From Lamplight To Long Distance: How Electricity And Telephones Changed Chattooga County

Telephone operators at the Summerville Telephone Company on the final day of operator-assisted telephone service in 1960. Direct dialing began the following day. (Photo courtesy of Ben Bridges/Chattooga Photo History)

For people living in Chattooga County today, flipping a light switch or making a telephone call is so ordinary that little thought is given to either one.

But a little more than a century ago, both represented technologies that were beginning to fundamentally change everyday life.

There was a time when darkness meant lighting an oil lamp, when many homes drew their water from wells, and when making a long-distance telephone call in Chattooga County meant traveling into Summerville and going inside a local store.

The arrival of electricity and the telephone didn’t happen everywhere at once. The technologies spread gradually through mills, businesses and towns before becoming commonplace in homes throughout the county.

And when it came to electricity, Trion was among the first places in Chattooga County to enter the electrical age.

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Fall Fun Hayrides Coming To Cloudland Canyon State Park In October

Families looking for a fall outing will have several opportunities to enjoy the changing leaves at Cloudland Canyon State Park during October.

The Friends of Cloudland Canyon State Park will host its Fall Fun Hayride every Sunday in October from noon until 5 PM at the park in Rising Fawn.

The free event will feature scenic hayrides through Cloudland Canyon State Park, giving visitors an opportunity to enjoy the fall scenery and changing colors from a different perspective.

Organizers say the event is designed as an afternoon of family-friendly fall fun, with games and food also planned during each Sunday’s activities.

The hayrides themselves are free, although visitors will need either an annual Georgia State Parks pass or pay the $10 park parking fee to enter.

Cloudland Canyon is one of Northwest Georgia’s most popular destinations for viewing fall foliage. October typically brings increasing fall color to the Lookout Mountain area, making the Sunday hayrides an opportunity to enjoy both the park and the changing season.

The Fall Fun Hayrides will be offered each Sunday in October from noon until 5 PM.

The event is presented by the Friends of Cloudland Canyon State Park, with support provided by the Alliance for Dade.

Cloudland Canyon State Park is located near Rising Fawn in Dade County.

Georgia DNR Reminds North Georgia Residents To Be BearWise This Fall

As cooler weather approaches and more people head outdoors, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources is reminding Northwest Georgia residents that fall is also an especially active feeding period for black bears.

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When Will It Finally Feel Like Fall In Chattooga County?

With temperatures still reaching the 90s in the middle of September, plenty of people around Chattooga County may be asking the same question: When is it finally going to feel like fall?

The short answer is — probably not just yet.

The forecast keeps afternoon temperatures around 90 degrees or higher through much of this week, and there is not yet a strong indication of a sustained cool-down.

That doesn’t mean a cold front couldn’t bring a couple of cooler mornings along the way. September in Northwest Georgia can quickly swing between summer-like heat and brief hints of fall.

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From Iron Ore To Coal — Chattooga County’s Mining Past

Long before manufacturing became a major part of Chattooga County’s economy, people looked to the mountains and ridges surrounding the county for another source of economic development — minerals buried beneath the ground.

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Jeep Driver Injured In Head-On Crash With Tractor-Trailer Near Menlo

Photo Credit: Scott Harding

A Jeep driver was injured Tuesday afternoon in a head-on collision with a tractor-trailer on Georgia Highway 48 near the foot of Lookout Mountain outside Menlo.

The crash occurred around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday as the tractor-trailer was traveling east toward Menlo and the Jeep Wrangler was traveling west toward Alabama from the Shinbone area.

According to information provided to WZQZ News by the Georgia State Patrol, the driver of the Jeep lost control of the vehicle, crossed into the lane of the oncoming tractor-trailer and was struck head-on.

The Jeep driver was conscious following the collision and was transported by Atrium Health Floyd EMS for medical treatment.

The Georgia State Patrol told WZQZ News that the driver is expected to recover.

The accident was investigated by the Georgia State Patrol. The official crash report remained incomplete Tuesday evening, and additional details were not immediately available.

WZQZ News will provide additional information if it becomes available.

Cooler Temperatures, Daily Storm Chances Continue Across Northwest Georgia; Heavy Rain Possible Later This Week

Northwest Georgia residents can expect a stretch of cooler-than-normal temperatures and daily opportunities for showers and thunderstorms through the upcoming weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

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Arrest Report – Thursday – May 28, 2026

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Thursday, May 28, 2026:

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Dry, Warm Weather Raises Fire Concerns Across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia

Chattooga County and the rest of northwest Georgia are facing several more days of warm, dry weather, with fire danger concerns expected to continue through the end of the workweek.

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Camp Hamby Registration Opens Today In Chattooga County

 

Registration officially opens today, Wednesday, April 15, for the beloved Camp Hamby Day Camp in Summerville, a long-standing summer tradition that has impacted generations of families across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia.

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