Meeting minutes for Walker Historical Society, Feb. 23
Walker County Historical Society Feb. 23, 2020. Welcome Center, 309 N. Main St., LaFayette, GA
David Boyle, president, started at 3:00 p.m. with the following in attendance: David Boyle, Jamie Snyder, Richard W. Chadburn, Beverly Foster, Eddie Foster, Sr., Lon Nelle Forkner, Joe Hester, and Jane Shelton.
The January minutes were read briefly, including mentions of the Trail of Tears Association and the Teloga House in Chattooga County. There was also a short review of our finances and the treasurer’s report, which was accepted.
David Boyle then introduced some new business. This included the appointment of the Marsh House Board for 2020. New appointments include: Sharleen Robertson (2022), Jess Bookhardt (2022) and returning board members Joan Fowler (2022) and Jan Shattuck (2022).
Current board members include David Boyle (2021), Don Coleman (2021), Mary McConnell (2021), Josh Chapman (2020), Connie Forester (2021), Davene Nichols (2021).
New officers include Josh Chapman (2022), treasurer. Current officers include David Boyle, chair (2021); Don Coleman, vice president (2021); Mary McConnell, corresponding secretary (2021); David Boyle, recording secretary (2021); Josh Chapman, treasurer (2022); Connie Forester, historian (2021); and Robert Wardlaw, informal board member, advisor (2021).
Richard Chadburn (1) and Jane Shelton (2) made the motion to approve the above Marsh House Board. This passed unanimously.
Richard Chadburn (1) and Beverly Foster (2) made a motion to approve the actions of the Marsh House Board in 2019. This also passed unanimously.
There was a detailed discussion about the City of LaFayette’s treatment of the Marsh House yard and grounds. A Resolution of Concern was passed by unanimous consent. This would be presented to city leaders about resolving issues dealing with this treatment.
Beverly Foster presented a program that focused on the African American history of LaFayette and Walker County. There was a lot of discussion about the general history of the area, as well as what life was like with Jim Crow laws in the Reconstruction South.
Beverly’s program also included detailed research and information about lynchings and hangings of African Americans that occurred in Walker County. Most of those lynched in this area were young, handsome, black men, and those who owned property.
She also mentioned that while there were lynchings in the area, “whitecapping” (the KKK) was more common to this area. She also shared that to prevent “lynchings,” local law enforcement acted to follow due process and “legal hangings” for most accused black men. The legal hangings had to be done within ½ mile of the county courthouse.
Some of the key figures mentioned in Beverly’s program included Henry White, William/Will/Willio Webb, Robert White, Sandy-Pierce White, Sheriff Robert Garmany (sheriff from 1903-1910 & 1915-1920), Dr. William DeWitt Rogers Sr., Deputy Sheriff Miller, Joseph Polk Phipps and his dogs, possibly allowed a hanged African American man (Mr. George Cunningham) to be buried on his tannery property in 1883, Frank Frevel/Trevel and Nannie Frevel/Trevel.
She is very interested in finding out any more information about the descendants of these individuals, or anyone else connected to the lynchings in Walker County.
There will be a historical marker put in place to memorialize the victims of lynching in the area. The wording of the marker has been completed, and the site for the marker has been approved. There has been a tentative date of July 12, 2020, set for a dedication program.
The meeting concluded around 4:30 p.m. with people still in attendance until almost 5:00 p.m. This was an interesting and informative program about the African American history and experience in LaFayette and in Walker County.
Respectfully submitted,
Jamie Snyder, secretary
Resolution of concern
Whereas, the Walker County Historical Society (WCHS) is a former owner of the Marsh-Warthen-Clements House and Historic Site, and
Whereas, the deed of transfer for sale to Walker County provides for a reversion to the WCHS under certain conditions,
We the members of the WCHS gathered today, February 23, 2020, wish to express concern with the manner in which the grounds of the Marsh House have been treated by the contractor of the City of LaFayette in the move of the sewer lines from under the street to “under the sidewalk.”
The Marsh-Warthen-Clements House is listed in the register of historic places in Georgia and the United States and is subject to protections under federal and state laws. The WCHS is committed to following federal and state historic preservation guidelines. Therefore,
We wish to express concern that a magnolia tree was removed from the property and destroyed, altering the landscape plan. Apparently, no plan was in place for preserving the tree and landscape. However, we note that no utility poles belonging to the City of LaFayette were disturbed.
Officials of the Marsh House were told that the sewer line would be relocated under the existing sidewalk and that the brick wall there would be replaced. Instead, the sewer line was relocated under the landscape of the west side of the Marsh House. The irrigation system was destroyed, as well, and the mature crepe myrtle trees dug up and replanted, not in where they were before. Expensive turf grass was destroyed instead of being removed and replanted. All this action was done before and without consultation with the Marsh House Board. In addition, telephone lines were cut and left lying on the ground for more than three weeks, thus disabling the security system for protection of the house.
We sincerely request that city leaders assure us that the landscape plan, which originally cost more than $100,000 of private funds donated by the people of LaFayette, be fully restored according the original plan at no cost to the Marsh House Board or to Walker County.
Jamie Snyder, secretary