Our headquarters is open Monday-Friday, 10:00-4:00.  We are practicing social distancing.  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.

Porch Sale at Historic Wright Hotel

Members of the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society's Wright Hotel Committee announce their spring fundraiser on March 26 and 27.  The event will be a rummage sale/flea market on the porch of the venerable old building which is listed twice on the National Register of Historic Places.  The sale will open at 8 a.m. both days and run until 2 p.m. 

The sale will include some vintage treasures, a variety of used books, toys and children's items, glassware and household furnishings, a few tools and hardware things, some clothes, and a lot of "this and that".  All have been donated to the Society for the good of the cause as members like to say. Proceeds will go to the continued maintenance and preservation of the one-of-a-kind structure. 

Built in 1909 by the Thomas Wright Family, the establishment operated as the Wright Hotel and then the Chatsworth Hotel for most of six decades.  It next served as the home of Mrs. Katherine Wright Raine until her death in 1986.  The building was placed on the National Register during Mrs. Raine's lifetime and was also included when the oldest part of downtown Chatsworth was added to the Register as a Historic District in more recent years.  

The Hotel, located at the corner of Market Street and Second Avenue, houses a large collection of antiques and archival materials which tell the story of Murray County through the 20th century and into the 21st.It is also available as a venue for private events and will also (hopefully) be the site of Tea with Mom in May and Second Saturday tours throughout the summer.  

For more information, check out the Wright Hotel on Facebook.  

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:

https://kofilequicklinks.com/MurrayGA/

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.

VINTAGE MAGIC CHEF GAS STOVE FOR SALE--Manufactured in 1920s or early 1930s.  $ 200 cash.  Serious inquiries only. 

 Call 706-278-0217 & leave message.