March 21, 2019 - The Construction of the Buford Dam and Impoundment of Lake Lanier
Lake Lanier Historian David Coughlin will share the photographic history of the planning, site selection, approval and appropriations, land acquisitions and construction of the Buford Dam and the impoundment of Lake Lanier.
Our next Alpharetta and Old Milton County Historical Society meeting will be Thursday, March 21st at 7:00 pm at the Mansell House.
Our speaker, Lake Lanier Historian David Coughlin, will share the photographic history of the planning, site selection, approval and appropriations, land acquisitions and construction of the Buford Dam and the impoundment of Lake Lanier.
After World War II, Army engineers surveyed a narrow river valley at the boundary of Gwinnett and Forsyth Counties that over a decade later would become the Buford Dam and 38,000-acre Lake Sidney Lanier. The dam and the lake have come to represent more than a single public works project as they are the key links in a series of water projects of the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee and Flint River System. David will discuss the rationale and the diverse politics and personalities of the promoters of the project. He will also cover the congressional appropriations and the acquisition of over 50,000 acres of private land. He will photographically detail the excavation, the construction of the intake structure, powerhouse, the main earth dam, and the main highways relocation and construction.
David Coughlin is a North Carolina native and a retired Georgia educator. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and received his Masters of Education from the State University of West Georgia in Carrollton, Georgia. In 1981, David took a summer position as a park ranger for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Lake Lanier. In time he became familiar with the lake and its early history. Talking with rangers and workmen instrumental in the Buford Dam's construction, David compiled the photographic history and published his book: Lake Sidney Lanier "A Storybook Site"..
David Coughlin is a North Carolina native and a retired Georgia educator. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and received his Masters of Education from the State University of West Georgia in Carrollton, Georgia. In 1981, David took a summer position as a park ranger for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Lake Lanier. In time he became familiar with the lake and its early history. Talking with rangers and workmen instrumental in the Buford Dam's construction, David compiled the photographic history and published his book: Lake Sidney Lanier "A Storybook Site".
April 18, 2019 - The Story of Sandy Springs during the Civil War
Sandy Springs Historian Clarke Otten will tell the little known story of the pivotal role of Sandy Springs played during the Civil War. The community of Sandy Springs, once known as Oak Grove, for one week had a larger population than any city in the south except for New Orleans. While no significant battles occurred in Sandy Springs, the area was greatly impacted by over 60,000 invading Union troops who rested and resupplied in the area before the final march on the city of Atlanta. Clarke will cover the military movements in the crossing of the Chattahoochee River. Clarke will also share the story and war time correspondences of the Jett family who owned large tracts of land of Sandy Springs. The correspondence describes the hardships of separation and the difficulties of Mrs. Jett running the family plantation while her husband was away at war.
Clarke is a life long resident of Sandy Springs and regularly speaks to groups about the history of the area to include the early native American trails, pioneer tales, river crossing, and the development of the area roads, churches and schools. He founded the Sandy Springs Historic Preservation Society. He authored and co-authored numerous articles about the history of Sandy Springs. He lectures at Lost Corners Preserve, Sandy Springs' largest and newest park.
May16, 2019 The History of the Clear Springs Church
On May 6, 2018, Clear Springs Baptist Church celebrated its 150th year as an area church. The first church in this community was Big Creek Baptist which was established in 1828. This church first met in a log house just west of Big Creek near present day State Bridge Road. Later the church moved to Kimball Bridge Road and sat in front of the Old Big Creek Cemetery. In 1848, The Church relocated to the Ocee community on Georgia
Highway 120 east of State Bridge and Kimball Bridge Roads intersection. In 1868, the Big Creek Baptist church congregation voted to become Primitive Baptist. Those members wishing to remain missionary Baptist established Clear Springs Missionary Baptist Church (now known as Clear Springs Baptist Church) and moved to the present site off of Jones Bridge Road. The congregation first met and a log house, which were later replace by larger brick churches.
Pastor Leonard Gibbs and Associate Pastor Tom Jennings will proudly share the history and accomplishments of the Clear Springs Baptist Church.