News of the Society
Christmas Ornaments
Plans are already underway for the Historical Society's Annual Christmas Ornament Sale.
Following is a list of ornaments sold by the Society since 1972. If your collection is missing an ornament or two, please call (770)207-1229, (770) 466-8134 or (770) 267-6663 to see if a replacement is available.
1990 Kilgore Bridge - Circa 1894
1991 Walton County Courthouse Tower - Circa 1883
1992 McDaniel-Tichenor House - Circa 1887
1993 Gunter Hall - Circa 1852
1994 Davis-Edwards House - Circa 1845
1995 William Harris Homestead - Circa 1825
1996 Walton Hotel - Circa 1887
1997 Walton County Courthouse - Circa 1883
1998 Malinda's (Stephen Felker House) - Circa 1824
1999 Jersey Bank - Circa 1904
2000 Casulon - Circa 1824
2001 The Hill - Circa 1832
2002 Monroe Post Office - Monroe Art Guild - Circa 1932
2003 Good Hope General Store - Circa 1918
2004 Church Street School - Circa 1904
2005 The Rock Gym at Monroe High School - Circa 1930
2006 Commerative Kilgore Bridge
2007 Social Circle Depot
2008 The Primitve Baptist Church (On Stage Building) - Circa 1910
2009 Giles Launius Carter Watkins - First Baptist Annex
2010 Davis-Edwards House (40th Anniversary Edition)
Half a Century Recorded on Film - A Presentation of the Works of E.M. Carnes by Larry Witcher
On March 24, 2009 Larry Witcher, a Walton County historian, presented an impressive collection of photographs taken by Mr. E.M. Carnes, a well-known photographer and resident of Monroe. The program was held at St. Albans Episcopal Church and desserts and coffee were served.
E.M. Carnes, a twenty-year-old photographer, arrived in Monroe at the turn of the century with his gear and equipment loaded in the back of a buggy. He came from Cartersville and Florida was his intended destination. He planned to spend about three months in Monroe and then move on to "see the world through the lens of his camera." Miss Ossie Louise Parker changed his mind and they were married shortly after he arrived in Monroe. He made every effort to keep abreast of innovations in the art of photography and constantly read and studied about the latest trends in lighting, film and chemicals. He was truly a pioneer in the business of photography.
When Mr. Carnes arrived in Monroe, Harold Nowell was mayor and B.S. Walker was president of the Bank of Monroe (later becoming the National Bank). Mr. Carnes became a protege of these two men and the three maintained a freindship that was life long.
His first studio was located on Court Street, now a parking lot next to the county courthouse annex. At that time it was next door to the Opera House.
During those first years he met and married Miss Ossie Louise Parker, daughter of R.H. and Mary Braswell Parker, pioneers of Walton County. In the course of their 53 years of marriage, they became parents of two daughters, now Mrs. Charels N. Neel of Atlanta and Mrs. Lester Heath of Linwood, N.C. There are four grandchildren and three great grand children.
In 1908 the Carneses bought the two-story dwelling at the corner of Broad and Washington Streets. It was an ideal studio for Mr. Carnes, for the house had originally been constructed to house business quarters as well as a living area. The studio had a huge skylight and there was ample space for equipment as sell as picture frames and glass and supplies.
Mrs. Carnes always assisted her husband in his work and made a specialty of hand-tinting photographs. She was one of the first in the state to use this technique for coloring pictures, before the days of color film.
When Elihue Mansfield Carnes, called "Mr. Carnes" by one and all, died on March 16, 1957, he was still in Walton County and his work had touched the homes of almost every family in the county.
E. Jerald Forrester Memorial Scholarship
Jerry Forrester, first president of the Historical Society, was an extremely intelligent man with a fondness for Walton County's past and an uncommon vision for her future. At the young age of 28 he purchased the Davis-Edwards House with the goal of preserving her for later generations. He was also instrumental in the formation of the Historical Society of Walton County.
The Society will award a deserving senior from either Monroe Area, Loganville, and Social Circle High Schools, George Walton and Loganville Christian Academies with a scholarship in Mr. Forrester's name in the amount of $1,000. The selected student will be chosen by the scholarship committee of the Society. The candidate must meet the following requirements: be a graduating senior, must be accepted to a college, university or vocational school, must have a GPA of B+ or higher, must have an A average in History, must submit a letter of recommendation from a teacher or counselor and must complete the application form.
The Historical Society Committee and Board would like for the chosen student to exemplify the outstanding qualities of character and passion for History and Preservation that Mr. Forrester possessed. He was a leader in the Society, Corinth Christian Church, founding president of the Clan Forrester Society for his family memebers, Ducks Unlimited, and Scouts. He was an advocate of the principles of good character and clean living. Mr. Forrester always indicated that "character counts - it is caught more than it is taught." E. Jerald Forrester (1939 - 2000).
Volunteers Needed
Vounteers are needed to open the Davis-Edwards House on the first and third Saturdays of the month from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Also, volunteers are needed to assist in tours for the Walton County Schools. Call (770) 267-6663 or (770)466-8134 for more information.
The William Harris Homestead Foundation
Presents
Heritage Day… “A Call to Arms”
Saturday, September 24, 2011
9 am to 4 pm
3636 Georgia Hwy 11, Monroe, GA 30656
150th Anniversary of the Civil War—Reenactment of 1861 “Camp of
Instruction”
19th Century Farming—plow with the mules, pet the oxen, enjoy pony
rides, petting zoo, face-painting, hayrides and 1800’s crafts
Demonstrations.
Shop with our many Antique Vendors.
Lots of good music and good food, too! A great time for the family!
Admission: $10.00 General, $5.00
Children under 12
Free under 5 years
www.harrishomestead.com 770-267-5844
MRS. BESSIE COOPER
World’s Oldest Living Person
Walton County’s is proud to call home to the World’s Oldest Living Person. Mrs. Bessie was born around the time the vacuum cleaner was invented, and she will turn 115 today, August 25, 2011. Bessie Cooper was born in Tennessee and moved to Georgia during World War I to find employment as a teacher. She married her husband, Luther, in 1924. They had four children. She has 12 grandchildren and more than a dozen great-great-grandchildren. Mr. Luther died in 1963. Sidney Cooper a son says that his Mother never was a worrier. Mrs. Besse once gave her own explanation for a life lived so long that her birth (August 26, 1896) predates by seven years the Wright Brothers’ invention of the airplane: “I mind my own business,” she said. “And I don’t eat junk food.” Mrs. Bessie will celebrate her Birthday today with her family at the nursing home in Monroe. Happy Birthday Mrs. Bessie!
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