 Southern Muse
| A Property of Whitfield-Murray Historical Society | HISTORY |
Hamilton House
A Historic Home and Chenille-Tufting Museum
in Dalton, Georgia
Hamilton House, Dalton's oldest brick residence, now houses a chenille tufting museum. (Tour Information). Construction on the home was begun in 1840. The carriage house was built later and Mr. Moody's porch was added on in the late 1800's. During the Civil War, the home was used as a hospital and as a headquarters for the Kentucky Orphan Brigade.
In addition to its importance as a historical structure, Hamilton House is a museum featuring various rooms of interest to the historian and antiques buff. The front parlor, or Lesche room, was once the meeting place of one of the oldest women's study groups in America, and the oldest of those still active in Georgia ~ the Lesche Club. The dining room features memorabilia of Robert Loveman, the local songwriter and author of the well-known hymn, "Leaning On The Everlasting Arms."
The upstairs section of the building houses the chenille tufting museum. Chenille items on display bring back memories of the early days of Peacock Alley, also known as "Bedspread Boulevard," Dalton's cottage chenille industry. There are many old cotton chenille spreads, robes, and other tufted items, both from the hand-tufting era and the later decades of machine tufting. Also on display are photographs of persons and businesses notable in the early years of the chenille industry, old publicity graphics and newspaper articles, and interesting old tufting paraphernalia, including early Singer sergers that were modified into multi-needle machines by amateur inventors.
Hamilton House appeals to those interested in chenille tufting, folk crafting methods, cottage industry, and North Georgia history. It is particularly of interest to those who want to learn about the cottage tufting industry that lead to Dalton's prominence today as "The Carpet Capital of the World." Hamilton House is currently open for private tours, only. These may be easily arranged through the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society. Hamilton House is located at 701 Chattanooga Avenue in Dalton, Georgia, next door to Whitfield-Murray Historical Society (the old Crown Gardens and Archives).
For More Information
Tours may be arranged by calling
Whitfield-Murray Historical Society
(706) 278-0217
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