One of the books in my library collection published in 1977 is about the biography of a man who dedicated his life to the cause of civil rights. It tells about his early years, his preparation for life in the ministry and about his assassination on April 4, 1968. The title of this book is “The Life and Death of Martin Luther King, Jr.” by James Haskins. I often re-read it, especially around this time of the year when an American federal holiday marking the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., is observed on the third Monday of January every year.
In 1980 the National Historic Site was established to preserve the places where Martin Luther King, Jr. was born, lived, worked, worshiped and his final resting place in Atlanta, Georgia. I visited this site last year – here’s my posting on that tour.
Written and Photographed by Mary Gilmartin, January 20, 2014
Sometimes the most interesting museums to visit are not in large cities or in other countries, but only three hours away from where you live nestled in the mountains of Western North Carolina.
The Clay County Historical Museum can be found in the small town of Hayesville. It’s located in the building that once was known as the Old County Jail from the years 1912 until 1972.
There are two floors to this historical museum with exhibits filling every room from spinning wheels to a vintage feed sack exhibit.
One of the rooms had an exhibit of a replica of an early farmhouse kitchen. Do you see the oil lamp on the table and the candles on the wall? This was the source of lighting a room after dark before the days of electricity.
In another room is an exhibit of Dr. Killian’s working office where he practiced medicine from the late 1800’s until 1940’s. He was one of Clay County’s most dedicated doctors. One his desk is one of his ledgers where he kept records of all the visits and charges for each patient. Small log books could be carried in his saddlebag.
These photographs are just a glimpse into what you will find in this unique country museum. And, if you ever visit the museum make sure to see the Cherokee Homestead Outdoor Exhibit located outside. Below is only one of the things you will see.
Cherokee Winter House
The American Cherokee Indian villages in the early 1700’s would have looked like this one that’s on exhibit.
To learn more about the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians click on this link. They are located in Cherokee, North Carolina.
Written and Photographed by Mary Gilmartin, September 12 , 2013
Everyone is passionate about collecting something. Mine is “old books” and the older the better.
The other day I discovered a unique gallery on Main Street in the Village of Stone Mountain, Georgia. In all the rooms of this historic 1850 Circa house turned into a gallery I found thousands of “miniature chairs”.
One of my favorites was the yellow chair where Charlie Brown is sitting and reading a book. The character, Charlie Brown, first appeared in 1947, three years before Peanuts started, in a comic strip by Charles M. Schulz called Li’l Folks.
Barbara Hartsfield, Owner, of Collectible & Antique Chair Gallery started collecting miniature chairs over a ten-year period until it reached over 3,000 pieces. That’s when she decided she wanted to show them to the public by opening a gallery. She even made the Guinness World Records for the largest collection of miniature chairs on the 13th of March 2008 receiving a certificate of documentation.
My tour of the gallery took me through a world of miniature chairs grouped by themes like Coca-Cola, Leisure and Jungle. There are holiday groupings like Easter, Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving and a year-round Christmas tree decorated with more than 100 different miniature chair ornaments. And, the collection even includes chair earrings.
“You must see it to believe it”- Collectible & Antique Chair Gallery.
Written and Photographed by Mary Gilmartin, January 20, 2013
Filed under Atlanta, Museums