March-April 2009 - Smyrna Historical and Genealogical Society

Lives & Times
Vol. 24 No. 2
March - April 2009
Official Publication of
The Smyrna Historical & Genealogical Society
ISSN 1085-3154
http:www.roots web.com/~gashgs/
and SmyrnaHistory.org
Two Celebrations - 10th Anniversary of New Smyrna
Museum And Dedication of Taylor/Brawner Park
Taylor/Brawner House & The Brawner Center Open for Business
Ten years ago on Saturday, April
24, 1999, when the new Smyrna
Museum and Welcome Center were
dedicated, it was a bright, sunshiny day much like Saturday, April 18, 2009 when
the new Taylor/Brawner Park and the
Taylor/Brawner House were dedicated
and officially opened for business. Both
occasions were well attended and the
Smyrna
people
were
extremely
enthusiastic about what was taking place.
It's hard believe how quickly
those ten years passed and the changes
that have taken place in Smyrna in that
period of time.
Some of the public officials who
attended the Museum and Welcome
Center activities are no longer in office:
Randy Sauder, Bill Atkins, Bob Barr, Joe
Thompson, Jack Cramer, Bill Scoggins.
6th Dist. Congressman Johnny Isakson is
now the senior U.S. Senator from
Georgia.
Several hundred people visited the
Museum and Welcome Center on dedication day, 4-24-1999 and at that time,
the city didn't even own the Taylor/
L to r Ward 3 Council member Teri Anulewicz and her
child , Sylvia, Taylor-Brawner Foundation President,
Lillie Wood; ; Ward 6, Wade Lnenicka; Ward 1 Melleny
Pritchett, Ward 7 Pete Wood; Mary Brawner Rambo,
Mayor Max Bacon, Ward 4 Mike McNabb; State
Senator Doug Stoner; Ward 5 Jimmy Smith.
Brawner Park
property that was
dedicated Saturday, April 18, 2009.
The city held the dedication
ceremonies in the front of the beautifully
restored Brawner Hospital building that
was constructed in the early 1900's and
is located at 3180 Atlanta Road.
Parks and Recreation Department
director, Steve Ciaccio was the Master
of Ceremonies and introduced the other
speakers: Mayor Max Bacon, Council(continued next page)
23
Lives & Times Vol. 24 No. 2 March-April 2009
(Continued )man Jimmy Smith (Ward 5),
Lillie Wood, president of the TaylorBrawner House Foundation, with closing
comments by Mayor Pro-Tem Wade
Lnenicka.
Mary Brawner Rambo, who lived
in the Taylor-Brawner house for many
years and whose wedding was conducted
in that structure, participated in the
ribbon cutting ceremony
The House and Brawner Hall (the
new name for the hospital building) was
open for public tours after the ceremony.
voters in 2005 funded the park.
This 12-acre park on Atlanta
Road, a half-mile south of downtown
Smyrna, is the city’s flagship park
featuring walking trails that wind around
the large lawns, a gazebo and pavilion, a
playground and a picnic area. “It is
without a doubt the most beautiful piece
of property,” Smyrna Mayor Max Bacon
said. “It’s community green space that
will benefit our city and citizens for
generations.”
The city renovated the 100-yearold main hospital building—now
Brawner Hall—for city offices, receptions and classrooms.
The Taylor-Brawner Foundation,
a membership non-profit organization,
raised $427,000 to restore the TaylorBrawner house that the Taylor family
built in 1890 on the property that
eventually became the home and hospital
of the Dr. Albert Brawner family.
Both the Taylor-Brawner House
and Brawner Hall, have facilities suitable
for meetings, receptions, weddings, etc.
for use by the general public. Bookings
are being handled by the Susan Hunt
with the Smyrna Parks and Recreation
at 770-431-2842.
Singer/songwriter and Smyrna native and resident, Pat Terry, closed out
the day’s activities with a free concert in
the park at 7:00 p.m. He delighted the
crowd with some of the songs he wrote
that have been recorded by nationally
known country and western singers, and
some that he recorded for his own
albums and cd's.
The $9.3 million, Taylor-Brawner
Park, is on the site of the Brawner
Hospital, a former psychiatric facility. A
$22 million parks bond approved by the
Welcome New Member
Deborah Lewow
Sponsor - Lawrenceville, GA
This is another sister of Robert
Lezinski who we have had the privilege
of communicating with via email for the
last couple of years. Here's what he says
about her:
"Deborah was born in Santa
Monica, California, but found her way
Continued next page
24
Lives & Times Vol. 24 No. 2 March-April 2009
(continued) back to her Smyrna roots.
She has many fond recollections of her
youth at the home of her
Great
Grandmother, Daisy Chaney Sunset Ave.
Deborah's stellar career in music
production has taken her all over the
world, and earned her many awards as
"Producer of the Year" for major record
labels. She counts many well-known
artists in the "smoothe jazz" genre
among her dear friends.
She is former Vice President of
Jazz Promotion for Warner Brothers
Records. And currently operates her own
Atlanta-based company, 'ARTS', where
she represents artists working in smooth
jazz.
Deborah has a home in Lawrenceville. Her son, Paul, is a well known
musician in the Atlanta Area"
Thanks Bob for the bio and the
membership.
Ed & Diane Buckner
Family - Smyrna
Dean & Bonnie Byers
Family - Smyrna
Ed & Teresa Camp
Family - Smyrna
Martin & Nellie Cantrell
Family - Acworth
Don and Patricia Cheek
Family - Smyrna
Gay Nell Cochran
Individual - Alpharetta GA
John Davidson
Family to Donor
Smyrna
Membership Renewals and
Upgrades
Henry Fleming
Individual - Glendale, Calif.
Carolyn Amburn
Individual - Marietta
Vonnie Gilstrap
Individual - Smyrna
Max and Patty Bacon
Smyrna
Family to Donor
Rodney & Sadie Hogue
Family - Roswell
Phil Holder
Individual - Austell
Charles Barfield
Individual - Smyrna
Melvin & Mary Ruth Holleman
Family - Smyrna
Joan & Jean Bennett
Family + Donation
Smyrna
Ann & James Johnson
Family - Smyrna
Joe & Janet Bland
Family - Smyrna
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Lives & Times Vol. 24 No. 2 March-April 2009
Jacque Landers
Individual - Smyrna
Blake & Wanda Thomas
Family - Smyrna
Van & Joann McDaniel
Family - Castle Rock, Colorado
Jim & Margie Webb
Family - Gainesville GA
Joann McDowell
Sponsor - Decatur, Georgia
David & Debbie Wine
Family + Donation
Powder Springs
Karleen & Mike McNabb
Family + Donation
Smyrna
Carol A Wooden
Sponsor - Smyrna
Keith Miller
Individual - Shoreview, Minnesota
Museum Donations
Bob & Carolyn Ash
Ann Konigsmark Johnson
Andy Keel
Smyrna Fire Department
Deborah Rowell
Smyrna Historical Society
Taylor-Brawner House Foundation
Willouise Spivey
Susan Reed Wattecamps
Malinda Jolley Mortin
Individual + Donation
Marietta
Jo Perkinson
Individual - Smyrna
Doris Pfleghardt
Individual - Springfield, VA
A Note About Dues $
Mary & Albert Rambo
Family - Marietta
Some questions have been raised
about the billing for the annual dues.
Your billing date is based on 12 months
from the date you joined the Society and
annually on that anniversary date.
Usually about one month before
your anniversary date, you will be
notified by Ginger Ventre, one of our
members, who lives in Oakton, Virginia.
She is a volunteer who has been doing
our billing for about four years or so and
she does a great job. With each billing
she reminds you of when you joined the
(Continued next page)
Rex Ruff
Sponsor - Acworth GA
Jennette Rutledge
Individual - Smyrna
Tarver & Bobbie Shirley
Family - Smyrna
Lew Southern
Individual - Smyrna
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Lives & Times Vol. 24 No. 2 March-April 2009
In Memoriam
(Continued) Society and the category of
your membership. She also sends an
envelope for you to mail your check.
Charyn Darby
March 26, 1938-April 2, 2009
We Get Letters
Charyn had been a member of the
Smyrna Historical Society since October, 2001
and over the years had made a number of
contributions of memorabilia, artifacts, etc. to
the museum.
She had lived in Smyrna for more than
40 years and was extremely active in several
civic and service organizations. She served as
president of the Smyrna Jaycettes in 1968-69
and was the first female president of the
Smyrna Business Association. She served as
Chairman of the Emory Adventist Hospital
Foundation, a member of Keep Smyrna
Beautiful, The Downtown Development Task
Force for the City of Smyrna, and others.
She received numerous awards and
recognition's and was named Ms. Smyrna in
1993 and Smyrna Business of the Year 19931994. She was owner of the North Georgia
Trophy and Engraving, Inc. She was a 50 year
member of Sigma Kappa Sorority.
One of her favorite places of service,
however, was with Blind and Low Vision
Services of North Georgia. She was elected to
the Board of Directors in 1997. and president in
2000. She served in that capacity until
approximately two years ago was undergoing
chemotherapy, even then, she remained on the
board and was active until a couple of months
ago.
She was a member of St. Judes
Episcopal Church and served on the Gifts and
Memorials Committee, and had other
responsibilities there. A memorial service was
held at the church on April 4, 2009 and burial
was in Mayville, Michigan. Castellaw Funeral
Home, Smyrna, handled the arrangements.
Charyn was survived only by a few
distant relatives.
From Paul Davis
I recently came across a couple of matchbooks
from a visit to Aunt Fanny's Cabin in the early
1980's Is the restaurant still in existence?
I had a dinner at the restaurant with
several gentlemen while attending a convention
in Atlanta. I seem to recall the servers and even
the guests joining in together in singing Gospel
songs during dinner. I was a bit bewildered that
the waitresses were dressed in stereotypical
black "uniforms" from the "Gone With The
Wind " era, while young men wore a black
board suspended by a rope around their neck
that listed the menu.
I seem to remember that the township
where the restaurant was located was
considered "dry" and we had to bring our own
bottles, keeping them in paper bags.
Please let me know what the status of
the establishment is
Thank you,
Paul Davis.
Dear Paul,
You have a good memory. You were right on
all counts. The cabin is still in existence,
however, it has been moved to the center of
Smyrna and is now the city welcome center.
The property was auctioned off around
1992. The cabin was stored on city property
until about
1998 and it was opened in April, 1999.
We are celebrating our 10th year there. Next
door is a replica of the 1905 Railroad
Depot which serves as the Smyrna Museum.
Stop by whenever you're in the area
Sincerely,
Harold Smith, Museum Director.
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Lives & Times Vol. 24 No. 2 March-April 2009
acorns, okra, grape vines, Magnolia pods, and
any other material that could be fashioned into
people, animals or objects.
He retired from the Atlanta Newspapers
after a long career several years ago.
Survivors are: A son, Dr. Robert and
daughter-in-law Elaine Darby of Tallapossa,
Daughters and sons in law Carole and Larry
Milner of Smyrna, and Judge Cindy Morris &
husband Chris Patterson of Dalton. Sisters
Betty Lee, Jeri Field, Barbara Crawford of
Mableton. And a number of sisters in law.
Funeral Services were conducted at the
Smyrna First Baptist Church with Pastor Steve
Kimmel. Carmichael Funeral Home was in
charge of arrangements and burial was in Crest
Lawn.
In Memoriam
Max C. Morris
Aug. 4, 1922 - April 3, 2009
In Memoriam
Max and Doris Morris were charter members of
the Smyrna Historical Society, having joined in
January 1986, and were great supporters of the
Museum also. Doris died August 4, 2008 after a
long illness.
Max served in the U. S. Navy during
World War 2 and was involved in a variety of
activities. He was a long time member of the
Smyrna First Baptist Church where he taught a
Sunday School Class for some 35 years. He
served as President and Vice President of the
Smyrna Girl's Softball Association in the
1970's.
He also was an instructor in the Smyrna
Enrichment of Life program for several years in
the 1990's. He taught a class in sculpturing
with natural materials such as pine cones,
James Pressley
March 27, 1918 - February 22, 2009
James and Evelyn joined the Smyrna
Historical Society in October, 2004. They had
provided the program for the society in August,
2003 and had related his "Memories" of
Smyrna James also participated in the society's
World War 2 Oral History program by allowing
Pat Burns to video tape an interview with him
about his military experiences during that
conflict. Many of his war-time photos are in
the archives at the museum, along with the
video tape. He retired from the military after
having served as a colonel for 25 years.
Continued next page)
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Lives & Times Vol. 24 No. 2 March-April 2009
VISITING THE PAST
(Continued) On returning to civilian life after
his retirement he started a teaching and
coaching career in the Marietta City School
System. He followed that retirement in a variety
of business ventures including an insurance
agency and Multi-Media Services, Inc.
He was a founding member of the
Smyrna Kiwanis Club in 1952 and stayed active
in that group. He was a long-time member of
the Smyrna First United Methodist Church and
involved with the youth program there.
James was almost a "native" of Smyrna,
having moved here from Jasper, Georgia with
his parents when he was 2 years old.
His
father served on the Smyrna City Council in
1946-47 and his wife's father, Pat Edwards, was
Smyrna Mayor 1927-30.
James is survived by his wife Evelyn
Edwards Pressley, a sister, Elizabeth Lutz or
Albany; a brother Thurston Pressley of Royal
Oak, Michigan.; a daughgter Mary Clayton and
her husband Tommy of Durham, NC; a son Jim
and his wife Adrian of Marietta. And several
grandchildren and others.
Funeral service was held at the First
Methodist Church with Revs. Stuart Green, Al
Turnell, Barbara Hatchell and Julian Brackman
officiating. Carmichael Funeral Home was in
charge of the arrangements. Burial was in Crest
Lawn in Atlanta.
Researched By
Norma McHann
From The Marietta Daily Journal, Smyrna
Herald, Smyrna Neighbor, Cobb County Times,
Cobb Chronicle, Vinings Gazette and other
publications available in the Smyrna Museum.
130 Years Ago
Smyrna: March 6, 1879: Smyrna must be a
wealthy town, judging from the number of
young men that stand around with their hand in
their pockets day after day.
Many of our citizens are embarking in grape
culture. Hundreds of Scuppernong vines are
now being planted out.
We are pleased to note that among the
graduates at the Atlanta Medical College this
week is our young friend, Robt. R. Harden son
of our townsman Dr. W. P. Harden. Success to
him.
Smyrna: March 20, 1879: Planting has been
suspended till spring returns again.
Mr. W. H. Hightower moved last week from
Smyrna to Hogansville, whither he has gone to
engage in mercantile business.
Sympathy to
Smyrna: April 3, 1879: B. A. Bell, Esq., is
about completing a two room residence east of
the depot.
To the family of Betty M. Culpepper who died
on March 12, 2009. She was formerly a
volunteer at the Smyrna Museum until illness
prevented her from continuing with it. Her
husband Sam continues to work the afternoon
shift on the third Wednesday each month.
Betty was born May 30, 1929 and
moved to Smyrna in the 1970's.
Funeral services were held at the Smyrna First
Baptist Church where Betty and Sam had been
active members for many years. Revs. Chuck
Allen and Cliff Duvall officiated.
Carmichael Funeral Home was in
charge of the arrangements and the concluding
service was at t he Oak Ridge Cemetery in
Tifton, Georgia.
Dr. C. L. Harden is erecting an office on the
vacant lot south of Pace & Petty.
The boys and girls of our town, at their candy
pullings, are wrestling with this question: Why
does the pulling of Molasses candy whiten it?
Smyrna: April 24, 1879: The Odd Fellows of
Smyrna will observe Saturday the 26th, the
anniversary of the order. Speeches in the
afternoon by Hon. J. D. Waddell, followed by a
social hop.
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Lives & Times Vol. 24 No. 2 March-April 2009
(continued) April 23, 1879 Dogs killed ten sheep of
Mr. Joseph Eubanks on Monday night. Mr.
Wm. Copeland lost six or eight a few nights
previous.
120 Years Ago
Nickajack: April 11, 1889: F. M. Reed is
giving his knowledge of telegraphy the
finishing touch, with M. A. Ruff, at Smyrna.
The Ruff mill and home property was bought
by the heirs at the Adair sale on Tuesday 2nd
inst.
Smyrna: March 21, 1889: Prof. Power has
purchased the J. L. Reed lot and also the
Chambers lot, both of which are near the depot,
making a valuable piece of property.
Nickajack: April 25, 1889: Our friends have
already begun to picnic and enjoy the murmur
of rippling and the fragrance of the wild
honeysuckle about Concord Mill.
Madam Rumor has a good deal to say about his
plans in future. It is safe to say Smyrna will
build up from the fact that the elegant and
commodious hall and school house which is
being built by the Odd Fellows and Masonic
fraternities will soon be completed. It is to be
furnished with patent improved desks. First
class teachers will be employed. Have all
children ready with slate and pencil in hand so
that all can enter as soon as school is opened.
Miss Cordelia, the charming daughter of Maj.
Z.A. Rice, and the accomplished Miss Tonnie
Smithson, of Atlanta, were the recent guests of
Mrs. Brandt, of Concord.
Mrs. Dr. Fitche’s lecture on the night of the 19th
inst., on hygiene and “nervous physiology” (our
name for it) was able and instructive.
What has become of the roller chair man? We
haven’t seen him in some time.
110 Years Ago
Smyrna: March 2, 1899: Misses Claude and
Annie Whitfield, two of Smyrna’s lovely young
ladies, are visiting relatives in Ingleside, Ga.
Smyrna: March 28, 1889: Will Brewer
brought the wild turkey but didn’t catch the
possum.
Last Monday morning Mrs. John Mathews
passed from this world to the better land above.
She was the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Joe Rutledge and the wife of Mr. John
Mathews. Her remains were laid to rest in the
family burying ground at Duluth, Ga.
Our new school house and hall has been
completed.
An elegant supper and
entertainment will be given at the hall Friday
night March 29, for the purpose of raising funds
to pay for school furniture. We promise you a
good time. Mr. Editor you have a special
invitation to come and be with us on that
occasion.
The annual report of the town clerk for the year
1898 shows a balance on hand of five dollars
and six cents. Our total city expenses for the
year was something over $200.00. That is
pretty good, Pink. Hope you will do even better
this year.
Mrs. T. L. Hamby entertained her many friends
in and about Smyrna, last Thursday evening,
with a delightful “Progressive Parcheesi” party.
Prof. T. D. Power has studied law during the
past four months and was admitted to the
Marietta bar last Friday. He is sober and
industrious and a close student. May success
crown his efforts.
The Epicureans of Smyrna satiated their well
whetted appetites Monday last by partaking of
the well prepared turkey dinner given by Miss
Jane Brewer.
Prof. Joseph G. camp, lectured at the Baptist
Church last Saturday night under the auspices
of the cemetery fence fund. The subject,
30
Lives & Times Vol. 24 No. 2 March-April 2009
farmer sitting flat on the newly plowed ground
nursing a baby, while a little distance away his
better half was seated on a cut-a-way harrow
driving a team of horses with the nerve of a
man. Turn about is fair play, we suppose, but
sometimes its lots easier to work a cut-a-way
harrow than tend a crying baby.
“Daughters of Eve,”
was handled in a masterly manner and the
audience present was all attention. A nice little
sum was added to our fund.
(Continued March 2, 1899)
Jim Moore is dead---died last Thursday night of
pneumonia. Jim was a well known shaggy cur
dog, the pet of our late friend Capt. J. C. Moore.
He was useful, but not ornamental, was
appreciated for his cunning ways and for the
sake of “Auld Lange Syne.” “ Now he’s gone
where the good doggies go.”
Nickajack: March 23, 1899: The last foot log
between Concord and Nickajack was carried off
by the big rain of last Tuesday---one we
thought was there to stay---and now “footpads” have to “flank” through briars, sedge and
cane to the railroad trustle and take chances of
meeting a train thereon, and furnishing a
subject for another inquest; as to the ford, 4 feet
of quicksand is hint sufficient (to everything on
wheels) to keep out.
Smyrna’s charter oak has been cut down, it
stood just in front of the old blacksmith shop
and under its spreading branches many a fine
horse and fractious mule has had his hoofs
pared, shoes made, adjusted and nailed on,
while the hot sun of summer drew beads of
perspiration from the smithy and the pine rosin
from the old planks of the shop. But it’s gone,
and only the stump remains. Sometime in the
future we may enjoy speeches of candidates off
the stump of this famous tree.
Mr. Tedder, of Atlanta, moved to Concord
recently, to take charge of the finishing
department of the factory.
A portion of the machinery of Concord factory
was started last week, and all departments are
now in operation.
Nickajack: March 9, 1899: The ford on
Nickajack creek has been abandoned as
quicksand keeps it dangerous in fact
impassable. A bridge is badly needed.
Smyrna: March 23, 1899:
Our street
commissioners
are
getting
the
city
thoroughfares in pretty good shape, putting in a
bridge here and there, taking down trees and
widening streets to a 40ft standard. We’ll have
a town yet, see if we don’t.
G.L. Daniell recently treated himself to a new
improved cutaway harrow and upon testing its
merits has concluded that it has added a man
and horse to his farming force.
A certain young lady of this place received the
picture of her best fellow not long ago; placed it
on the mantel in a conspicuous position, and
somehow during the night the photo fell into
the coal hod beside the grate. Next morning
when she threw on the coal, the picture went
along with it. She snatched the picture from the
flames but was too late to save it and burned
her pretty hands.
Smyrna: March 9, 1899: Our marshal had a
gang of men improving Atlanta Avenue all last
week.
We have a young lady in our midst who can
beat most anyone nailing lathe pickets. She
performed the feat of nailing on pailings on one
section of a garden fence in a single afternoon.
Oakdale: March 30, 1899: Miss Maude
Powell gave a card party last Saturday night in
honor of Miss Terrie Sewell. The prizes were
awarded to Ernest Turner and Ridley Powell.
Mr. Jim McWilliams is now dealing in soup
Smyrna: March 16, 1899: City council had an
enthusiastic meeting last Friday night.
Dr. Pace tells me that while traveling through
the country one day last week, he saw a young
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Lives & Times Vol. 24 No. 2 March-April 2009
them on the 22nd inst. They have not seen him
since “way befo’ de (Spanish) wah.”
bones, and any one
needing any of the same will be given the best
of attention by calling on him.
(Continued) March 30, 1989
Smyrna: April 27, 1899: Uncle Fayette
Jeffries was in our town for a few days last
week. Smyrna folk have ever a kind word and
friendly greeting for Uncle Fayette and his
faithful pony, “Sanco.”
Smyrna: April 6, 1899: The marble playing
season is opening up with renewed energy, and
indications point to more and better games than
heretofore witnessed in our burg. Too wet to
plow so between showers the boys endeavor to
plunk the center man and get them a hustler.
Our people are watching, waiting, wasting and
listening for the approach of the electric car line
from the river to Marietta, with earnestness
unmistakable, and I trust their longings will be
ended in the near future by the completion of
the much talked of electric line.
Last Wednesday night week, the immortal spirit
of Mrs. Rebecca A. Moore, relict of late Capt.
J. C. Moore, winged its flight unto the blissful
regions above. She was 68 years old; a devoted
Mother and kind friend to all. She was a strict
member of the Presbyterian church, being one
of the original organizers of that church at this
place. She was laid to rest beside her husband,
in the quiet little churchyard at this place.
Messrs. B. B. Hamby and John Fleming have
gone into the soda fountain business making all
sorts of shakes for their friends charging a
nickel a shake.
100 Years Ago
We have a new postmaster in Smyrna, just
arrived last Thursday morning, and Mr. Sam
Ireland is wearing the proudest smile over this
advent.
Smyrna: March 4, 1909: Mr. John T. Pace,
who went to Hot Springs, Ark., several weeks
ago, seeking relief from rheumatic pains,
returned home last Saturday but little benefited
by his trip, which is much regretted by his
many friends here.
Smyrna: April 13, 1899: John Patterson, of
Atlanta, has cast his lot with Smyrna,
occupying the Dunn residence.
A delightful party was given last Friday night
by Misses Leila and Ida Gilbert in honor of
Miss Marguerita McMillan of Acworth. About
forty young people were present. Miss Mary
Moore, Miss Ernestine Randall, Messre. Lacy
McGriff, Mr. Sumlin and Joseph Crews of
Atlanta being especially invited to meet the
charming visitors. The green and white color
scheme was carried out. A contest of States
held, Miss Mary Moore and Mr. Ralph Daniel
receiving prizes for correct answers.
Dr. C. A. Camp has located in Smyrna, taking
up his residence in the Leake house opposite
the depot.
Joe Cheney suffered with the blues all day
Sunday, owing to the absence of a certain
young lady, who is visiting friends in Atlanta
just now.
H. L. Blair was ordained a deacon in the
Presbyterian church here Sunday. Rev. Mr.
Anderson conducted the ordination service.
Smyrna: April 8, 1909: Mr. J. Lindsey
Johnson, the brilliant editor of the Rome
Tribune-Herald has bought the Concord
Woolen Mills and now has them in operation
turning out some excellent cheviot goods of
several patterns, that are highly creditable for
their strength and beauty. He has his son, Mr.
J. Gill Johnson, a graduate of the Technological
Nickajack: April 20, 1899: The dogwoods
have displayed a radiant flag of “truce,” but old
winter is slow to take the hint.
Rex E. Ruff dispatched from the “wiregrass” to
the “ old folks at home” that he would be with
32
Lives & Times Vol. 24 No. 2 March-April 2009
Continued April 8, 1909) School,
superintendent and general manager.
as
are William Jones, Glen Jones, Raymond
Wright, Thurman Ergle and Johnny Russell.
Substitutes in the game were Al Corley, Hansel
Jordan and James Groover.
Mr. T. L. Hamby’s new residence is rapidly
nearing completion and when furnished will be
one of the prettiest homes in our town.
Smyrna: March 8, 1939: The Blanch Rice
Circle will meet at the home of Mrs. J. Gid
Morris, Jr., Monday, March 13 at 2 o’clock.
The whistle of the new Bentwood factory
sounded its first toot last Tuesday, calling its
workmen to labor. Wish we had several more
enterprises located here.
Mrs. W. B. Carson will entertain at a luncheon
Thursday at her home on Love Street. Her guest
will be Mr. and Mrs. Tom Alexander, Mrs. J. O.
Haynes, Mrs. O.L. Timothy and Miss Julia
Timothy, of Atlanta.
Dr. W. T. Pace has moved into his handsome
new store, and while not exactly in business
shape or thoroughly arranged, he is ready to do
business at the same old stand.
The Jonquil Garden Club was entertained with
a luncheon by Group No. 2 at the home of Mrs.
H. W. Medlin Tuesday. Hostesses in this group
included Mesdames John Tatum, Lewis
Anderson, H. W. Medlin, Robert Motter, and J.
Gid Morris.
Smyrna: April 15, 1909: Mrs. S. B. Love will
entertain the Smyrna Social Club next
Wednesday afternoon.
How does Smyrna “Home Bakery” sound to
you? it’s a fact, however, we are going to have
a bakery right in town at a very early date.
70 Years Ago
Smyrna: March 10, 1939: Robert M. Stewart,
Jr., 47, president of Battery B Club of the 116th
field artillery and for many years an active
worker in local and state affairs of the
American Legion, died yesterday morning .
Burial with full military honors will be at the
National cemetery.
Smyrna: March 3, 1939: Miss Carol Bette
who is on the staff at Brawner’s Sanatorium, is
spending a few days at her home in Athens.
Smyrna: March 6, 1939: Those attending the
Seventh District Spring conference of P -TA in
Cartersville Friday were Mesdames Burns
Gibbs, local president, Otho Norton, R. E.
Griggers, A. F. Brawner, H. O. Swain and
Homer Bell.
Mrs. Roy Fowler was hostess to her Rook club
at the Guernsey Jug Thursday to a luncheon.
High score was won by Mrs. Robert Baugh and
Mrs. Hal Besheers cut consolation.
Mrs. J.L. Moon honored her little son Richard
with an Easter egg hunt Friday afternoon at the
home of his grand parents Mr. and Mrs. J. B.
Crowe on Love Street. The occasion was to
celebrate his 5th birthday. Those attending were
Dorothy Pettit, Sonny and Quentin Hamby,
Buddy Harbuck, Charles Turner, Bobby Gibbs,
Eleanor and Ryland Swain, Jane Copelan,
Nancy Candler, Bobby Carson, Pat Edwards,
Dean Combee, George Huff and Peggy Ann
Eaton.
Oakdale: March 7, 1939: From the shoulders
of admiring fans, the champion basketball team
of Fitzhugh Lee grinned broadly over a sea of
excited spectators. The boys had just defeated
the Austell boys team in the final game of the
Cobb County tournament. The team members
The Alathea class held its business and social
meeting last Thursday afternoon with thirty
seven members present. Prizes were awarded
Mesdames J. W. Crowe, E. B. Autry, Roy
Wood and Homer Bell for contests. The
program was arranged by Mrs. Mayes Hamby
33
Lives & Times Vol. 24 No. 2 March-April 2009
(Continued March 10, 1939) and Mrs. Henry
Swain.
for two years.
March 10, 1949: The daughters of Mrs. J. F.
Brown of Matthews Street, surprised her with a
dinner party on March 3, her 67th birthday.
Smyrna: March 13, 1939: The Amanda Legg
Circle of the Baptist W.M.U. met on Monday,
March 6; at the home of Mrs. W. A. Quarles
with Mrs. Thomas Kent serving as co-hostess.
There were 16 members present, and 4 new
members, Mrs. N. T. Durham, Mrs. E. B.
Spratlin, Mrs. Roy Haralson, and Mrs. Reed
McCollum.
Mrs. Kenneth Tapp entertained for her son,
Butch on his sixth birthday at her home on
Spring Street, recently.
April 7, 1949: A gala day is planned for
Smyrna, Saturday, by the American Legion
with members from every post in the Seventh
District invited to join, Tom Young, activities
chairman announced today. There will be a
speech by Georgia Attorney General, Eugene
Cook, baseball game between Smyrna Junior
Legion team and Austell and a dance for teenagers. Bar-B-Cue will be served from 6 to
midnight.
Mrs. Earl Blackwell was very pleasantly
surprised Friday morning when her class, the 8th
grade, began showering gifts on her at first
period to celebrate Mrs. Blackwell’s birthday
anniversary.
Smyrna: April 14, 1939: James Huddleston
was host Saturday night to an old fashioned
“pound party” at his home on Gilbert Street.
Among the guests which numbered nearly fifty
were a group from Robert L. Osborn. The
Smyrna String Band furnished the music.
April 14, 1949: Funeral services for Pvt.
Marion W. Taylor, 30, of Smyrna, killed
January 6, 1945 in the Battle of the Bulge in
Belgium , will be held Saturday at 4 p.m. from
the graveside in Smyrna New cemetery.
Surviving are his mother, Mrs. H. O. Taylor;
son and daughter, Billy and Mary Jo Taylor of
Ordway, Colo; brothers, Charles, Gordon,
Robert, John and sisters, Mrs. J. M. Pavolsky
and Mrs. R.M. Reid.
Miss June Stitt will entertain informally at her
home on North Atlanta Road Friday evening.
Invited to enjoy the hospitality of this attractive
young lady are: Marjorie Allen, Mary Edwards,
Elizabeth Carroll, Evelyn Petty, Nell Bowman,
Inez Hill, Ruth Hall, Katherine Manders,
Elizabeth Westbrooks, Al Cano, Ben Brinkley,
Morris Garner, Harold Flynn, James
Huddleston, Warren Cagel, Melvin Holliman,
Forrest Terry, Harold Davis, Albert Brawner,
Jack Taylor, Charlie Poss, Paul Clark, Marion
Beavers, Louis Page, “Fudgie” Brown and
Clifford Harris.
50 Years Ago
March 2, 1959: Mrs. James P. Duckett was
honored on her birthday at a surprise dinner
party at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Max Parnell
on Pretty Branch, with Mrs. James P. Duckett,
Jr. serving as co-hostess.
60 Years Ago
Mrs. Elder Bramblett entertained members of
her bridge club at luncheon and bridge Friday
afternoon. Members present were Mesdames
Martin Ruff, R. F. Holohan, Blanche Brawner,
Dyre Eubanks, Eugene Duncan, Eugene Rice
and Chess Parnell. Guests present were Mrs. R.
T. Garrison, Mrs. J.M. Collins, Mrs. Raymond
Reed, Mrs. Max Parnell and Mrs. Ray Knipple.
March 6, 1949: Dr. Joe Collins will open a
dental office in Smyrna on Friday, March 11, in
the office formerly occupied by Dr. L. M.
White. Dr. Collins is the son of Dr. M. L.
Collins and is well known here. He is a
graduate of Smyrna High School, Emory Dental
College, and he served as a dentist in the Navy
34
Lives & Times Vol. 24 No. 2 March-April 2009
Mrs. Jeffie Lona Traylor who lives with her
daughter, Mrs. William F. Pilcher, Oakdale
Road, celebrated her 88th birthday Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur
Bacon entertained at a dinner party at their
home on Bank Street Friday night. Guests for
the occasion were Mr. and Mrs. James Spradley
and Mr. and Mrs. T. S. Moseley.
Continued March 2, 1959)
Mrs. J. B. Sentell of Pat Mell Road was
honored with a surprise birthday dinner at a
local restaurant by her husband Benny. Guests
were Mr. and Mrs. Billy Aikins, Mr. and Mrs.
Weyman Hinton, Mr. and Mrs. Lamar Aikins,
Mr. and Mrs. Grady Moore, and Mr. and Mrs.
Jimmy Ansley.
March 8, 1959: Campbell High School
students were evacuated for about an hour
while law officers hunted for a bomb after
receiving an anonymous phone call threatening
that bombs had been planted.
40 Years Ago
Two youths, Edmond L. Mingo, 20, son of Mrs.
Loula Mingo and Leon B. Huddleston, 21, son
of Mrs. Jessie Huddleston, have enlisted in the
U. S. Air Force. Both young men are graduates
of Campbell High school.
March 5, 1969: Mayor George Kreeger has
officially proclaimed the week of April 7-12 as
Jonquil Festival 1969 in Smyrna. William
“Wink” Winkenhofer has agreed to stay on as
chairman of the festival.
April 2, 1959: Mrs. Roy Wood attended a
luncheon and stork shower honoring Mrs. Doris
Rice at Atlanta Athletic Club given by P.B.X.
Club.
Buildings permits issued during February at
City Hall totaled more than $300,000. William
J. MacKenna of National Home Construction is
building homes on Ann Road and Jay Lane that
will range in cost from $10,299 to $13,393.
Greenridge Garden Club will sponsor a
“Benefit Card Party” Saturday, April 4, 8 P.M.
at Smyrna Recreation Center, on Church St.
Proceeds from donations will go for Garden
Club projects throughout the coming year.
Murphy Batchelor, president of the Smyrna
Rotary Club installed Harold Smith, manager of
Electrovision in Smyrna, into the club at its last
meeting.
April 8, 1959: Mrs. Billy E. Aikens and
children of Stephens St. spent the past week
with her mother Mrs. Milton Barnett in Macon.
Miss Lynn Davis is the new 1969 Miss
Panthera at Campbell High school. She won
out over 55 other entrants.
Mrs. W. G. Mellon entertained members of her
bridge club at desert and bridge at her home on
Pretty Branch Drive. Members present were:
Mesdames F. C. Dabney, Robert Brewer, J. M.
Collins, Hugh Colquitt, Raymond Reed, Arthur
Bacon, Robert Bacon, Jr. James Spradley,
James Pressley, Henry Koningsmark, Jr. Mrs. J.
D. Daniel and Mrs. Margaret Willis.
In 1908, 19 young ladies in Smyrna met at the
home of the sisters Gilbert---according to a
newspaper report of that day---to organize the
Smyrna Social Club. Today, 61 years later, the
club still functions with at least two of the
charter members still attending meetings.
Present for the first meeting November 8, 1908
were Miss Leila Gilbert, Miss Nettie Fuller,
Mrs. L. D. Yancey, Miss Hallie Moore, Miss
Ada Gann, Miss Mabel Timothy, Mrs. Nina
Ruff, Misses Ida and Alma Gilbert, Leatha and
Emma Durham, Kathleen Fowler, Donna Lee
April 9, 1959: Carol Sue Day, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. W. L. Day, member of Rainbow
Assembly 45 of Smyrna will be crowned Queen
of the Ball Friday evening at the Shrine Temple
in Atlanta. To earn the title, Carol sue sold the
largest number of tickets to the ball, competing
with approximately 1,000 girls.
35
Lives & Times Vol. 24 No. 2 March-April 2009
(Continued March 5, 1969) Pace, Mary
Fleming, Grace Timothy, Myrtle Morris, Olive
Daniell, Mrs. G. Cleveland Green, Mrs. Lucy
Stovall. Mrs. Alma Konigsmark and Miss Cora
Reed were later listed as charter members. The
club which accepts a maximum of 24 members
issues invitations to prospective members.
Ronald Herbert (Ronnie) Howard, 20, will be
Thursday at 2 p.m. at Green Acres Baptist
Church. Survivors are wife, Cheryl Skelton
Howard, parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. Herbert
Howard and sisters, Mrs. John (Janice)
Mansfield and Miss Marcia Howard. Burial
will be in Georgia Memorial Park cemetery
with full military honors.
Present members of the club are Blanche
Brawner, Ruby Carmichael, Mary B. Carson,
Myrtle Cofer, Lila Daniell, Irene Dempsey,
Pauline Dunn, Allene Durham, Lena May
Green, Lucy Henry, Leo Delle Jolley, May
Mable, Jessie Roberts, Neva Cano, Sue Adair,
Nina Sue Osburn, Mazie Nelson, Reece
Landers, Cora, Mary and Dean Lyle, Pauline
Crawford, Martha Quarles and Mamie Brown.
Hill Bros. Self Service Shoe Stores, Inc. has
opened a new store in Smyrna at 2505 South
Cobb Drive. They will feature a wide selection
of men’s women’s and children’s shoes at
highly economical prices. Hill Brothers made
famous the featured price of two pairs for
$5.00.
After weeks of tallying up points the Smyrna
Jaycettes revealed the 1968-69 top club
members at its annual awards banquet Friday
night, March 21, at Robinson’s Tropical
Gardens on Paces Ferry Road.
The
Outstanding local Jaycette for 1968-69 is Mrs.
Bill (Dot) Lawson. Mrs. Margo Price and Mrs.
Jerry (Phyllis) Roan were named Outstanding
Officers. The Jaycettes had their own “LaughIn” at Robinson’s with Jaycee’s Harold Smith
and Bill Atkins serving as Rowan and Martin.
Johnny Hayworth appeared as Tiny Tim and
Pete Wood tied up the dance floor with his
tricycle. Chorus line members were Jaycettes
Karen Albritton, Margo Price, Carole
Hayworth, Nancy Puffe, Anita Grice and Lillie
Wood.
Surprise awards went to charter
members Betty Smith and Anita Grice for their
ten years service.
March 12, 1969: Rev. Nelson Price, pastor of
Marietta’s Roswell Street Baptist Church, has
been named grand marshall for the 1969
Jonquil Festival Grande Parade to be held
Saturday, April 12.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Johnson, Concord Road,
Smyrna, announce the birth of a son on
February 28. The mother is the former Joyce
Wyatt of Canton.
Mr. and Mrs. John Sargent, owners of the Dairy
Queen-Brazier on South Cobb Dr., Smyrna,
received the “Golden Cone Award” for
outstanding performance as Dairy Queen Store
operators.
March 19, 1969: Alan Mills of Wills High
school placed first in the annual Oratorical
contest sponsored by the Smyrna Optimist
Club. He was selected from a field of eight
contestants.
Kay Gillespie and James M. Ingle take their
wedding vows Saturday, March 29th at Smyrna
First United Methodist Church, she is the
daughter of Mrs. and Mrs. Gerald Gillespie.
Mr. and Mrs. Marston H. Tuck of Spring Creek
Place, Smyrna announce the birth of son
Renwick Dean February 16. The mother is the
former Celia Hays of Atlanta.
April 2, 1969: Smyrna Lions Club and the
Wills-Nash Stadium Boosters Club are planning
the always popular womanless wedding to be
held April 8 at Wills High School. Being
joined in marriage are pharmacist J. B. Butler
and his blushing bride, Wills football coach Jim
March 26, 1969:
Funeral services for
Smyrna’s second Vietnam fatality this year Pfc.
36
Lives & Times Vol. 24 No. 2 March-April 2009
Continued April 2, 1969) Black. Soloist will
be Dr. Robert Mainor. Other members of the
cast are: Gene Jernigan, Neil Cook, Joe
Reynolds, Robert Gravely, Sam Cochran, Don
Lillie, Jerry O’Brian, Harold Zinsenheim, Bob
Freidman, Jim Graves, Dan Fincher, Bill Hood,
Willie Blatt, Charles Shumate, Jim Rice, Joe
and Brown Logan, Paul Clayton, Pete
Waddleton, Bill Blount, Ellis Reynolds, Ron
Light, Bill Sanders, B. C. Castellaw and Ed
Edwards.
husband G. C. Green, daughters Mrs. Virgil
Farrar, Mrs. Claude Hamrick, Jr. and Mrs.
William F. Carter. Services are Monday, at
Smyrna First Baptist Church with Rev. York
Chambless and Rev. George Brown officiating.
Burial will be in New Smyrna cemetery.
April 23, 1969: Mr. and Mrs. Robert M.
Spratlin of Smyrna announce the engagement
of their daughter, Virginia Lynn, to Robert
Leon Ash, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert L.
Ash, Sr., of Smyrna. The wedding will be June
28 at Fellowship Baptist Church in Smyrna.
April 9, 1969: Bids for various work on the
proposed new Smyrna Police station are being
taken, according to City Clerk Les Charles with
a mid August completion date.
April 30, 1969: Mr. and Mrs. James P. Duckett
were honored March 30th by their children at
Open House in celebration Lives & Times Vol. 24
No. 2
March-April 2009of their Golden
Anniversary at the home of their daughter and
son in law, Mr. and Mrs. Max Parnell of
Smyrna. Their other children are Mrs. Jim
Crane, Noah Duckett and James Duckett.
April 16, 1969: Mrs. Elena May Gann Green,
82, 829 Love St., Smyrna, who was chairman
of the Smyrna Library Board died Saturday.
The Smyrnan is responsible for tagging Smyrna
the Jonquil City and has spent adult life in
community service and particularly in the
progress of Smyrna. Survivors include her
Editor's Note: The following article was written by Smyrna native John Nash. The family lived on
Atlanta Street, next door to the Gautchey/Cano House that is currently located on the north side of the
CVS Drug Store at the intersection of Concord and Atlanta Road. This copyrighted article is used with
his permission and we appreciate it very much. Many of you are aware that John is the brother of
Becky Nash Paden who has co-authored several books in the Arcadia Publishing Company Series,
"Images of America", including Marietta, Roswell and Cobb County. We appreciate John allowing us
to publish his article first in this issue of Lives and Times.
37
Lives & Times Vol. 24 No. 2 March-April 2009
Two Days at Smyrna: Sherman and
Johnston Above the River Crossing
By James W. Nash*
After bitter fighting at New Hope Church and Pickett’s Mill to the west, in Paulding County, William T.
Sherman shifted back towards Marietta in May of 1864. There he faced a line of small mountains, indeed the
very foothills of the Appalachians, heavily fortified. What happened then at Kennesaw Mountain and the
neighboring heights would continue the pattern of confrontation and maneuver which had brought the Union
forces within almost 20 miles of Atlanta. This same operational process of fixing the enemy’s center while at the
same time maneuvering on the flanks would determine the fate of the Kennesaw Mountain line. It would also
determine the fate of two additional lines of Confederate fortifications in Cobb County, the one at Smyrna and
the one at the Chattahoochee River. In fact, you could argue that the events at Smyrna on July 4 and 5, 1864,
epitomized the entire campaign.
The big hills north of Marietta, east to west, were Brush Mountain, Pine Mountain, Kennesaw itself,
including Little Kennesaw, and Lost Mountain. On June 16, Johnston repositioned himself, focusing on
Kennesaw Mountain. On June 26 and 27, Sherman attacked Kennesaw, but the South held the heights and
inflicted serious losses on the Union. Sherman, having again helped prove that frontal assaults against wellarmed and entrenched veteran troops were not likely to succeed, decided to again resort to the classic
maneuvering previously used by Grant, and now perfected in North Georgia Sherman.
On 1 July Sherman ordered McPherson to wheel around towards the Sandtown Road (more than one
road in the county was called “Sandtown Road”) in the southwestern part of the county in an attempt to displace
Johnston from his built-up positions. Early on the morning of July 3, 1864, soldiers of the IV Union Corps
reported that the enemy was gone from the entrenchments on Kennesaw and in the surrounding area. Sherman
himself looked up at the mountain early that morning with a spyglass and saw his own pickets running along the
crest of the hill, waving their flags. When O. O. Howard, the young, one-armed general who commanded the
Federal IV Corps (and who knew Hood, McPherson, and Schofield at West Point) reported to Sherman that the
Confederates were gone, Sherman ordered what he hoped would be a decisive breakthrough and pursuit all the
way to the Chattahoochee River. General George Thomas, commander of the Army of the Cumberland, was
ordered to press with great dispatch along the railroad tracks and the road south of Marietta. One reason for all
this military haste was that Sherman was unaware of the Smyrna and River fortifications, and was hoping
Johnston had collapsed. This void in Sherman’s knowledge is an interesting comment on the state of the art of
military intelligence at the time.
By mid-morning on 3 July, Thomas’s three corps, the Union IV, XIV, and XX, commanded by Generals
Howard, John M. Palmer, and the well-known “Fighting Joe” Hooker, respectively, marched directly through
newly fallen Marietta and to the grounds of the Georgia Military Institute on the road to Powder Springs. There
these units were staged and positioned for the next move. Howard was ordered to set out immediately towards
Smyrna, or, as the IV Corps journal for the day put it, “down to Neal Dow Station.” (This was apparently a prewar railroad map name for either Ruff’s Station across from Belmont Hills Shopping Center immediately north
of the town, or else for the village of Smyrna itself.)
In any event, after straightening their various columns (Hooker seemed always to be getting in the way),
Thomas’s three corps moved out along the railroad as it paralleled the Atlanta pike i.e., the road to Smyrna and
eventually to the River. The column had to stop again after a wrong turn, apparently on either the Austell Road at
Fair Oaks or the Old Concord Road north of Smyrna. Apparently, the Federals were receiving fire from
38
skirmishers beginning just south of Marietta as they moved along the tracks. Later, the IV Corps journal for the
day reported that the weather was very hot and dusty, which meant that the roads had dried out after the recent
heavy rains. Several commanders reported cases of severe heat prostration that day.
Lives & Times Vol. 24 No. 2 March-April 2009
As it turned out, Johnston had already halted. He had occupied his prepared positions five miles to the
south. The town of Smyrna sat in a logical military box about six miles across at the top, bounded by roads and
creeks, and slanted somewhat to the southwest. No doubt Johnston had immediately seen these terrain features,
as well that a more or less continuous line of ridges ran above and through the town, then southwesterly to
where fortifications could be tied in with Nickajack Creek. He was, after all, the master of fortifying and had
recently ordered a mass levee of slaves and other available labor from around Atlanta to build the Smyrna line
now in play, as well as the other line just north of the Chattahoochee. (This event later inspired the scene in Gone
With the Wind in which Scarlet sees a mass of slaves, including Big Sam, walking down Peachtree Street on their
way to the River and beyond.)
The Smyrna position would have been much more defensible had Johnston possessed reserves to and
adequate cavalry to protect his flanks. However, as it was the evidence is that Johnston never intended a lengthy
fight there but occupied the Smyrna positions in order to give his wagon trains a chance to cross the river down
below.
The Smyrna line itself ran along the Roswell road just north and east of town (generally south of
Dobbins Air Base and west of Rottenwood Creek,) then eventually across the tracks and the road just south of
the train siding known as Ruff’s Station (that is, near Belmont Hills.) The line then apparently crossed the road
just north of town and faced west for a short distance along the higher ground parallel to the road (in the area of
Old Smyrna School on Church Street.) Finally, the line headed southwest out the Concord Road towards
Nickajack Creek and out King Spring Road towards Johnston’s headquarters
Northeast of town, Johnston’s corps commanders—Generals William W. Loring, Joseph Hardee, and
John B. Hood—positioned their divisions northeast to southwest on this line. On the northeast side of town on
Roswell Road, Loring and Hardee’s soldiers were partly covered by woods and looked out over a corn field to
where, about a mile away, Howard’s IV Corps was coming into place along the road to the Hollis farm, an area
now located on Dobbins Air Base. The Federals quickly entrenched, but were also told to prepare for the attack.
(It was no accident that all the lines around Smyrna were built along roads.)
The Southern commanders on the right were certainly a colorful group of commanders. Hood, already
famous, became even better known later. Hardee, a Georgian, was the author the manual of drill and tactics
taught at West Point, and had instructed several of the Northern generals he had been recently opposed on the
field. Loring, a very difficult subordinate who had recently succeeded the dead General Leonidas Polk, would
not be in the job long. Loring was a rare Floridian among Southern commanders, and his career as a soldier had
started in the Second Seminole War.
Loring held down the Confederate far right east of the tracks along the Roswell Road, most likely to
include the southeastern corner of the present government military reservation. Hardee was also mainly to the
east of the tracks, facing both north and to some extent west down into the village of Smyrna. It so happened that
one of the best units in the Confederate Army, the division of General Patrick Cleburne, occupied the middle of
the Roswell Road part of the line.
Hood was west and southwest of Smyrna manning the lines running out both Kings Springs and Concord
Road. Some of the most critical ground on that side of town, during the events to come on 4 July, was occupied
mainly by the division of General Carter L. Stevenson, of Hood’s command, a unit that included a North Georgia
Brigade, commanded by Brig. Gen. Alfred Cummings, and many of whose members hailed from this very area
of the country.
The American soldiers present at Smyrna on 3 and 4 July, 1864, had seen one another before. They had
been blood adversaries during the North Georgia campaign, and most recently in the bitter fighting at Kennesaw
39
Mountain. No doubt, at the moment, these soldiers were members of two of the four most experienced armies on
the face of the Earth (and probably the best.) On 28 and 29, in the Kennesaw area these same enemies spent
much of an afternoon and early evening during a burial truce smoking and talking after sharing the grisly task of
Lives & Times Vol. 24 No. 2 March-April 2009
pulling over 1600 dead, mostly Union, into mass graves using ropes and long hooks made of bayonets.
Howard’s Federal IV Corps consisted of three infantry divisions commanded by Generals David Stanley,
John Newton, and Thomas Wood, respectively. These units, which came up on 3 July opposite the Smyrna lines,
consisted mainly of Midwesterners from Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan.
Of the other Union divisions engaged around Smyrna, most were from Palmer’s XIV Army Corps, and
his division commanders were Richard Johnson, Jeff C. Davis (a somewhat notorious fighting general,) and
Absalom Baird. Units of Dodge’s XVI Corps (of McPherson’s command) were involved in the fight at or near
Ruff’s Mill, also on 4 July.
Loring’s Corps consisted of divisions commanded by Generals Samuel French, Winfield Scott Featherstone, and
E.C.Walthall. French’s division consisted of troops from Texas, Missouri, and Mississippi. Featherstone
commanded Mississippians and Alabamians. Walthall commanded both Alabamians and Texans.
Hardee’s division commanders included, respectively, Benjamin Cheatham (of Cheatham’s Hill), William
Walker, Patrick Cleburne, and William Bate. Cheatham’s well-bloodied division was mostly from Tennessee;
Walker’s mostly from Georgia; the other divisions were manned in similar fashion except that Cleburne
commanded mainly Arkansans—this was perhaps the best regarded division and the best regarded commander in
Johnston’s army. Bate commanded some Floridians as well as mid-southerners.
Hood’s corps included the same strong representation from the Mid-South, but also many Georgians. So
did Joseph Wheeler’s cavalry which was nominally part of Hood’s command. Stevenson’s division included a
North Georgia brigade commanded by Alfred Cumming, a unit that part of which had broken, if under great
pressure, at Champion’s Hill, Mississippi, the year before, but later redeemed themselves in other fights.
Stevenson’s troops would be those most involved at Ruff’s Mill. Sul Ross’s Texas Cavalry rode out on the
Confederate far left (to the southwest).
Howard’s IV Corps mounted an attack against the northeast side of the line, as the corps journal says,
“[we] were stopped by the enemy.” The main Confederate lines were on the edge of the woods with a partlyplowed open field in front—a position well chosen for fields of fire. Some Northern units reported they were
receiving heavy artillery fire. Whatever the case, after whatever assault occurred, the remainder of 3 July was
consumed with positioning and reconnaissance. So, from an operational standpoint, contact had been
reestablished and the lines once again stabilized.
That night Thomas instructed Howard that the next morning he was to “occupy the attention of the
enemy in our front” with artillery and skirmishing. Sherman’s goal was to fix the Confederates in place while
McPherson and John M. Schofield (XXIII Corps) attacked Johnston’s left flank, i.e., west of Smyrna along
Concord and Sandtown Roads. (The IV Corps journal explained that it was necessary to keep the enemy in his
defensive positions so as not to mass against Sherman’s maneuvering units.) So, the next morning, on 4 July,
divisions of John Newton and ThomasWood (of Howard’s corps) were ordered to push forward. Here we find
another interesting entry in the corps journal:
Major-General Sherman, who is at headquarters, says that this must be
done at once; that there is nothing in front of us but skirmishers; he has examined the ground and knows
there is nothing else there.*
Sherman sometimes postured for his subordinates as a way to push them harder.
This was especially likely as concerned Thomas, whom Sherman regarded as being
40
unnecessarily deliberate. In any event there was more than “nothing” in front, in fact
Cleburne, French, their hardened veterans, and as well as the completed fortifications
were waiting along Roswell Road.
Lives & Times Vol. 24 No. 2 March-April 2009
For what happened next, I will rely on the precise entry from 4th Corps for 11:15 a.m.:
11:15, Stanley’s, Newton’s, and Wood’s skirmishers advanced; skirmishing
very heavy. Stanley drove the enemy from the pits in his front and occupied them. Newton drove the
enemy from part of the rifle-pits and occupied the same, and wood drove them from like pits, but was not
able to occupy them. Stanley at once advanced his main line to these rifle-pits. . . . The enemy tried to
drive him back at one point but did not succeed.
Evidently these were the rifle pits occupied by French’s Texans and Mid-Southerners. The Southern
soldiers who bore most of the attack were largely from Cleburne’s crack division.
Thus had occurred the northeast part of the “Battle of Smyrna Camp Ground,” which the IV Corps
record tells us included some kind of Confederate counterattack. The rest of the day was taken up with
strengthening of positions and various maneuvers, to include a lot of firing of weapons in celebration of the
Fourth. Probably Sherman had already decided not to try to take the Roswell Road fortifications but was
planning his next slide.
In that connection, heavy skirmishing also took place to the west of Smyrna during much of the day, to
include a significant skirmish just above Nickajack Creek at Ruff’s Mill, at the southwestern end of Johnston’s
line on the Concord Road Hill.
*Much of the information in this article comes from well-known sources, and in most instances the concrete facts
have been verified by reference to The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union
and Confederate Armies (known as “the OR’s”) Washington, 1880-1901 (128 volumes,) especially v. 38. I have
not specified the exact rank of general grade officers: the brigade commanders are almost all brigadiers and
higher ups are major generals.
Later the IV Corps reported that it had suffered 130 killed and wounded that day, and had taken 90
prisoners, mostly Confederate skirmishers out in front of the lines. “Day very hot and bright,” the journal also
said. From this entry we can guess that, cumulatively, several hundred men may have lost their lives at Smyrna
that day.
Similar losses likely occurred the same day down at the other end of the line above the Concord Road
covered bridge crossed Nickajack Creek. There, another set of assaults tested the southwest spur of the Smyrna
line. These engagements, referred to as the Battle of Ruff’s Mill, in effect formed yet another part of the
operation designed to determine whether Johnston could be loosened easily from his new line. Ordered to
threaten Smyrna from the Sandtown Road, McPherson sent Dodge’s XVI Corps around to the far left of the
Confederate works. Morgan Smith’s division crossed the creek first—perhaps late on the third—and then were
relieved by the division of Thomas Sweeney’s division. Then, on the morning of 4 July, the brigade of James
Veatch moved up the incline of Concord Road to the northeast. By nine a.m. Veatch had sent Illinois and Ohio
regiments against elements of Carter Stevenson’s division, of Hood’s Corps, in their works located further up the
hill. By about 6 p.m. that night, two Ohio regiments had fought their way to Stevenson’s second set of abutments
another half mile up the hill. This was reportedly nasty fighting and an Ohio colonel and future governor of the
state named Alfred Noyes lost a leg while commanding his regiment.
A mild bit of historical controversy applies to the Ruff’s Mill fighting since some Ohioans claim historic
significance for the event, as follows:
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On July 4 the Fourth Division of the Sixteenth Corps approached Ruff’s Mills on Nickajack Creek. Here one
of the most successful charges of the war was made by Fuller’s Brigade, six miles below Marietta. The
Smyrna fortifications, as they were known, were the only ones carried by a charge during the Atlanta
campaign.*
Lives & Times Vol. 24 No. 2 March-April 2009
Of course, this is a bit of bragging. First, this one location was at the far end of the line and hardly
qualified as “the Smyrna fortifications.” Second, Union XVI Corps maps themselves show these were
preliminary positions or built-up exterior lines. Indeed, one very clear map from the OR’s shows obviously more
important fortifications beyond Fuller’s 6 p.m. position. Finally, we have no information that the positions were
“carried by a charge.” There are no accounts of bayonet charges or captured guns. Most likely, as in the case of
the action northeast of Smyrna itself that day, these were heavy probes, with Stevenson of Hood’s corps
apparently pulling back up the hill as pressure increased towards Smyrna and Johnston’s headquarters to the
east.**
The next morning, 5 July, the Confederates were gone again, It may even be that Stevenson’s 6 p.m.
retrograde at Ruff’s Mill was part of the movement, and it also may
______________________________________________________________________
*Ohio History, v. 65, p. 75, fn. 48 to “Civil War Letters of George M. Wise.”
**One of my ancestors, a great grandfather, Thornton T. Wright was present near Ruff’s Mill that day,
serving in Cumming’s Georgia Brigade of the 56th Georgia Infantry. Unfortunately I have no exact information
about the extent of involvement of his regiment. Furthermore, a great grandfather of mine, John A. Berry, served
in the same regiment and company, but had been captured shortly before at Kennesaw Mountain. Both were
from Roswell.
be that the brief Southern counterattack earlier that afternoon at Smyrna was itself designed to cover this
abandonment of the entire six mile line. We have reports that, on the afternoon of 4 July, all the roads towards
the river were choked with Southern wagons and soldiers, well before the shooting had quieted down.
Howard’s corps (Union IV) quickly passed through Smyrna, with Wood in front, Newton following, and
then Stanley. Palmer’s corps (XIV) was close behind, moving down the Atlanta road on Howard’s right. By ten
a.m. on 5 July, the head of the Yankee column reached Vinings. Johnston himself had already crossed the River
at Pace’s Ferry and Loring and Hardee were in place in the newly built trenches north of the river in the vicinity
of Oakdale Road and the southern branch of Nickajack Creek.
After Johnston’s withdrawal from Smyrna, Hooker’s corps moved via the Sandtown Road to the west,
also towards the Chattahoochee. Other units quickly followed Howard down the Atlanta road, with Sherman
urging them forward as vigorously as he could, still hoping for that breakthrough. We know from one of his
dispatches that by the afternoon of 5 July, he was south of Smyrna near the intersection of Atlanta Road and
West Paces Ferry, at what became the Spring Hill streetcar stop. He then moved on to Vinings, pausing at
Vinings Mountain to take a look at Atlanta in the distance. He also ordered Garrard’s cavalry from Smyrna—
where it had covered Howard’s left—to Roswell, where at Sherman’s express orders it undertook to intern and
ship north a group of innocent women factory workers. Later on the 5 July Schofield’s XXIII Corps was ordered
to return to Smyrna and camp while awaiting further orders—these troops would play a critical role in the
Union’s eventual crossing of the Chattahoochee.
The fighting in and around Smyrna was minor in the scheme of things but perhaps typical of the
campaign and somewhat typical of the War. The Confederate fortifications in Smyrna, like those at Kennesaw
Mountain, were no doubt impenetrable from a practical standpoint. This near-invincibility of fortifications
resulted largely from advances in firepower such as the widespread use of the Minié round, not to mention
canister artillery. It may be that Sherman triumphed here as elsewhere because of his mastery of indirection and
maneuver. But it may also be that Johnston himself never intended to fight for long on this intermediate line, but
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intended to stand near Smyrna only long enough for his trains to cross the Chattahooche five miles below.
Sherman himself had passed quickly through Smyrna on 5 July. Nor did he stay in Cobb County much
longer since Johnston soon abandoned his next line and fell back across the River. After the fall of Atlanta, on
October 8, 1864, Sherman had the occasion to spend the night at Howard’s camp located in Smyrna before
Lives & Times Vol. 24 No. 2 March - April 2, 2009
setting off to the west to chase Hood again. It is also perhaps interesting that Sherman visited Atlanta again in
January of 1879, arriving by train from Rome. So apparently he would have again passed through Cobb County
and the growing town of Smyrna.
*© 2009 by James W. Nash.
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Lives & Times Vol. 24 No. 2 March - April 2009
Recent Additions to the Research Room At The
Smyrna Museum
Clark County Georgia Marriage Records, published 2001, 480 pages
Index to Confederate Pension Supplements, published 1999, 210 pages
Fulton County, Georgia Marriage Records 1854 to 1902, published 2002, 740
pages
Fulton County, Georgia Colored Marriage Records 1866 to 1902, published
2002, 560
Wilkes County, Georgia Will Index 1777 to 1921, published 1977, 31 pages
Cumming Historic Cemetery Book, published 2006 60 pages
Crimson and Sabres, A Confederate Record of Forsyth County Georgia Vol.
4, 1997
Lumpkin County, Georgia Cemeteries, published 2005, 528 pages.
Madison County, Georgia Marriage Records 1812-1909, published 2001, 232
pages
Milton County Georgia Marriage Records 1865 - 1931, published 2001, 207
pages
Towns County GA Cemeteries, published 1996, 264 pages with supplement
and index
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Lives & Times Vol. 24 No. 2 March - April 2009
A TREE FELL IN SMYRNA
Today is Monday, April 13, 2009. It stormed last night, a bad one with extremely
high winds. The tornado sirens were sounded and most of us went about our business of
retiring for the evening. But on Grady Street in Smyrna a tree fell, or one might say, a
tree broke and left the roots in the ground. It was a big tree, maybe 4 ft in diameter.
The tree that fell last night hit a house and split the house down the center from
front to back. A family of six was in the house and none of them was injured. It was a
sturdy, well-built house. The house which stood on the west side of the street was
probably a 1920s style, with a porch across the front and back. The front of the house
faced east and the rear was toward the the west. The house had five rooms, a living
room, dining room and kitchen on the south side of the house and two bedrooms on the
north side. You entered the house from the porch directly into the living room, then the
dining room and the kitchen. There was a smaller room between the two bedrooms,
probably used for a closet. One resident from that time seems to think this was later
converted into a bathroom. On the back of the house, just beyond the last bedroom was
another smaller room that was used for a shower. Actually, this room was on the back
porch.
Two people in Smyrna are sad today because the tree fell on this house. Hilda
Wood Chaffin and her brother, Pete Wood, lived in this house when they were children.
They moved from here to Bank Street in 1940, the year that Pete started to school. Hilda
remembers that she and Pete had Chicken Pox while they lived here. She also
remembers showering in that room on the back porch. It was here that they were
decorating for Hilda’s birthday Party, hanging crepe paper streamers, when Pete
swallowed a tack. Dr. L.G. Landers, at Landers Smyrna Drug Store advised to just wait
for the tack to make its exit, and from that day on, he always called Pete, “Tack.”
Yes, many memories surfaced today after that tree fell. Memories of “walking to
school with friends and kicking rocks in the road, of eating rice pudding and
Grandmother coming to spend the night.” It always felt like a safe house, but it could not
continue to stand up to the fury of high winds and a falling tree, but it protected those
within. The house will be no more, but it left a legacy, one where small children felt
secure and slept well.
Editor's Note: Lillie Wood sent this story.
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