Letter to the Editor

To the Editor: The topic of Ken Herron’s column in the April 19, 2017 was of interest to me, but I was taken aback by his comment that the location of New Echota is unknown. The location is well known, having been established in the mid-1950’s when work commenced to establish the restored and reconstructed historic site on Highway 225.

Early Georgia magazine, New Echota Issue, published in the spring of 1955 contains a number of articles about the history of New Echota, including an article detailing the meticulous research done to establish the location and the excavations that followed. New Echota Historic Site is the location of the original town.

This information from the Georgia State Parks website might be helpful to anyone with an interest in this important part of our history.

New Echota is one of the most significant Cherokee Indian sites in the nation and was where the tragic “Trail of Tears” officially began. In 1825, the Cherokee national legislature established a capital called New Echota at the headwaters of the Oostanaula River. During its short history, New Echota was the site of the first Indian language newspaper office, a court case which carried to the U.S. Supreme Court, one of the earliest experiments in national self government by an Indian tribe, the signing of a treaty which relinquished Cherokee claims to lands east of the Mississippi River, and the assembly of Indians for removal west on the infamous Trail of Tears.

New Echota Historic Site is open to the public every Wednesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., for a reasonable entry fee, and I would urge anyone who hasn’t visited to do so. There’s also a nature trail on site and a fine museum. We are fortunate that local leaders from the mid-20th century worked as long and hard as they did to establish what has become one of the best historic sites I’ve ever visited. Sincerely, Kathryn Sproull The Calhoun Times welcomes your Letters to the Editor. All letters must include name, address and phone number. No hateful, threatening or vulgar language is allowed. Send letters to: Letter to the Editor, c/o Calhoun Times, PO Box 8, Calhoun, Ga., 30703 or email letters to Brandi Owczarz - bowczarz@calhountimes.com.