Dalton (GA) Saturday Market

This fellow was selling delicious green beans at last week's Dalton Saturday Market. It's located at Dalton Green, a small park beside the courthouse. Market will be held there every Saturday 7:00am til 1:00pm through September.

Hamilton House in Dalton GA

The historic Hamilton House sits between a busy side street and a railroad spur in Dalton, GA. Between rumbling trains and passing commuters, it sits in the quiet elegance of long ago. The house and grounds are kept by the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society.

getting there early

Early on Saturday morning at the Creative Arts Guild's Festival, you can see rows of vendor tents. Within 15 minutes of this photo, jewelers, potters, fiber artists, painters, sculptors, face painters - dozens and dozens of artisans busily set up shop for the day. This same scene will be played out over and over again this Fall at the countless art fairs and festivals sprinkled across the South. Ya'll come by to see us, OK?

Southern towns

I love Southern towns. They have a charm all their own. This photo was taken in downtown Dalton, GA, at 7:49 on July 20th and it appears that nothing much is happening. Just wait until around 8:00. Shop keepers flip the "Closed" signs over and they're open for business. As the sun rises and illuminates the storefronts, you can see history in the brickwork. Except for a few businesses lost in a fire, these same facades were standing in the mid 1940's - and even before. Ya'll stop in to see us sometime.

late afternoon colors

Late one afternoon Sandra and I were scouting Dalton, GA, for scenic spots to capture on canvas. We had driven around in West Hill Cemetery --- yes, cemetery --- and found several promising sites. I spotted this unusual tree beside the little stone chapel. I don't know whether it was the late afternoon sun or the type of tree, but the colors seemed super-saturated. The tree limbs appeared a bright red while the leaves were amazing shades of lime. Some of the shadows were creeping in and showing themselves a cool blue. It was a wonderful sight for an artist.

The Dalton Depot

The original train depot in Dalton, GA, has been restored to house The Dalton Depot, an upscale restaurant. It has retained its original brickwork, flooring and archtectural personality. The service is great and the food is wonderful. Stop in sometime when you're in the area. http://roadsidegeorgia.com/site/daltondepot.html

Southern architecture

This is The Depot in Dalton, GA. As the name implies, it's the old train depot --- but it's been restored and is now a fine restaurant. The architectural lines and motifs make it an interesting place to visit --- and the food is excellent. http://roadsidegeorgia.com/site/daltondepot.html

Joseph E. Johnston

This is the only known statue of Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston. It's located on Hamilton Street in downtown Dalton, GA, overlooking the business district.

preservation - not destruction

All to often, in the name of progress, older buildings are torn down and replaced with more modern structures. These shops are on Hamilton Street in Dalton, GA, and are a wonderful example of historical preservation.

The Book Nook was Ruth's Dress Shop in the mid 1950's - I'm not sure exactly how old the building itself is. The original floors are still there, highly polished and with the familiar 'creak' from years gone by. The Yellow Bird was once a shoe store with its large front windows and inviting double glass doors.

The allure of Southern towns can be seen if you will bypass the sprawling malls, and seek out the personalities of both the historical buildings and the people who love and care for them.

Confederate Cemetery in Dalton, GA

These photos show the Confederate Cemetery at West Hill in Dalton, GA.
Click on the photo to read the inscription.

Who? Where? When?

This photo is furnished by Bradley Putnam, the unofficial historian in Tunnel Hill, GA. There is a mystery of who these men are, and when and where the photo was taken. It may have been somewhere in Dalton, GA.
There's a moral to this story, too. ALWAYS be sure to date the reverse side of your photos. And it helps to also make note of who's in the photo and where it was taken.

Chapel at West Hill

This little rock chapel is located in West Hill Cemetery in Dalton, GA. It sits just East of the Confederate cemetery. Some stories tell of ghosts, but that doesn't prevent young couples from saying their marriage vows within its quaint walls.