Volume 17, no. 4 • January 2000

HISTORY OF TROUP COUNTY REPRINTED

The Board of Trustees of the Troup County Historical Society is excited to announce that Clifford L. Smith's History of Troup County has just been reissued. Glenda Major, President of the Historical Society, notes that the book was first published in 1933, was reprinted in the 1970s by the Troup County Commissioners, and has been out-of-print and unavailable for purchase for over twenty years. More importantly, the new volume is fully indexed for the first time.

The text is reprinted exactly as originally printed. No changes were made in the original text. The index follows at the end of the original pages. Archives staff members Clark Johnson and Kaye Minchew, along with members of the West Central Georgia Genealogical Society prepared the index of subjects and personal names. The index makes the book much more accessible since so many personal and business names and subjects are listed in many different chapters of the book. Higginson Book Company in Salem, Massachusetts, printed the volume.

Smith's History is a must for Troup County research. This reference book covers everything from birds and minerals founds in the county to early settlers to homes considered historic in 1933 to soldiers who fought in the Civil War and the World War (or World War I as we know it).

Copies are available for purchase at the Troup County Archives for $44.00 or on-line at http://www.trouparchives.org. Shipping and handling charges are $3.50 per book. Visit the Archives at 136 Main Street in LaGrange or call at 706-884-1828 for more information.

DOWNTOWN COUNTDOWN A SMASHING SUCCESS -- HERITAGE COMPONENTS PLAY IMPORTANT PART

Following almost a year of intensive planning and organizing, LaGrange and Troup County residents started the year 2000 in an impressive and fun manner. Twelve to fifteen thousand people participated in the New Year's Eve party downtown while many more saw the festivities on television via TV 33 and enjoyed photographs and stories in the LaGrange Daily News. Highlights of the evening included a spectacular fire works show, two bands and other singers, a giant video screen, vendors, and jugglers, activities for children, a DJ for youth, and much more.

Stuart Gulley, chair of the Millennium Committee, opened the dedication ceremony of the time capsule on LaFayette Square.

Stuart Gulley and Skin Edge chaired the Millennium Committee. Archives Director Kaye L. Minchew served on the committee and chaired the Heritage Subcommittee. Others on the Heritage Subcommittee were Laura Lewis (who also served on the Millennium Committee), Glenda Major, Ethyl Ault, and Peter Lukken. Though this was the community's New Year's Eve party, organizers and LaGrange Mayor Jeff Lukken who first organized the committee, felt that the heritage component was most important -- in one evening, we celebrated the coming of a new year, a new century, and a new millennium. Having a party was not enough to consider the event a success -- we needed opportunities to think about the past, anticipate the future, and celebrate the present.

Two major heritage activities took place during the New Year's Eve celebration. The giant video screen included both scenes from the party, including both the bands and the crowds, and clips from old videos and films showing LaGrange and Troup County between 1930 and 1999. Everything from 1930 boat races on the Chattahoochee River to the 1989 Sweet Land of Liberty parade to a 1985 spotlight on LaGrange by 11 Alive TV to the 1974 LaGrange High Prom to a 1950 Easter Egg hunt to an East Depot High School Homecoming Parade in the mid-1950s were included. Lots of people either saw themselves or had reports that their lovely faces had just graced the giant screen. Film and video came from a wide variety of people and groups in the county, including Fuller Callaway, Jr.'s estate, WestPoint Stevens, Cobb Archives, Troup County Archives, Dusty Mills, Debbie Battle, Mary Lou Vaughan, Jim and Judy Neighbors, Annette and Jim Boyd, LaGrange Ballet, LaGrange College, Charles D. Hudson, Betty Turner, and many more. One highlight was film from Gilbert Holliday, a local resident who took many rolls of film in the 1930s, including the Courthouse burning in 1936, the LaGrange High Class of 1934, a parade on Bull Street in 1934 complete with elephants, and an aerial tour of LaGrange in the 1930s. We are indebted to those who allowed us to use their films for making this project a success. Doug Roberts of LaGrange produced the video.

Visitors of all ages stopped by the Archives as they prepared to welcome the Year 2000!

Another heritage component was the Kress 5 & 10 cent exhibit which will remain on display at the Troup County Archives until March 1st. The Archives remained open from 6:30 p.m. on New Year's Eve until 10 p.m. and 524 people visited. We were delighted to share the exhibit and the Archives collections with these people -- some of whom were regulars we see frequently and others who had never been in the Archives. The Main Street stage was located at the intersection of Main and Broome Streets so this location plus announcements on the Square of the exhibit made the Archives a popular spot to be on New Year's Eve. Special thanks to Archives staff members Diana Thomas, Charles Kelly, and Clark Johnson who manned the Archives reference desk on New Year's Eve!

Heritage activities which took place before New Year's Eve included having a photograph contest which depicted life in LaGrange and Troup County in 1999 and an essay contest which predicted what life would be like in 2050. Another important component was the dedication of a time capsule. The contents of the time capsule were decided primarily by a group of middle and high school students who comprised the school millennium committee. Items from each of the middle and high schools in the County are part of the time capsule. The capsule was made right here in LaGrange at Durand-Wayland and was dedicated in a ceremony on LaFayette Square on December 30, 1999. The capsule will be opened in fifty years and is designed to be refilled, reburied, and opened in another fifty years!

Visitors examine the Kress Exhibit.

Yet another heritage activity was the special issue of the LaGrange Daily News published on December 28, 1999 which looked back at the twentieth century in LaGrange and Troup County. Kaye Minchew and Clark Johnson, along with Historical Society member Julia Dyar, worked closely with News staff on this project. All in all, it was a busy but satisfying and rewarding time!

KRESS FIVE-AND-DIME STORES SPOTLIGHTED

A new exhibit at the Troup County Archives traces the architectural history and significance of one of the foremost chain store operations in the twentieth-century. On view through March 1, 2000, "Main Street Five-and-Dimes: The Architectural Heritage of S. H. Kress & Co." is a traveling exhibit featuring photographs, architectural drawings, and artifacts from the permanent collection of the National Building Museum in Washington, D. C.

The exhibit is open to the public at no charge. The Troup County Archives is located at 136 Main Street in LaGrange. Hours are Monday, Wednesday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

RESEARCH USE AT THE TROUP COUNTY ARCHIVES

*Kress Exhibit on display. New Year's Eve.
**Barn Again Exhibit on display.
***e-mail reference started.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION APPOINTED

In December, 1999, the City Council of LaGrange appointed its first Historic Preservation Commission. The Commission was appointed following passage of a Historic Preservation Ordinance earlier in the year.

New members of the Commission are:

• Julia Dyar
• Gwen Redwine
• Dick Daniel
• Charles Hudson
• Nasor Mansour, III
• Rocky Grace
• Gordon "Skip" Smith

They are appointed for staggering terms of one to three years. Main Street Manager Betty Fagundes and Archives Director Kaye Minchew will serve ex-officio.

The Commission will have several activities as it begins its work. They will propose local historic districts and are expected to recommend a Downtown Commercial District. They may also direct the City to apply for grants to do design guidelines and historic resources surveys. Guidelines are needed so that property owners will have a better idea what kinds of new structures and exterior changes to existing structures are permitted in the historic district. A detailed survey of historic structures is needed to fully understand what kinds of historic resources we have in town and what kinds of properties most need protecting.

The Commission is expected to begin its work in January or February of this year.

UPCOMING MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM

This spring, the Troup County Historical Society will host a special evening program featuring David Williams, a professor of history at Valdosta State University. He is the author of Rich Man's War: Class, Caste, and Confederate Defeat in the Lower Chattahoochee Valley, published by the Historic Chattahoochee Commission. A date, time, and place will be announced later this winter. The meeting will be held in the evening in hopes that high school and college students interested in the Civil War will be able to attend along with other members of the Society who have a difficult time attending our luncheon programs.

Longtime Historical Society member Rebecca Long suggested that we try to host Professor Williams after she read his book. We welcome such program suggestions! If you hear an especially good speaker, read an exciting book, or have a friend who speaks on topics that may be of interest to our members, please give one of our officers or Archives Director Kaye Minchew a call at 884-1828. We welcome your input!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW!

NEW OFFICERS

On Thursday, February 24th, the Troup County Historical Society will hold its annual meeting to elect new officers. This brief meeting will begin at 1 p.m. at the Archives building at 136 Main Street. Members will receive additional information about this election in the mail.

The nominating committee chaired by Past President Ed Long proposes the following slate:
President ---- Karen W. Scarbrough
Vice-President ---- Bit Taylor
Secretary --- Sally Macomber
Treasurer -- Jim Crane

Trustees for 2000-2003 term:
Becky Major
Nancy Long
Chris Joseph
Stuart Gulley

Membership Campaign

The Troup County Historical Society is in the midst of its annual membership drive. Letters were mailed in early December, 1999 and reminders will be sent in February. Response has been strong thus far. If you have not sent your renewal application, we hope you will do so today! We appreciate everyone's support!

DOCUMENT SPOTLIGHT: FRENCH CONNECTIONS

December 1999 brought two different donations to the Troup County Archives which were related to France. As members of our community begin to plan for the 2001 rededication of LaFayette Statue and the Hydrangea Festival, we thought our members would like to know about these donations.

The first came from Lou Horvath, publisher of the LaGrange Daily News. While in an airport last summer, he and his wife picked up a copy of The Quarterly Review of Wines, partly because it featured a story on the Chateau LaGrange. He had already noted that any mention of the Marquis de LaFayette was missing. Sure enough, this Chateau Lagrange is not "our chateau" and is not the home of the Marquis. It is, however, an impressive chateau located in the southern part of St. Julien. It is owned by Suntory, a huge Japanese beverage company. They now produce award winning wines. Even though our LaGrange, Georgia, has no direct connections with this Chateau Lagrange, we are delighted to learn about the building and its wines.

A second French connection came with receipt of LeCourrier de la Guerre d'Amerique, a French publication of the Civil War Round Table Associates. President Patrick Ailliot had e-mailed us earlier in the year (in English) asking for permission to publish photos of the Nancy Harts. We gave permission as long as they credited the Troup County Historical Society and Archives, which they did. The entire publication is in French and features a story on "`The Nancy Harts Militia:' Belle Histoire ou Realite?" Another article looks at Wilson's Raid and the Battle of West Point.

Copies of these publications are part of the Archives' vertical files and are available for public use.