Early History of North Georgia
These stories of the early history of north Georgia were researched and written from 2006 to 2014. Most of them were published in Smoke Signals, the newspaper of Big Canoe. Because of the thousand-word limitations for news articles, many of the stories are divided into several parts and published over a series of months. This early history of north Georgia begins from the time the Indians still lived in this area and continues through the early pioneers who came here and built the mountain communities in the Southern Appalachian Mountains.
- Place Names Gone but not Forgotten
The story of the Burnt Mountain Community. - The Early Days Before Bent Tree
The story of the Development of the Bent Tree Area. - Moonshining in the Southern Appalachian Mountains
Many pioneers supplemented their income making moonshine.
- The Grist Mills of the Mountain Communities
There was a grist mill about every five miles positioned so the families could get there and back in a day’s travel in a wagon. - One Room Schools
The mountain children attended school in a one-room building where there would be as many as eight grades taught in that room by one teacher. - The Little Church that Could
The story on one mountain community church which was the center of life for the pioneers.
- In the Presence of the Elders
The Cherokee and Creek Indians lived in North GA and many were removed from this area in 1838 or before. This story was written in 2012 before we published the Mystery of the Trees documentary in 2015. - Hiding Your Indian Culture
During the removal of the Indians, some Indian families hid from the removal actions and continued to live in the mountain areas. This story is about some families that remained. - Thar’s Gold in Them Thar Hills
The story of discovering gold on Indian territory which led to Indian removal.