September 2005
HAPPENINGS:
SEPTEMBER
I Remember Hour
September 27 11:30 at the DeKalb
DCVB
Offices 1957 Lakeside Parkway
Suite 510. Reservations
call 404-373-1088
A “Chamber Maid” remembers the Chamber.
Wilma Hipps worked many years for businesses, the DeKalb
Chamber, and political candidates. She knows much of
the history of how businesses developed through the years.
During the 50s and 60s, the late Art Austin, a mining
company executive referred to the women who worked at
the Chamber as “Chamber Maids”. Hipps was
one of those maids. Now a consultant, she will share
her recollections of this exciting time in the history
of the Chamber, beginning in the 50s.
Heritage Festival
DeKalb History Park
September 30 9:00 to 11:30 AM
11:30 AM to 2PM
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Over
800 children from Glennwood Academy, Medlock,
Fernbank, St. Thomas More and Robert Shaw elementary
schools will participate in the Heritage Festival.
Students are 4th and 5th graders. |
Sponsors: Fred Turner, Rockdale
Foundation, Harry Stillwell, Georgia Power Company,
Decatur Recreation Department. Partners: Little Shop of Stories, Decatur
City Schools, DeKalb
County Schools, Neighborhood
Playhouse, Chik
Fil A, Potato
Fingers
HAPPENINGS: OCTOBER
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Current Exhibit: War in Our Backyard
From the History Center’s
collection related to the Civil War, this exhibit focuses on the map produced
for The Battle of Decatur Booklet and
includes information on Mary Harris Gay and other items related to the Battle
of Decatur July 22, 1864. Exhibit will be open through October.
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SHERMAN'S
NECKTIES
Destroying the Confederate railroads was key to capturing Atlanta. Tearing up
the tracks was not workingbecause Rebels quickly repaired damage to the tracks.
On July 18, 1864, these exact orders came down from General Sherman:
"…Officers should be instructed that bars
simply bent may be used again, but if when red hot they
are twisted out of line ,they cannot be used again. Pile
the ties into shape for a bonfire, put the rails across
and when red hot in the middle, let a man at each end twist
the bar so that its surface becomes spiral."
These bent rails of iron were known as Sherman’s
Neckties. Legend has it that as they became more skilled
at heating and bending the rails, the soldiers made
a U and an S and would leave them in a prominent place.
Dr. Albert Rauber created a scene depicting
the making of Sherman’s Neckties and donated
it to the DeKalb History Center. It is on display as
part of our current exhibit. |
October 19, 2005: 7PM* change
of date
Decatur Library
The Chessboard of War: Sherman and Hood in the Autumn
Campaigns of 1864.
Dr. Anne Bailey, author, will speak about her new book.
Dr. Bailey has done two programs for us, one on African
Americans in the Civil War and the other on a photographic
history of Georgians in the War. The program complements
our WAR IN OUR BACKYARD exhibit. Dr. Bailey is Professor
of History at Georgia College and State University in
Milledgeville and is Editor of Georgia Historical
Quarterly, a publication of the Georgia Historical
Society. She is a delightful speaker and gifted
researcher.
NOVEMBER
Terrific Thursdays at Old Courthouse
Nov. 3 and
10- 5:30 to 7:30 PM
Kids, ages 6 and up, will visit Christmas
Past while their parents enjoy holiday shopping around
the square. $8 includes dinner & a period Christmas
craft.Call for reservations 404-373-1088.
Nov.
17: 7 PM Architects of Decatur
Decatur Library This program focuses on William
Sayward and Leila Ross Wilburn, two noted individuals
who have impacted the landscape of Decatur. One historian
has noted that the legacy of both of these architects
was essential to the character of Decatur. “Remaining
buildings represent another opportunity to recognize
and act to preserve the works of these master designers,” said
Darlene Roth.
Supporters Drive Underway
Mary Gay, Stephen Decatur
and Baron DeKalb are the names of the three teams charged
with producing new supporters in our fall campaign. Avondale
Estates resident and realtor Ruth McCann heads up the Mary
Gay team. Brittany Glenn, who works with the East Lake
Community Foundation and lives in East Lake charges ahead
with the Baron DeKalb team. Life long Decatur resident
Scotty Candler takes the Stephen Decatur team. Never has
this organization more needed supporters than with the
challenges we face today. If it is time for renewal, please
renew and consider upping your supporter level. Suggest
joining to friends and neighbors. DeKalb Historical Society
is the only organization working to keep all of the County’s
history. Quilts are made piece by piece as is history but
at some point it has to be sewn together. That is our mission,
to sew together the many pieces of DeKalb’s history.
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In
Memoriam: Frances
Garrett, widow of Atlanta Historian Franklin
Garrett died. She was a gracious woman, a
graduate of Agnes Scott College and an enthusiast
for history and community. She was buried
in Oakland Cemetery.
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Kudos…
…to
Jamil el-Shair , who directed Shermantown Baseball,
Apple pie and the Klan in a sensitive and yet provocative
way and brought out emotions in the actors and audience,
to Calvin Ramsey the author of the Shermantown
play, which had a successful reading at Renaissance
Project Theatre in South DeKalb and again to the DeKalb
Board of Commissioners and the Arts Culture and Entertainment
Department for the grant which supported the play production
as well as a DVD on the Shermantown Story.
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The
downstairs bedroom of the historic Swanton
House which will be part of the Heritage Festival
on Sept. 30. Harry Stillwell will lead guided
tours of the house.
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DEKALB HISTORY CENTER:
Executive Committee
Acting President: Sue Ellen O.Williams
Secretary: Jennie Richardson
Treasurer: Jack Regan
Chair: Betty Willis
Past President: Darro Willey
Trustee Chair: Lyn Menne
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