-Chapter IV- TOWNS, COMMUNITIES, AND MILITIA DISTRICTS (1880-1980)
Spring Place District
Spring Place
By C.R. Vance
In a little southern village
Where the atmosphere is good,
And fragrant flowers blossom
In the home of my childhood.
How picturesque and pretty
Are the scenes about the town.
With the mountains in the distance
And the rivulets winding 'round.
'Tis not a noisy, smoky city
Where men bustle, fret and worry
But just a quiet little hamlet
Is the County seat of Murray
Though I may travel a thousand miles
My steps I must retrace,
If I would find the garden spot
For after all, 'tis old Spring Place.
One of Murray County's oldest and most historic areas is Spring Place District which surrounds the town described in the above poem. Originally numbered 824 among Georgia Militia Districts. Spring Place was the first such division created in Murray County and was named for the many springs in the vicinity. Today Spring Place is No. 1895 and is bounded by Shuckpen District on the north, Chatswoith (Town) District on the east, Bull Pen District on the south, and Whitfield County on the west.
Most of the springs in the town of Spring Place empty into Town Branch. Among them are the King Spring, Clear Spring, Bradford Spring, Lucy Hill Spring, and five west of town. Others which join the main stream are the Sand Spring near the Spring Place Church of God, Trank Spring near Sand, and Walls Spring.
The Spring Place District Justices of the Peace have included H. Heartsill (1885-93). S.G. Carter (1889-93), J.M. Campbell (1893-1905), T.B. Camp 0893-97), L.M. Jones (1894-98). W.D. Heartsill (1904-12), W.A. Childers (1909-21). L.F. Peeples (1912-24), J.S. Keister (1917-24), J.L. Robinson (1923-38X M.L. Roberts (1924-29), and B.E. Pritchett (1938-40).
Several schools have operated within the district. Teachers in 1882 were J.D. Varnell, Mattie Lockaby, O.M. He art sill, and E.W. Ballenger. Victoria Johnson taught at "Forrest House" in 1885, the second year that school operated. A Steed School operated during the next decade. Bates Smith and William Holland (1891) and J.G. Chapman (1893-94) were teachers there. School sizes ranged from an average attendance of 18 up to an average of 49 in the largest school.
Spring Place now has an active Ruritan Club but in earlier days had a Junior Order United American Mechanics (1910-11), an Odd Fellow Lodge, and a Masonic Lodge, The Spring Place Lodge I.O.O.F. was instituted about 1898 with C.L. Henry the first leader. In 1911 the group had 81 members. The Spring Place Masonic Lodge, No. 145, began in 1851 as the Cohutta Lodge. David J. Johnson, William A. Lofton. and Dawson A. Walker were the charter officers- When the' name was changed to Spring Place in 1869 James McEntire, Walter J. Johnson, and William Hassler were the leaders. In 1902 T.J. Ovbey, W.L. Isenhower (in town as D&A Railroad "Commissary man"), and D.C. Kenner were active masons. By 1919 lodge leaders included J.M. Wilbanks. J.E. Bradford, and C.N. King. People from throughout the district attended meetings at Spring Place until the 1930's at least.
The city of Spring Place was once a thriving town and the center of activity for the entire county. In addition to a variety of businesses, the town had two schools, three churches, and many houses. There were plank sidewalks and. as county seat. Spring Place was the site of many exciting Election Days and "Court Weeks." Many interesting events, some good but some tragic, have occurred in this "peaceful, healthful, place of many springs."
Surprising to us today is that Spring Place once had a high volume of liquor sales. Liquor licenses had been approved by the Georgia legislature in 18634 and 1869. Until several years after the Civil War as many as five saloons or public taverns operated in the town. In 1875 a "local option" measure attempted to control the sales, but was amended and then repealed during the 1876 legislative session. An 1878 newspaper said that Spring Place then had "two bar rooms and two dry goods stores." In 1882-3 other acts raised the license fee and restricted sales, but in September, 1883 The Spring Place Times said that "neither local option or high license has given that village a temperance aspect." Finally in 1886 the county was "voted dry." The "manufacture of liquor" in Murray County was prohibited by a 1901 Legislative Act.
Other newspaper tid-bits from the 1880's record that the Conasauga River was extremely low in September, 1883 and that "thieves were operating in the village of Spring Place" in February 1885. Mr. John O'Conner, a native of Ireland who had come to Spring Place in 1844, died in December, 1885 at the "advanced age" of 73. January. 1886 was extremely cold and one account even mentioned "a blizzard." Captain W.C. Tilton was pushing "Mineraline," an "excellent lubricator" of "his own discovery." Reporters also remarked that "Texas fever" hit North Georgia "occasionally." Many Murray families did move to Texas, hoping to begin new, prosperous lives there. Frequently the trip and settlement was rough, dangerous or even tragic and some returned to Georgia. Some pioneered and persevered in the West, but today several of their descendants return to this area in search of their roots and wonder why their ancestors ever left these beautiful mountains and valleys. In 1885 the newspaper reported that one must "sadly shed a tear" because Dalton was larger and was receiving more business than Spring Place.
However, several promising events were occurring in Murray County. In early 1885 a North Georgia Citizen correspondent in Spring Place reported that the "mineral excitement continues." Another hot issue was the building of a railroad, first proposed as early as 1875 when the following act passed the Georgia legislature.
Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Slate of Georgia, That from and after the passage of this Act, John E. Meister, J.D. Wilder and H5. Chamberlain, and such persons as may be associated with them, be, and they are hereby, constituted a body politic and corporate by the name of the Murray County Mining and Railway Company, . . . said company shall have the powers, facilities franchises and rights necessary and proper for the carrying on the mining for iron, copper, S°ld, silver, slate, mica, and such other minerals as may be found on the land now owned by them, or as they may hereafter acquire by law, purchase, gift, grant or otherwise, for the erection and carrying on mills, furnaces, and all other buildings, machinery and fixtures, necessary for the successful operation of the business of said company, and the beneficial management of its property, and for the transportation of its iron or other mineral or minerals to market; and shall have all the power and authority of a natural person to acquire, purchase, lease and hold any property, real, personal or mixed, which may be deemed by said company necessary or advantageous for its purposes . . .
Sec. Ill, Be it further enacted. That said company shall have the privilege of conducting either a broad or narrow gauge railroad from the City of Dalton, in Whitfield county, to their mining property on Cahuttah mountain, in Murray county, with such branches, as they may deem advantageous, from the main line to any of their present or future acquired mining property on said Cahuttah mountain, and for the purpose of constructing and maintaining said railroad, all the rights and privileges , . . with all the burthens and liabilities ... are hereby granted to and conferred on the Murray County Mining and Railway Company ,..
Three decades passed before Murray County got a railroad and any mining became successful.
Newspapers reported in 1885 that companies had been formed to "mine in the Cohuttahs" and mentioned legal tender silver mines. One account told that "another" vein of silver had been discovered on the "plantation of Jesse and Gid Jackson." The writer added his hope that "with others this will result in a financial boom for the county." In May. Mark Leonard discovered a gold nugget but refused to "divulge the exact place" of the find although he was positive that there was more.
In 1903 a special term of the Murray County Superior Court was ordered for the purpose of granting charters for the Cohutta Gold Mining Company and the Cohutta Talc Company. Both businesses were successful for a time, but the gold mine, located on Fort Mountain, closed during World War I. The talc mines have operated for more than eight decades. In 1905 the North Georgia Mining and Milling Company was chartered at Spring Place.
Throughout 1885 and 1886 articles mentioned the Augusta and Chattanooga Railroad. Little progress was made on the A&C project and by 1888 Dalton had thought of a new proposal. A September 20 editorial in the North Georgia Citizen explains the situation as follows:
A Railroad to Operate between Dalton and Spring Place? Some Facts and Figures about the Project - Will Whitfield and Murray Counties Build the Road?
A railroad from Dalton to Spring Place! This is a project that the people of Dalton and Murray County have quietly agitated for some time. We do not know that it has ever been put squarely before the people, but it has been discussed more or less by them and through the public prints. It is generally admitted by everyone who has given the matter thought and consideration that the road would pay. It would be the only road tapping the County of Murray and it would be the means of developing a rich section. That county furnishes a large amount of trade that Dalton receives, and, if by chance it should be lost to this city, il would materially affect our business interests. It behooves our people, then, to unite with the county of Murray and give them what they have long wanted and needed-a railroad connection.
If this is not done by Dalton, it may be done by some olher place. If the Augusta and Chattanooga railroad is built it is not certain it will come by Dalton and if it goes in another direction this town will be completely shut off from Murray County trade ... as well as the trade of that section of the country. The citizens of Cartersville will apply to the next legislature for a charter for a railroad to run from that place to Carter's Quarter and if built, and Dalton will have no railroad into Murray County, the trade will be directed that way.
As to the question of whether or not the road will pay . . . The agricultural products that Murray County annually sends out, the passenger traffic, the express business, the carrying out of mails and the new business that will be developed, offer to those who will go into il a safe investment for their money. The running expenses would be very small. What would it cost to build a road? It is only ten miles to Spring Place and the cost certainly would not be great. People Of the two counties could build the road and not fee! it. To be exact, the road can be built and equipped and ready for business and with everything necessary to run . it for one year for forty thousand dollars at the most. (This included tracks, cars, an engine, 2 depots, switches, 2 bridges, 2 tanks, a roundhouse, 2 safes and office supplies, picks, shovels, and 4 side tracks.) . . . Now how is this $40,000 to be raised? Forty men subscribing $1,000 each could build the road. There are gentlemen who have large interests in Murray County who have expressed themselves ... to subscribe to one-third of the stock if the people of the two counties would raise the balance ...
The Citizen gives the above for the consideration of all who are interested . . . hopes that it will meet with the attention that it deserves. We are here to advocate the interest of this section of the country and any scheme that will be of benefit of the people will receive the enthusiastic aid and championship of the paper. If anyone feels disposed to say anything on this subject, the columns of the Citizen are at his disposal.
The only mention of the road in the next week's edition is that the price for building the railroad had been upped to $50,000. However, other interesting things like the number of churches that were being built in Murray, the suggestion of a fair for Murray, Whitfield and Gordon Counties, and the fact that the cotton crop was doing better than expected received additional attention.
These plans moved slowly and by the turn of the century another had surfaced. Georgia historian Allen Candler wrote the following of Spring Place in 1901:
When the projected railroad from Dalton, Ga., to Murphy, N.C., is built, it ought to give to Springplace the impetus that has built up so many towns in Georgia. Its location is attractive, being in the midst of charming scenery, with the Cohutta Mountains in full view, and within ten miles of the Cohutta Springs, whose waters are said to possess great medicinal values. It has a handsome court house, good schools and churches, a money order postoffice with rural free delivery and stores welt stocked for the country trade. The population of Springplace according to the census of 1900 was 213.
Murray County historian Charles Shriner recorded the fate of this railroad like this. "The Dalton and Alaculsey R,R. was begun in 1902, and for a time went rapidly forward. The grade was almost completed and the road had come to be considered an established fact, when it was suddenly abandoned." According to other informants, the company simply "went broke." The plan had been for the tracks to start near Cisco, located at the end of the Alaculsey Valley where much timber was cut. The road then went south through Pleasant Valley (now Eton), before curving west in front of the present-day Hardee's. (Part of the grade is still visible in front of the Tom Greeson residence on the old Ellijay Road near Murray County Junior High School.) Following a southwesterly path, the "D&A" reached Spring Place where a depot was to be built near the Vann House and the tracks were parallel to the town branch. Several sections of present-day Georgia 52 and U.S. 76 follow the old D&A railroad grade from Spring Place to the outskirts of Dalton.
The optimism the A&C and the D&A railroad projects had brought to Spring Place is expressed vividly in this letter from septugenarian Martl Durharn of near Ball Ground community to her daughter, Mrs. Richard (Mary) Bramblett in Texas. Dated January 18,1902, the letter says:
. . . there is a railroad (D&A) building through Murray, It goes through Spring Place by where the old school house used to be, then on to Dalton, The Augusta & Chattanooga road is coming on. It will cross the big road between here and Ramsey. It has been said that Springplaee was finished, but il's booming now with a first class school, livery stable, telephone, big flour mill, cotton gin, railroad, and lots of other things we never dreamed of. , ,"
Unfortunately for Spring Place the D&A did not materialize. In February 1905 "condemnation proceedings" began for the Atlanta, Knoxville, and Northern Railway Company's L&N line. As Mr. Shriner wrote in 1911, the Louisville and Nashville "did not prove to be a disappointment . . . Several thriving little towns {sprang] up along its route." One of them was Chatsworth which came to rival Spring Place for the county seat.
Other interesting events took place in Spring Place, also. In 1890 Spring Place formed a military company and the town's residents were probably envious of "a lady living at Dunn (near Eton)" who had "several silk worms at work." A newspaperman remarked that "silk spinning [was] something new in Murray | County." In 1891 or 92 "Blue Mountain Show," a combination carnival-circus, came to town. Bessie Mae Adams remembers night performances and high wire acts as part of the show. Also, during his term as state representative, JJ. Bates.] introduced a bill which would have established an agricultural branch of the University System in Spring Place. Needless to say, this never came to be.
However, Spring Place also had its share of tragedies. Foremost among them were the many fires which plagued the town. In 1884 a store, one residence, and the courthouse were destroyed. All were eventually rebuilt. The courthouse, built by Henry Steed was a brick structure which had replaced the old Moravian Mission courthouse. A March, 1885 news item said that Spring Place was "to have one of the neatest and most convenient of courthouses." Court was held in the three churches until James Bible and his nephew William H. Williamson, who were given the contract for the new facility, completed their work. According to an 1886 newspaper they were "rapidly working to rebuild the courthouse." The new edifice, located on the old site on the southwest corner of Ellijay and Elm Streets, was completed and by February, 1887 the county was out of debt. The walls of the courthouse were 27 inches thick at the base and 12 inches at the top. Interior walls, also of brick, were 18 inches thick. Offices were located on the ground floor and the courtroom on the second while a third floor room was used for lodge meetings. In 1906 the grand jury recommended that "a wire of proper height be placed around the Solicitors' and Clerks' stands so as to keep the public from crowding upon them during business hours."
Soon after the courthouse was completed efforts to build a new jail began. In the early 1890's a two-story brick building replaced the old wood and brick two-room structure. This old jail later burned. Located near the ford of Town Branch at the north end of Elm Street, the new jail also provided living space for the sheriff or a jailer. Since the county seat has been at Chatsworth this last Spring Place jail has been converted into a residence, preserved by its owner. Mrs. Dessie Roberts Walls.
The saddest of all Spring Place fires, sometimes called the worst event in Spring Place history, occurred in 1899. The following account of the Bagwell fire appeared in the May 12 edition of the Spring Place Jimplecute:
Murray County Heritage