Holiday Tour: Historic Cook-Huff House in Dalton, Georgia

The Cook-Huff House in Dalton, Georgia, has been chosen as Whitfield-Murray Historical Society's Holiday House for 2013. The historic house will be open for tour December 7th and 8th from 2-5 p.m. for the first time in fifteen years. The antebellum home, owned by R.L. Cook, served as the headquarters of Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston from 1863 to 1864 during the Civil War. While there in 1863, General Patrick Cleburne presented a proposal to the leaders of the Army of Tennessee, that the Confederacy should offer slaves their freedom if they agreed to fight for the Confederacy. His plan to arm slaves to fight for the Southern cause was declined.

The Cook-Huff House is located at 314 N. Selvidge Street in Dalton, Georgia. Tickets for the 2013 Holiday House Celebration are fifteen dollars for adults, five dollars for children eleven and under. You may purchase tickets directly from the historical society or pay at the door on the day of the event.

Event:  WMHS Holiday House Celebration 2013

Location: 314 N. Selvidge Street, Dalton, Georgia

Date: Sat., Dec. 7 and Sun., Dec. 8

Time: 2:00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m.

Cost: $15.00 adults; $5.00 children 11 and under

Sponsor: Whitfield-Murray Historical Society

Contact information: 

Whitfield-Murray Historical Society

Phone: 706-278-0217

Oakwood Plantation Christmas Open House 2008

Crandall, Georgia: Oakwood Plantation (also locally known as "the Colvard house") will be featured in this year's Christmas open house, sponsored by Whitfield-Murray Historical Society. The antebellum farmhouse, built between 1847 and 1852, retains many of its original features, including heart-pine floors, staircase, brick summerhouse, and a secret hiding place. Though built by an early, wealthy landowner of Murray County, Georgia, it reflects the plain, country lifestyle of functionality and Southern grace that marked the Appalachian mountain area. The two-story house was one of the larger houses in the young county, yet the style is simple and unadorned. The private residence will be open for tours on December 5th, 2008, from 6 to 9 p.m., and Saturday, December 6th, 2008 from 2 to 5 p.m. Additional free parking is available at the old store across the road. The owners will host the tour, assisted by officers and volunteers of Whitfield-Murray Historical Society. Tickets are $10 and will go on sale in November. Call the historical society at 706-278-0217 for more information.

Historical background of the house (from Murray County Heritage (copyright 1987, Whitfield-Murray Historical Society) (pp. 328-331): Built for Euclid Waterhouse, an early wealthy Tennessean, who earned his fortune in the copper-mining industry of Copper Hill, Tennessee, served as a banker, and then moved into Murray County, Georgia. Later purchased by "Major M.D.L. McCroskey, a Civil War veteran, farmer, and retired merchant." (330) Passed down to Julia McCroskey, who married Dr. T.W. Colvard (an early Murray County physician, who practiced medicine for about 50 years, and also once served as a superintendent of schools. Mrs. L.M. McCroskey and Julia Colvard deeded an acre of land for a "Union Tabernacle" church. Colvard's store sits on the property, as well, and has served as a Murray County landmark for many years (though the old store building was moved a few dozen feet and relocated across the road some years ago). There is a freshwater spring on the property, but it is no longer in use. The property sits at the intersection of Georgia Highway 2 and 225 in Crandall, Georgia. The address is 13260 Highway 225 N, Crandall, Georgia. It is not far from Calvary Baptist Church and cemetery.