DALTON —
When Karen Smith was born her parents brought her home to 410 Chattanooga Ave., just down the street from Crown Garden and Archives, the primary repository of Dalton’s history where much-needed restorative efforts are under way. Her husband, Michael, grew up a little further south, near the intersection with Selvidge Street.
“This is the neighborhood we grew up in and as kids we played around here,” she said while the family — including Spencer, 12, and Aidan, 5 — visited on Saturday to see how the preservation project was coming along. Karen said her most vibrant memory was of the spring and spring house.
“My babysitter lived at the end of the little street across from the Garden Archives, and we used to go up and down the old train tracks and to the spring,” she recalled. “I actually had thought at one time about getting married down there because I used to see weddings taking place, but as I got older the spring house was fallen in. Now it looks like they’re starting to restore the grounds. That’s a good memory, remembering walking around the spring when I was younger and how beautiful it was. Now it looks cared for, and that’s nice.”
Dozens of local residents and visitors toured the grounds of the historic garden and archives on Friday and Saturday, viewing the treasure trove of pioneer relics, Civil War uniforms and weapons, and antique documents that tell Dalton’s history.
Aside from the old pottery, glass candy jars with metal tops and the mysterious woman in an upstairs window, thousands of pages of history books and ledgers are available for perusal, including bound volumes of “War of the Rebellion — Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies,” “Pioneer Mothers of America” and the “National Register of the Sons of the American Revolution.”
A copy of The Dalton Argus newspaper from May 18, 1911, features the story of Mrs. Paul Walker being “the first woman to be interred in the Confederate veterans’ cemetery” next to her husband, Paul Walker, who “fought through the (18) sixties.”
“Since it’s all new to me we’re very impressed with all that’s been done,” said Dalton resident Jeane Jones, visiting with her daughter and son-in-law, Carmie and Mark McDonald. “I don’t know much of the history but I’m anxious to know more.”
Mark McDonald, who serves as the president and chief executive officer of The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, lauded the local restoration endeavor.
“It’s impressive,” he said. “I think the academic interest in the (Crown) mill is interesting. Their effort to try and share it with the public is really inspiring.”
Cecilia Sanchez, who graduated Dalton High School in 2009 and just completed her first year at the University of Georgia, has been interning at the archives this summer.
“The main thing I was working on was the cataloging of all the ledgers from the Crown Cotton Mill, and all the payrolls,” she said. “Is it hard to do? Sometimes, yeah. I didn’t know where things should go or how I had to look at it and figure out what it was and then go from there.”
Erik Gallman, executive secretary of the historical society, said visitors have been “pleased” with the new look in the old building.
“It’s been very positive — people come in and you get to see their jaws drop,” he said. “A lot of them knew work was going on, but they didn’t know how far we’d gotten, and they didn’t know to what extent it was going on. Everybody is very surprised, very pleased with what is going on.”
Gallman said around $15,000 has been spent so far on the garden and archives and the nearby Hamilton House, the oldest brick house in the city. The city of Dalton, grant funds, in-kind contributions, and corporate and individual donations have made it possible, he said.
--------
Bicentennial Souvenir books reprinted
The Bicentennial Souvenir books of Dalton’s history first published in 1976 have been reprinted by the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society, with a limited number available for sale at $20 each.
The society has started a donor program called the Crown Jewel project to help defray the cost of the restorative work at Crown Garden and Archives and the Hamilton House. A donation of $250 or more will purchase a brass plaque that can have a name engraved on it in honor or in memory of someone, to be displayed permanently in the archives.
The archives are open on Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information call (706) 278-0217.
FAMU Bandmates: Victim Volunteered to Be Hazed
Raw Video: Bride Who Faked Cancer Released
Raw Video: Tornado Appears During Wedding
HP to Cut 27,000 Jobs, Save Up to $3.5B
Inquiry Hears Wider Secret Service Misbehavior
Md. 911 Dispatcher Caught Sleeping on Job
Raw Video: Toddler Trapped in Washing Machine
Iowa Man With Zebra, Parrot in Truck Gets DUI
Egyptians Pick New President in Free Election
Giant Bull Head Draws Drivers to South Dakota
Astrodome Fades As Houston Decides Fate
Franciscan Files Tell Stories of Priest Abuse
Wildfire Destroys 2 Homes
Flight Diverted After Suspicious Note
Joplin Remembers Deadly Tornado, 1 Year Later
Panel Recommends Against Routine Prostate Test
Fired Lingerie Employee Claims Discrimination
Facebook Shares Continue Negative Slide
Cuba Waiting for Cyber Age to Come
8 Hurt in Oklahoma Shooting After NBA Playoff
