July 2013 - Northeast Georgia History Center

Now You Know
N o r t h e a s t
G e o r g i a
H i s t o r y
July 2013
C e n t e r
We will be closed on Thursday, July 4th in celebration of Independence
Day!!
Vo l u n t e e r S p o t l i g ht
Jeff Whalen got involved at the history center in a
different way: He applied for the director’s position in
2003.
“I interviewed for it,” he said, “but the other guy
really was more qualified.” The other guy was hired.
But president-elect John Jacobs Jr. never missed
an opportunity. So he asked Jeff: “How would you like to
be on the board?”
No director’s job, but serving on the board was
the next best thing, Jeff figured. He’s been a board member since 2004.
Jeff knows history. He majored in American history — specifically the Civil War era, 1850 to 1872 —
and serving at the center is a natural for him.
He also knows the history of women’s corsets, in
case you’re interested. His family moved from the Chicago
area when Jeff was 10 years old and brought to Gainesville
the Warren Featherbone Company, which Jeff’s greatgreat-grandfather started in 1883 in Three Oaks, Mich.
In the early days, the company manufactured
women’s foundation apparel. Workers used turkey feathers in the apparel because they could be covered with
thread and sewn through without splitting.
Later, the company switched to making baby
clothes, and Jeff’s mother, Doris, an artist, now 95, was
one of the designers.
Jeff found a great life in Gainesville.
“Being from the Midwest and coming to Gainesville was a great opportunity,” Jeff said. “This is the greatest town in the world to grow up in. There are so many
characters — just so much local color.”
After serving four years in the U.S. Air Force, Jeff
worked for Warren Featherbone for 30 years.
Jeff Whalen
And even though the business is gone — the building now houses Featherbone Communiversity — Jeff is still
involved in the Georgia Soft Goods Education Foundation,
which has endowed a chair of soft goods studies at the University of Georgia, his alma mater. “We’re hoping to have it a
major (for a UGA degree) next year,” he said.
He also served as district lieutenant governor for the
Kiwanis Club.
Like his mother, Jeff is an accomplished artist, and
his oils have been displayed at a number of artists’ functions,
including one at Grace Episcopal Church, where he and wife
Margaret are members.
At the history center, Jeff has chaired the forums
committee, served on membership and estate-sale committees, along with the executive committee. He is presidentelect of the board.
His favorite story comes from a forum speaker, a
retired FBI agent, who told about the time years ago that
Dahlonega’s police chief and fire chief conspired to burn
down city hall, and one of them ended up as fire warden
while serving a term in prison.
Jeff is impressed with what goes on at the history
center. So were some of his friends from New York who
wondered how a city the size of Gainesville could have such a
great history center.
“This place is a real asset,” Jeff said.
Thanks, Jeff, for putting your talents to work at the
history center. We’re glad John Jacobs didn’t let you escape.
N o w Yo u K n o w
Page 2
C o u n t d o w n to G r e e n !
Join us at 7 pm on Friday, August 30, 2013 at the First Baptist Church Banquet Hall for a special evening with the
legendary Petty Family: Richard, Kyle, and Rebecca. The talented and beautiful Ronda Rich will serve as the
Master of Ceremonies, while the delicious meal will be by Johnny’s Barbeque of Gainesville.
All proceeds will go towards the History Center. Individual tickets are $50.00. Sponsorships are available.
For more information or to reserve your ticket, call the History Center at 770-297-5900 or
email Rachel Phillips at rphillips@brenau.edu.
N e w
Forum
Vo l u n t e e r s
Welcome to our newest Volunteers!
Andie Allen
July's Forum will feature Barbara
Taylor Woodall, author of It’s Not
My Mountain Anymore. Woodall was
born and raised in the Appalachian
Mountains of North Georgia and was
active in the Foxfire programs. Her
book gives insight to first hand experiences in mountain living, while
her absolutely authentic voice
merges with moving stories that will
moisten eyes and bring laughter
as she offers first-hand accounts of
profound experiences and mountain
living.
Jeanne Rountree
Meg Barclay
William Walker
Joel Horowitz
Join us on Tuesday, July 9th
at 7:00 pm.
The event is free for members and $3.00 for nonmembers.
Thank you all for what you do! We
could not do what we do without
you.
Family Day
Page 3
Colonial Faire and Muster
Journey back to the Revolutionary War era during the July Family Day.
Experience aspects of a colonial faire
observe spinners and other textile artists, as well as the blacksmith plying their skills.
Engage in hands-on activities:
writing with a quill and homemade ink,
making and applying sealing wax
colonial children’s games, plus more.
Muster and drill with the Revolutionary War re-enactors.
Visit a replica of the Liberty Bell, courtesy of Bob Swoszowski and McDonald’s.
For more information, call 770-297-5900, or visit www.negahc.org.
Family Day sponsored by North Georgia Eye Clinic and Laser Center
Summer Camp 2013
Life Among the Cherokee
Learning about Stickball.
Bow & Arrow
We had two wonderful sessions of Summer Camp this year. We had 15
campers in Session 1 and 10 campers in Session 2. It was a week filled with
new learning experiences and adventures and we had several of the children
ask what we would be studying next year at camp. Thank you to all our
volunteers who came to make this such a special week and many cheers for
Caye Guidry, our camp director. See you next year!
Making Baskets
Field Trip to New Echota
Masks!
N o r t h e a s t
G e o r g i a
H i s t o r y
C e n t e r
322 Academy Street NE
Gainesville, GA 30501
I n s i d e
t h i s
i s s u e :
Taste of History
2
Forum
2
Volunteer News
2
Family Day
3
Summer Camp
3
Phone: 770-297-5900
WWW.NEGAHC.COM
The Northeast Georgia History
Center is a not-for-profit institution dedicated to preserving and
sharing the history of the region.
By maintaining a unique collection of historical items, presenting exhibits, conducting programs, enabling research, and
partnering with other institutions
in the region, the History Center
strives to promote a greater understanding of the cultural, social, economical, and political
history of Northeast Georgia.
Coming Events
July 4
July 9
Closed for Independence Day!
10:00 a.m.
Executive Committee Meeting
7:00 p.m.
Forum– Barbara Taylor Woodall–
“The History of Foxfire and Rabun County”
July 14
1:00– 4:00 p.m.
Family Day-
“Colonial Faire and Muster”
Civil War Encampment
Reenactors prepare for the
day's events
The Confederates demonstrate the firing of muskets
Yankees? In Georgia? However
did they get here?!?!
Family Day kids learn the
intricacies of Civil War Infantry Drill
Many thanks to all who participated in our June Family Day!