Audio clip
Ellen Thompson
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Staff Photo By Kelly Wegel
Marcelle White, official historian for Whitfield County, looks through books and papers in the Sims Exhibit Room of the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society housed in the Crown Mill Gardens and Archives in Dalton on Tuesday. A model of a Union soldier stands behind her. "You don't know what's going to happen today and you don't know what's going to happen tomorrow, but what's happened yesterday can't change," Ms. White said. "It's the only thing you know is the truth."
DALTON, Ga. —The potential demise of Whitfield-Murray Historical Society was just rumor, and the organization is as strong as ever, according to its president.
In a tight budget year, the Dalton City Council upped its normal $5,000 Historical Society contribution to $25,000 for 2009. Coupled with successful fundraising, the city’s increase has strengthened the organization, according to Historical Society President Ellen Thompson.
Mayor David Pennington and other city leaders have said it’s very important to invest in historic tourism, especially with the approaching 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War.
“With the economy down and carpet being the major industry, the mayor is being far-sighted in realizing that we have some historical resources that would be good for tourism and bring in needed dollars,” Mrs. Thompson said.
She said the group and other city officials are seeking grant money to help restore and repair some of the society’s structures, but the money the city recently allocated will mainly be used for personnel needs.
Among those needs is a new executive secretary to staff the organization’s headquarters at Crown Gardens and Archives on Chattanooga Avenue, replacing Marcelle White, who retired recently after holding the job since 1994.
Mrs. White, 67, said it’s important that the new executive secretary be able to diversify and help with genealogy and history projects and manage membership duties.
The Historical Society currently owns and manages a number of potential tourist sites, including the Hamilton House, Blunt House and Dug Gap Battle Park in Dalton and the Wright Hotel and Chatsworth Depot in Murray County.
City Councilman Charlie Bethel said enhancing historic assets is vital to the community.
“Protecting, preserving and enhancing our historic assets serves two very important functions for our community,” Mr. Bethel said. “First, it enhances the quality of life of our citizens and makes us an attractive place to call home. Second, it improves our profile as a tourism destination.”
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