Winter 2022

News & Updates from
the Milton Historical Society
Visit our website: www.miltonhistoricalsociety-georgia.org

McConnell-Chadwick House

Named to Georgia Trust Places in Peril

by Joan Borzilleri and Bill Lusk

Chadwick House Preservation Committee and Milton Historical Society Patrons at Rhodes Hall for the Places in Peril Reception


In November 2022, Milton’s McConnell-Chadwick House was named by the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation as a Place in Peril for 2023. Since 2006, the Trust has presented annual lists of historic sites of statewide significance that are threatened by deterioration, demolition, or encroaching development through the Places in Peril program. Inclusion as one of the ten sites identified this year as a cultural resource ensures that our site will receive a high level of preservation attention from the Trust. According to the Trust, 85% of selected sites have been saved or are in progress. Through the efforts of the Chadwick House Preservation Committee, all the nomination points considered by the Places in Peril Selection Committee at the Georgia Trust were met. 


Years ago the McConnell-Chadwick house was recognized as having historic significance for this area. Former Milton Councilman Bill Lusk and Alpharetta and Old Milton County Historical Society Past President Pat Miller had a long-term goal to help preserve the structure. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources Historic Resources Survey from 1977 and 1996 included the house. The Milton Historical Marker Task Force researched the house and created a marker for it in 2018.


The McConnell-Chadwick House, built in the late 1830s or early 1840s, was the homestead of Brigadier General and State Senator Eli McConnell, and it was one of the first substantial frame houses in what was then newly-established Cherokee County. McConnell mediated the conflicts between Native American and white settlers, and he also helped found the town of Hickory Flat. This site is important for telling the history of Cherokee heritage, land lotteries, forced removal, and early pioneer life.


McConnell owned various mills in Cherokee County, was an early postmaster and sheriff, was a land speculator and himself held approximately 3500 acres in former Cherokee lands. He was also the warden of the Georgia Penitentiary in Milledgeville. McConnell was an early advocate in the Georgia General Assembly for the creation of Milton County. He owned Land Lot 872, where the house stands, from 1837 until his death in 1861, as listed in his estate.


Little did we know early-on that the house is also a very nice early example in our area of Greek Revival architecture. Its original small entrance portico is gone. But research by one of our group, retired architectural historian Bob Gamble, suggests that the house is what Bob calls a "country cousin" to Willis Ball's notable mansions around Roswell, such as Bulloch Hall. Bob conducted a forensic analysis of the Chadwick House and then closely examined several structures attributed to Ball. As a result, he feels there's compelling physical evidence that Willis Ball himself could have been involved directly or indirectly in its construction.

Chadwick House in 1972

Photo credit: Bernard Wolff

Chadwick House today

Photo credit: Bob Gamble

Threats to the property: According to builder and restoration expert Bill Lusk, threats to the property include natural, man-made, encroaching development, funding, and further neglect. Although the bones of the house appear to be sound, any structure over 180 years old typically shows lesions, abrasions, wounds, and neglect. Roof damage, missing clapboard siding, and water intrusion are threats to the structural integrity of the building. Correction of these issues will be the immediate task when the stabilization process begins. The house is located on Georgia Highway 140 near the Fulton/Cherokee line, a major traffic artery. Georgia DOT plans have indicated the intention to widen the road in the future. Property values in the area have risen, along with a burgeoning population in Milton. It is encouraging that the Chadwick family supports the preservation of the home and property.

Georgia Trust CEO Mark McDonald explains the Places in Peril selections

Places in Peril selection posters on display


Larry Chadwick and daughter Christy Chadwick

Linda and Jim Farris,

Bill and Jane Lusk

Nomination process: The Chadwick House Preservation Committee was initiated by members of the Milton Historical Society and other historians in the area. The Committee’s task was to find documented proof for what was essentially local lore. Owner Larry Chadwick shared family stories and documents from the Chamblee-Chadwick families who have lived in the Little River area for over 100 years. Author and historical researcher Larry Vogt shared documents from his research on Hickory Flat, Troy-Little River, Cherokee removal fort - Fort Buffington, and the Trail of Tears. Historian Michael Wren provided documents naming Eli McConnell as the seller of Cherokee improvements and personal property after removal. Pat Miller provided family trees for John Barksdale Garrison (Eli’s brother-in-law), the Chamblees, and the Arnolds. It is fortuitous that what the Committee recognized as a property worthy of preservation was also recognized as such by one of the prime promoters of the preservation of historic structures - the Georgia Trust.

Future adaptive reuse of the property: The house would indeed make an impressive educational interpretive center to tell the story of the time of transition between Native Americans and Anglo-European settlers. Once restored, it could also serve as a Milton Welcome Center, Community Center, office for a potential park on the property, or Trail of Tears witness structure telling the stories of the land lotteries and the removal process. Commercial leasing is another important option.

About the Chadwick House Preservation Committee: Members include Milton Historical Society Board members Joan Borzilleri, Jim Farris, Carl Jackson, and Bill Lusk; MHS Patron Pat Miller; property owner Larry Chadwick; architectural historian Robert Gamble; researcher and author Larry Vogt; and long-time area resident Bernard Wolff. MHS President Jeff Dufresne has been an important resource and supporter of this effort. Author Bob Meyers has been instrumental in furnishing public relations and press release help. Patrons of the Milton Historical Society have exhibited support for the project, and presidents of local historical societies, the Chadwick family, and a Georgia Tech professor of architecture wrote letters of support that accompanied the Places in Peril application. We surely owe a debt of gratitude to all the ‘helpers’ in the preservation community!

President’s Report:

2022 in Review


by Jeff Dufresne


As we bring 2022 to a close, it’s time pause and reflect on the impact of the Milton Historical Society on our community. I am particularly proud of the following 2022 accomplishments:


  • Researched and recommended the McConnell-Chadwick House to be named by the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation as one of ten “Places in Peril” for 2023 in Georgia.
  • Provided historical research for City Council concerning the proposed 22-parcel tract of property named The District at Mayfield.
  • Hosted public Programs on topics such as Old Milton Post Offices and Settlers; Backstories of the Roswell mill workers after the Civil War; Getting started with Oral History; and the SAR Traveling Trunk Show.
  • Hosted the second annual Shindig at Wildberry Creek Farm featuring live music, southern BBQ, ice cream truck, antique cars, raffle, book store, historical farm exhibits, hay rides, and corn hole. Sponsored by Six Bridges Brewing, Poe & Company Bookstore and other local establishments.
  • Hosted a Spring Fling social at Pax Domus (aka Dufresne house) with an Armistice Day theme. Sponsored by Fran Gordenker, Six Bridges Brewing, and other local establishments.
  • Published content-rich quarterly E-newsletters as well as Facebook page.
  • Released the Color Historic Crabapple coloring book (v.1) that teaches an appreciation for the historic roots of the Crabapple community.
  • Hosted a MHS tent at Crabapple Festival. Introduced coloring book (v.1) to public and recruited new Patrons.
  • Published Milton Historical Society Note cards which profile 10 historic buildings still standing on Mayfield, Mid Broadwell, and Arnold Mill Roads.
  • Conducted ongoing research into the life of John Milton - namesake of the City of Milton.
  • Assisted the City of Milton with naming newly acquired Greenspace properties.
  • Partnered with the City of Milton to develop a web-based, interactive map of Milton’s 27 cemeteries.
  • Scheduled laying a wreath on two veteran graves at Phillips Cemetery in observance of Wreaths across America Day on December 17.
  • Implemented archival inventory software, CatalogIt, which is linked to the Society’s main page under the Archives tab. 
  • Acquired a rich collection of archival donations, such as a Hamilton organ belonging to Aubrey Morris; Nap and Johnny Rucker baseball memorabilia; Georgia Genealogical Society periodicals; and Digital Aerial photography of Crabapple 1936 to 2019.


Thanks to our valued Patrons, the Milton Historical Society has become the “go-to” resource for promoting and preserving our City’s past for future generations.

Snaps of MHS Second Annual Shindig - October 17, 2022 at

Wildberry Creek Farm


Photo credits: Leslie Watson

The perfect Autumn day

Bill Lusk and friend

Hosts Laura and Byron Foster

An afternoon of bluegrass



Remembering Hopewell Elementary School: Part 1

Gone but definitely not forgotten!

Photo credit: Rebecca Byrd

by Editorial Staff - with contributions from

Rebecca Byrd and Stephen Monroe


More than a school… Hopewell Elementary is remembered as a community gathering spot and baseball field for local teams, as well as a much-loved educational institution serving far north Fulton County. The school was located on Hopewell Road at the south side of Bell Memorial Park, and operated from 1935 to 1984. According to Milton long-time resident Steve Monroe, Hopewell Elementary was one of four elementary schools west of State Route 400, the others being Northwestern in Crabapple, Alpharetta Elementary, and Bailey-Johnson. Steve entered the first grade there in 1956 and also taught at the school from 1973 to 1981. His memories, therefore, are both from a student and educator’s perspective. 


When the original school opened in 1935, it contained four classrooms and a lobby (but no indoor restrooms). The rectangular frame building had a concrete foundation and a brick chimney. According to the DNR’s Georgia Historic Resources Survey (1977 and 1996), the school may have been built as “part of the bond issue in 1932 for schools in the newly-formed (Fulton) county.” The school was expanded in 1950 to encompass a cafeteria with a stage boasting both footlights and overhead lights, offices, restrooms (finally), and additional classroom space. The school had seven grades, with graduates typically progressing to the old Milton High School located in Alpharetta. Milton was one of three high schools north of the Chattahoochee River in Fulton County. The others were: chief rival Roswell High and the Bailey-Johnson School, which served minority students. Steve recalls that early-on, school buses were owned by individual drivers who were paid directly by students’ families.


Steve taught grades 5, 6, and 7; often a room had a combination of two grades, depending on the number of students in a grade. In later years, the school followed a middle school pattern, with teachers specializing in individual subjects. Steve’s focus was science, math, and Social Studies - as a male teacher he was a definite minority!


Rebecca Darracott Byrd and

Steve Monroe


Photo credit: Editorial staff

Teacher Martha Darracott Stone


Photo credit: Rebecca Byrd

Rebecca Darracott Byrd, a classmate of Steve’s, lived over the Fulton County line but was able to attend Hopewell because her mother was a Fulton County teacher at Hopewell. She felt it was an excellent school. Rebecca remembers that dresses were the order of the day (as was strict discipline), no slacks or shorts for the girls! Martha Darracott Stone, Rebecca’s mom, taught Steve Monroe as a young student, and was still at Hopewell when Steve returned there to teach! Other memorable teachers at Hopewell include: Bonnie Sosebee Gramling and Kate Bramblett. Ms. Gramling was Martha Stone’s roommate at Reinhardt College (now a university).

Mrs. Bannister's Seventh Grade Class 1962-63


Photo credit: Rebecca Byrd

Model Car Contest: From left to right - Michael Bell (son of Hugh and Louise), James Wright,

Steve Monroe


Photo credit: Steve Monroe

Looking at the class picture from the 7th Grade, Steve and Rebecca reminisced about the service of the school Safety Patrol with their sashes and badges: they helped to monitor the corridors, direct the buses, and safeguard the American flag. As a patrol member, Charles Holbrook was regarded as a school hero when he saved a student from being hit by a car! Rebecca went on to attend Georgia Southern University and experienced various corporate moves with her family (Birmingham, Alabama - Franklin, Tennessee) before returning to the area 10 years ago.

A Stable Community...

Kathleen McGinnis Monroe, School Secretary


Photo credit: Steve Monroe

Hugh and Louise Bell


Photo credit: Steve Monroe

Wright, Bennett, Bell, McCleskey, Hamby, Hardeman, Heard, Collett, and Pearson were familiar family names in the community, many attending Hopewell Baptist Church, a bit farther north on Hopewell Road. Mr. John Bell was the custodian at the Hopewell Elementary for many years, while daughter-in-law Louise Bell, wife of Hugh, managed the cafeteria with staff Frances McCleskey and Jean Sanders. According to Stephanie Monroe, Steve’s daughter, her grandmother Kathleen McGinnis Monroe was the secretary at Hopewell Elementary from the 1960s to the early 1980s. Kathleen’s good friend, Ruth Wills, was principal of Hopewell for several years until the school closed. A community Little League team’s baseball games were played at the school. A wellhouse on the adjacent property owned by I.O. Wright, Sr. offered a much-needed water supply for the ballplayers. The Hopewell team played against Alpharetta, Warsaw, Newtown, Crabapple, and Ocee - all local teams with volunteer coaches.

Leon Cole, Hopewell band teacher, Jason Davis (photo contributor), Peter Zervakos, Milton High School band director


Hopewell School Band:

Steve Monroe, Rebecca Byrd, Stanley Richards, Marion Vaughan, Patsy Pearson, Unknown, Marsha Webb Crosby

Hopewell Elementary - Part 2


Our story will continue with tales of Bell Park, more student memories, and lives of early settlers! To learn more about Hopewell Elementary and reconnect with old friends, visit the public Facebook page at “Hopewell Elementary, Alpharetta, Georgia.”

Archives Update and Look Ahead - 2023 

by Kathy Beck 

The Crabapple Grocery at 790 Mayfield Road Circa 1969

Sally Rich-Kolb Collection Photographer unknown 

Aubrey Morris Family

pump organ



Photo courtesy of the

Morris family

A big thank you to all who donated to our collection this year! 


A web version of our archival inventory software, CatalogIt, was implemented in the spring of this year and linked to the Society’s main page under the Archives tab. We are simultaneously adding to the archives and then linking information to the web as time and resources allow. There is not a part- or full-time staff member for archives currently but volunteers who would like to help us leave a legacy are very welcome.


Email Kathy at archives@miltonhistoricalsociety-georgia.org


Thanks to Bill Lusk, we acquired a sturdy used steel storage cabinet to refurbish and a rolling cart great for scanning projects. The cabinet is undergoing refurbishment with new coats of paint to follow. 


Acquisitions in 2022: 

  • Baseball items related to Nap and Johnny Rucker (donated by Mark Amick) 
  • Crabapple Scrapbook and ephemera over a multi-decade period created by Virginia Reeves (donated by Sally Rich-Kolb) 
  • Periodicals from the Georgia Genealogical Society (donated by Robert and Nancy Volz)
  • Hamilton Organ belonging to Aubrey Morris (donated by Susan Morris Moe)
  • Digital Aerial photography of Crabapple 1936 to 2019 (donated by Kathy and Philip Beck)
  • Photos from Spring Fling and Shindig (courtesy of Leslie Watson)
  • History of Crabapple Baptist Church (two large binders donated by Sheila Rucker Pennebaker and Nancy Boldin) 
  • Crabapple in 1993 – a photo collection (donated by Karen Thurman)


A key addition this year was a new volunteer, Hazel Gerber. She is helping to add Aubrey Morris articles from the archive to the web catalog. Hazel is a member of the Milton Library History Book Club. Many of you see her helping as an election volunteer if you vote at the Milton Library. Welcome Hazel!


Looking ahead to 2023: 

  • Welcome additional new volunteers who are greatly needed- see email below to reach Kathy
  • Continue photographing and indexing of paper files 
  • Bring an index of reference material online 
  • Add to oral histories of Crabapple and Milton in general
  • Evaluate funds needed to archive Milton Herald digitally from 2006 to current 


Try out the new QR code function! It is an excellent feature that allows us to expand our educational reach. If you see opportunities for use, let us know at archives@miltonhistoricalsociety-georgia.org


Here is a direct example for access to our Major League Baseball items: 

Best wishes for a Happy Holiday Season and New Year!

Free, Fun Field Trips in our Neighborhood!

Local historical societies and community non-profits offer a variety of well-researched programs and visits to cultural sites! Most groups welcome folks who are not paid members, but non-profits rely heavily on support from the community and all activities are carried out by volunteers. Learning opportunities abound!


Note: paid members often get priority reservations to limited-capacity events.

Alpharetta and Old Milton County Historical Society



Follow this active and well-established group on their website AOMCHS.org, Facebook page, and join their mailing list for program information. 



Guided tour of Autrey Mill Nature and Heritage Preserve on October 16, 2022: Mary Jo Malowney is a docent volunteer and Board member at Autrey Mill. This retired educator is the perfect hostess for a behind-the-scenes visit to the varied structures at this jewel of historic preservation. We began the tour with a visit to the 1860s Tenant Farm House, progressed to the grand 1880s Summerour House (which Mary Jo is in the process of helping to renovate in period Victorian style), then on to the 1922-1958 Green General Store, Farm Museum, and 1860s Warsaw Methodist Church. The Autrey Mill Nature Preserve Association has been instrumental in moving the buildings to the preserve. 


Who knew the backstory of the monkey statues on one of the preserve trails? Mary Jo had the group incredulous with her narrative about the circus train that derailed long ago in Duluth. (Spoiler alert - it doesn’t end well.) The car carrying the live monkeys disgorged the wild troop during the accident. The monkeys used the forest canopy to swing into what is now Johns Creek and local farmers made short work of the invaders. (They likely didn’t even know what was invading them.) The statues are a reminder of their grim demise - being in the wrong place at the wrong time! autreymill.org


This informative and enjoyable look back in time ended with an outdoor pot luck BBQ lunch. Thanks, AOMCHS!

Johns Creek Historical Society


johnscreekhistory.org


Tour of the William Rogers house in Johns Creek on October 23, 2022:


Johns Creek Historical Society President, Joan Compton arranged the tour at this privately-owned historic home, built in 1839, that is not open to the public. This special program included a discussion of the John Rogers and Sarah Cordrey Cherokee family, with a focus on their second son William who held leadership positions in the Cherokee Nation and represented the Cherokee in negotiating with the U.S. for Cherokee land rights. We were also fortunate to have a grandson of William Wilson (owner of the house in the 1940s), share memories of visiting the house and farm as a child. The grandson, Bill Collins, is the father of former Milton City Council member and Milton Historical Society founding member, Karen Thurman, also in attendance.


After pointing out features of the historic home with attendees touring the house and grounds, we visited the Rogers-Bell cemetery where John Rogers, his wife Sarah, and many of their descendants are buried. Very few historic structures remain in Johns Creek and the William Rogers “Oakland” home is a treasure, rich in stories of its residents and association with the area’s Cherokee past. 


John Rogers was a respected, influential plantation owner, Indian countryman, and colleague of President Andrew Jackson. Rogers' 1804 home - today, a private residence in Johns Creek - was an overnight stopover for Jackson. Much later, the home was also visited by famed journalist Will Rogers, the great, great nephew of John Rogers.


Many thanks to the Rogers descendants for allowing us to hold a meeting at the historic William Rogers house.


The 25th Annual National Trail of Tears Conference and Symposium in Cherokee NC


gatrailoftears.com




Georgia Trail of Tears Attendees


This important conference was held from September 19th to the 21st, 2022 in Cherokee, North Carolina at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and hosted by the NC TOTA Chapter. 


Members of the Georgia Trail of Tears Association were well represented at the convenient location. We were spellbound by insightful speakers and eye opening field trips. Dr. Brett Riggs from Western Carolina University highlighted the Eastern Cherokee Resistance to the Forced Removal of 1838 (a narrative about those who remained and later became the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians). Dr. Claudio Saunt from the University of Georgia was also a keynote speaker with his presentation focusing on "White Supremacy and Indian Removal: Why the United States dispossessed the Cherokees in the age of Andrew Jackson.”


Our Field Trip took us to many of the historic and culturally significant towns and mounds of the first Cherokees. Many of these towns were detailed in records as early as the 1560s. Our field trip ended with a visit to Kituwah Mound which was the great mother town to the Cherokee. Most of the Kituwah Mound was destroyed in the early 1900s by a local farmer but now the mound and the land surrounding the mound is under ownership of the Eastern Band. We were treated to a traditional dinner with dancing. Many of the GA TOTA members participated in learning some of the traditional Cherokee dances.

Photo credits: Georgia Trail of Tears Association

Mules & Milton


By Kathy Beck and Byron Foster

Photo credit: Byron Foster


Horses were not the only animal local farmers utilized. Mule historians report that the often much maligned animal was surer footed and more efficient in the field than the horse. Society Board member Byron Foster recalls “my father used a mule one year to clear the creek bank for a Fourth of July BBQ.” 

Farmers typically purchased mules from breeders. According to Byron, the local “Mule Man” (breeder) of notoriety was Olen Moore who live in “Pole Town,” which was in Sandy Springs. Located near where Roswell Road intersects with Long Island, the then unpaved road was often muddy and difficult. Poles nestled in the muddy road provided traction for the animals and wagons to make it up the hill.


George Washington recognized the value of the mule for farming. He was gifted different breeding male donkey stock from King Charles of Spain in 1785 and also from the Marquis de Lafayette in 1786. Washington used these to cross breed with female horses to develop what became known as the “compound” - - the beginning of the “American Mammoth Jackstock.” Mules caught on especially well in the south as farm draft animals. 


The mule heritage is still celebrated annually each spring in historic Columbia Tennessee, proclaiming itself as the “Mule Breeding Capital of the US.” Columbia is a favorite spot for the American Picker’s Antiques hosts. It also has an historic district with art galleries, microbreweries, and two buildings on the National Register of Historic Places to visit.


Credits:

  • The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey by Rinker Buck 2016- kindle edition 
  • Garden and Gun Magazine, August 2022 : https://gardenandgun.com/articles/a-pickers-paradise-columbia-tennessee/
  • City of Columbia TN website: https://www.visitcolumbiatn.com/

Retraction: Did you know?

Connie Mashburn, Resident Historian


A retraction was requested by the author in the article on Chicken Creek in the Society's Autumn newsletter. He asked that we correct the following statement:


"Sections of Highway 140 north serve as the border between Fulton and Cherokee Counties."


It should read:


"A section of Little River is part of the boundary between Fulton and Cherokee Counties."


We regret any confusion this may have caused.

Fun history shorts...


Submitted by Jeff Dufresne from thefactfile.org


Johns Creek was dotted with trading posts beside the Chattahoochee River in the early 19th century. Some of these trading posts became crossroads communities in which pioneer families such as the Medlock, Cowart, Buice, Findley, McGinnis, Rogers, and others gathered to visit and sell their crops.



Johns Creek is where the first gold rush was documented in the foothills of Northern Georgia. It was a land occupied by the Cherokee Indians who would, later on, be driven away by the Federal government in the 1830s. These developments are featured in what is popularly known as the “Trail of Tears.”

Thoughts for today...


"Nothing spoils a good story like the arrival of an eyewitness."

Mark Twain


"There are two motives for reading a book: one, that you enjoy it; the other, that you can boast about it."

Bertrand Russell


"Why do people always expect authors to answer questions? I am an author because I want to ask questions. If I had answers I'd be a politician."

Eugene Ionesco

Cherokee Nation Pushes for a Seat in Congress


Will the Treaty of New Echota finally be honored?


Numerous news outlets reported in September 2022 that the Cherokee Nation is renewing its campaign for representation in Congress, calling on federal legislators to honor a treaty that the U.S. government made nearly 200 years ago. “For two centuries, Congress has failed to honor that promise,” said Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. (pictured at left) “However, the Treaty of New Echota has no expiration date. The obligation to seat a Cherokee Nation delegate is as binding today as it was in 1835.”


Currently, the House of Representatives has six non-voting members. Washington DC, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and the US Virgin Islands are represented by a delegate, who serves a two-year term. Puerto Rico is served by a resident commissioner, who is elected every four years.


According to the website cherokee.org:


“It is time for the United States government to honor its promise and seat the Cherokee Nation’s delegate, Kim Teehee, in the U.S. House of Representatives.


In 1835, the U.S. government and the Cherokee Nation signed the Treaty of New Echota, which forced our ancestors to give up their ancestral homelands and move west on the Trail of Tears.


What many people don’t know is that this same treaty promised the Cherokee Nation the right to send a delegate to the U.S. Congress. Article 7 of the Treaty of New Echota is crystal clear—Cherokee Nation 'shall be entitled to a delegate in the House of Representatives of the United States whenever Congress shall make provision for the same.'


For nearly two centuries, Congress has failed to honor this promise. Yet the obligation to seat a Cherokee Nation delegate remains as binding today as it was in 1835.


In August 2019, in one of his first major acts as the duly elected leader of the Cherokee Nation and as specified in the Cherokee Nation Constitution, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. nominated Kimberly Teehee to serve as the Cherokee Nation’s first Delegate to Congress.”


About Chuck Hoskin, Jr.

Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. has a Bachelor of Arts and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Oklahoma. He is a member of the Cherokee Nation and Oklahoma Bar Associations.


Serving on the Council of the Cherokee Nation, he worked with his fellow council members to start building homes for Cherokees again, which had not been done in more than a decade, increased education funding, and sponsored legislation to expand health care services through casino dollars.

Coming Attractions...


Milton Historical Society events scheduled for 2023:


  • January 17, 2023 - "Rucker Family History in Milton" Nancy Boldin and Sheila Rucker Pennebaker
  • February, 2023 - "Milton's Properties in Peril" Kathy Beck, Lynn Tinley, Bill Lusk, Bob Gamble, Joan Borzilleri
  • March, 2023 - "The History of Boiling Springs Primitive Baptist Church" Pastor Randall Cagle
  • April, 2023 - "Some history you probably never heard before!" Larry Vogt


Watch this space for more information on program topics with confirmed dates and venues!

Milton Historical Society Patrons


Many thanks for your support!


Lifetime Patrons

Amy and Mark Amick

Josephine and Jeff Dufresne

Fran Gordenker

Felton Anderson Herbert

Johnny Herbert

Bill Lusk

Linda and Robert Meyers

Adam Orkin

Charlie Roberts

Sarah Roberts

Marsha and Kevin Spear

Karen Thurman

Kim and Dana Watkins


Corporate Sponsors

Lithic Genealogy Group

The William B. Orkin Foundation



Sustaining Patrons

Kathy Beck

Philip Beck

Kevin Filer

Laura and Byron Foster

Kim and Tom Gauger

Sheryl and Carl Jackson

Steve Krokoff

Connie Mashburn

Curtis Mills

Julie and Kurt Nolte

Julie and Ronnie Rondem

Jennifer and Robert Sorcabal

Jennifer Yelton


Family Patrons

Sheree and Marc Arrington

Robert Ballard

Kristi and Paul Beckler

Joan and Don Borzilleri

Luz and Daniel Cardamone

Rhonda and David Chatham

Jeanne and Bob Coates

Michael Critchet

Mary and Gregg Cronk

Charlie Dorris

Jenny Doyle

Dennis Everhart

Linda and James Farris

Kelly Finley

Carlos Garcia

Brenda and Brett Giles

Gaarman Gordon

Katie and Ian Griffin

Lauren and Tony Hill

Megan and Peyton Jamison

Laura Keck

Dean Lamm

Gwen and Eric Leichty

Holt Lyda

Mary Jo and Ed Malowney

Suzanne and Barry Mansell

Carol and Doug McClure

Family Patrons (cont'd)

Kat and Jeff Meier

Pat Miller

Elizabeth and Andrew Montgomery

Kathy and Paul Moore

Donna and Nick Moreman

Martha and Sonny Murphy

Kirsten and Ryan Muzinich

Marjorie and Clayton Pond

Mary Sandefur

Shannon and Tony Sheppard

Jami and Jayson Teagle

Jami Tucker


Individual Patrons

Michael Albertson

Stephanie Andersson

Melanie Antos

Nancy Boldin

Steve Cory

Seth Garrett

Hazel Gerber

Marlene Hitt

Jeff Johnson

Larry Johnstone

David Kahn

Matt Kunz

Lynna and Brian Lee

Donna Loudermilk

Carole Madan

Sheila Pennebaker

Gary Schramm

Mallory Staples

Lynn Tinley

Lara Wallace

Jeff White

Tom Wunderle


Student Patrons

Sabrina Chotkowski

Catherine Everett

Jack Miller

Claudine Wilkins

We Love our Founding Members!
Ron Wallace
Felton and Johnny Herbert
Adam Orkin
Pat Miller
Dawn and Keith Reed
Amy Christiansen
Kathy and Philip Beck
Jessica and Warren Cheely
Heather and Joe Killingsworth
Ronnie Rondem
Seth Chandlee
Curtis Mills
Mary Ann and Clarke Otten
Mark Amick
Joan Borzilleri
Norm Broadwell
Jeff Dufresne
James Farris
Byron Foster
Kim Gauger
Bill Lusk
Connie Mashburn
Robert Meyers
Charlie 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?


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

Thanks for reading and supporting Milton's history!