In this issue:

• President Dufresne's Message
• Milton and 'King Cotton'
• Colonel Ronnie Rondem - a life of service
• Wreaths Across America 2023
• A Crash Course in Georgia Soil
• Autrey Mill's Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
• Milton Trivia Quiz
• How to Tell the Story of a Structure - Teaching With Historic Places
• And more!

Leo Tolstoy once wrote in his classic 1878 novel Anna Karenina that “Spring is the time of plans and projects.” Those words still ring true today. 

The Board of the Milton Historical Society recently convened for an all-day meeting to sort out our plans and projects for this Spring… and for years to come. 

Like many historical organizations, our Board is comprised of history lovers that are dedicated to promoting our past through preservation and exploration. We all want to educate the World about our past.

Unlike other historical organizations, the Milton Historical Society strives to not only preserve the past but to guide our town’s future through active involvement on City’s Design Review Board (DRB) and the formation of the District at Mayfield.

The Milton Historical Society is also unique in that the vast majority of our Board members are “transplants” from other parts of the country. Our members were initially attracted to Milton’s uniqueness and value the city’s bucolic “Norman Rockwell” charm. We want to preserve that identity for future generations.

Since its founding in April 2018, the Milton Historical Society can celebrate many accomplishments. We established our headquarters/archive center in Crabapple Market; hosted dozens of public lectures and events such as the annual Spring Fling and Shindig; helped preserve historic “places in peril”; provided community with ongoing historical content through our newsletters and social media, as well as installed historical markers throughout the City.

Sparking ideas!

Planning facilitator Robbie Gring

At our Spring planning meeting, our Board resolved to accomplish the following in the years to come:

Host the third annual Spring Fling celebration on the evening of Thursday, May 16 at the Roberts’ Barn located at 13645 Freemanville Road;

Forge a closer relationship with the Milton school system by offering guest historical lectures, guiding field trips and offering student internships to enhance their college applications for the future leaders of our city;

Complete the restoration of at least six historic places in peril, namely, the McConnell - Chadwick House (1840); the Rucker House (1908); the Oliver - Major House (1911); the Sutton - Gardner House (1920); and the Double Branch Voting District Courthouse by 2026.

Secure a permanent home for the Milton Historical Society containing a Welcome Center, visitor space, exhibit area, meeting rooms and state-of-the art archival area by 2026.

None of these goals can be accomplished without the support of our civic minded volunteers, Patrons, and Sponsors. 

Board members (l to t): Mary Cronk, Jeff Dufresne, Kathy Beck, Joan Borzilleri, Mark Amick, Jenny Doyle, Bob Meyers, Byron Foster, Bill Lusk, Lynn Tinley, Carl Jackson, Jim Farris. Bob Sorcabal and Connie Mashburn (missing).

Cotton education at the Milton Library

Society Treasurer Lynn Tinley shared her extensive knowledge of textiles and cotton production in a November program at the Milton Library. Her talk was entitled: Early Cotton Production in the Milton County Area and focused on how cotton affected virtually all who lived here until the mid-twentieth century - from growing and perfecting it, to processing and selling it, and to making it into important textiles that clothed and blanketed the local families.

In case you missed the presentation, Lynn has generously volunteered to reprise her talk with a survey course on the subject! Part 1 below:

Industrial and manual carders with cotton samples

Cotton yarn and samples of homespun cloth

Milton's History with Cotton: Part 1

by Lynn Tinley

Cotton is, today, the “go to” fiber for how we dress ourselves and how we cover up at night. Because of that, it is hard for us to imagine cotton being considered a luxury fiber, one that only the most wealthy were able to acquire. Imagine only wearing wool or low quality linen, because that was the case for most people until cotton became widely available during the 1800s. And it was events that largely took place in Georgia that led to cotton becoming “the fabric of our lives.”

Beginning with this article, I’ll tell the story of cotton and how integral it was to the settlement and development of the area we know of today as Milton. For this segment, I’ll focus on what cotton is, and how it came to be grown here.

The taxonomic term for the genus of cotton is gossypium. It is generally described as a flowering shrub, with some varieties of the plant growing as trees that are up to 15 feet high. There are over 50 species of gossypium; the most commonly grown species for producing fabric are gossypium Barbadense and gossypium Hirsutum.

gossypium Hirsutum

gossypium Barbadense

With the scientific information behind us, there are two main things to consider when deciding which species will be grown: staple length and climate. The staple length refers to how long the cotton fibers are. Longer fibers are generally softer and of higher quality than shorter fibers, so they have historically been more valuable. The climate issue has to do with whether or not the plant is frost tolerant. Long staple (Barbadense species) cotton has a longer growing season and is not frost tolerant. Short staple (Hirsutum species) cotton has a shorter growing season and is frost tolerant.

Cotton had been grown in the low country of Georgia and South Carolina since around 1790 - it was gossypium Barbadense. The particular species became known as Sea Island Cotton and it was grown as an export crop, being exported primarily to Liverpool, England, where it would be processed into cloth. When our area of Georgia (the upcountry) was growing cotton and manufacturing cloth, the variety of cotton planted here was gossypium Hirsutum. It was known as Upland, green seed short staple cotton. It was predominantly grown for domestic production and was often limited to being grown as a cash crop by small family farms.

Farmers started growing cotton here when short staple Upland cotton could be ginned mechanically (ginning removes the seeds imbedded within the cotton fibers) thanks to the perfection of the cotton gin. Upland cotton is believed to have originated in South America; the seeds of this variety are particularly difficult to remove. The mechanization of the process meant that more bales could be ginned at a time, versus individual cotton bolls being ginned by hand one at a time.

It’s pretty exciting to consider the local connections and circumstances which significantly contributed to the widespread growing of cotton. In future segments, two of the people and places I’ll talk about are the Broadwell and Rucker families and the Roswell Manufacturing Company. AND, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Eli Whitney and his important contribution which took place in Georgia!

Long and short staple cotton

Cotton boll

It is with great sadness that we mark the passing of Society Founding Member and community volunteer, Ronnie Rondem. He led an exemplary life of service both in and out of the military. His first wife, Colonel Debra Conrad Rondem (deceased) was featured in our Spring 2023 newsletter in an article on women vets by author Rona Simmons. Both Debbie and Ronnie received numerous military honors, including the Legion of Merit.

According to a synopsis of his obituary in the AJC, “Colonel (retired) Ronnie Bjarne Rondem passed away from a years-long battle with cancer. He was born in Oslo, Norway, during World War II. He immigrated with his parents in 1955 and lived in Brooklyn, NY, New Jersey and Manchester, New Hampshire before enlisting in the US Army. He served as a medic before completing Infantry Officer Candidate School and becoming a Second Lieutenant. He served in Vietnam as a Platoon Leader with the 196th Light Infantry Brigade and after an assignment in the US he returned to Vietnam and served as a Company Commander with the 506th Airborne Infantry Regiment.

“He left active duty in 1972 and completed his bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1973… He was employed with several oil and gas oriented companies before retiring from Colonial Pipeline Company in Atlanta. Concurrently he served in the Texas National Guard and the US Army Reserves, being recalled to active duty for Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, subsequently retiring as a Colonel in 1996.”

Besides the Legion of Merit, Rondem received the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Meritorious Service Medal. He was inducted into the Infantry Officer Candidate Hall of Honor in 1992. He is survived by two daughters and a son, as well as by his wife, Julie Rondem.

Atlanta Journal Constitution, January 21, 2024.

Words of tribute from former Society President, Bill Lusk...

“My long time friend, Colonel Ronnie Rondem, passed away after losing a battle with cancer for the past three years. His other battle days date back to Vietnam where he was awarded the Silver Star for his valor in combat in the A Shau Valley.

"A modest man, he encouraged me to convert the Milton Memorial Markers effort into a not-for-profit organization. He became the first President of that Board. His marker will be displayed in Crabapple next to the marker of his deceased wife, Colonel Debra Rondem.”

Jennifer Boren and Jim Farris, with volunteers

Wreath laying at Providence Baptist Cemetery

December 16, 2023, marked the 6th year that the Patriots of Liberty chapter of the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) has sponsored Wreaths Across America. During that time, it has grown from one cemetery to eight in the Alpharetta, Milton and Johns Creek area. This year was our most successful as we placed wreaths on every veteran’s grave in our sponsored cemeteries along with wreaths sent to the Marietta National Cemetery. This could not have been accomplished without the help of the Milton Historical Society along with many other community and corporate sponsors. With this kind of support the DAR plans to add 3 additional cemeteries in 2024.

Providence Baptist Church Cemetery located in Milton was one of the sponsored cemeteries. As James and Linda Farris said, “The ceremony was beautiful, and it was an honor to attend along with Board members Carl Jackson and Byron Foster. There were over 50 volunteers from the community, many of them children and teens. The church pastor attended along with members of the congregation who had family members honored. There were 62 wreaths placed at Providence. Our hope is to support and see this event continue to grow in the North Fulton area.” 

Editor’s note: Board member, James Farris, serves as Chair of the Society’s Cemetery Project.

This article is the latest installment on the geology of Georgia from Gena Brown, our multi-talented naturalist volunteer! Gena's prior newsletter articles on Georgia geology include:

* Geology of Georgia's Mountains

* Geology of Georgia: Coastal Plain, Piedmont, and the Fall Line

I’m sure most of you know and take pride in our famous red Georgia clay, but do you know where it comes from? First of all, the distinctive red color is due to the high quantity of iron, the resulting rust of which dyes the clay. 

This iron comes from deposits in sedimentary rock, called banded iron formations - most of which date to the Precambrian Era (over 540 million years ago!), and record the original oxygenation event that gave Earth its modern atmosphere.

The bands are the result of this abundance of oxygen reacting with iron in the seawater and creating iron oxides that fell to the sea floor - most iron ore mined today comes from these ancient formations. 

Banded iron

Our red clay belongs to a group called ultisols - the category derives its name from the Latin ‘ultimus’ meaning ‘last,’ because it is one of the final, most heavily weathered phases a soil can go through. This type of soil is defined as having high acidity, low water retention, and low nutrient and organic matter levels. These soils have been ‘leached,’ meaning that the plant nutrients have largely been lost. As such, they are not considered very fertile, productive soils - as gardeners of this region will know well. 

However, ultisols often support forest environments, such as our plentiful oaks and other deciduous hardwoods. Georgia red clay covers a large portion of the Piedmont region in the state - as you may have guessed, the foothills themselves are largely responsible for the erosion and drainage that have washed the fertile topsoil and all its nutrients away. Therefore, North Georgia is more known for its timber and quarrying industry than for agriculture.

Ultisols are majority clay minerals, and one of the most famous - and one of Georgia’s major exports - is kaolinite, popularly known as kaolin clay. This clay is used in many ceramic, pharmaceutical, and agricultural products, and Georgia is considered the largest producer of kaolin in the world, with over half of the global supply of the special mineral. The belt where kaolin deposits are commonly found largely parallels the Fall Line across the state, on the Coastal Plain side. 

Also in this Southern region of the state, sandy soils dominate, originating from millions of years ago when the Atlantic Ocean encroached on the land. This is where our lovely longleaf pine ecosystems thrive, along with marshes and swamps like the Okefenokee - the shorter distance from sea level means there is a great deal more standing water here than in the Piedmont, and the relatively flat nature of the region helps with water retention. All of these factors help encourage the soil to be more loamy, meaning that it has a higher concentration of fertile organic matter, or ‘humus.’ 

Tifton soil - official soil of the state!

This part of the state has largely been known for agriculture, mainly crops like cotton and tobacco. A major factor in this reputation is the soil that covers most of South Georgia, known to geologists as Tifton soil. Named after the city, Tifton soils have a topsoil cap of fertile, loamy sand atop layers of sandy clay, and they are the official state soil of Georgia, in case you didn’t know we had such a thing. 

Tifton soils are greatly productive for cash crops such as cotton, peanuts, and soya, and play a large part in making the southern half of the state the agricultural heavyweight it is, shaping the social status of our state and its people. The high calcium levels in the soil, a result of the shelled sea creatures that used to live there when the Coastal Plain was underwater, are crucial for the quality and integrity of cotton crops. 

One of the most famous crops grown in this soil region is our own Vidalia onion. The very specific pH and chemical makeup of the soil is what gives Vidalia onions their trademark sweetness, because the sandy loam soil is low in sulfur, which is the root of an onion’s ability to make you cry. 

And that sweetness is trademark, as well - the same breed of onion grown in different soil doesn’t have the same taste, and therefore, only onions grown in Vidalia soil can be called Vidalia onions. The identity of the onion is defined by the soil it grows in, and that goes, to some extent, for all other crops, as well. All of the tastes we love in fruits and veggies ultimately come from the soil. 

The soil we live atop impacts our lives in more ways than you think possible, and as it starts warming up and you plan gardens for the coming spring, I hope you think a little deeper below the surface, as I’ve learned to.

Gena Brown is a Georgia native who's lived in Milton for over ten years. She has a Bachelor's degree in Geology and Anthropology from the University of Alabama, and a Master's in Biological Anthropology from George Mason University. She's been approximately five different kinds of scientist so far (including archaeologist and geologist) but is currently working for the state ensuring our water, soil, and fish are all safe for consumption. Gena has a passion for all facets of the natural world, and really wishes Naturalist was still a valid profession.

Gena recommends this book to anyone who wishes to expand their understanding of the geology of Georgia.

Johns Creek Mayor John Bradberry, Autrey Mill's ED Lizen Hayes, and Board President Mary Jo Malowney at the ribbon-cutting

Proud student interns

On October 21, 2023, Autrey Mill hosted a ribbon-cutting gala and grand opening for the new Wildlife Rehabilitation Center on its 46-acre grounds. Supporters of the Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center rubbed elbows with civic leaders, along with the non-profit’s board and volunteers, many of whom were students who work directly with the resident animals.

According to Allison Salerno, writing for Atlanta Magazine, September 2023, “Working as Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Director, state-licensed wildlife rehabilitator Jess Legato saw the need for a place to treat injured wildlife in a rapidly developing suburbia where habitats are being fragmented; today, she’s the new clinic’s director. Autrey Mill has the third wildlife rehabilitation facility in metro Atlanta and the only one working exclusively with small mammals. The majority of its patients are the victims of cat attacks and road collisions in Fulton County, where the human population has grown 20 percent since 2010. 

"Elsewhere in the metro (area), the Wildlife Department at the Chattahoochee Nature Center cares for reptiles and raptors, while the AWARE Wildlife Center in Stonecrest cares for all species of injured or orphaned wild animals."

One Enthusiastic Student Intern

Stuck in the mid-winter ‘blahs’? If so, consider riding down Old Alabama Road in John’s Creek on a sunny day. Stop in at the Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center - if you are lucky you may bump into a student intern. These dedicated teens are eager to share their experiences at this multi-purpose site and the new Wildlife Rehabilitation Center for small mammals.

Clinic intern, Gray Callaway

Possum patient

Feeding time

Helping hands

Quoting Animal Care Specialist and High School Junior, Gray Callaway, “There is a wonderful animal rehabilitation community in Georgia.” Gray explained her progression working in the wildlife program at Autrey Mill. Beginning as a volunteer, she then entered the internship program; minimum age is 17. Interns typically begin doing basic animal care before moving to either the Clinic or the Animal Ambassador program. The Ambassadors are resident animals, along with their handlers, involved in community outreach programs, which allow children to see and connect with the animals.

Clinic Interns - a three-tier program in animal husbandry

Tier 1 - involves cleaning and site maintenance, and learning how to safely handle small animals

Tier 2 - learning nutrition, medications, and assisting at intake

Tier 3 - supervising the intake and care of the orphaned, ill, or injured animals, which will be released into the wild when recovered

Current Wildlife Interns

Compassion at the Clinic

Internship Program opportunities

Interns, who are unpaid, can choose one of three specialties: History, Wildlife, or Administrative. A 6-month commitment is required, with on-site duties approximately once a week; interns can build their own schedules. Six to 10 interns are involved in the Wildlife Program at any one time, and work under the supervision of a mentor. Also, Fulton County schools give class credit for student interns.

Gray helped start the Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic and trains new interns. She shared some helpful tips:

• clinic volunteers are careful to have minimal contact with animals being rehabbed for release; this helps to avoid animals bonding with their care-givers
• if you find an injured animal, call the Center before transporting it; intervening can often make the situation worse
• it is important for both volunteers and animals to feel safe at all times

Internship Benefits

Gray cites the sense of purpose and the skills she has developed as a volunteer. The training is extensive and practical - often helping students explore career choices.

She encourages visits to the free preserve and suggests visitors find a donation box on site to help continue the important animal rehab work, which is funded by donations! As Mr. Rogers said, "Look for the helpers."

These trivia questions should be a shoo-in for old timers in the area. For the rest of us, an opportunity to learn some history close to home!

See how many of these multiple choice ‘fun facts’ about Milton you can guess! Scroll down to see the answers.

Historical marker in Crabapple

Thomas Byrd house aka

Milton Senior Center

1. What two streams in Milton have names related to the Cherokee?

A. Foe Killer, Long Branch

B. Long Branch, Chicken

C. Chicken, Foe Killer

2. The Advent Star is painted in the ceiling of a Milton house. What religious group is associated with this symbol?

A. Baptist

B. Moravian

C. Methodist

3. The names Hickory Level, Beehive, and Pearson refer to:

A. Crossroads

B. Communities

C. Schools

4. What modern convenience was brought to Crabapple in 1923?

A. Paved roads

B. Electricity

C. Telephone

5. The Mossbacks of Crabapple were:

A. Domino players

B. Baseball team

C. String band

Scroll down for the answers!

The Thomas B. Newton house at Birmingham Crossroads

Alpharetta marker recognizing the original Milton High School

Members of the Milton Historical Marker Task Force are thankful that seventh-generation Milton resident Norm Broadwell was a fact-checker, source of stories from the ‘old days,’ and with his many contacts among friends and relatives, always knew who to talk to for local stories and connections. He and wife Martine (both educators) are stalwarts of the Alpharetta and Old Milton County Historical Society, volunteering for many years as docents at the Future Farmers of America Log Cabin in Alpharetta, serving years on the Board, and making various other contributions.

Norm gave us a framework for assessing historic sites when researching the 28 historical markers installed by the City in 2018. His background as a history and Social Studies teacher at Milton High School (then located in downtown Alpharetta) made him the perfect mentor for the task force. Norm worked with a project funded by the National Trust for Historic Preservation entitled “Teaching with Historic Places.” Fulton County schools used the material developed by the project.

Norm maintained that all historic sites do not present the same information or purpose. He outlined these guidelines for us to consider in evaluating structures and writing text for our historical markers:

• Spatial Relationships - relation to other structures or the natural environment
• Temporal Relationships - place of the structure in terms of chronology and continuity
• Interactions with the environment
• Design - the intent of the place
• Style - region or time period
• Form and function - how it looks is tied to its function
• Context - no place occurs in isolation but in relationships, both natural and cultural

He encouraged us to write with a flavor that gives the place feeling and draws the reader into that specific space and time. These concepts, according to Norm, work with teaching children about historic places. We hope Milton’s historical markers are informative and resonate with readers today. 

Milton’s historical markers are detailed on the City’s website miltonga.gov under Residents/History/Historic Sites. The story map provides the text of each marker, photos of the sites, and an interactive map to help locate the markers and the sites they herald.

Editor’s notes: Norm Broadwell is a founder and early Board member of the Milton Historical Society; member of the Milton Historical Marker Task Force; and the original Milton Historic Preservation Commission, which drafted the City’s Historic Preservation Ordinance. He taught at numerous North Fulton County schools, including Milton High School, where he was also an administrator.

The Milton Historical Marker Task Force was made up of Norm Broadwell, Bill Lusk, Bob Meyers, Angela Rambeau (City staff), and Joan Borzilleri. 

by Joan Borzilleri

A survey of Georgia architecture edited by Mark McDonald, former Georgia Trust President

Rhodes Hall, Midtown Atlanta, Georgia Trust headquarters

Why we support the work of the Trust - reviewing 2023 achievements in their own words:

"In 2023 the Georgia Trust’s 50th year came to a close and you helped to make our work possible.

"Below are some numbers from our landmark year:

• Travelled 17,774 miles throughout the state
• Held events in 20 different cities in Georgia
• Saved our 50th property through the Revolving Fund
• Monitored 78 easements on historic sites
• Toured 125 historic sites
• Held 14 classes through the Preservation Institute with 476 attendees

"We’re not done yet! This coming year, with your support, we can accomplish so much more. On behalf of our staff and board, thank you for being a part of the historic preservation community with the Georgia Trust."

The Milton Branch of the Fulton County Public Library shared the 2024 History Book Club reading list of non-fiction books. You are welcome to join the group, which meets on the third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 pm.

• January 16, 2024: War of the Roses by Dan Jones
• February 20, 2024: Any Biography on a US President
• March 19, 2024: The Elephant Company by Vicki Constantine Croke
• April 16, 2024: Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson and the Opening of the American West by Stephen E. Ambrose
• May 21, 2024: The Map that Changed the World by Simon Winchester
• June 18, 2024: Drinking in America: Our Secret History by Susan Cheever
• July 16, 2024: Wise Gals: The Spies who Built the CIA by Nathalia Holt
• August 20, 2024: Trail of Tears: The Rise and Fall of the Cherokee Nation by John Ehle
• September 17, 2024: The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann
• October 15, 2024: Hell’s Angels by Hunter S. Thompson
• November 19, 2024: **Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson **Pub Date April 30, 2024. Alternate selection: Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel by Douglas Brunt 

C. Chicken was the town chief of Little River Town. His name appears in the trading ledger of James Dorris’ store. Foe (Four) Killer was a prominent Cherokee who lived at the head of the stream.

B. The Moravians were a religious group that worked as missionaries to the Cherokee in the late 1820s and 1830s. They were also craftsmen and carpenters who worked in the area.

This Moravian Advent star is painted on the ceiling of the Thomas Byrd house in Milton.

C. Many small schools were located in the area. There was no school bus service back in the day, so school sites were located within walking distance of small communities.

B. Joel Jackson Rucker of the Rucker Cotton Seed Company brought electricity to Crabapple to power his cotton gin.



B. Baseball was very popular in Crabapple. Teams often used bats made from local resources such as willow trees (The Willow Bat Boys) and took their names from nature. Crabapple also had a women’s team.

The Immigrant’s Lament: “I came to America because I heard the streets were paved with gold. When I got here, I found out three things: First, the streets weren’t paved with gold; second, they weren’t paved at all; and third, I was expected to pave them.”

Good words from the Georgia Historical Society, founded in 1839:

• "We believe in the value of history."
• "We believe that public knowledge of our past is fundamental to our future."
• "We believe our shared history is what binds us together as Americans."

Breakfast laughs:

Bowling Green, KY

And wise words from

Nashville, TN

Milton Historical Society events currently scheduled for Spring 2024:

May 16 - Spring Fling

Watch this space for more information on program topics!

Milton Historical Society Patrons

Many thanks for your support!

Lifetime Patrons

Amy and Mark Amick

Larry Chadwick

Patti Dubas

Josephine and Jeff Dufresne

Laura and Byron Foster

Brenda and Brett Giles

Fran Gordenker

Felton Anderson Herbert

Johnny Herbert

Bill Lusk

Cristen and Tom Matthews

Linda and Robert Meyers

Adam Orkin

Charlie Roberts

Sarah Roberts

Donna Savas

Marsha and Kevin Spear

Karen Thurman

Kate and Ron Wallace

Kim and Dana Watkins

Corporate Sponsors

Lithic Genealogy Group

The William B. Orkin Foundation

Savas Digital Creations



Mark Amick

Joan Borzilleri

Norm Broadwell

Jeff Dufresne

James Farris

Byron Foster

Kim Gauger

Bill Lusk

Connie Mashburn

Robert Meyers

Charlie Roberts

Sarah Roberts

Kevin Spear

Karen Thurman

The newsletter of the Milton Historical Society is produced quarterly by volunteers of the Society. Have an idea, a link, or a story to share? If you loved our newsletter and would like to become a patron, click HERE.

We'd love to hear from you at president@miltonhistoricalsociety-georgia.org.

Thanks for reading and supporting Milton's history!