In this issue:

• Program schedule for Spring
• Wreaths Across America - new at Boiling Springs
• A Life in Full: Ed Malowney and the Amazing Post Office Project
• Milton's Double Branch Court House - Local militia history
• Meet Milton Historical Society's Editorial Board
• Chicken Creek and Milton's Creek Systems
• History of the Milton Library and Book Barn
• What in the World is It?
• Sweet Spring Recipes
• And more!

Join Milton history buffs for the following Spring events:

Tuesday, March 11, 2025, 6:30 p.m. Milton Branch Library - "There's Fungus Among Us...The History and Benefits of Mushrooms" with Jeff Dufresne, MHS President Emeritus

**Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 6:30 p.m. Milton Branch Library - "Paul Revere" with Dr. Marianne Holdzkom, History Professor at Kennesaw State University

Saturday, April 26, 2025, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Spring Fling social at The Barn on Birmingham, 17955 Birmingham Hwy, Milton, GA 30004

**Tuesday, May 13, 2025, 6:30 p.m. Milton Branch Library - "The Great Gatsby" celebrating 100 years of Gatsby with Dr. Peter Wakefield, Emory University

**Library sponsored event

Patriots of Liberty Chapter, NSDAR, Jennifer Boren, Committee Chairman, joined efforts with Milton Historical Society Director Jim Farris, initiating the annual recognition of veterans at the Boiling Springs Cemetery for the first time on December 14, 2024. Milton's Providence Baptist Church also participates in Wreaths Across America.

Young Men's Service League

National Charity League

Ramsey Flint of the Daughters of the American Revolution Patriots of Liberty Chapter led the ceremony, assisted by the church's Elder Randall Cagle, Milton’s Young Men’s Service League, the National Charity League, and volunteers from the Milton Historical Society.

Miller Estes with mom Christie Estes, local YMSL chair

The Doughty family - 

Tim, mom Kirsten, and Billy

Live fir wreaths were placed at 27 veterans’ graves at Boiling Springs. A moment of silence was held followed by wreath placement at noon. Timing coincides with the ceremony taking place at Arlington National Cemetery. The Young Men’s Service League conducted a solemn flag ceremony to mark the occasion.

Elder Randall Cagle (left), representing the church, recognized Milton relatives of deceased veterans in attendance

Marie Dockery Pierce remembers her uncle, George Carroll Dockery, who served in the Army during WW II. Typical of many veterans, he didn’t speak much about his service, but Marie says he was a prisoner of war for three years.

So many untold stories are buried with the veterans.

On a lighter note, Jennifer Boren reported that shortly after the Milton Historical Society announcement about wreath purchases was sent in the Autumn, 16 orders for wreaths were placed from the immediate area. Thank you Milton residents for supporting this worthwhile effort!

REMEMBER the Fallen...HONOR those who Serve...

TEACH our children the value of Freedom

Milton volunteers

Mary Cronk and Lynna Lee

A moment of reflection

“Well suited and passionate” - this term aptly describes the characteristics needed for success in most any field. It truly describes our late patron and friend, Ed Malowney. Devoted husband to Mary Jo, pater familias to their two daughters, Meg and Erin, and three grandsons, Will, Jackson, and Aidan. Ed had a remarkable career in corporate America. He was a history major and also an avid supporter of The Ohio State University football program.

To wit: Pat Miller, Alpharetta and Old Milton County Historical Society President, tells of a phone conversation with Ed in April, 2019. She had the TV news on during the call. A ‘breaking news’ flash caught her attention. Pat told Ed that they should hang up and watch because Notre Dame was burning! In all seriousness, Ed asked,”What’s on fire, the football stadium?”

Well no, not that Notre Dame.

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Barbara Latham and Connie Mashburn

Ed the consummate researcher: In a four-year research project on Old Milton County postal service during the 1800s, Ed had enlisted the aid of local historians Connie Mashburn and Barbara Latham. In Connie’s words: “Ed was such a talented man, and everything he did, he did well. He especially enjoyed research and documentation. He once told me that he often got up in the middle of the night and went straight to his office because he couldn’t wait until morning to get back to his research. Ed had a great sense of humor, but he was serious when he was dealing with local history topics. Ed also had a major influence on the Alpharetta and Old Milton County Historical Society.”

Barbara lauds the qualities she admired in Ed as a friend and fellow researcher. She talks about his ability to connect people, his ability to work on both the macro and micro level, driving the project while filling in the details. Barbara says that Ed engaged in “people-to-people research” and enjoyed “bringing history to life.” The two Johns Creek residents both loved imagining what life was like in Old Milton County 150 years ago.

Barbara and Connie join in the research work: Barbara speaks of the curiosity Ed had about the names of the roads, bridges, ferry crossings on the Chattahoochee, churches, and the early families in the area. This led to investigating the postal service in this rural area before Rural Free Delivery began in 1902 but was only fully implemented between 1905 and 1907. 

The majority of their research took place between 2018 and 2022. Relying heavily on the National Archives and Ancestry records, they worked approximately six months of the year and met two to three times a week. Ed, Barbara, and Connie studied 50 post offices and shared their research in three historical society programs: Johns Creek, Alpharetta, and Milton. (The May, 2022 presentation on Milton post offices alone included 85 slides.) 

Barbara developed templates that standardized information gathered on the post offices, their locations, and the postmasters at each. Connie, a multigenerational resident of the Alpharetta and Milton area, was invaluable with his knowledge of roads, topography, and early families.

Rural postal service in the 1800s - Cliff Notes version

The U.S. Postal Service began in 1775 with the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Congress was given the “sole and exclusive power of…establishing post offices.” Congressmen were allowed to establish a post office and post roads - routes to transport mail from one location to another. The U.S. maintains the largest postal system in the world. 

Steps to be awarded a community post office - who knew? 

1. The request for mail service in a particular area could come from the community or be initiated by a congressman. (These written requests are not available in the National Archives.)
2. A bill for a new post office is introduced and voted on by Congress.
3. The Appointment Division of the Postmaster General’s Office sends a site location report form to the postmaster nearest to the proposed post office.
4. The postmaster completes and returns the form. (These forms are available in the National Archives.)
5. The Topographer uses the information to determine the location of the new post office in relation to other nearby post offices, transportation routes and facilities. The names and distances of the nearest post roads, rivers, and railroads were always required.

Site Location Reports

This is the main application. The preamble paragraph at the top reads: "Before the Postmaster General decides upon the application of a post office in (county name) county, it will be necessary for you to carefully answer the subjoined questions." So a post office had a county location, but neither a name nor a specific location yet. Not until this form was submitted was the next form sent out for the Topographer's use.

Milton County example:

This form is a request for information from the office of the Assistant Postmaster General following someone’s application for a post office.

In this case the Postmaster General's Office was aware that Douglas Foutes in Roswell would need to fill out the form. Perhaps he, or someone in a nearby area (because Roswell is mentioned as a neighboring office), had requested a new location.

Usually on the back of it the applicant was asked to include a hand-drawn map.

Scroll down for map examples.

Postal Verification Form

Alpharetta example:

Once the application was received and the name of the post office determined, the Assistant Postmaster General sent this to specify even further where the post office would be located.

It reads, “In order that the site of your post office may be accurately represented upon the post-route maps.”

The Topographer would use this information for official documents.

Location Maps

Before 1937, the U.S. Post Office had no official mapmaker. It purchased maps from commercial firms or private individuals using information provided by local area residents. Sometimes the map forms provided a target circle with the proposed office placed at the bullseye. Other times, it was a square grid, or nothing at all and the applicant simply drew from scratch.

Circle or bullseye map

Graph map

Early Post Offices in Old Milton County

Some of the earliest post offices in the area were Warsaw, Coal Mountain, Social Hill (1834), and Sheltonville/Shakerag (1848). No new post offices were established between 1860 and 1865 and most were discontinued with the full implementation of Rural Free Delivery in 1907. Prior to RFD, the post offices in the 1800s were often located in general stores or the living rooms of prominent citizens. Early post offices became gathering spots for the community, where folks socialized and exchanged information about area events.

Post offices - City of Milton locale: Arnold, Beathoney, Birmingham, Crabapple, Devore, Dinsmore, Dow, Fields Cross Roads, Freemansville, Social Hill, Troy, and Webb

Old Milton County postal logs

Old Milton County map with

post offices named

The fun and benefits of research: The work of Ed, Barbara, and Connie offers an excellent example of how to conduct a research project! Connecting the dots from the available records and documentation provides a picture of life long ago.

Some months ago the Society was contacted by the great great great grandson of Brigadier General Eli McConnell. The gentleman, a retired colonel, lives outside of Fort Worth, Texas. He asked if we could share some of the research we have done about the family and the McConnell-Chadwick House - recently donated to the City. We were able to send him multiple files of source material and genealogy associated with the McConnells, and received a heartfelt ‘thank you’ in return. Most historical researchers readily share their work and are thrilled that someone thinks it’s valuable!

The power of golf: In the project’s summary of post offices is an odd entry. “The Calamity Jane Post Office opened only briefly during the 1970s to accommodate golfers during the two weeks of a U.S. Open Golf tournament at the Atlanta Athletic Club.” Go figure!

Post Office research documents used by our talented trio:

• County post office ledgers and logs (postmaster appointments and dates; post office discontinuations and transfers)
• Applications to establish a post office
• Verification of post office locations
• Postmaster compensation records
• Gazetteers (city directories)
• ancestry.com and family trees
• Old Milton family histories, genealogies, and photos

Watch for Part 2 of this article in the next newsletter. We will profile some of the important early post offices in Milton, their locations, and prominent citizens who served as postmasters. The compensation records for the postmasters will also be explored.

Post Office Project Researchers

Under Ed Malowney's leadership were these two preeminent researchers:

Barbara Latham: Barb had a 25-year career in Public Health Nutrition, serving at the National Institutes of Health and the CDC. Her love of history has grown since discovering that among her direct ancestors were six Mayflower passengers and two of nine men governing the New Netherlands Colony (today’s Manhattan). Barb is currently researching the Hendershot side of her family. They fled famine, war, and religious persecution in Germany as part of the Palatine Crossing, where more than 15,000 from the Rhine Valley region emigrated to London in 1709.

Connie Mashburn: Connie is the City of Alpharetta’s Official Historian, Alpharetta and Old Milton County Historical Society’s charter member, archivist, and former president. He also is a Founding Member of the Milton Historical Society and Resident Historian. Connie authored a book on local history for the Alpharetta sesquicentennial in 2006, and was appointed to the Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission in 2015. He also curated the City of Alpharetta’s history museum, which was dedicated to Connie.

Milton Historical Society collaborated with the new property owner on Birmingham Road to preserve a small yet important historic structure on their property. You may have seen the sign that has been placed on this rather obscure building; in fact, you probably didn’t even notice the structure until the bushes around it were removed and the Historical Society put up the sign to let you know what was going on!

Bill Lusk during renovation

Site recognized by the

City of Milton

It’s impossible, when you drive by it, to not be struck by how small it is. How could this have been a court house, militia office, and voting location?! You need to envision this area in the early nineteenth century to understand how this could be. Present-day Milton saw settlers moving in beginning around 1820, with the state officially disbursing what had been Cherokee territory via 40-acre “Gold Lots” in 1832. The large percentage of people who came here came for agricultural reasons, usually purchasing more than one land lot to farm for domestic and cash crop purposes. Small farm communities eventually sprang up for social and business reasons, usually around a gin and/or general store. This area did not have deliberately designed town layouts like Roswell to the south and (to a lesser extent) Alpharetta to the east.(1) 

By the middle 1800s, as more people moved to the area, the need became apparent for “satellite” government offices closer than the current county seats of Marietta, Canton, and Cumming. So the county of Milton was created in 1857 to accomplish this goal. As with all counties, it was divided into militia districts which were also used as election and census districts, and for a place where Justices of the Peace could handle minor civil cases. Milton County created seven militia districts. They were given both a number and a name. Unlike many other early militia districts in Georgia, which were named after the captain in charge, Milton County militia districts were given names that corresponded to the geographic area that each district served:

• Double Branch - No. 823
• Millers - No. 842
• Little River - No. 892
• Newtown - No. 1172
• Crossville - No. 1175
• Alpharetta/Town - No. 1176
• Big Creek - No. 1227 (also called Warsaw Campground)

(1)See John Linley, The Georgia Catalog: Historic American Building Survey, a Guide to the Architecture of the State (The University of Georgia Press: Athens, GA), 1983 for several discussions about early town structure in Georgia. See pages 180-181 for a reference to Roswell. Note that Roswell has a classic northern town structure with a square from which prominent homes, churches, and government buildings fan out. With Roswell, it further followed the northern mill town pattern of having the mill functioning as a part of the town. Alpharetta, already a small community when it was selected as county seat, did not follow this formal town structure; it was rather built up around the government building and churches with a small set of commercial enterprises and a hotel close by.

Milton County was one of three counties in the 39th Senatorial District, the other two were Cherokee and Forsyth Counties. Each county would have had their individual militia districts; but it turns out that all three in our Senatorial District had one aide-de-camp: Henry C. Rogers. He was responsible for gathering and reporting lists of eligible men to the General in Milledgeville during the period of the Civil War. Rogers worked with three Enrolling Agents in Milton County who were responsible for gathering the lists of eligible men (and also for gathering census results); Rogers certified these lists and then reported them to the Army in Milledgeville. The following information was gathered for each man:

• Name
• Age
• Occupation
• Place of Birth
• Exemption Claimed
• Kind of Gun
• Condition of Gun
• Horse
• Saddle 
• Bridle

The Georgia Archives Virtual Vault is a good source for the 1864 Militia Enrollment Lists, which is organized by county and militia district. Milton County had three infantry companies (Milton County Tigers - Milton Guards - Warsaw Rebels) and 250 wartime casualties during the Civil War. They did not, however, have any battles fought here.

Battle of Gaines Mill showing the location of Ga. 31, 38 (Milton Guards) companies

G.W. McCleskey's farm in Milton, now home to Seven Gables Farm

Editor’s note - Milton Guards: In researching the Milton Historical Markers, the task force discovered (with Pat Miller’s help) a goldmine of local Civil War history at 38thga.com. The Milton Guards (aka 38th Regiment, Georgia Volunteer Infantry, Company B) fought - and many died - at Petersburg, Fredericksburg, and Gaines Mill, Virginia and Gettysburg. Many local soldiers were also present at the surrender at Appomattox. The company was “first organized by Captain George W. McCluskey” (McCleskey) who was wounded at Gaines Mill (near Cold Harbor), died shortly thereafter, and is buried at Oakwood Cemetery near Richmond. His son Francis died at Gettysburg. Also in the company, Thomas B. Newton, buried at Boiling Springs Primitive Baptist, wrote a touching letter to George McCleskey’s widow about the bravery of her son, Francis. The letter is available on the website and also on display at the Alpharetta History Museum in city hall. 

Other recognizable names in the Milton Guards: Bates, Burgess, Day, Devore, Dinsmore, Hagood, Hardman (Hardeman), Henson, Holcombe, Jameson, Maddox, Nix, and Tom Rogers (uncle of Francis McCleskey). Many biographies and obituaries are available on the Milton Guards website.

Henry Rogers has an interesting history. He was born in 1824 in Forsyth county to John Rogers, Jr. and Sarah Cordery, whose mother was full-blooded Cherokee. John Rogers had become wealthy farming the rich land along the Chattahoochee River southeast of today’s Windward community and northwest of Peachtree Corners; he also operated a ferry on the river. In October, 1865, Henry submitted a “U.S. Confederate Application for Presidential Pardon” to President Andrew Johnson (in order to legally vote in the United States after the Civil War) saying he had been compelled to take the side of the Confederacy by a “mistaken sense of duty.” He further stated that he accepted the appointment of Aide-de-Camp to the governor in order to keep out of the conflict. He specified in the application that his taxable property “may be valued at more than $20,000.” He is listed in the July, 1867 return of qualified voters, so it is likely he received his pardon. Henry’s cousin Robert Rogers, Jr. married Sallie Vann, who was Cherokee and related to the Cherokee Chief James Vann. Their grandson was Will Rogers, the vaudeville actor, who was born in the Cherokee nation in Oklahoma after the family was forced from their native territory during the Trail of Tears. Henry Rogers also removed to Oklahoma during the Trail of Tears and is buried there.

Why “Double Branch”?! The militia districts in Milton County were largely organized by creek boundaries. 

Two militia districts directly correlating to the creek system that created boundaries for them are Little River (No. 892) and Big Creek (No. 1227). When the militia map and the land lot map are overlayed, this correlation is very clear. Although not directly named for the surrounding creeks, First (No. 842), Newtown (No. 1172), and Crossville (No. 1175) are clearly laid out with creeks as their boundaries. The Alpharetta district (No. 1176) was appropriately named because it was not only the virtual center of the county but also the center for political, judicial, and commercial activity of the county. That leaves the Double Branch district. A comparison of the militia district map to the land lot map, leads to the strong conclusion that it was named Double Branch because it was situated between two creek branches that fed into Chicken Creek, an important geographical marker in the area.

Georgia Archives map - 1930

Coming in Part 2: In my next article, I’ll talk about some of the men who lived in the Double Branch district who fought in the Civil War and describe some of the civil court cases handled by Justices of the Peace there.

Seated: Lynn Tinley, Gena Brown

Standing: Rebecca Morris Fricton, Amy Christiansen, Mary Cronk

Not pictured: Patti Dubas and Joan Borzilleri

Formed in 2024, the newsletter’s Editorial Board has proven to be a gold mine of talent! Drawing from an abundance of community-minded folks with an interest in the many sides of history, we have been able to expand our written contributions by reaching into the community for interesting, diverse stories. The Editorial Board also offers wise counsel to the Society’s Board as representatives of their varied community activities and life experiences. 

The Editorial Board contributed to the new look of our newsletter. Mary Cronk performed her graphics magic with our gray-washed background - thanks, Mary!

The following profiles introduce part of our Editorial Board - more to follow!

Gena Brown is a Laboratory Analyst at the Environmental Protection Division of Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR). She tests samples from across the state to ensure they are safe for consumption. Gena likes to say she has held at least seven different types of scientific roles throughout her career. 

She has lived in Milton since 2010 and holds two Bachelor’s degrees from the University of Alabama, as well as a Master’s degree from George Mason University in Virginia. Academically, she has a keen interest in prehistory and paleontology. In her free time, Gena enjoys reading and writing, crocheting, and spending time in nature. She is committed to lifelong learning and is passionate about teaching others, believing that education is essential for personal and community growth.

Amy Christiansen grew up as an Army brat, moving around the country and abroad, but has called Milton home for over 21 years. She and her husband are raising three children in Milton, which inspired Amy to become actively involved in the community. She participates in various school-related activities, including PTO/PTSAs, the School Governance Council, and the Superintendent's Parent Council. Additionally, she advocates for mental health awareness and resources within the schools and community.

Having lived in Milton when it was known as unincorporated North Fulton, Amy has made significant contributions to the area. She is a founding member of the Milton Historical Society, and a previous board member of Southern Magnolia Charities. Additionally, Amy served on Milton’s Greenspace bond committee and the communications team for Milton’s municipal election.

History has always been her favorite subject, and with an undergraduate degree in journalism, joining the Historical Society newsletter editorial board was a natural fit. Amy is a speech-language pathologist who specializes in pediatrics. She is especially passionate about supporting autistic children.

Mary Cronk has taken a wonderful step into the world of volunteering, no longer receiving monetary compensation for her work. Instead, she's a dedicated professional volunteer! In her past life, she worked as a corporate Registered Dietitian, helping hospitals serve empathetic care and delicious meals to their patients.

One of Mary’s favorite places to volunteer is the Milton Historical Society, where she happily serves on the Board as the Membership Chair and contributes to the Editorial Board.

She truly believes that fostering a shared sense of community and belonging makes life richer for everyone and inspires people to take pride in their community.

Mary also enjoys her role on the Editorial Board, where she gets to indulge her amusing knack for spotting misspellings and punctuation mishaps. It’s a fun way for her to make a positive impact while having a bit of fun along the way!

Lynn Tinley hails from Western New York and has been a resident of Atlanta since the early 1980s. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Indiana University and later obtained her PhD in American Studies from Emory University.

Her professional journey began in Miami, where she worked for Price Waterhouse. After moving to Atlanta, she took on roles at Management Science America in Quality Assurance and later served as Assistant Treasurer at BellSouth Enterprises. Following her and her husband's move to San Francisco, Lynn held the position of CFO at a computer hardware company. In contrast, her husband managed a computer software company in Palo Alto. Upon returning to Atlanta in the mid-1990s, Lynn joined Emory University’s Institute of Liberal Arts, where she completed her PhD in American Studies in 2012. She has since taught as an adjunct professor for several years and continues to research, write, and lecture as an independent scholar.

Lynn's passion lies in textiles, which has been a primary focus of her research. Her graduate work centered on early eighteenth-century schoolgirl embroidery, evolving to include studies from the twentieth century. She has expanded her research to encompass the areas of Roswell, Dunwoody, and Milton, which provide rich material due to the growth and production of cotton and wool in the region starting in the early nineteenth century.

Lynn has authored several newsletter articles for MHS and has contributed to efforts to preserve local properties. She has also researched local families, buildings, and the local economy.

Her love for textiles extends into her hobbies; she is an avid weaver and embroiderer. In addition to these pursuits, she enjoys walking, exercising, playing with her dog, and golfing.

Joan Becker Borzilleri The Borzilleri family's relocation to North Fulton in 1996 proved to be a serendipitous decision. After 19 years in the more densely populated Dunwoody, they found the expansive lots and open spaces of North Fulton to be a refreshing change. Friends jokingly remarked that television reception seemed to be a luxury from Chattanooga!

While balancing a full-time career and family, Joan volunteered with the Birmingham Hopewell Alliance, an organization dedicated to advocating for responsible land use planning and zoning issues. Her efforts did not go unrecognized; she was appointed to the newly established City of Milton’s Historic Preservation Commission, which played a pivotal role in developing a state-approved Historic Preservation Ordinance. Moreover, Joan contributed her talents to the board of Preserve Rural Milton, a non-profit entity that championed the City’s Greenspace Bond, thereby preserving numerous acres of public land—an exemplary model of intentional community development.

As a member of the City’s Historical Marker Task Force, Joan delved into the rich tapestry of local history and early settlement. The task force established 28 historical markers, which generated considerable community interest in the pioneer families who settled in the region following the removal of the Cherokee and Creek tribes, as well as the rich history of local churches, schools, and economic activities. Recognizing the need for an organized historical society, the Milton Historical Society was established, thanks to a dedicated group of founding members. This was truly an exhilarating time for the community, with an array of talented residents and staff working collaboratively to forge a vibrant new city.

With a background in the humanities from Daemen College (now University) in Snyder, NY, Joan leveraged her expertise in adult training during her tenure with Georgia’s Department of Human Resources. She was part of a dedicated Management Information Systems (MIS) unit focused on implementing systems for Public Assistance programs that had been entirely paper-based. Following the successful launch of the state-wide online system, Joan transitioned into the corporate software development arena, where she contributed to two major corporations developing financial and healthcare software. Her roles were diverse, encompassing Product Information, interface design, as well as project and quality process management.

With the formation of the Milton Historical Society in 2018, Bob Meyers and Joan developed our newsletter format and content direction using the robust Constant Contact software application. Bob now, of course, writes the much loved weekly history column for Appen’s Milton Herald. Fortunately there’s enough history to go around!

For me, one of the benefits of moving to an area that has been “urbanized” later than much of the Atlanta metro area is the opportunity to envision what it would have looked like over a hundred years ago. For example, if you take note of many of the road names, you will have a pretty good idea of where some of our earliest settlers lived and farmed. Another example is the creek system, which remains relatively untouched by the creation of new roads and large developments.

Jim Farris, a Milton Historical Society Board member, has been dedicated to documenting the creeks in the area. He is working closely with City of Milton representatives Emily Groth, former Environmental Program Manager, and Sarah Leaders, Public Works Director, to install signage where the two major creeks, Chicken Creek and Cooper Sandy Creek, intersect with our roads.

The late Ed Malowney, past president of the Alpharetta & Old Milton County Historical Society, was instrumental to Farris’ work as well.

Chicken Creek at Dinsmore Road

Creek signs installed

The creeks were important geographic markers to our early settlers. The following map from 1837 was created to plan a route for the Western & Atlantic Rail Road. You can see both Chicken Creek and Cooper Sandy Creek on this map; they collectively flow into Alaculsa Creek which we know as Little River. The map is oriented with east at the top, which is usual and can make it difficult to interpret. As a side, a railway never came to this area. They went through Chamblee and Dunwoody to the south, Ball Ground and Dahlonega to the north, and Marietta to the west. But there were no depots, or whistle stops for that matter, in what was then the county of Milton.

Little River tributaries

Image credit: loc.gov, J.F. Cooper, Routes surveyed for the Western & Atlantic Rail Road, 1837 call number G3921.P3 1837

Chicken Creek starts west of Campground Road north of Highway 9, then travels through The Manor subdivision, under Hamby and Hopewell roads north of Kings County Court and into King Lake, then under Dinsmore Road. Up to this point, it has been basically traveling southwest; it then takes a sharp turn west just east of Freemanville Road. From there it intersects Wood Road, then Birmingham Highway north of Batesville Road and finally connects with Little River after traveling through Atlanta National Golf Club.

Chicken Creek path

Image credit: naturalatlas.com

Chicken Creek is believed to have been named after the Chicken family who were members of the Cherokee tribe, which was indigenous to the area. Cherokee tribes were comprised of clans, which were formed through matrilineal lines. There are seven different clans. Cherokee towns consisted of one to seven clans and between 30 to 60 houses, which were log cabins (one door with a smoke hole in the roof).

The Chicken family: Abraham Jack Owl Helton, aka Young Chicken Chetiganete, emigrated to this area from Virginia; he is buried in Frogtown, Lumpkin County where Frogtown Winery is currently located. Calvin Bark Chicken Helton was Abraham's son; there is conflicting information as to whether he was adopted or his biological son. Bark Chicken and several other members of his family (Joseph, Old, Rachel, Silk, and Suzy) traded at the Dorris Store near Crabapple, as evidenced by the Dorris Store’s Ledger Books which cover the years 1832-1869. The Chicken family transactions appear to be from between 1835 and 1838. James Dorris was a white man and his wife Nancy was full-blooded Cherokee. Both whites and Cherokee traded at the Dorris Store. It appears the majority of the Chicken family removed to Tennessee and Oklahoma as a result of the Trail of Tears in 1838.

Bark Chicken, and several other members of his extended family, was apparently a rather feisty character according to court and conviction records. Bark was charged with simple larceny September 4, 1837 according to the Georgia US Central Register of Convicts 1817-1871. The record documents the following: Item No. 650, Bark Chicken (a Cherokee), aged 25, 5’ 10 1/4” tall, Copper complexion with black hair and black eyes from Cherokee County was a hunter who was born in Georgia and charged with Simple Larceny. The charge was entered September 4, 1837 and he may or may not have served just a part of his sentence, which was to be released September 3, 1840 - he was pardoned of the crime August 8, 1838. (Probably because the removal of the Cherokee nation from Georgia was eminent.) It is most likely that Bark’s Simple Larceny charge was for stealing a horse that belonged to General Eli McConnell, whose ca. 1840 home on Arnold Mill Road has recently been donated to the City of Milton for preservation.

Bark Chicken's record

Image credit: anyplaceamerica.com

The vast majority of the creeks in Milton are part of the Etowah River Basin, not the Chattahoochee River basin as might be assumed. Little River (which begins as a small stream between Free Home and Holbrook) becomes a tributary to the Etowah River after Chicken Creek and Cooper Sandy Creek join it. The Etowah River joins with the Oostanaula River in Rome to form the Coosa River. The Coosa River eventually joins the Tallapoosa River to form the Alabama River, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico at Mobile Bay.

Matt Kunz introducing the

library program

Bill Lusk: building the Book Barn

“People had to believe to make it happen.” Matt Kunz expressed this as the origin story for the Milton Library, the Friends of the Milton Library non-profit, and the Book Barn, at our February 11th program. Milton is blessed with a coterie of community-minded residents. Two of the most talented and committed are Bill Lusk and Matt Kunz, both former Milton City Council members and extraordinary volunteers in multiple arenas. They shared ‘behind-the-scenes’ reminiscences of the $8.7 million project that had an additional $100,000 expense for the Book Barn - raised from the community.

Library design: farm and equestrian motif

Book Barn: built with

salvaged wood

Photos, 203 of them, chronicled the acquisition and development of the Dinsmore property, the building of the unique library, the Book Barn, and the formation of the 'Friends' group, organized to raise funds to augment programs not covered by the library’s budget.

 Karen Thurman and Liz Hausmann

Finding the right spot: Liz Hausmann, former Fulton County Commissioner, and now chief of staff for Georgia’s Secretary of State, spoke of redirecting the locations of both the Milton and Alpharetta libraries to their respective city centers. Positioning the libraries within walking distance of City Hall and commercial and entertainment hubs is a plus for residents.

Bill Lusk spoke of the early 1800s, originally Cherokee Indian territory, that attracted settlers from around the southeast. The scion of the pioneer Broadwell family, John B., owned four houses on Mayfield Road that were sold to T.R. (Theodore Roosevelt) Dinsmore. A 2008 county referendum authorized the building of new libraries and renovating others. Fulton County purchased land for the Milton Library from the Imogene Dinsmore estate in 2013.

Original barns with frames of barn board

Bill Lusk with plans for the

Book Barn

Save those barn boards! Bill told of salvaging various elements of the Dinsmore house, including the front door, fireplace, windows, and hardware. Two barns on the site included a tractor shed and shop, and a larger barn used for livestock. After someone mused, “Too bad we can’t save the barns,” both barns yielded wood salvaged for the Book Barn. Bill was the overseer and hands-on builder of the Book Barn. He talked about early farmers harvesting timber from the land they cleared to farm and having it sawn locally. Wood from oaks, poplar, and pine was typically used for building in the Milton area.

Design inspiration: Driving around Milton and looking at old country barns yielded design ideas for both the library and the Book Barn. The library features a silo and barn silhouette. The local art community contributed to the bucolic decor: photos lining the halls done by local author and art photographer Bob Meyers, hanging sculpture, horse statue, and the end caps of the bookshelves featuring renderings of the 48” oak tree saved (at no small expense) in the front yard. Also, the meeting rooms have sliding ‘barn doors.’

Friends of the Milton Library: Paul Kaplan, Judy Burds, and Kim Gauger

Community effort: According to Matt Kunz, there was no ‘official’ funding for the barn. What better fund raising idea for the Book Barn than book sales? Karen Thurman and Kim Gauger initiated a book collection drive that resulted in acquiring 10,000 books. The first sale was held at the Olde Blind Dog pub and raised $1800 - a start toward the $100,000 needed for the barn. The book sales were augmented by a Giving Tree and a $60,000 contribution from The Shannon Foundation.

The Book Barn currently houses 13,000 volumes, and donations are always welcomed. Friends of the Milton Library volunteers meet weekly to inventory and date stamp the newly donated books to prepare for the Tuesday afternoon sales.

According to our genial host, library manager Todd Williamson, 2024 book sales funded 769 programs for all ages at the facility. According to current President Judy Burds, the Friends of the Milton Library garnered over $38,000 from book sales and donations to support these programs.

Celebrating Friends of the Milton Library volunteers: Early library naysayers opined that “libraries are outdated.” Not to be deterred, the ‘Friends’ charged ahead! A small group was organized in 2012 even before construction began, hoping to steer the design so the library would fit the rural character of Milton. Their early meetings took place in Kim Gauger’s Crabapple law office.

Kim and Karen Thurman negotiated the incorporation, tax filings, and the Articles of Organization for the non-profit. Local architect Tim Bryan weighed in on design issues. Negotiation with Fulton County was necessary to locate the Book Barn on county property. Fund raising efforts: Ron Wallace with early book sales, Bob Meyers and Dave Shannon initiating the Giving Tree, and Marsha Spear and Bob Meyers starting the popular Tour of Homes in Milton in 2016.

Following Adam Orkin, ‘Friends’ presidents were: Matt Kunz, Bill Lusk, Kevin Spear, Christy McWhorter, and Judy Burds. Other hard-working early volunteer board members included: Gordon Hunter, Leslie Fanuzzi, Marsha Spear, Mercy Vennel, Dave Shannon, and Paul Kaplan (currently Bob Ellis’ appointee to the Fulton County Library Board of Trustees). Milton clearly benefitted from the ‘Friends’ vision and hard work. Visit miltonlibraryfriends.org.

Serendipitous gifts to the community: Seedlings from the massive saved oak have resulted in 40 new trees planted in Milton. The Dinsmore’s day lilies were dug up before demolition and planted on municipal properties such as fire stations. 

The library and Book Barn are valuable centerpieces and gathering spots for the whole community. Indeed the coming together of the community for this worthwhile effort is reminiscent of an old-fashioned ‘barn raising’ when Milton was first settled!

'Friends' 2015 Board at Book Barn ribbon cutting

Photo credit: Judy Burds

Search your memory (or your attic) and take a guess!

1. A bowl for loose face powder
2. A candy bowl
3. A hair receiver
4. A potpourri bowl

Scroll down to see the answer (and the story) at the end of the newsletter!

Coconut Cream Pie

Linda Rusk

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup cornstarch

3 eggs, separated

1 2/3 cup milk

4 tablespoons butter 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/4 cup shredded coconut

1 9” pie shell baked or graham cracker crumb crust 

4 tablespoons sugar (for meringue)

Combine sugar and cornstarch, beat egg yolks until lemon colored, add milk and stir into sugar and cornstarch. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thick. Remove mixture from heat, add butter, vanilla, and coconut. Pour into cooled pie shell or graham cracker crumb crust.

Meringue: Beat egg whites in a large bowl with an electric mixer until foamy. Gradually add 4 tablespoons sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Top pie with meringue and place 4 inches under heat for about 10 minutes until the peaks turn brown.

Note: Whipped cream is an optional topping!

Easy Orange Pound Cake

Mary Gauf

1 box deluxe yellow cake mix

1 (5 1/4 ounce) box instant vanilla pudding

1/2 cup vegetable oil 

4 eggs

3/4 cup orange juice 

1 teaspoon orange extract

Combine all ingredients. Mix well. Place in greased and floured tube pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes. Top with glaze while warm.

Glaze: Mix thoroughly

2 cups confectioners sugar

1/4 cup orange juice

Photo credit: Gena Brown

Image credit: JustVintageHome.com

Answer: C. 

It’s called a hair receiver! This is a type of small cosmetic pot, recognizable by the hole in the lid. The purpose of a hair receiver was to hold hair that came out when brushing, to be used to add volume to hairstyles later. 

Contrary to popular belief, this hair was not likely to be used for hair art or jewelry, as the hair coming from brushes would be tangled and snarled, and not suitable for artwork, which was usually required to be straight and smooth and typically cut from the head for this express purpose.

Instead, the collected hair was put into small hairnet-like bags called ‘ratts’, which were necessary to achieve the height and volume in vogue with hairstyles of the time, or could also be used to fill pincushions. If you’ve ever wondered how Victorian women achieved the impressive height of their hairstyles, their beauty secret was often these ratts! 

Ratts could be formed in any shape and size to the wearer’s desire, from long and flat to large and wide. You may also remember a more modern equivalent of the same hair tool, in the infamous ‘Bumpits’ that were popular around 2010. 

Hair 'ratts'

Image credit: TheDreamstress.com

Hair receivers were common on vanities during the Victorian era, often sold in a set with a hair brush and hand mirror or powder jar, and were popular until the mid 20th century. Shorter hairstyles became more common in this time period, and as hairstyles became less voluminous and easier to maintain, hair receivers fell out of use and eventually became obsolete. You can still occasionally find them in thrift stores or the collections of older relatives, although many people today wouldn’t know what this object is. 

The greenish one above is made of Bakelite, and likely dates back to the 1930s, at the height of Bakelite’s popularity. As the first fully synthetic plastic, Bakelite was very widespread during the 30s because it was heat-resistant and could be molded during production, and was commonly used for household and commercial objects. 

Did you know what this object was, and do you have one in your home?

“We sit in the shade of trees we did not plant.”

Reverend Peter Raible, suggested by Deacon Lesley-Ann Drake

“When I was a kid, bedtime was 9 p.m. I couldn’t wait to be a grownup so I could go to bed anytime I wanted.

“Turns out that is 9 p.m.”

S. Hulce on LinkedIn

Wisdom of Jimmy Carter

Lonnie Bunche III, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, tells the story of curating “The Smithsonian’s America: An Exhibition on American History and Culture” for the 1994 American Festival in Japan. The 60,000 square foot exhibition took three years of work and 15 visits to Japan to prepare.

The Japanese urged the U.S. to focus on technology, the presidents, and the Wild West. According to Bunche, “We insisted on telling a more complete and complicated story” - including the expansion of civil liberties and the diversity of westward settlement beyond ‘cowboys and Indians.’ The risk was in telling fuller and less flattering stories about our country.

On opening day, former President Jimmy Carter walked through the exhibition with a former Japanese Prime Minister. Carter told him that this was “the true strength of America: to tell the whole of our history.”

Adapted from Smithsonian Magazine, 2024

Gold Corporate Sponsors

BENTLEY

________________

BENTLEY ATLANTA

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 Catignani 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

Additional 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!