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 director@whitfieldmurray.org &/or call 706-278-0217.

 Porch Sale at the Historic Wright Hotel

 Friday and Saturday, March 24 & 25 

 from 8-2 both days 

The Wright Hotel, located 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 listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Available for tours, meetings, and social events the Hotel is a busy place throughout the year, but one of the busiest times are the twice-a-year porch sales which help generate the funds to preserve this large piece of our local history. 

The next sale is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, March 24 & 25 from 8-2 both days.  As is the custom there will be a variety of vintage pieces, household items, tools, antiques, and collectibles in the sale--all donated by society members and friends of the hotel.  Volunteers will spend the week gathering, setting up, organizing, and pricing things for the sale and look forward to regular customers as well as meeting new ones.  Like always, the garage will be open for the popular used book sale which will also have treasures gallore at bargain prices. The Hotel has a pretty large porch, so it will be a pretty big sale as well!

For more information check out the Wright Hotel's page on Facebook or the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society's website. 

April 15, 2023 12 Noon-5pm

219 North First Ave.

Chatsworth, Georgia

The Whitfield Murray Historical Society has an exciting year coming up with many plans. They also recently elected new officers.

Pictured from left to right are: 

Marsha Whitener, 2nd Vice President; Susan Longley, 1st Vice President; Dale Lowman, President; Mandy White, Secretary; Lisa Stafford, Treasurer; Patty Spanjer, Public Relations    

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. 

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

MURRAY COUNTY DEEDS ARE NOW ONLINE

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:

https://kofilequicklinks.com/MurrayGA/

Whitfield-Murray Historical Society Benefits from Grants

            During the COVID-19 virus pandemic, the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society has benefited from both member donations & government grants. The US government’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), created to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll, enabled the organization to cover employee payroll, payroll taxes, & utilities.  The Society also received funds from the Georgia Humanities Council through the CARES Act Emergency Operating grant.  WMHS is grateful for this state humanities support.

Organized in 1952 to preserve the Vann House, the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society is the pivot point for all things historical in Whitfield & Murray counties.  The Society preserves area history by maintaining structures, archiving objects & materials, & serving as the go-to entity for historical questions.  WMHS also conducts historic house tours, bi-annual rummage sales, and Holiday House tours.  Among the many activities conducted by the WMHS are Social Distancing Concerts at the Chatsworth Depot.  Upcoming date is August 8. 

            The Society has placed 11 sites on the National Register of Historic Places. In addition, the group has preserved the 1864 Dug Gap Battle Park, the 1909 Wright Hotel, old Spring Place Methodist Church (1875), & the 1905 Chatsworth Depot. The 1840 Hamilton House which is the oldest home in Dalton, and the 1848 Blunt House, home of Dalton’s first mayor, and second oldest house are also part of the preservation done by WMHS. The 1855 Huff House was General Joseph E. Johnston’s headquarters during the winter of 1863-64 preparing for the Atlanta Campaign is another WMHS property.

            WMHS headquarters, Crown Gardens and Archives--the 1890 Crown Cotton Mill office building--is a resource for local historical & genealogical research.  The Society sells books on local history & publishes a bi-monthly newsletter as well as a historical review.  Annual scholarships are awarded to young researchers, & historic preservation awards recognize area preservationists.  Meetings feature topics of local historical interest in Whitfield & Murray counties.

            Individuals interested in local history are encouraged to join the Society. Donations to aid in the very important work of protecting our local history may be mailed to: WMHS, P.O. Box 6180, Dalton, GA 30722.  For more information, call 706-278-0217, or visit http://www.whitfield-murrayhistoricalsociety.org.

Bylines:
Sherrian Hall, Jean Manly, and Joanne Lewis scraping old wall paper at the Blunt House, one of the WMHS historic properties.

Children at one of the history camps rubbing tombstones.