Volume 23, No. 1 • April 2005A SUBMARINE IN LAGRANGE Hutchinson was an excellent photographer and recorded many scenes for future generations. His photographs included a variety of scenes, including downtown buildings, the train depots, and Boy Scout groups. The collection is being used extensively. Among the many gems in the collection is this one showing a Japanese submarine in downtown LaGrange. The April 1, 2005 issue of the LaGrange Daily News carried a story by Archives staff member Barry Jackson entitled "The Story can now be told." Barry wrote about the Gotcha children of Long Cane and the submarine. In the end, he confessed to an April Fool's joke using a historic photo and stated that the sub was in LaGrange as part of a tour to boost the U. S. war effort. Thanks to the photograph and gift, the memory of the day lives on.
ANCESTOR SKETCHES NEEDED FOR NEW BOOKThe East Georgia Genealogical Society (EGGS) is preparing a new book, East Georgia Settlers. The book will be a collection of family sketches of persons who lived at any time in the 28-county area covered by EGGS. This is the Piedmont area roughly east of metro Atlanta and north of Augusta and Milledgeville.Anyone with ancestors from this area is urged to submit family sketches for inclusion in the book. All sketches should include facts such as birth, marriage, and death dates of parents and children, plus other information such as military service, land ownership, occupation, etc. All facts stated in the sketch should be documented, and a listing of sources of documentation (family Bibles, county records, census records, gravestones, etc.) should be included. Any facts which are guesses or family tradition should be stated as such. There is a format suggested for the sketches, and a handout sheet is available at the Troup County Archives which gives all requirements, a sample sketch, and information on where to send completed sketches. You can also log onto the EGGS website (www.rootsweb.com/~gaeggs ) to see the counties covered by this book, plus a list of sketches already submitted and a sample sketch. Completed sketches should be sent to: Patsy Harris, 1801 Sugar Creek Trail, Buckhead, GA 30625-2517, or e-mail to: patsydudney@yahoo.com. There is no definite deadline, but she wants as many sketches as possible ASAP. Almost everyone in Troup County has ancestors who came from this area. Don't let yours be left out of this book! -- Steve Johnson BELLEVUE CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARYOn May 1, the LaGrange Woman's Club will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the completion of the building of Bellevue. Benjamin Harvey Hill, noted State, Confederate, and Union Senator from Georgia, built the home which was later owned by Judge Jess McLendon and family. Built in 18531855, the house is noted through out the Southeast as a fine example of Greek temple style revival domestic architecture. The house is on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated as a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service.An open house will be held May 1, 2005 from 2:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. with a program at 3:30 P.M. The house is located at 204 Ben Hill Street.
ALSO AT BELLEVUE: The LaGrange Woman's Club Charitable Trust is seeking person(s) for position of resident host and/or hostess of Bellevue National Historic Landmark. Duties will include giving tours, scheduling and overseeing functions, and supervising upkeep. Salary, private unfurnished apartment, and utilities provided. Apply by letter with references to: Sara Richards, 204 Ben Hill Street, LaGrange, GA 30240.
PINE LOG AND GREEK REVIVALA LaGrange resident has two copies of Pine Log and Greek Revival by William Davidson. Both books are signed. One is a first edition, the other is a second edition and has its dust jacket. If you are interested in purchasing one of these volumes, call the Troup County Archives at 706-884-1828.Congratulations! West Pointfor West Point Freight Depot, added to the National Register of Historic Places, and the opening of College Hill Apartments. After several years of worry and hard work, the Old West Point School has been renovated for use as apartments by senior citizens. Good Job Everyone!TEACHING AMERICAN HISTORY SUMMER INSTITUTECAMP JACKSON, VIRGINIA. March 8, 1862. "Off picket guard this morning…At 1 ocl. p.m. the rumour got out that the Merrimack was out. She hove in sight about 5 minutes past 1 ocl…At 20 minutes past 2 ocl. she got over to the frigates and one of them opened fire on the Merrimack. She responded but very slow and everybody was afraid she would not mark well…The shots from the frigates mostly passed over her. She sank the frigate Cumberland and the Congress gout out of the way & surrendered. The Cumberland went down firing a gun. The Yanks fought brave." [Source: "Diary of Private Louis Merz, C.S.A. of West Point Guards, 1862." Chattahoochee Valley Historical Society, Bulletin 4, November 1959, p. 26.]Perhaps you remember the stories in your history classes about the Confederacy raising the Union frigate Merrimac, sheathing its sides with iron plates, rechristening it Virginia and deploying it to Hampton Roads, Virginia, to attack the Union Navy. But, did you know that a young Confederate Army volunteer, Louis Merz, from West Point stood on the bank, watched the Merrimac in some of its early engagements and wrote about her exploits in his diary? Social studies teachers in the Troup County School System will have an opportunity to learn more about Louis Merz, the West Point Guards and Troup County's role in the War Between the States when they attend a summer institute focusing on the Civil War sponsored by the Troup County Historical Society and the Troup County Board of Education, June 6-10. The workshop is one component of the $1,000,000 Teaching American History grant the Troup County Board of Education received from the U. S. Department of Education last year. Barry Jackson, coordinator of the project for the Troup County Historical Society, stated that "the Institute's goal is to acquaint teachers with documents and strategies that will make history come alive in the classroom; to tie national events to the people of Troup County and allow students to see what impact history has on the lives of people." Barry and Archives Director Kaye Minchew have invited five nationally recognized historians to participate in the institute. On Monday, Dr. David Williams of Valdosta State University will discuss "The Causes of the Civil War and the Georgia Home Front." On Tuesday, Dr. Keith Bohannon from the State University of West Georgia will speak on "Military Engagements" and the "Impact of the Civil War on the Planter Class in Troup County." On Wednesday, Dr. Anne Bailey of Georgia College and State University will present the topic, "Hidden Confederates: Blacks, Women and Immigrants." Thursday, William Bragg of Georgia College will inform participants about "The Georgia Militia." "Reconstruction and Life After the Civil War" will be Friday's presentation by Dr. Jonathan Bryant from Georgia Southern University. Throughout the week, teachers will be introduced to local Civil War landmarks through walking and bus tours. Copies of documents such as letters written by local soldiers, diaries, photographs, and military papers will be given to teachers for use in their classrooms. Strategies for engaging student interest in the War will be demonstrated. Jackson said "this promises to be an exciting and rare opportunity for teachers as well as the Archives' staff to learn more about the Civil War from noted historians and for students to profit from this knowledge and test better on state exams." TROUP COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP, 2005GovernorCobb FoundationSenatorCallaway GardensCallaway Family Association Mr. & Mrs. Robert G. Harris, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Bart Macomber PatriotMrs. Pat AlversonC B & T Mrs. George S. Cobb, Jr. Community Bank & Trust Drs. Julian & Sue Duttera FounderMr. & Mrs. Ray AndersonBank of America Mr. Grover A. Hobbs Mr. & Mrs. Charles D. Hudson Dr. & Mrs. Richard Ingram Mrs. Sue A. Long Mr. & Mrs. Charles McLeod Dr. Leland M. Park Mr. & Mrs. James Stogner SustainingMr. & Mrs. Wayne AbbottMrs. J. K. Boatwright, Jr. Mr. Peck Brumby Mr. Edward Callaway Mr. & Mrs. Hugh Camp Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Cleaveland Mr. J. Philip Cleaveland Mr. & Mrs. Robert Condra Mr. & Mrs. Earl P. Cook Miss Katherine Cook Dr. & Mrs. Robert B. Copeland Ms. Jane Alice Craig Mr. & Mrs. Jim Crane Mrs. Jane Crayton Davis Mrs. Julia Dyar Mr. Lee Edmundson Mr. & Mrs. Robert Ellis Mr. & Mrs. Alec Evans Dr. & Mrs. William Fackler Mrs. Curmilla Furgerson Mr. & Mrs. Sidney Gay Dr. and Mrs. Garnett J. Giesler Mr. & Mrs. Dwayne Greer Dr. & Mrs. F. Stuart Gulley Dr. & Mrs. Stanley Hall Mr. & Mrs. Pat Holder Dr.& Mrs. William L.Hutchinson Mrs. Frank W. Hutchinson, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Ramsey Jennings Mr. Jerry Johnson Mr. & Mrs. Fred Jones Mrs. Collier Jordan Mr. & Mrs. J. Smith Lanier, II Mr. & Mrs. Louis Lester, Jr. Dr. & Mrs. David Martin Mr. & Mrs. Kendrick W. Mattox, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. John C. McKibben Mr. & Mrs. Greg Minchew Mrs. Betty Jo Murphy Mr. & Mrs. Curtis Myhand Mr. & Mrs. William B. Petry Mr. & Mrs. James R. Richards Mr. H. Pope Richter Mr. & Mrs. Jay Russell Dr. & Mrs. J. Harvey Saunders Drs. Eugene & Margaret Schaufler Mr. & Mrs. W. B. Shedd Mr.& Mrs. Gordon M. Smith, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Ed Smith Mr. & Mrs. Ellis Smith SunTrust Bank Mr. & Mrs. John Taylor Mr. & Mrs. Robert Walters Mr. Frost Ward Dr. & Mrs. Tom West Mr. & Mrs. Robert Yates, Jr. SponsorDr. & Mrs. Jung H. AhnMr. Michael Anderson Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Bartley Mrs. Joanna Baxter Dr. & Mrs. Avery P. Beall Mr. Gerald Becham Mr. & Mrs. Wyatt Bibb Mrs. A. W. Birdsong Dr. & Mrs. James A. Brennan Hon. & Mrs. Jeff Brown Mr. Greg Brown Mr. & Mrs. Charles Browne Dr. Linda Buchanan Mr. & Mrs. H. Speer Burdette, III Mr. & Mrs. Thomas A. Bushar Mr. & Mrs. Bobby Carmichael Mr. & Mrs. Zim Cauble Mr. & Mrs. Thomas A.Colgrove Mr. & Mrs. Jone Debnam Dr. & Mrs. James Doerr Mr. & Mrs. Marvin Edelson Mr. &Mrs. Mack Paul Efland,Jr. Mr. &Mrs. Charles A. Ferguson Mr. & Mrs. Charles Foster Mr. Cliff C. Glover Mr. & Mrs. Edmund Glover Selma and Thomas Gore Mr. & Mrs. Oliver Greene Mr. & Mrs. Frank C. Harrell Mr. Alex S. Hopkins Mr. & Mrs. Jared T. Jones Judge and Mrs. Allen Keeble Dr. & Mrs. James Killebrew Mr. & Mrs. Keenan Knight Mr. & Mrs. Walton Knight Mrs. Joseph H. Kyle Mr. & Mrs. Don Lee Ms. Shelly Lemelle Mr. Frank R. Lewis Dr. & Mrs. Werner Linz Mr. and Mrs. Eiland G. Lipham Mrs. Alfred Mansour, Sr. Ms. Betty M. Mattox Revs. Wm. McLemore & Lori Lowe Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth McGreevy Mr. & Mrs. Alfred McNair Mrs. Judith Merrill Mrs. Jack Mitchell Mr. & Mrs. Mike Moncus Dr. & Mrs. James C. Morgan Ms. Josievet Moss Mr. Ben H. Parham Mrs. Glenna J. Parkins Mr. & Mrs. Leon Pitts Dr. & Mrs. Cliff Rainey Mr. & Mrs. Lester Sears Mr. & Mrs. Tom Slagle Mr. & Mrs. Daniel C. Stark Mrs. Jane Strain Mr. & Mrs. Sidney Stubbs Mr. & Mrs. William Terrell Mr. & Mrs. H. Grady Traylor BuilderDr. Sybil L. AllenMrs. Ethyl Ault Mr. Lewis L. Banks Dr. & Mrs. J. Edward Bass Mr. & Mrs. Donald Bassett Mr. & Mrs. Edwin Batchelor Mr. & Mrs. Jim Biagi Mr. & Mrs. Jack Binford Dr. & Mrs. Patrick C. Bowie Mr. James T. Boyd Ms. Dee Bradley Dr. & Mrs. Lloyd C. Brewton Ms. Carolyn Burgess Mr. Rusty Callaway Ms. Dorothy Cammon Mrs. J. W. Carr Mr. & Mrs. William Christian Mrs. Anne A. Cleaveland Mr. & Mrs. Chris Cleaveland Mrs. Missy Cochran Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Crawford Mr. Charles T. Creekman Mrs. Sally L. Culpepper Mr. & Mrs. Bernard Dailey Mrs. Clara B. Daniel Mr. & Mrs. Tony Dattilo Mr. William Davidson Mr. & Mrs. James W. Davidson Mrs. Marian S. Davis Miss Sara E. Davis Jean & Joan DeMarrais Mrs. Louise Denney Downtown Development Authority Ms. Melinda Dukes Mr. Stephen Edelson Mr. and Mrs. Edward W. Edge Ms. Dinah Estes Capt. & Mrs. Joseph Fagundes Mr. Jim Franks Dr. Richard A. Freeman Mr. William Freeman Mr. Paul French Allen County Public Library Mrs. John Goldwire, Jr. Mrs. Jane Gore Mr. & Mrs. Rocky Grace Mr. & Mrs. Jackson Grady Mr. & Mrs. James T. Gresham Mr. & Mrs. William C. Guthrie Mr. & Mrs. George Haley Mr. & Mrs. Thelon A. Hamby Mrs. Martha Hartley Ms. Jaclyn Helmke Mrs. Willis Hendricks Dr. & Mrs. George Henry Mr. & Mrs. Phil Herrington Ms. Mary Ellen Hill Mr. & Mrs. William F. Holle, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Owen C. Holleran Mrs. John S. Holt Mrs. Addis H. Hopkins Mr. & Mrs. W. B. Houze, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Howard Ms. LeighAnn Huffstetler Ms. Polly Hutchinson Mr. & Mrs. Cal Hyers Mrs. Yolanda K. Jabaley Dr. and Mrs. John M. Jackson, Jr. Mr. Joseph Jarrell Mr. A. Stephen Johnson Mr. & Mrs. F.C. Johnson, III Mrs. Ida F. T. Jones Mrs. Rachel M. Jones Mrs. S. Kelly Jordan Mr. & Mrs. Chris Joseph Mrs. Julia Keller Mrs. Catherine Kesler Mr. & Mrs. John K. Lancaster Mr. & Mrs. Eugene Langford Ms. Sondra Lee Ms. Marnie Leonard Ms. Jayne Lewis Ms. Katha Loyd Mr. & Mrs. Keener Lynn Dr. & Mrs. Paul Major Mrs. Glenda Major Dr. & Mrs. Grant R. Major Mr. & Mrs. G. Melville Major Ms. Gayle Maner Mr. & Mrs. Nasor Mansour, Jr. Mr. Earl Marsh Mr. & Mrs. O.D. Martin Mr. George Mason Mr. & Mrs. Mickey McCoy Mrs. Gay McDaniel Mr.& Mrs. Dewey R. McKenzie Mrs. Claude McKibben, Sr. Mrs. Sharon McLaughlin Ms. Genie Medders Dr. & Mrs. Fred Mills Mr. & Mrs. Dusty Mills Ms. Frances Mitchell Mr. Terry Moon Mr. & Mrs. George R. Moore Mrs. Frances Moore Ms. Dorothy D. Moore Mrs. Betsy Moultrie Mr. & Mrs. Raymond A. Newman Mrs. John R. Newman Mr. & Mrs Gardner Newman Mrs. Betty J. Oetjen Mr. & Mrs. Gene Page Mr. & Mrs. Howard Park, Jr. Mrs. Marthanne Parker Mr. & Mrs. David Parker Ms. Mary Pauley Mrs. John H. Peacock Ms. Amy Penn Dr. & Mrs. Thomas N. Pirkle Dr. & Mrs. Chuck Pitts Mr. A.B. Poore Mr. Gus Pullen, Jr. Ms. Claire Ray Ms. Julia Ann Reeves Mr. & Mrs. Jose Reyes Mr. & Mrs. Bill Rye Mrs. John J. Schuyler Mrs. Avery P. Sledge Mrs. R. Woodrow Smith Mr. V. Hawley Smith Mr. & Mrs. Roger H. Soderberg Mr. & Mrs. Calvin Spinks Mr. and Mrs. Roy Spinks, III Mrs. Clara Stewart Ms. Anne H. Stich Mr. & Mrs. James H. Swanson Mr. & Mrs. Horace Thom Mrs. O. E. Thornton Mr. & Mrs. Ferrell T. Towns Mrs. J. Edward Traylor, Jr. Mr. Gus Valeri Ms. Lynda Veal Col. M. Reid Wallis Ms. Nancy Walls Mrs. Gail Walsh Mr. Robert Weeks Mr. & Mrs. James C. Woodyard Mr. & Mrs. Thomas H. Woosley Mr. Richard H. Worrell Ms. Patty Youngblood RECENT ACCESSIONS AT THE ARCHIVESBinford, Edna, Charlotte, NC. Photograph of E. G. "Tony" Walker or one of his brothers, c. 1890s.Bissett, James, LaGrange. Photographs from Vietnam Conflict. Hutchinson, Virginia, LaGrange. The Blue Print, Georgia Tech Yearbook, 1923. Jones, Michael K., Mableton, GA. Plot map to Citizens Cemetery, Marietta, GA. Moore, Clyde Allen, LaGrange. Jailer's key from original jail located on Square and Rosemont High School reunion scrapbook, 1925-1955. Lee, Sandra G., Vero Beach, FL. Information & photograph, Sledge Family Reunion, c.1900. Lemelle, Shelly, Houston, TX. Letter written by Singleton B. Trawick, Troup County, 1843. Roquemore, Nell Patten, Lakeland, GA. Roots, Rocks, and Recollections (Patten, Purcell, Roquemore family history) and Lanier County: The Land and Its People. Shank, Clarice Valynn Short, LaGrange. Chrome child's saving bank issued by LaGrange National Bank, c. 1920-30s. Swanson, Ed, LaGrange. 1926 City of LaGrange tax receipts. CHANGING FACE OF LAGRANGE: A NEW ARCHIVES EXHIBITCurrently on exhibit at the Troup County Archives is "The Changing Face of LaGrange". There have been many changes in downtown LaGrange over the last century. Buildings have been lost to fires and demolition, such as the old courthouse on the Square and the Truitt Opera House.This exhibit focuses on changes in businesses and building appearances in downtown LaGrange throughout the last century. Images of buildings in the early 1900s will be showcased, along with comparative photos throughout the course of the last century and up to modern day. The exhibit will feature images from several different photograph collections, including the Nix-Price Collection and the recently processed Stanley Hutchinson Photograph Collection. "The Changing Face of LaGrange" will be on display through July 2005. Admission is free. Staff member Charles Kelly organized this exhibit.
 Clarice Valynn Short Shank of LaGrange donated this chrome child's saving bank issued by LaGrange National Bank, c. 1920-30s, to the Archives. The bank was designed so that children would put their coins in the slot on top and then the child or their parents would bring the bank into LaGrange National Bank and transfer the funds into their savings account. Several local residents remember having once had such a bank. LaGrange National Bank was doing its part to encourage our youth to save their pennies and dimes!
This newsletter is a quarterly publication
of
the Troup County Historical Society and Archives, 136 Main Street, P.O. Box 1051, LaGrange, GA 30241. Phone: 706-884-1828; fax: 706-884-1840; email: info@trouparchives.org www.troupachives.org
Officers:President - Oliver GreeneVice-President - Ann Petry Secretary - Sally Macomber Treasurer - Jim Crane Past-President - Bit Taylor Board of Trustee Representative - Charles D. Hudson Staff of the Archives:Director - Kaye Lanning MinchewReference - F. Clark Johnson Education Archivist -- Barry Jackson Bookkeeper - Diana Thomas Manuscripts & Exhibits -- Charles Kelly Reference - Shirley Dykes Photographs - George Allen
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