The late Helen Shope had many talents. In addition to her research on local history topics & leadership of the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society Quarterlyin the 1970s & ‘80s, she was an avid painter. At her death, the paintings came to the historical society.
On Fri., June 21, the archives will host a wine-&-cheese event from 5:00-7:00 p.m. to kick off a display of Helen’s paintings. The exhibit will then remain on display at the archives through Sept.
Join us on June 21 to celebrate Helen & her lasting contributions to local history & WMHS.
Spring Place Community Festival is August 17
“Come Play in Spring Place” is the theme for the 22nd annual Spring Place Community Festival set for Saturday, August 17 at the Old Spring Place Methodist Church. A new and used book sale, breakfast biscuits, a bake sale, an indoor and outdoor flea market, a raffle, and other activities will begin at 8 a.m. Highlighting the day is the auction including artist prints, collectibles and historical memorabilia, furniture, antiques, rugs, and gift cards donated by area businesses which begins at 10:00. There will also be vendors, lunches, and information tables as well as displays of toys and games along with other artifacts from Spring Place history. Proceeds from the festival will go to Church Preservation Fund of the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society. The Festival is co-sponsored by the Spring Place Ruritan Club. For more information contact 706-695-2740 or 706-695-8297.
Chatsworth Historic Sites Announce June Second Saturday Openings
The Whitfield-Murray Historical Society announces that the popular “Second Saturday” events continue on Saturday, June 8. The Wright Hotel and the Chatsworth Depot/Caboose will offer free, fun, and fascinating tours of both properties from 2 until 5 pm. A free concert by Humble Heart sponsored by First National Community Bank, Paula’s Florist, and Peeples Funeral Home will be held indoors at the depot beginning at 5:00.
Tours at the depot feature railroad artifacts and pictures as well as samples and tools from the local talc industry. Murray County is the only place in Georgia where talc is mined—and has been since Indian times. This, the last of five railroad stations that once served Murray County, was constructed in 1905. Efforts to preserve this, the oldest building in Chatsworth, began in 1989. The depot and the adjacent caboose have come a long way since then! They are located on First Avenue.
The Hotel opened in 1910 and was operated for over three decades by the Thomas Wright Family. Other operators leased the structure into the 1960’s and it’s been open for tours by the historical society since the 1980’s. Today the Hotel, located at the corner of Market Street and Second Avenue in Chatsworth, has an impressive collection of period furniture, Chatsworth photographs, and examples of Native American arts and crafts.
On special display at the Hotel is memorabilia commemorating the 85th anniversary of Murray County High School. Items include basketball scorebooks from the 1930’s and 40’s, an early class ring, a 1980’s cap and gown, and pieces of the first lockers used by basketball teams when games were played in the Rock Building itself! These remnants survived the fire that almost claimed the building a few years ago.
The Friends of the Library will again have their used book sale on the porch at the Hotel.
Second Saturday Singing at the Depot will feature well known singers from the area throughout the summer. Next up will be the Winkler Sisters on July 13.
There is no admission charge for tours or the concerts, but donations will be accepted. All proceeds go to the continued preservation and maintenance of these structures, all of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Various publications and historical society items, including the 2018-19 Historic Murray County Calendars will be available for purchase.
For more information call Ted Yarbrough at 706-695-2155, Jan McNeill at 706-695-4313 or Tim Howard at 706-695-2740.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION AWARDS,
SCHOLARSHIPS PRESENTED
The Whitfield-Murray Historical Society celebrated Historic Preservation month by recognizing individuals & groups who have contributed to preservation in the two counties. Preservation awards, scholarships, Eagle Scout recognitions, & President’s Awards were presented at a recent meeting at the Murray Co. courthouse.
Historic Preservation awards were presented to the City of Dalton Public Works Department, Elizabeth Robinson, & Ted Yarbrough. Ralph Stafford recognized the City of Dalton Public Works Dept. for their work in water studies, signage, mowing, spreading millings, & trash pickup. Tim Howard praised Elizabeth Robinson’s work at the Old Spring Place Methodist Church. David Loughridge shared the late Frank Adams’s praise for Ted Yarbrough’s creative ideas at the Chatsworth Depot.
Scholarship chair Dewey Hughes presented scholarships to high school seniors who have contributed to area historic preservation efforts. Diya Patel of Coahulla Creek High received the Dr. Don Thomas & Judy Alderman Scholarship. Samuel Carlson of Dalton High was awarded the Pete Sims & Mary Gene Dykes Scholarship. Three North Murray High students--Kaylor Mullis, Jenna Palmer, & Caroline Ridley—received the Paul Ross Memorial Scholarship. Megan Cherry, Simon England, Adella Lonas, & Lana Ridley—all of Murray Co. High—claimed the James & Nell Ruth Loughridge Scholarship. A special thanks was given to the Mashburn Trust for support of the scholarship fund.
Marvin Sowder & Tina Pankey recognized contributions of Eagle Scouts. Sowder praised Andrew Rogers’s work at the Huff House. Pankey described Samuel Carlson’s work on a West Hill Cemetery project.
Sandra Clark & Betsy McArthur were recipients of the WMHS President’s Awards for exceptional service to the Society. Clark is current treasurer who has met a number of challenges with hard work & grace. McArthur has catalogued the Tut McFarland Library at the archives & is in the process of updating the Journal.
Following the awards, Tim Howard gave a brief history of the Murray Co. courthouse. He & Chuck Smith conducted guided tours of their work in organizing county records.
Historic Preservation awards were presented to Ted Yarbrough, Elizabeth Robinson, and City of Dalton Public Works
Sandra Clark & Betsy McArthur were recipients of the WMHS President’s Awards
Jenna Palmer, Diya Patel, Megan Cherry, Adella Lonas, Simon England, Lana Ridley, and Kaylor Mullis
Andrew Rogers, Eagle Scout recipient
Music returns to the Chatsworth Depot for 2019 as ‘Gospel Jubilee’
The Whitfield-Murray Historical Society announces that music concerts will return to the Chatsworth Depot for 2019. This year’s theme will be ‘Saturday Singing at the Depot’ and will feature local entertainers and groups. The first event will be May 11 and concerts will continue on the second Saturday of each month through August. All concerts are inside the depot, provided free by event sponsors, and will start at 5 pm.
Saturday, May 11, will feature Charlsey Etheridge, a local singer whose popularity has spread beyond our area. Charlsey will dedicate songs to mothers during this special Mother’s Day Weekend concert. The May 11 concert is provided free by Murray County Elected Officials: Greg Hogan-Commissioner, Connie Reed-Magistrate Judge, John Waters-Probate Judge, Billy Childers-Tax Commissioner, Gary Langford-Sheriff, and Donna Flood-Clerk of Superior Court.
The weekend will also see the return of The Wright Hotel hosting ‘Tea with Mom’. This unique event sold out previous years and is sure to be a sell out again in 2019. There are two seating times, 1pm and 3 pm. The ‘Tea with Mom’ is a separate advance ticket only event. Tickets are available at Pat’s Antiques in Chatsworth and from Donna Flood at the Murray County Courthouse. Cost is $20 for two with additional family members $5 each at the same seating.
Other ‘Saturday Singing at the Depot’ concerts will feature a not yet confirmed group sponsored by Bradley’s Ace Hardware on June 8 and the Winkler Sisters return on July 13 sponsored by local businesses Peeples Funeral Home, First National Bank, and Paula’s Florist. The final concert on August 10 will feature young singer Lilly Bearden opening for Ray Catoe, sponsored by Bojangles, Krystal, and Captain D’s restaurants.
The Whitfield-Murray Historical Society is excited about the ‘Saturday Singing at the Depot’ concerts and the community support shown to the entire Second Avenue area of Chatsworth. The 1909 Wright Hotel, the 1905 just repainted Chatsworth Depot with the recently restored 1960 Seaboard Coast Line railroad caboose, early 1900’s Section Foreman’s House, and Chatsworth’s City Park are all located in Chatsworth’s historic district. The public is invited to visit this area on May 11 and enjoy the first, free ‘Saturday Singing at the Depot’ concerts for 2019!
BLUNT COVERLETS GAIN ATTENTION
by Joanne Lewis, Blunt House chair
"Southern, plain, and collectible” were the words textile historian Kathleen Grant used to describe dimity coverlets that belonged to the Ainsworth Emery Blunt family. Mrs. Grant recently traveled from Tampa, FL to inspect two dimity cotton coverlets at the Blunt House. Grant sais they were exactly what she was looking for, & that many of this type of bed coverlet has been discarded because they are so white and plain. The coverlets have not been shown at the Blunt House until now. However, they are very interesting when one learns how they were made & studies their details.
Dimity coverlets were made by Southern women at home for family use. Today they are rare & collectible. Mrs. Grant studied, photographed, & documented our two as she travels around the South recording every dimity coverlet she can find. From Dalton she was going to Athens to document more. Hopefully, the Blunt coverlets will be shown in her future book.
Another exciting discovery was the history & method of weaving another Blunt coverlet which Mrs. Grant identified as a Boutenne or Bolton coverlet. These coverlets were made no later than 1850 in New England & Pennsylvania. Mr. Blunt & his first wife were from New England--probably where ours originated.
Visit the Blunt House, 507 S. Thornton Avenue, any Friday from 10:30 to 4:00, to view & to learn more about these textile treasures. And we thought we were only famous for chenille!
Copies of Dorothy "Dot" McCrory's poetry book, "Too Much Cider in the Applesauce," are available at the Crown Gardens & Archives, 715 Chattanooga Ave., Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Copies are $25. A copy can be mailed for $30. Book sales benefit the Lesche Club scholarship fund.
Copies of the Historic Photographs of The Whitfield County Schools Available For Purchase!
The Historic Photographs of The Whitfield County Schools by Ellen Keith Thompson is available for purchase. If you're interested in purchasing the book, please maila check payable to WMHS to P.O. Box 6180Dalton, GA. 30722 in the amount of $50 (includes shipping and handling). Or, you can purchase the book at the Crown Gardens & Archives for $45 located on 715 Chattanooga Avenue, Dalton, GA. 30722. All the proceeds from the books sales will the basis of the endowmenet fund for the 40th Anniversary.
Hours at Crown Garden and Archives!
To better serve our community we will now be open M-F 10am - 4pm. We will also be open by appointment on weekends and evenings for research and events! To make an appoinment please call during our business hours!
Hours at Blunt House, Hamilton House, and Huff House!
The Blunt House and Huff House are open for tours on Fridays from 10 until 4. Hamilton House is open by appointment by calling the Archives at (706) 278-0217.
