Historical Marietta GA

While in Marietta after visiting the Confederate Cemetery and the National Military Cemetery, I stopped in old downtown Marietta.  There was a local farmers market which closed one street off the town square except to pedestrians.  Hand crafted soap, local organic produce and meats were offered from tents lining the street.  One store nearby was a store for Brumby Chairs and Rockers.  These are world famous  hand made and produced locally.  Photographs attested to the many famous customers including President Jimmy Carter who used them at the White House.  The Brumby Chair Company was founded by James Remley Brumby, a Confederate Veteran in 1875 evolving from a barrel manufacturing business James and his former slave started in 1866. 

Brumby Chair Company

Nearby fronting the railroad tracks was the old train depot, the Gone With The Wind Museum, and the Kennsaw House.  The Kennesaw House currently houses a museum upstairs and a gift store with some good pro-Confederate books on the shelves.  The Kennesaw House was originally a hotel and was used during the War Between the States as a Confederate hospital and during his advance towards Atlanta, as Union General Sherman's headquarters. In 1898 the Kennesaw Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy was organized and met here.

Welcome Center, Kennesaw House and Gone with the Wind Museum

Historical Markers for the Kennesaw House

The old train depot new serves as the Marietta Welcome Center.  Upon entering an old welcome sign sits propped against a table of brochures for local attractions, "Marietta, Gem City of the South, Founded 1832".  The interesting thing found here are a couple displays flanking desks. One has just a few captioned prints explaining the rise of King Cotton in the Old South.  The other display is entitled Reconstruction. It interestingly for a public office tells the story albeit very briefly of the desperation and devastation of this dire period. "The War over, Cobb County began the slow climb from defeat and destruction. It was a time to try the mettle of men's souls and only a flaming spirit that would not admit defeat enabled Southerners to pull through. Among the ruins small stored with scant stocks appeared.  Lack of cash, customers and capital kept business transactions to a minimum.  Bayonet rule was the order of the day. Federal troops patrolled the streets and military courts were the only source of justice. Former Confederate soldiers and civil officials were not allowed to vote - former slaves and carpetbaggers held sway. Sherman had put Cobb County industries to the torch."

Reconstruction Display in the Marietta Welcome Center