Local museum filled with reminders of past
Great place to teach children, grandchildren
Volunteers are busy reorganizing displays in Rockmart Historical Museum, located at 133 South Marble St.
Each exhibit has been arranged in more compact form to tell a history of the past that highlight the life and times of the area through the decades.
To many, the history of Seaborn Jones provides a glimpse into the early days when pioneers included slate miners from Wales that settled in the area now known as Van Wert.
A sculpture of a Welsh miner, made by Craighead and on loan from Polk County Historical Museum, gives recognition to the legacy left by these skilled workers of slate.
Many residents of the small community known as Van Wert hoped it would become home to the railroad. However, this idea never became reality due to Jones, who gave land not only for a rail line but also for the cemetery, parks and other public buildings.
Although Jones is not the only early settler that has had an effect on the growth of the Rockmart area, he has the distinction of bringing rails into town that later become known as Rock Mart.
A display is dedicated to the achievements of African Americans in the history of Rockmart and Polk County. An article from Past Times, a publication of Rome- News Tribune, gives space to Lindsey Dillard, Rockmart native. He made history when at age 13 he became the youngest Black person to jump from a plane.
Clara J ones Alexander, 1925-2008, is included in this display of achievers. There are also others that would provide an educational experience for students seeking history about those who lived in the past.
Cornelia Jackson donated a photo of PFC Paul E. Wilson, who served in the U.S Army from 1941 through 1945 as a World War II radio operator. It has been placed near a military display that includes an Army phone.
Additionally, the facility showcases historic relics and reminders of another era that can be seen from 10 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. On Saturday, it is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“We hope visitors will experience Rockmart through the decades,” Pat Sampson, volunteer director, said. “You can step back in time by viewing our displays that feature Rockmart High School, local businesses, the medical profession, Goodyear Mill, the 1926 trail wreck and more.”
Sampson said individuals, many from out of town, visited the facilities during the recent Homespun Festival.
They enjoyed walking down memory lane with friends and relatives as they viewed “practical items for the home” that were used by grandparents and great grandparents.
The displays evoked memories of many who recalled watching their relatives using such items as a dough tray, churn, coffee grinder, butter mold, oil lamp or a variety of dishes.
“My grandmother made great biscuits,” one woman recalled. “She was always cooking and used a dough tray to turn out goodies that were filling and delicious.”
Among volunteers that have contributed display items showing those used in the 1900s are Sampson, Ann Wheeler, Cathy Holtzclaw and others.
Brenda Carroll loaned the library a woven egg basket that once belonged to Maggie Denson Kay. Information attached to this unique piece noted it was more than 100 years old.
There is also a display of quilts, a pedal sewing machine and other homemade treasures, including a dress made from what was known as a feed sack dress used during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Women of this era often used the sack material not only to make clothing but other household items such as dishtowels.
Cathy Holtzclaw is credited with initially stimulating local interest in the preservation of Rockmart’s history.
On April 13, 2003, she first displayed a notice written on poster board in the former Municipal Building on Marble Street. On it, she wrote the names of people from Rockmart that had been sent to Iraq and placed a yellow ribbon for those serving, black for the missing in action and red for the fallen that had spilled their blood on foreign soil.
Thereafter, people brought her photos of servicemen and women who had served in other wars. She talked with anyone that showed interest and asked them to bring pictures of other family members.
Soon she discovered another photograph of a group of people working to raise funds for the park. There was a parade with women wearing long dresses and hats.
Holtzclaw wanted to preserve the heritage of the people of Rockmart so that it would not be lost or forgotten. Many of the things being torn down bothered her until she realized she could not chain herself to buildings.
She did get photos of things that are no longer visible, including the Rockmart- Aragon Hospital.
Later, Cathy got her camera and walked the streets and made photos of all the existing buildings in the downtown area. Some of these have since been removed.
The late Jean Laltrello served on the museum committee and joined Don Tate, Lee Cummings, Kathy Holtzclaw, Cathy Matthews and others as they worked to make a dream become reality.
They initially decided to collect and protect Rockmart’s history before it was lost. They also wanted to connect the community to the roots of the pioneers who settled this area.
For more information about the Rockmart Historical Museum, email rockmartmuseum@yahoo.com.