Our headquarters is open Monday-Friday, 10:00-4:00.
You may drop off rummage for our two annual sales during business hours. If you need other help, please email us at whitfieldmurrayhs@gmail.com &/or call 706-278-0217.
Upcoming Events
Fall Porch Sale at the Wright Hotel
Friday and Saturday, October 11 & 12
8 am to 2 pm
Crown Creek Cleanup at Crown Gardens & Archives
Saturday, October 26, 2024
9 am to noon
"Make A Difference Day"
715 Chattanooga Ave. Dalton
Christmas Sale at Crown Garden & Archives
Thursday, October 31 and Friday, November 1
10 am to 4 pm
Saturday, November 2
9 am to 1 pm
715 Chattanooga Ave., Dalton
Porch Sale at the Wright Hotel
201 E. Market St.
Chatsworth, GA 30705
October 11 and 12,
from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. both days
The Wright Hotel, at the corner of Market Street and Second Avenue, has been an anchor in the Chatsworth Historic Business District since it was built in 1909. Today, the one-of-a-kind structure is a property of the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society and is twice listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Obviously, it's a very important place--and not just to Chatsworth.
In August lightning struck the north dormer of the three-story building and those who are responsible for preserving it are raising money for repairs and regular operation. Donations have paid the deductible, the insurance company has done its part, and County Commissioner Greg Hogan provides a grant every year, and the City of Chatsworth assists with maintenance and mowing. New windows were already in the making before the lightning damage--these paid by a gift from the McDaniel Family Foundation.
The Hotel has been a busy place since the spring events on Super Museum Sunday and the Model Train Expo held in conjunction with the Chatsworth Depot. Tea with Mom in May was again a success, private rentals, and the summer Second Saturday openings have brought a few hundred visitors to the site just in the last few months.
Twice-a-year Porch Sales bring in more of the money needed to preserve and operate the property through the year. The next such sale is set for October 11 and 12, from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. both days. The upcoming sale is even more critical in light of the storm damage, rising utility costs, and annual insurance premiums. The goal for this sale is $5,000. Already potential sale items are coming in from donors in both Murray and Whitfield Counties. Customers can expect the usual variety of vintage pieces, household items, tools, furniture, antiques and collectibles in the porch sale--even a beautiful pump organ.
Volunteers will spend the first part of sale week unpacking, sorting, and pricing things for the sale. They look forward to seeing regular customers as well as meeting new ones. As always, the garage will be open for the popular used book sale that will also have treasures galore at bargain prices. The hotel has a pretty large porch, so it promises to be a pretty big sale, too.
For more information check out the Wright Hotel's Facebook page where pictures will be posted just prior to the sale.
We are accepting all Christmas donations for our upcoming Christmas sale in November.
Please bring all donations to the Crown Gardens & Archives before October 18th.
715 Chattanooga Ave. Dalton
CONASAUGA
Watershed River CleanUp
October 26, 2024
Saturday • 9 am - 12 pm
30th annual event held in conjunction with Georgia’s Annual Waterway Clean-Up, Rivers Alive, and the United Way of Northwest Georgia's Make a Difference Day
1. Conasauga River at Lower King's Bridge and Norton Bridge 2. Holly Creek, in Chattahoochee National Forest 3. Holly Creek, in Chatsworth 4. Mill Creek tributary in the City of Dalton 5. Mill Creek Veterans Drive Bridge 6. Lakeshore Park in the City of Dalton 7. Crown Creek in the City of Dalton 8. Conasauga River Snorkeling Hole, TN 9. Coahulla Creek at Prater's Mill
7. Crown Creek in the City of Dalton - Headquarters of the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society, 715 Chattanooga Rd., Dalton. Located between the old Crown Cotton Mill & the historic Hamilton House. From the North Bypass (US 41) turn onto Chattanooga Road (headed south), proceed about 1.5 miles. The site will be on the right.
The Chatsworth Depot and the Wright Hotel, owned by the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society, The Hotel is celebrating its 115th anniversary with special displays and souvenirs. Admission to tours and trains will be free, but donations are appreciated.
The Chatsworth Depot, constructed in 1905 by the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, is the oldest public building in town. The passenger waiting room contains a museum showcasing the talc industry in Murray County. The station agent’s office and the freight room contain historic railroad artifacts and exhibits related to the depot. The 1960 caboose is located behind the Depot.
Around the corner from the Depot located on First Avenue is the historic Wright Hotel at the intersection of Market Street and Second Avenue. Built with locally produced materials, the Hotel opened in 1909 and the 115th anniversary of that historic occasion is the focus of events there over the next year. The business operated into the 1960’s, sometimes under the name “Chatsworth Hotel” and today is a double listing on the National Register of Historic Places—first as an individual site and again as a part of the downtown Chatsworth historic district.
A property of the historical society for almost four decades now, the site will feature some new photographic displays as well as offering souvenir T-shirts, buttons, magnets, and coasters to commemorate the Hotel’s first 115 years! Proceeds from these items as well as donations will go toward the continued preservation of the amazing three-story building.
The Historical Society would like to thank the 2024 business partners who make the programs possible. Many have been supporting Second Saturdays for many years. Partners are Peeples Funeral Home, Bradley’s Ace Hardware, Bojangles, Captain D’s & Krystal restaurants, Chatsworth First Community Bank, and the Murray County Elected Officials. Be sure to tell them you appreciate their supporting the historic properties of Chatsworth anytime you visit or contact one of these.
Dorothy "Dot" McCrory's second book,
"View from the Gaming Table,”
is now available. Copies are $35.
A copy can be mailed for $45.
Book sales benefit the Lesche Club scholarship fund.
The Emery Center, Inc.
110 West Emery Street
Dalton, GA 30720
Tours are available on Wednesdays
Tour Times are:
10:15 a.m.
12:15 p.m.
2:15 p.m.
Please call the Emery Center to schedule a tour at 706-277-7633
or 706-280-7695.
The Emery Center is located at the corner of Emery St. and S. Pentz St.
MY LIFE AND TRAVELS
written by former slave
LEVI BRANHAM
has been reprinted.
I WAS born in 1852 in Murray county, Georgia, and lived there until 1863. Then I refugeed from here (Murray county) to South Georgia, Terrell county of which Dawson was the county seat.
My first owner that I am able to recollect was Dr. Black, who later sold me to Mr. Jim Edmondson. Dr. Black not only sold me but he sold all of his negroes to Mr. Edmondson, declaring that he (Mr. Edmondson) would not separate the Negroes.
A white boy, Sam Carter, brother of Sooth Carter, was my first white playmate that I am able to remember. We would tie pine tops together to make a seine to catch fish.
So begins the story of an incredible man who made a huge difference in the Northwest corner of Georgia. He was a slave at the Chief Vann House in Murray County. Because he was taught to read and write by his Mistress while a slave, he recognized the advantage of an education. He taught schools following the Civil War. He traveled around the area, helping found educational opportunities for freed slaves and their families/ He was also a Sunday school teacher. Mr. Branham, known locally as "Uncle Boisey" published My Life and Travels in 1929, when he was seventy-seven years old.
The book has just been reprinted and will be available for $8 at the Crown Gardens & Archives, 715 Chattanooga Ave, Dalton, GA 30720. (706) 278-0217
We have an assortment of years of high school yearbooks from Dalton High and Southeast High Schools. The yearbooks are used and are sold as is.
The books are $20 each.
Stop by the Crown Gardens and Archives at 715 Chattanooga Avenue, Dalton 30720 to purchase your book.
The hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Whitfield-Murray Historical Society recently received a $500 Keep Dalton/Whitfield Beautiful Grant for the 1840 Hamilton House. Our focus was to add fresh paint to the doors and windows. Along the way, we also painted porch furniture and added new plantings. Thanks,KD/WB, for encouraging us to spiff up!
The window paint was chipping, and we needed a facelift! In addition to the fresh paint, we decided to change the paint color from brick red to black for the doors and porch.
The new paint pops, and the side porch bench and floor are more welcoming.
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
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.
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:
