intermediate & advanced researchers who have hit a wall.
Lunch breaks are 12:30pm-1:00pm on both days. Sack lunches will be available for $6, or participants may bring a lunch.
Instructor Jennifer Harvey is a genealogy consultant trained by the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution.
To reserve a spot, call 706-278-0217 or come by the Archives. Cost is $40 for one day, or $70 for two days. Checks may be mailed to the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society, P. O. Box 6180, Dalton, GA 30722-6180.
MURRAY COUNTY DEEDS ARE NOW ONLINE
All Murray County deeds--back to 1833--are now accessible online. This includes the earliest deeds for Whitfield County, too, since we were one county through 1851. Use this link to access the deeds:
Whitfield-Murray Historical Society Benefits from Grants
During the COVID-19 virus pandemic, the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society has benefited from both member donations & government grants. The US government’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), created to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll, enabled the organization to cover employee payroll, payroll taxes, & utilities. The Society also received funds from the Georgia Humanities Council through the CARES Act Emergency Operating grant. WMHS is grateful for this state humanities support.
Organized in 1952 to preserve the Vann House, the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society is the pivot point for all things historical in Whitfield & Murray counties. The Society preserves area history by maintaining structures, archiving objects & materials, & serving as the go-to entity for historical questions. WMHS also conducts historic house tours, bi-annual rummage sales, and Holiday House tours. Among the many activities conducted by the WMHS are Social Distancing Concerts at the Chatsworth Depot. Upcoming date is August 8.
The Society has placed 11 sites on the National Register of Historic Places. In addition, the group has preserved the 1864 Dug Gap Battle Park, the 1909 Wright Hotel, old Spring Place Methodist Church (1875), & the 1905 Chatsworth Depot. The 1840 Hamilton House which is the oldest home in Dalton, and the 1848 Blunt House, home of Dalton’s first mayor, and second oldest house are also part of the preservation done by WMHS. The 1855 Huff House was General Joseph E. Johnston’s headquarters during the winter of 1863-64 preparing for the Atlanta Campaign is another WMHS property.
WMHS headquarters, Crown Gardens and Archives--the 1890 Crown Cotton Mill office building--is a resource for local historical & genealogical research. The Society sells books on local history & publishes a bi-monthly newsletter as well as a historical review. Annual scholarships are awarded to young researchers, & historic preservation awards recognize area preservationists. Meetings feature topics of local historical interest in Whitfield & Murray counties.
Individuals interested in local history are encouraged to join the Society. Donations to aid in the very important work of protecting our local history may be mailed to: WMHS, P.O. Box 6180, Dalton, GA 30722. For more information, call 706-278-0217, or visit http://www.whitfield-murrayhistoricalsociety.org.
Bylines: Sherrian Hall, Jean Manly, and Joanne Lewis scraping old wall paper at the Blunt House, one of the WMHS historic properties.
Children at one of the history camps rubbing tombstones.
Sherrian Hall, Jean Manly, and Joanne Lewis scraping old wall paper at the Blunt House
Children at one of the history camps rubbing tombstones
Vintage Gas Stove
VINTAGE MAGIC CHEF GAS STOVE FOR SALE--Manufactured in 1920s or early 1930s. $ 200 cash. Serious inquiries only.
Call 706-278-0217 & leave message.
Copies of Dorothy "Dot" McCrory's poetry book,
"Too Much Cider in the Applesauce,"
are available at the Crown Gardens & Archives,
715 Chattanooga Ave. Dalton GA
Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Copies are $25.
A copy can be mailed for $35.
Book sales benefit the Lesche Club scholarship fund.
Hours at Crown Garden and Archives
To better serve our community
we are open M-F 10am - 4pm.
Please call to schedule an appointment on weekends and evenings for research and events!
For research, please call to verify that we have the family files.
To make an appointment, please call during our business hours!
