Moving Through Georgia

Extra- Joe Brown’s Pikes

Governor Joe Brown had a plan to arm Georgians against a possible invasion- pikes.   The Moving Through Georgia book is available on Amazon. But they are dead - A look at mourning and notable burials in Northeast Georgia

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Extra- Nathaniel Greene

For the Fourth of July we go through the Revolutionary War career of Nathiel Greene, namesake of Greene County.  From Boston in 1776 to Savannah, Greene was involved in fighting the British even after Cornwallis hung up his spurs.   The Moving Through Georgia book is available on Amazon. But they are dead - A look at mourning and notable burials in Northeast Georgia  

Two disasters- the Toccoa Falls Flood and the Gainesville tornados

In 1936 three tornados struck downtown Gainesville.  Forty years later a dam failure would flood Toccoa Falls College.  This week, two tragedies.  

The Murder of M.C. Hunt

A story that I told in the live show- the tale of an 1895 murder in Banks County.  We go from crime to punishment.   If you don’t do podcasts, the Moving Through Georgia book is available on Amazon.

Crossing Tallulah Gorge

In 1970 Karl Wallenda crossed Tallulah Groge on a wire- but he wasn't the first!  He may not even have been the second to do it.  This week we answer the question; how did they get the wire across the gorge? Video of Wallenda making the crossing The Moving Through Georgia book is available on Amazon.

The War of Jenkin’s Ear

James Oglethorpe was often criticized for concentrating too much on defending Savannah from the British and not dealing with the day-to-day problems of the colonists- but he turned out to be right.  This week a British captain has his ear cut off, and war is declared!   Well, there's more to it than that...    

Extra- John ’Fat’ Hardy and a bad batch of moonshine

A quick story about a Gainesville moonshiner, and a very dangerous batch of whiskey.   The Moving Through Georgia book is available on Amazon.  

James Oglethorpe Part Three

The colony becomes the King's property, and Oglethrorpe retires in England.

James Oglethorpe Part Two

Continuing the story of the Georgia colony!  

James Oglethorpe and the Georgia Colony

We're back!  This next series of episodes begins with James Oglethorpe and the founding of the Georgia colony.     If you don’t do podcasts, the Moving Through Georgia book is available on Amazon.

Hilliard Wilbanks and the Medal of Honor

Hilliard Wilbanks from Cornelia was awarded the Medal of Honor poshumously for his bravery in Vietnam.     (Updated for Memorial Day)   The Medal of Honor website- more stories of bravery

Looking through the papers... again

While I'm writing new episodes for the summer- here's a few odds and ends from thelocal papers.    

Confederatos!

I once had a podcast of short Civil War stories called 'Civil War Sketches'.  I'm sharing one episode as I write and record new espodes of Moving Through Georgia to come out in June.  It's the story of Confederate veterans who moved to South America after the Civil War. Thanks to everyone who attended the live show!   Going through podcast withdrawl?  Try the Moving Through Georgia book.

People of Northeast Georgia

Some short notes on interesting people of Northeast Georgia- these are good stories, but too short to be their own episode.  This will be the last episode of this series- Please stay subscribed, as there will be more episodes in June. We’re going to do a LIVE Moving through Georgia show at Sweetbreads in Demorest on SATURDAY, APRIL 8 at 2:00! Please join us for a conversation on the history and a few mysteries of this area, some colorful characters who were part of Demorest, and at least on...

James Franklin Howard’s Tower

The search for proof that the Earth is hollow leads one man to Northeast Georgia, and how a local landmark was part of his experiment.

Appalachian Snake Handling Churches

A look at the meaning behind handling dangerous snakes in church, and it's connection to two North Georgia churches. We’re going to do a LIVE Moving through Georgia show at Sweetbreads in Demorest on SATURDAY, APRIL 8 at 2:00! Please join us for a conversation on the history and a few mysteries of this area, some colorful characters who were part of Demorest, and at least one ghost story! And, what's a podcast without some true crime- mayhem, moonshiners, and murders! It’ll be fun, and you’...

The Confederate Navy

A Georgian from Roswell, 380 miles from the Atlantic Ocean, is given the task to build a navy for the Confederacy.   We’re going to do a LIVE Moving through Georgia show at Sweetbreads in Demorest on SATURDAY, APRIL 8 at 2:00! Please join us for a conversation on the history and a few mysteries of this area, some colorful characters who were part of Demorest, and at least one ghost story! And, what's a podcast without some true crime- mayhem, moonshiners, and murders! It’ll be fun, and you...

Richard Jewell

The security guard suspected of planting a bomb at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.  The press has no problem condemning him as an angry, lone bomber from an isolated mountain community as the 24 hours news cycle begins.  This week, the rush to fill a full day's broadcasting overrules some journalists' integrity. We’re going to do a LIVE Moving through Georgia show at Sweetbreads in Demorest on SATURDAY, APRIL 8 at 2:00! Please join us for a conversation on the history and a few mysteries of t...

How did that place get that name?

We've done something like this before- this week it's as many place names as I can explain in ten minutes.    Find the Moving through Georgia book on Amazon!

Extra- Moses Formwalt

A quick story about the first few mayors of Atlanta.  The Free and Rowdy Party gets the city started, then the Moral Party moves in.

George Harsh- An Atlanta Thrill Killer

Georgia Harsh had money, friends, and a taste for liquor.  He and some fellow wealthy college students pulled off seven armed robberies for the fun of it- leaving two dead in their wake.  Harsh would be arrested, and then the second act of his life would start.  His life would actually go through a few acts.  This week, the fascinating life of a criminal from the turn of the century through World War Two.   Find the Moving Through Georgia book here!    

I had an A.I. write this episode!

I spent some time playing with 'Chat GPT', an online artificial intelligence.  I asked it some questions, and it gave vague, fairly simply worded answers.  Chat GPT is causing a lot of controversy in schools, and making a lot of people's work easier.  This week we let a computer tell us about Northeast Georgia, the Civil War in Athens, and why this is a good podcast!

Cotton Diplomacy

The South had a plan to press England and France into recognizing their nation; those countries needed cotton, and they had it.  Although the basic idea that Europe's first steps into industrialization would depend on Southern cotton, a few factors ruined the plan.  It might sound a little like a high school history lecture, but the Trent affair and Cotton Diplomacy were key to the South's path toward independence.   Find the Moving Through Georgia book at Amazon

Jane Anderson ’The Georgia Peach’

Jane Anderson went from a troubled upbringing in Atlanta to live in Demorest and attend Piedmont College for a time.  She lived an exciting life as a war correspondent in Europe, wrote some short stories, and was romanced by authors, composers and aristocrats.  She also broadcast propaganda for the Nazis at the start of World War Two.     Digitize Habersham- PDF's of newspaper pages from and about Habersham County.  A free local project.

Lincoln’s Duel

In honor of Abraham Lincoln's birthday, a short story from his early career.  Lincoln is challenged to a duel which he accepts- and they do it with swords.

Extra- Chautauqua

Once a year a tent would go up and the town would have a week of lectures, classes, concerts and events.  This was the Chautauqua, and it was a major event in the life of a rural community.  This week I describe a Chautauqua in Demorest thanks to a newspaper article I found through Digitize Habersham.  This is a local project that digitizes newspapers and other publications- it's searchable and a great resource if you're a fan of local history.   Link to Digitize Habersham   The Moving t...

The Murder of Joseph Standing

Joseph Standing and another Mormon missionary were abducted from Northeast Georgia, and Standing was shot.  This week the murder of a religious missionary in the mountains near Rome, Georgia.

Crawford Long and Ether in Surgery

When I first started looking into Crawford Long I thought it would be too boring for a podcast episode- I was wrong.   Think you wasted your time partying in college?  This week a doctor from Georgia performs surgery on a sleeping patient using what was previously a recreational drug.   The Moving through Georgia book is out- find it at Amazon here

Extra- Jefferson Davis Escapes!

This is an episode I did for a podcast called 'Civil War Sketches', that I don't do anymore.  It's the tale of Jefferson Davis' odyssey from Richmond to Georgia, ending with his arrest and the end of the Confederacy.

The Year with Three Governors

Eugene Talmadge dies before taking the oath of office, and three men step in with a claim to the chair.  Do you think politics are overly contentious, too partisan, and out of control right now? Have a look how elections were contested in the forties.   Find the Moving Through Georgia book at Amazon

Extra - Old Dan Tucker and Elbert County

This week we discuss the origins of Wilkes and Elbert County, the Battle of Kettle Creek, and who the city of Clarkesville was named for; but the podcast isn't about them.  It's about Old Dan Tucker.   Find the Moving Through Georgia book on Amazon

Eugene Talmadge

This week one of Georgia's more controversial governors, Eugene Talmadge.  He believed in the Bible, a thrifty government, and segregation.  We'll also digress into the County Unit system of voting and set up for next week- the year that Georgia had three governors.   Find the Moving through Georgia book at Amazon

Extra- Two Cherokee Stories

From James Mooney's 1902 book 'Myths of the Cherokee'.  What stars really look like, and why the possum's tail is bare.

Notes on the University of Georgia

As we prepare for the championship game, here's a few stories from the first two centuries or so of the University of Georgia.  

Extra - Shape Note Singing

In this extra episode we discuss the shape note singing tradition.  Get ready to sing along!  Square...triangle...circle...   Find the Moving through Georgia book at Amazon

Two Missionaries to the Cherokee

One of the major points of contention between the North and South during the 1800's was over nullification.  Two particular states chose to ignore, or nullify, a federal law.  Was this an expression of states' rights, or an unlawful act?  This week we discuss one of the major events in the runup to the Civil War.   Find the Moving through Georgia book at Amazon

Alta Vista Cemetery in Gainesville

A tour of the large cemetery in Gainesville and some of it's notable residents.   More episodes are coming- if you are subscribed please stay subscribed.

Prohibition in Georgia

Georgia has struggled with alcohol since it's inception.  From James Oglethorpe to Wayne B. Wheeler, we discuss early attempts to prohibit strong drink.

Spirit Photography

After the Civil War the Spiritualist movement swept the country.  People were using ouija boards, automatic writing, and seances to contact the dead.  Add to that a relatively new technology- photography.  This week, taking pictures of the dead.   Looking for something fun and local during Spooky Season? Come to a History, Mystery, Murder and Mayhem tour of downtown Clarkesville! We'll take a short walk as we discuss the history of Clarkesville and Habersham County. Moonshiners, hangings, ...

Death, Funerals and Burial in the Civil War

As we approach Halloween, a short description of burial and mourning practices during the Civil War.   Please join us on a Haunted Habersham History, Mystery, Murder and Mayhem walking tour of downtown Clarkesville, from Sept 18 until Halloween.  $10 per person, meet at the theater downtown.  7:00 on Friday and Saturday, 5:00 on Sunday. https://sites.google.com/view/clarkesvilletour   Also visit my new podcast- Civil War Sketches; stories of the war and the world around it.  Available o...

Fort Sumter and Lincoln’s Duel

     This is the first episode of a new podcast called 'Civil War Sketches'.  Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at Civil War Sketches        We start the podcast with two stories.  First, Lincoln starts the Civil War by not firing on the Confederates at Fort Sumter, then a look back at Lincoln's earlier career when he was challenged to a duel.        Did Lincoln manipulate the Southern leaders to fire the first shots of the war, and were those shots fired three months be...

An interview with the authors of ’Wash”.

An interview with Lynne and Glenn Smith- Authors of the book Wash.  Wash was a Banks County resident who was convicted of murder in 1928.  The book presents his story and an argument that he actually acted in self-defense. The book is available on Amazon, click the link.

The end of one podcast- and the start of another

If you are subscribed, I will post some spooky Halloween stuff in October, but this is the last regular episode.  Hope to see you at my new podcast- Civil War Sketches.  Thanks for listening! link to Civil War Sketches It can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts Stories from the Hills, Songs from the Valleys:  The Moving Through Georgia book!  Available on Amazon in paperback or Kindle  

GovernorJoe Brown

The controversial governor of Georgia during the Civil War, Joe Brown was often at odds with Jefferson Davis' government in Richmond.  Who was really fighting the war- was it a unified Confederate States of America army, or a group of individual states' armies?  In this episode Governor Brown explores the limits and difficulties of state's rights.

Governor Joe Brown

The controversial governor of Georgia during the Civil War, Joe Brown was often at odds with Jefferson Davis' government in Richmond.  Who was really fighting the war- was it a unified Confederate States of America army, or a group of individual states' armies?  In this episode Governor Brown explores the limits and difficulties of state's rights.

How Mills Work- Visiting a mill in Banks County

A visit to a mill in Banks County and a little bit about how mills work.   Ragsdale Mill:  https://millpictures.com/mills.php?millid=693

Bill Miner Revisited

In the 'Hands up!' episode I told the story of Bill Miner.  He was a famous train robber from Canada who pulled his last job robbing a train outside Gainesville.  It's a good story, and when I found some further details about the train robbery and Miner's capture, plus two escape attempts from prison, I couldn't resist.  

How Gold Mining Works

A quick discussion of the tools and processes that were used in Georgia to find gold.

Ty Cobb

Ty Cobb was one of the best baseball players ever.  Through the years he gained a reputation as a drinker, a fighter, and a racist- but this reputation may not have been deserved.  For years all I knew about Cobb was that he was from Banks County and that he was a jerk; of course there is more to the story than that.