-Chapter IV- TOWNS, COMMUNITIES, AND MILITIA DISTRICTS (1880-1980)
Bull Pen District
Bull Pen District, bearing one of the most unusual names of any Murray County militia division, is bounded by Spring Place District. Holly Creek, and the Conasauga River. Until the post-Civil War era there had been little growth in the southern part of Murray County, but during Reconstruction the population began a slight increase and another militia and school district was needed. Bull Pen was formed in 1877 as No. 1291 from the original eighth District and named for die creek which flows across the district,
No major town ever developed in Bull Pen, but a number of communitites centering around schools and churches have characterized this area. Apparently the first community was Brown's, located on the Conasauga River. As time passed Tickle Gizzard. Hooker's and Hipp's Chapel became important community names along the Spring Place-Tilton and Brown's Bridge Roads. All four places were in fairly close proximity (by today's standards at least) and are now grouped under the name "New Hope Community." west of Highway 225 near the church which presently bears that name.
Nearer the center of the district on the present Highway 225 is what has been called Stafford's, Haw kins', or Young's Crossroads at various times. A short distance east of this intersection is the Center Hill community which was known as Osborn's earlier in its history. In the extreme eastern part of the district, near where Chatsworth, Doolittle, Spring Place, and Bull Pen Districts are almost ^distinguishable, is the Smyrna Community, close to the old Oakland School.
When Murray Countians think of the Bull Pen area a few families immediately come to mind, for the Robinson. Baynes, Bramblett. Kilgore, Ridley, Long, '-'avis, Young. Johnson. Fox. Baggett. Gray, Luffman. and Thomas families have been residents in large numbers for more than a century. However, in Bullpen's past the names of Brown. Hooker, Dugger. Stafford. Wilson, Weaver. Shannon, Osborn, Epps. Walton, Bagley. Parsons, Spence. Jennings. Martin, Wagnon, Fincher, Williams. Smith, Adair, Luffman, Ellis. Hipps. Stuart. Morgan, Fortner, Carter, Beamer. and Price were also prominent and have now been joined by family names like Walls. Thompson. Green. Langston, and Forrest. These are the pioneer families of Bull Pen.
The most widely known landmark in Bull Pen District was the historic Brown's Bridge over the Conasauga River. For many years the only links people in Bull Pen had with Whitfield County were "Smokes Ferry" (north of the present bridge) or the Zants Ford (down the river from the old bridge). Finally about 1890 plans were made to build a bridge near the Brown family's property. The result was a narrow, one-way, part steel and plank, part steel and concrete bridge-with a 30 degree turn in the middle. (Some people have said that the bridge was built about 1909, but a long-gone plate on the old bridge said 1890.)
Various explanations have been given for the unique construction of the bridge. One is that builders began on each side but did not make careful measurements so the angle was an accident. Another, and likelier, explanation is that the Murray side was built first while the Whitfield County section was added later. The land on the Whitfield side is much lower and was subject to flooding so when builders began the Whitfield portion, they sought a higher, firmer spot and decided to join the two spans at an angle, thus avoiding the expense of filling in or of building a longer bridge span.
As population grew and means of transportation changed, the bridge received increased usage. Time also took its toll as metal rusted and the plank surface of the Murray side deteriorated. The major problem, though, came as larger vehicles had difficulty getting across the structure. Then, in the early 1970's a mobile home subdivision was begun just southwest of the bridge and since this was the most direct route to Dalton, the bridge received even more use. "Travel at your own risk" signs had been on the bridge since the late 1960's, but large amounts of traffic continued to cross the bridge daily (even large Coca-Cola delivery trucks).
Finally, in 1973, plans were announced that a new bridge would be constructed a short distance upstream from the old one. This time the Georgia Department of Transportation would see that a wide, straight bridge was built! The new Brown's Bridge was opened in January, 1976 with various state and local dignitaries present. The total cost was $I million and Simpson Construction Company of Cleveland, Tennessee, did the work. A few months later the old bridge was dismantled.
In addition to families and landmarks, schools and churches have played an important role in Bull Pen's history. Early school trustees were Monteville Roberts (1877), John Shannon (1877), John Moore (1877). J.J. Forrister (1880-82), Dr. Bean Brown (1881). W.D. Hunsucker (1882), M.M. Morgan (1882). D.B. Brown (1883). V.A. Stuart (1883), P.M. Kitgore (1885), Samuel Brown (1885). A.J. Baynes (1892), Martin Roberts (1895), Robert Weaver (1895), and Henry Ridley (1895). Early teachers (whose schools are not known) included: M.M. Brown (1877), Elizabeth Moore (1877), N.E. Penderson (1877), Miss Bessie M. Gault (1882). and Miles Bramblett (1882).
One of the first schools in Bull Pen was a! Brown's Chapel, The chapel and school had once been located further south on Holly Creek before the group moved to a site just a few yards south of the old bridge following a fire at the old place. Little is known about Brown's Chapel, but most believe that no services were held there after 1900. A Mr. Thorn ton was one of the teachers at Brown's. The Bartonfield family lived in the old school after classes were moved up the road to the place with the unusual name "Tickle Gizzard,"
Tickle Gizzard was located on the Spring Place-Tilton Road at Alf Ridley's. While the exact year of its construction is unknown, it could have been built as early as the 1870's. The one-room building was made of logs and according to the Murray County School records, the official name of the school was Williams'.
Split logs served as seats and girls sat on one side of the room while boys sat on the other. There was one teacher who taught all subjects. Grades did not exist but advancement was made by learning certain books. Slates and chalk were used for "letters and numbers." Pupils studied and then recited lessons to the teacher. Noah Webster's Elementary Spelling Book was used to teach many subjects in addition to spelling. It was a reader, a dictionary, and a grammar book. The alphabet was printed in both block style and script while spelling words were printed in syllables with pronunciation marks and definitions. Sentences showing correct grammatical usage were also used as reading lessons. They covered all subjects, but dealt primarily with proper conduct and well being. Fables were included also.
Near the dosing of a school term spelling bees were held. The entire family attended school that day and watched as the members of both teams spelled until only one person remained standing. At these special gatherings pupils often recited poems and presented skits as well.
Among the teachers at Williams' House or Tickle Gizzard were Miss Carrie Brown (1881. 1885). W.A. Teasley (1884), Rosie White (1891), A.R. Howard (1892), Lou Wilson (1893), and Hattie Foster (1894). Mrs. Bert Robinson remembered one year when Tickle Gizzard School had 75 pupils and a brush arbor was constructed to handle the overflow.
The Tickle Gizzard School was also used as a meeting place by the congregation of the New Hope Baptist Church. In 1889 fire destroyed the old building and Mr. Ridley deeded land to trustees A.B. Ridley, W.F. Langston, A.N. "Bud" Thomas, and N. Robinson for a new building. While the transactions were taking place, students attended school at Hipps Chapel a couple of miles away.
Hipps Chapel (or some say Hipp's) had been a Methodist Church for several years, but when the group disbanded the New Hope Baptist congregation made the Chapel their permanent home. Even today some people still refer to it as "the Chapel." Hipps Chapel continued to be the name of the school there which operated at the same time as the rebuilt Tickle Gizzard. Teachers at the Chapel school included J.Y. Baynes(1881), W.D. Allen (1884), B.W. Huckabee (1885), Lela Wilson (189J), Charles H. Shriner (1892). Mattie Patric (1893), Mary Ann Walker (1877), James Baynes (1894), Betty Baynes, and Jim Steward. Hipps Chapel was at the intersection of the Spring Place-Tilton Road and Tibb's Bridge Road. Pastors of the Chapel included Revs. Meeks, Dawn, Cochran. Turner, and Caleb Pitts.
In 1895 the Board of Education voted to combine the Chapel and Tickle Gizzard Schools to form Hooker's Academy at Robert Hooker's spring. This was a good location, between the two older school sites, at a good source of water and on the Spring Place-Tilton Road. The consolidation was gradual but after the closing of Tickle Gizzard the Ridley family used the former school for a home. The building is still standing, but in poor condition, covered with ivy and hedges.
Hooker's Academy enjoyed a long period of success and occupied three buildings at the same location. Henry Ridley built the first school of logs at a cost of SI 10. Mr. Hookergave the land for this first school. The second Hooker's building was of wood and logs. This structure was dismantled and replaced with a larger brick building about 1930, The Board of Education furnished S200 for this purpose. Early teachers at Hooker's were John Gregory (1896). A.S. Vining 0897), Hattie Foster (1899). and George Barksdale (1900). Other teachers included Martha Holbrooks (1913). Jennie Parker. Mamie Morgan, Mr. & Mrs. Frank Howell, Richard Howard. Callie Black, Sally Robinson, Mr. & Mrs. Jewel Brown (1947), Dot Howell, Sybil Richardson (1930's), Bessie Mae Adams (1926). Sarah Kelly (1926-27), Jennie Mae Edmondson.W.V. Beane (1950-53), George Fuller (1950-53). Annie Woods (1915, 1917-18). Mrs. Ella Davis (1921), W-H. King (1916-17), Lucille Terry (1929-30), Oma Anderson (1929-30), Guy Jones (1932-34). Mrs. Omagene Smith (1932-33), Louise Johnson (1935-37), Ruth Goswick (1936-37), Hazel Currie (1937-39), Doris Leonard (1937-39), and Julian Kilgore (1947-48). Mr. Troy Richards had the longest tenure of any teacher at Hooker's, working for several years in the 1930's and I940's along with his wife Rilla Robinson Richards who was a native of the community.
One of the teachers at Hooker's, Mr. W.V. Beane. taught in many Tennessee and Georgia schools. Upon his retirement Mr. Beane wrote his autobiography entitled In Retrospect (1957). Following are his remarks about Hooker's School:
. . . I . . .found myself in Murray County, Georgia in a small school called Hookers . . . a two teacher school . . . Due to the desperate need for teachers, however, 1 had the best pay I had ever had . , , Hookers presented a rather uninviting appearance, but of a different aspect. The children the year before had gone "hog wild," so when we entered the school house we found the stove overturned, the books scattered over the floor, the doors off their hinges, and practically all the windows broken out of the three room brick building. The ceiling of the main school room was covered with the imprints of what had apparently been a violent eraser battle.
The superintendent was a bit "abashed" and I frankly told him I had never seen anything quite like it. One of the citizens was with us, however, and explained that my predecessor was a young man without experience, who came to school late in the mornings and left early in the afternoons before the children had gone home. He said that things were not quite as bad as they looked.
Although my wife advised against it, after a few days of thinking it over, I accepted the place, despite her prediction that 1 wouldn't stay there a week.
First, I secured me a place to board in the community , . . Next I got to school first every morning and left the last one. I provided at my own expense balls and bats and put the children to playing ball at recess . . . They . . . seemed full of appreciation.
Mr. Ray Bagley, superintendent, sent me a loyal, conscientious man, Mr. George Fuller, for a helper, I gave him the first three grades and 1 took the other four. We worked harmoniously and the parents came in and we organized them into a working group. The yards were improved and put in grass, the rooms were painted, and we put pictures on the walls. The superintendent replaced the broken windows and put everything else in shape.
Enthusiasm was at a high point and the supervisor provided us with moving picture shows both for the classrooms and for the parents at night , . ,
The children, upon the whole, were sweet boys and girls and during those two years we sent quite a number on to high school.
Mr. Beane goes on to relate more about the patrons and pupils of the school.
Since ... the people were so appreciative of my services, I wish to make special mention of a number of my fine patrons and their children.
Mr. & Mrs. Lee Timms . . . graciously took me into their home to stay the first year. Their four fine children were Louise, Myrazelle, Paris, and Rachel . . . J.E. Baynes, Grandpa, father of Mrs. Timms was a venerable old gentleman .. .
The next year I boarded with Mr. & Mrs, Claude Gallman who had three children . . . Hazel, Wayne, and little Cheryl ... I was never treated more royally in my life and could never forget [them] if 1 lived to be a million years old.
Perhaps my most outstanding parents were Mr. & Mrs. Van Robinson who have ten children . . . Shirley, Georgiann, Edith, Peggy, Henry, Norris, Myrazelle, Jeff, Pam.and David . . . Other patrons and children [were]
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Ridley-Tommy, Grace, & Grethel
Mr. & Mrs. W.A. Baynes-William, Harold, Eloise, Dimple
Mr. & Mrs, J.P. Robison-Lloyd,, Frank, Jesse, Larry, and Phillip
Mr. & Mrs. Grady Timrns-Janette and Janelle, Paul and Mildred
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Fox-Annie and Fannie
Mr. & Mrs. Buford Ridley-Caroline, Bobby, Randall, Jackie
Mr. & Mrs. Earl Ridley-Paul, Erlene, and Leon
Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Davenport-Wimpy and Billie
Mr. & Mrs, Sid Baynes-Willie and Helen
Mr. & Mrs. Edd Orman Ridley-Steve and Harold . . . two most wonderful patrons. Other children in the school were: Huey Ridley, Edna Elrod, Glenn Johnson, Bill Bagley, Donald Young, Billy Carter, Leroy Cagle, Betty Jean Callahan, CJ. Walls, Roy Lee Walls, Lamar Kilgore,Charles Kilgore, Florence Walls, and her older brother ... Mr J.E. Ridley, an old-time resident lived near the school house ... He had a wonderful personality and two fine daughters, Velma and Lora . . .
Mr. Beane also gives a good account of why the Hooker's school closed:
Georgia was in the midst of a school building program, and it hadn't occurred to me but that our school would be enlarged and made into a much more up to date educational center. But not so, Georgia . . . has petty politics, and there was a move to do away with our school and move it over into a more "desolate community" much farther away from the high school "center." A "bus driver" was putting the project over.
Our people rebelled against this move so it was suggested the patrons of this community could just abandon this school and go to a larger one near by, which was rather near the high school. I advised them to do so, though in doing so I would be out of a job in Murray County.
Students who would normally have gone to Hooker's were soon attending Spring Place.
Men who served as Trustees of Hooker's included R.F. Jones, C.W. Langston, T.W. Ridley, J.E, Baynes, Walton Robinson. Claude Kilgore. C.C. Langston, John Fox, Ed Ridley, Barney Gray, Charlie Kilgore. and Van Robinson.
The New Hope Baptist Church is now the central landmark in this part of Bull Pen District. The earliest records of this congregation have been lost, but the account of how the group came to meet at Hipp's Chapel has already been mentioned. Following the move to the Chapel the congregation had a disagreement and some of the members returned to Tickle Gizzard for a short time. Later they reunited at the Chapel. Revs. Shugart and Lackey were two of the pastors during this period.
New Hope joined the North Georgia Association of churches in 1908 after belonging to the Coosawatee Association earlier. It is now a member of the Murray County Baptist Association. After a number of years in the old Chapel building, large attendance necessitated additional worship space. Mr. Samuel H. Fincher, owner of the adjoining property, deeded additional land as a gift for a new building in 1934. A Mr. Watkins and Walter Harper were the contractors for the new building which is located about 30 yards south of the Chapel site. Mr. and Mrs. Conroy Pickering were very supportive, both personally and financially, in the construction. Mrs. Pickering was the former Essie Langston whose family were long-time members of the church. When the Chapel was dismantled, the materials were given to Mr. Pickering.
Many church members donated their labor in constructing the church. Some of these were J.E.. Sid, and W.A. Baynes, Lee and Trammell Bramblett, Barney Brown. Luther Kilgore. Charlie Langston, George Ridley, Tom Ridley, Van Robinson, Lee Timms. Charlie Walls, Kirby Young, and Pete Young, The building was constructed of rock which came from two nearby farms including Tom Ridley's. The first service held in the new building was the funeral of Mr. Leondus Robinson, The workmen had to rush to get the ceiling installed and finished the morning of the funeral.
The worship area was doubled in length and four large Sunday School rooms were added in 1963 while additional interior improvements were done in 1977. Early family names of members included Baggett, Carter, Ellis, Holloway, Holley, Jennings. Johnson, Jones. Lance, Strickland, Thomas, and Westmoreland besides those already listed.
Since 1908 the following have served as pastors of New Hope: E.O. Davis. J A. Bonner. J.H. Fincher. M.H. Welch, S.W. Bennett. R. Womack, H.C. Shepherd, J.O. Dantzler, J.C. Cochran. J.N. Padgett, J.M. Owens. W.D. Lambert, L.C. Sluder. Floyd Dugger. Frank Harper. Keith Langston, Floyd Childers. John Raper, Grady England. John Bearden, Leon Ensley. and Thad Osborne, In 1972 the church had 300 members.
Information provided by Louise Coker, Bertie Robinson, Mr. & Mrs. Lee Timms, & Mr. Charlie Walls,
Cemeteries in the New Hope area include an old Indian burial spot north of the Spring Place-Tilton Road on property now owned by Mrs. Bea Charles, the Williams (Baynes) Cemetery in the same area, the Epps family Cemetery off highway 225 on the Dimple Bramblett Ledford property, the Smith Cemetery on the Johnson Road which contains two unmarked graves, and the large Robinson-Kilgo re/New Hope Cemetery between 225 and New Hope Church. This last cemetery began as members of the Robinson and Kilgore families (who had intermarried) set aside a portion of their inheritance for a family burial ground. Gradually as more and more people became related to these large families and as the community grew, the family plot became a community cemetery. New Hope Church has purchased property in recent years to enlarge the cemetery which has been maintained by donations through New Hope and Maranatha Baptist Churches for several years.
Maranatha Baptist Church was organized in the fall of 1962 by former members of New Hope who wanted an "Independent Missionary Baptist Church." The group first met at the home of Otis Burger and then at the home of Mr.& Mrs. J.E. Young where the first officers were elected on October 2. Grady England was selected as pastor, James Howard as clerk and treasurer, J.E. (Bo) Young as choir director, and Keith Langston, Ruth Young, and Grapell England as Sunday school teachers. Other charter members were Odetta Howard, Lucille Langston, Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Compton, Mr. & Mrs. Sam Kilgore, Irene Beason, Mrs. J.A. Forshee. Minton Young, Wonda Young, Bemice Burger, Mae Fox, and Annie Fox. The name "Maranatha" meaning "Our Lord Cometh" was taken from I Corinthians 16.22 by Ruth Young. Trustees of the church are James Howard, J.E. Young, Ralph Compton. Keith Langston, and Otis Burger.
After meeting in rented facilities in Dalton for a year, the church moved into its own building on Highway 225 three miles south of Spring Place on January 5. 1964. The land had been purchased from Sam Kilgore. A $32,000 addition was completed in 1976 and the church now has over 200 members. Following Rev. England, Kirby Young served as pastor from 1965 until his retirement in 1979. Rev. Donald Young is the present pastor.
In the communities on the east side of Highway 225 other churches and schools arose. Three deeds are recorded for churches and schools on land lots 46 and 47 (8th District, 3rd Section). In 1876 John H. Thomas deeded one acre for a "school and preaching." Four years later Thomas W. Thomas deeded additional property for a school and church to Thomas Lowery, Silas Luffman, and Allen T. Osborn. trustees. The church was organized as "The Disciples of Christ at the Osborn School House" in 1881. Mary Gray deeded land on an adjoining lot to William Davis. trustee of Center Hill Baptist Church, in 1887 for the purpose of erecting a church. Evidently this effort at establishing a Baptist church failed for the Disciples of Christ remained the only church at Center Hill/Osbom for several years.
An old church roll reveals the following as members of that church. WW. Adair (Evangelizing Elder), Elder V.A. Stuart, Deacon A.T. Osborn, Deacon Joseph Bridges, Deacon and Clerk G.W. Adair, AJ. Thomas. R.H.A. Ellis. James and George Bridges, Sister N.A.S. Adair, Sister M.H. Stuart. Pollie C. Osborn, Sister, M.J. Adair, Sister M.L. Ellis. Betty Bridges, Jane F. Swann, Francis P-Thomas, James Adair, C.E. Lence, G.W. Ridley, Martha E. Ridley, Thomas Lowery. Elder M.T. Osbom, Nancy E. Osbom, E.S. Adair, Sister S.E. Adair, David Brown, Sister M.A. Brown, Ransom Turner, Susanna Turner, Malissa J. Lence. Hiram Stepp, T.J. Lowery, Mahala Stepp, Sister A.P. Williams, Manda Stuart. SisterM.G. Bridges. Maggie Adair. Margaret Wade, Jane and Cicero Stuart, Samuel J. Springfield. David Baggett, Sarah Thomas, Georgia Ann Baggett, "Hozy" Holcomb. Sister E.M. Adair. Gloria Jane Osbom. Frank Vonberg, Sally Thomas. Rosey Adair, John A. Osbom, William Kilgore, R.A. Ellis. Thomas Brown. P.A. Pitts. Sister L.J. Pitts. Martha and Lillie Thomas, Ella Adair, S.C. Britten, R. Holloway. Susie Gravely, Mamie Osborn, Lizzie Stuart, Marah Thomas, Nat Moreland. Thomas Adair, Marah Springfield, Liza Whitt, C.E. Morris. Stella Adair, Fannie Stuart, Lisey Thomas, James Edwards, May Osborn along with later members J.C. Osborn, Mary E. Osbom. Susie Hudgins, Irene Roberts. Thomas, Sinie, William. Walter and Henry Standley, Guy and Lula Dean, Hershell Roberts. Joe and Claudia Malinda Hensley, and Osie Panter. The last date of memberships is 1918 and within a short time the group must have disbanded.
The Center Hill Baptist Church was organized in 1924 at the old school with Charley Fowler, Mary Fowler, Charlie Davis (clerk), and Richard Sisson as charter members. Representatives Dawson and Lewis from Holly Creek, W.R. Posey from New Hope, Martin O. Casey from New Prospect, and G.W. Dyer and James Martin from Rock Creek made up the presbytery. W.R. Posey was elected moderator of the church for the following year.
In 1940 a new church building was erected on land given by Mrs. Sadie Wilson, Additions were made in 1967 and 1970. Members of the Gray and Hawkins families have long been members of Center Hill, Among the ministers who have pastored at Center Hill have been Kirby Young, Troy Ridley, J.E. Glass, Andy Kirby, Martin D. Casey, Berry Waters, Floy Bailey. Junior Johns, H.C. Hensley, John Gibson. and Danny Jenkins.
The Osborn Family Cemetery is now known as the Center Hill Cemetery and is maintained by the church. Information provided by Mr. Roy Hawkins.
The Osborn School employed several teachers over the years such as Miles Bramblett (1881, 1884, 1890). S.H. Fincher (1885), W.A. Jones (1891), Lela Wilson (1892-97) and Eula Edmondson (1899-1900). After the turn of the century the school became known as Center Hill (before the church by that name was organized). Teachers here included: Maggie Woods. Annie Woods (1930), Mamie Osborn, Edith Allen , Howard Tate, Ruby Kate Poag, Ford Cochran. Zona Cochran (who in 1940 had a "large school progressing nicely" according to The Chatsworth Times), Lois Whitener (1937-39), Delia Howard, Sue Osborn Hawkins, Robbie Sue Wilson, Lucille Wilson Page (1932-37). Stella rown Woods (1942-43), Emma Woods (1917-18), A.R. Howard (1916-17), Pauline Luffman, Susie Bramblett (1928-30), and Mrs. Sam (Wilma) Caldwell had a salary of $45 monthly in 1944.
Among the trustees for the Center Hill School were Coleman Osbom, Tom Sringfieid. Henry Emberson. John Hawkins. John Gray, Oscar Luffman. Prince Beam,andHornerCoker.The school was consolidated with Spring Place in 1946.
Southeast of Center Hill the Edmondson family owned a large plantation that extended into the Eighth District. Several Negroes worked on the farm and at various limes a school was opened there. Early county school records reveal that in 1881 B.D. Daniel taught there while in 1891 Amanda Branham had 19 pupils enrolled. Mrs. Branharn also taught there in 1895 and 1900 when it was called "Edmondson's Colored School." According to several residents the Ku Klux Klan killed a Negro on the Edmondson place. An old slave cemetery was located on the farm and four unmarked graves in another spot. Residents also report an old cemetery on the north side of the dirt road from Center Hill to Holly Creek. Most say that these were Indian graves though others say that this was a Morris family plot. Few signs remain today.
At the eastern edge of Bull Pen District is Smyrna Baptist Church founded in 1901. The community is much older than the church, however, as some marked burials in the Smyrna Cemetery are much older. The Davis family settled in the area over a century ago.
Smyrna Missionary Baptist Church was constituted September 14.1901 with the following presbytery. Revs. E.J. DeWeese. John Poindexter, and J.F. Davis along with Deacons Martin L. Roberts of Spring Place, J.L. Long of New Hope. Taylor Swanson of Pleasant Valley. Thomas Brown of Holly Creek, and J.B. Walters. The 13 charter members were Samuel Jones. Martha Elizabeth Jones, U.N. Jones, Martha Jones, Malinda Jones. D.A. Young, J.F. Davis. W.C. Adams, L.J. Adams, J.C. Young. Tiney Swanson, W.L. Roberts, and Docia Roberts.
The site chosen for the church was on the old Ramhurst-Spring Place Road and a one-room white frame building was erected in 1904. In 1955 the old structure was sold for S350 and a new brick veneer building was constructed. Additions were made in 1963 and 1972. The church had 257 members in 1972. Rev. J.F. Davis was the first pastor and W.L. Roberts the first church clerk. The first Sunday school superintendent was P.N, Gates and the first secretary was Emma Roberts. Early pastors of the clu'rch were J.F. Davis (1901-02.1905-07), W.R. Lackey (1902-05), E.G. Davis (1907-10), M.H. Welch (1910-16. 1918-26, 1937-41), J.W. Dooley (1916-18), W.R. Hogan (1926-27), J.M. Owens (1928-34), J.O. Dantzler (1934-36). and Fred Brown (1936-37, 1941). Other pastors include Blake Carter. H.C. Hensley, Trammell Long. Floyd Childers, MilasWink-ler, Raymond Gordon. Tom Turner. Alton Stevens. and Grover Broom.
Several schools have been located in this area including one "near Monteville Roberts' house" in the 1890's and one at "Old Lady Davis' " in 1892. Among the teachers were Mrs- Maggie Giddens (1881). Miss Mat Lockaby (1884). D.H. Harris (1885). Sam Jackson (1891 had 27 enrolled and "advancing very well"). Mrs. Mattie Bradford (1893). William Morris (1894), and B.F. Collins (1895).
A more recent and better known school in the area was Oakland. Though technically in Spring Place District, many Bull Pen families attended the school which was located on the Welch homestead on the road to Spring Place just north of Smyrna Church. Teachers at Oakland were Lela Wilson (1916-17), Posey Wells. (1917-18). Fred Long (1929-33.1936-37), S.O. Williams (1933-34), Willie Frances Robinson (1933-34),Guy Jones (1935-39), Frankie Groves (1935-36). Annie Ross (1937-39). Dot Richards (194243). Zona Cochran (194243). Marie Kelly, and possibly several others.
The school suffered wind damage in 1931 and was rebuilt. It was consolidated with Spring Place in 1946. Among Oakland's trustees were P.L. Long. M.H. Welch. T.J. Welch. J.M. Owens. Will Roberts, C.J. Welch. Walter Jones. J.L. Long. Millard Welch, Harlan Davis. and Jesse Baggett.
Though Bull Pen has been characterized by farms, several small businesses have been located there. In the New Hope area Mr. Bagley, Frank Vonberg (1930's). Roy Ridley (1930's-1940's). Tom Ridley (1930's-1940's). and the Langston family all ran sawmills. More recently Roy Green has had a successful sawmill operation. Syrup mills were operated by Kirby Young near his home on Bull Pen Creek and by Tom Green about id mile east of Brown's Bridge just off the Spring Place-Tilton Road.
Several stores operated in the New Hope area. As early as 1890 Jake Hooker ran a store at what is now the intersection of Brown's Bridge Road and Young Road, A Mr. Jackson operated a store at Brown's in the early 1900's while Mr. Ed Ridley operated a store and grist mill, first near Tickle Gizzard and then at his home near Hooker's for many years. Will Walton had a store in a log building near Hipp's Chapel and Joe Nix had a business near Young's. George Robinson ran a store at his home east of the Robinson-Kilgore Cemetery while Hughes (and later his wife Martha) Kilgore had a business south of the present Maranatha Baptist Church on Highway 225. In the 1940's John Fox sold school supplies, candy, gum. etc. at his home on the Spring Place-Tilton Road (between Hooker's and Tickle Gizzard) as did Albert & Dollie Winters at their home on Young Road.
However, the most popular store for many years was the Pickering establishment near New Hope Church. Marion Thompson was a long-time operator/ partner with Mr. V.C. Pickering. Mr. Harve Long was also involved with the business for a time.
The Finchers, popular Spring Place and Dalton merchants, had a branch store at Johnson's for a time. More recent stores have been Ervin Ridley's business near the church (1959-85), Gallman's near the river, and Green's County Discount also near Brown's Bridge. Mr. C.W. Langston was one of the first to sell gasoline and did so at his home just west of the church on Tibb's Bridge Road. Mrs. Langston worked in the early textile industry distributing bedspreads to various people for hand tufting at home.
Grist mills were prosperous enterprises for some like George Ridley, Bill Baynes, Ed Ridley, and Marion Thompson. Nathan Robinson made and sold baskets and John Shannon was a carpenter while John Fox and Bill Baynes were blacksmiths.
Over Center Hill way, John Hawkins ran a grist mill and Mr. Oscar Luffman had a store for a time. The most famous store at Center Hill was Coleman Osborn's. Located just east of the present church on the left, the store received statewide attention in 1927 when Mr. Osbom was murdered there. The three suspects-Cliff Thompson, Jim Hugh Moss, and Eula Thompson were found guilty in a speedy trial at Chatsworth and sentenced to the electric chair. The men were executed, but Eula Thompson's sentence was changed to imprisonment. She was later released.
Mr. Sam Blassingame had a store near the Smyrna community. The intersection of Highway 225 and Brown's Bridge Road has long been an important stopping place. Once called Stafford's crossing for the Joshua Stafford family who owned the land, it was the site of a Morris store and mill while later on John Hawkins owned a building in which Charlie Hall, Walter Chapman,and Jim Howard (1961-71) operated stores. During that time some people began calling the place Hawkin's Crossroads, but now many refer to it as Young's as that family has operated the store there since 1976 after a period of operation by Max Henson.
Just south of the crossroads on Highway 225 is Weaver Hill, so named for Mr. Ab Weaver's family who once owned the property, now owned by the Horace Chapmans. Further south is the North Georgia Speedway, a dirt racetrack which has operated periodically for several years. Ernest Young was among the original developers.
Also in this southern portion of Bull Pen is the relatively new Cochran Cemetery (on the east side of the highway) and the very old Wagnon-Martin Family Cemetery, Located off 225 behind the Gordon Elrod home, the Wagnon-Martin Cemetery is the burial place of one of Murray's very first white settlers. Alexander Martin (1797-1874) obtained his large farm in the Cherokee Land Lottery. Members of his family operated a mill on Holly Creek at the dividing line between Bull Pen and the Eighth District. One of the descendants who ran the mill for many years was Alexander Wagnon (1856-1940). He is also buried in the family cemetery.
Regarding elections and officials. Bull Pen has had several polling places. The earliest "court ground" for elections and justice of the peace courts was at Stafford's Crossing where Taylor Stafford was an early justice of the peace. Then a building was erected near the New Hope Church for voting purposes. When this building burned a new courthouse was constructed west of Ridley's Store near Albert Johnson's. When this building was no longer used, elections were held at joker's School until the building was torn down. The next polling place was the old Kilgore's Store building on Highway 225. In 1962, due to a fire at the Kilgore building, John Hawkin's garage at the Crossroads was the place to be on Election Day. The present voting place, in use for several years now, is the clubhouse next to New Hope Church. The "court ground" has returned to former locations twice in Bull Pen's history. Justices of the peace have been V.A. Stewart (1886-94). J.W. Fincher (1889-1893), P.M. Kilgore (1893-97), J.A. Baynes (1894-1904. 1907-1911), J.Y. Baynes (1901-05). W.R. Lackey (1909-12), JC Langston (1911-15). J.D. Robinson (1912-17, 1921-25), W.W. Luffman (1916-21). J.M. Nix (1920-25). George T.Robinson (1926-60's). Van Robinson. Henry Robinson, and Jim Parrish.
Mail service to Bull Pen was sometimes a problem. For many years residents sent someone to Spring Place to get the community's mail. Then a carrier from Spring Place would drop off mail at designated spots such as Stafford's or Coley Johnson's. Rural delivery was a problem and today residents in west Bull Pen still get their mail from Dalton because Chatsworth routes were slower to arrive.
Other things of note in Bull Pen are the high Fincher's Bluff on the Conasauga River north of Brown's Bridge and "Hainted Holler," a dark forest area, west of where Ridley's Garage is now, that young people of the past were told to avoid. A rather large cave existed on Land Lot 320, but the area is now part of the rock quarry which has been in existence for several years.
The "rolling store" was an important part of life for many Bull Pen residents, particularly those around Center Hill and Smyrna where stores were not as numerous. These moving warehouses supplied many households for many years.
While residents of the area could generally get doctors from Spring Place, many mothers called on mid-wives to deliver their babies. Mrs. Mollie Young and Mrs. Florence Walls were two of the ladies who assisted in the births of many infants.
Other noteworthy items relating to Bull Pen are the presence of a steam mill land Lot 10 on the Center Hill to Smyrna Road in the 1880's, the paving of Highway 225 in the early 1950's. the arrival of telephones and electricity to homes in the late 1940's and 1950's in some areas, and the formation of New Hope Home Demonstration Club in the 1960's. The Club was very active for a while and helped the county build a community clubhouse where elections are now held.
The population of Bull Pen has increased in recent years due to the trailer park near Brown's Bridge, the breaking up of some old farms for land sales, and the availability of jobs in the carpet industry. Several small carpet plants have had businesses within Bull Pen including James Smith and others. Most notably Riverside Carpets which was operated by the Greens for several years. Robert Cruse and family have operated the Bull Pen Pillow Company for a time now. Thus the Bull Pen name is carried on by more than just the district and the creek.
Murray County Heritage