#GeorgiaHistory | AM 1180 Radio

August 31, 2026

South Carolina In Chattooga County? The History Behind An Unusual Local Name

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Motorists traveling Georgia Highway 100 between Summerville and the Floyd County line pass a place whose unusual name reaches deep into Chattooga County’s earliest history.

South Carolina Campground sits near the southern end of Taylor’s Ridge in the High Point area. To someone unfamiliar with the community, the name might seem out of place. After all, the South Carolina state line is many miles away.

But the name is a reminder of the families who settled this portion of Chattooga County during the 1800s — and of a time when a rural campground could serve not only as a place of worship, but as a school, meeting place, cemetery and center of community life.

Records indicate the history of South Carolina Campground stretches back to the 1840s, only a few years after Chattooga County itself was created in 1838.

August 27, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Rome Rotary Proposes Memorial Honoring Cherokee Nation

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A proposed memorial in Rome would honor the Cherokee Nation and commemorate the forced removal of the Cherokee people from North Georgia.

August 24, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Whatever Happened To Sprite, Georgia?

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Long before GPS, interstate highways and modern road signs, the map of Chattooga County was dotted with small communities whose names were familiar to generations of local residents.

Some survived. Others changed names or gradually disappeared.

One of the more unusual was Sprite, Georgia.

August 24, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Walker County Receives Historic Preservation Grant For Third Survey Phase

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Walker County is one of six Georgia communities selected to receive federal funding for historic preservation work across the state.

August 16, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Museum of LaFayette Seeks Cherokee Artifacts for New Exhibit

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The Museum of LaFayette is asking area residents to help preserve and share an important part of Northwest Georgia’s history as it develops a new exhibit focusing on the Cherokee people, their lives, removal, and lasting legacy.

August 10, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Berry College Demolition Of Historic Buildings Draws Alumni Backlash

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Photo Credit: AJC

Berry College is facing criticism from alumni and historic preservation advocates following the demolition of two of the college’s oldest buildings, prompting calls for greater transparency about how the Rome college handles its historic properties.

August 9, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Ben Jones, ‘Cooter’ On ‘The Dukes Of Hazzard’ And Former Georgia Congressman, Dies At 84

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Ben Jones, the actor who became a television icon as mechanic Cooter Davenport on “The Dukes of Hazzard” before going on to represent Georgia in the U.S. House of Representatives, has died. He was 84.

July 19, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

New Memorial Planned to Honor Cherokee Heritage in Northwest Georgia

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A permanent tribute recognizing Northwest Georgia’s Cherokee history could soon be placed near Ridge Ferry Park in Rome.

July 5, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Historic Homes of Georgia’s First Black Female State Representative to Be Preserved in Atlanta

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The homes of Grace Towns Hamilton, the first Black woman elected to the Georgia House of Representatives, and her father, George Towns, will be preserved as historic landmarks through a new multi-million-dollar restoration project in Atlanta’s Vine City neighborhood.

Preserve Black Atlanta is leading the effort with approximately $2.3 million in funding from a National Park Service grant and Atlanta’s Westside Tax Allocation District. Fulton County commissioners approved a portion of the local funding in June, allowing the project to move forward.

Grace Towns Hamilton made history in 1965 when she became the first Black woman elected to the Georgia General Assembly. She served in the Georgia House for nearly 20 years and is credited with helping expand political opportunities for Black Georgians during the Civil Rights era. Historians also recognize her as the first Black woman elected to state office anywhere in the South.

Her father, George Towns, was a professor at Atlanta University and helped found the Niagara Movement in 1905, an organization that laid the groundwork for the creation of the NAACP.

Project leaders say the restored homes will become public historic sites while also contributing to neighborhood revitalization. Restoration work is expected to take about two years once permitting is complete.

WABE

June 22, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Chattooga Historical Society Lunch Talks Set For June 26

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Residents interested in learning more about local history will have an opportunity to do so later this month during the Chattooga Historical Society’s Lunch Talks program at the Chattooga County Library.

The event is scheduled for Friday, June 26, from noon until 1 p.m. at the library, located at 360 Farrar Drive in Summerville.

Hosted by the Sara Hightower Regional Library System, the program will feature members of the Chattooga Historical Society sharing stories and insights about the rich history of Chattooga County.

According to event organizers, attendees will have the chance to explore the county’s past while enjoying a relaxed lunchtime setting. Chips and drinks will be provided, and participants are encouraged to bring their own lunch.

The event is open to the public and is designed for anyone with an interest in local history, genealogy, community heritage, or historical preservation.

The Chattooga County Library regularly hosts educational programs and community events aimed at connecting residents with local resources, history, and culture.