News

The House Known as “Pebble Hill”

The Fall program of CVHS will be held virtually on Sunday, October 27th, at 3:00 PM (EDT). Our presenter will be Dr. Mark Wilson from Auburn University. Dr. Wilson will be discussing the Scott-Yarborough House (known more colloquially as ‘Pebble Hill”) in Auburn, AL. The house is an 1847 Greek Revival style cottage that has become an important landmark in Auburn as well as a popular event venue. The focus of the presentation will be on the history of the house as well as many notable people associated with the house. In addition, he will note some unique artifacts in the collection that illustrate important aspects of state and local history.
The origins of the home ultimately begin with Nathaniel J. Scott and his wife Mary. They moved to East Alabama as part of the massive influx of White settlers to this area following the Second Creek War of the late 1830s. Originally moving to Macon County, they eventually relocated when Nathaniel’s own half-brother John J. Harper founded the city of Auburn (then in Macon County). They purchased the land that “Pebble Hill” would be built upon in 1846 for just $800 (which was a short distance East of downtown Auburn at the time). While continuing to own additional farmland in Auburn, they completed the construction of the house in 1847.
Because of their wealth as landed planters and their family ties to the city’s founder, the Scotts played a big role in helping establish Auburn, with Nathaniel becoming town Commissioner in 1839. Nathaniel Scott also served in State politics, representing Macon County in the Alabama State House of Representatives from 1841 to 1845, when he was elected to the State Senate. He also helped establish what would later become the Auburn Masonic Female College. In 1856, Scott and many other of his fellow Auburn Methodists established East Alabama Male College (which is what we now know as Auburn University). The Scotts remained in Auburn even after Nathaniel’s death in 1862. Following the conclusion of the Civil War and the end of slavery, Mary Scott sold the house at Pebble Hill.
The house would change owners many times from the late 1860s up until its purchase by Dr. Cecil S. Yarborough and his wife Bertha Mae Yarborough in 1912. Like the original owner, Dr. Yarborough also served in Alabama State politics for many years. He also served two terms as Mayor of Auburn, and personally welcomed President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the community upon his visit in 1939. Following his death in the 1940s, his son Clarke S. Yarborough owned the home until finally selling it in 1982. It has officially been known as the “Scott-Yarborough” house ever since, though the name “Pebble Hill” is probably what it is best known as locally.
The house is currently maintained and cared for by the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts and Humanities, a part of the College of Liberal Arts at Auburn University. The Center maintains a digital, virtual tour of the entire house, which is located at the following link: https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=g7dppkiJq8K
In addition to history related to Pebble Hill, Dr. Wilson will discuss upcoming events at Pebble Hill which might interest CVHS members.
Dr. Mark Wilson is of the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities in the College of Liberal Arts at Auburn University. Originally from Saraland, Alabama, he holds degrees from the University of Mobile (B.A. Religion), McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University (Master of Divinity), and Auburn University (Ph.D. History). He is the author of William Owen Carver’s Controversies in the Baptist South (Mercer University), co-author of Living Democracy: Students as Citizens, Communities as Classrooms (Kettering Foundation Press) and several articles. In 2018, he was voted by students at Auburn University to deliver the “Final Lecture,” an award coordinated by the Student Government Association. He is a past recipient of the David Mathews Center for Civic Life’s Jean O’Connor-Snyder Award.
Join us for this very informative and interesting presentation on October 27th. To attend this virtual meeting email ccpowers02@gmail.com prior to 12:00 PM noon (EDT) on Sunday, October 27th. You will then be sent the Zoom link with instructions regarding how to join the meeting.

West Point on the Chattahoochee

We love to hear from our members, and over the past few years several members have expressed a desire to return to in-person meetings. Virtual meetings were a necessity during the Covid period and even afterwards due to the loss of our traditional meeting arrangement with the Bradshaw Library.

On Saturday morning, July 27, CVHS will host a very different kind of quarterly program at the West Point outdoor riverside pavilion, located directly south of City Hall. CVHS President Jason Williams, VOICE Editor Ron Williams, and fellow board member Malinda Powers will present the program on this small city’s remarkable history.

Archaeological evidence suggests Native Americans were here as early as the Archaic period during the time of “hunter-gatherers.” Shallow shoals just a mile or so upriver provided excellent fishing and, more importantly, a natural river crossing enabling travel between more permanent native towns that developed. Traders made their way westward from South Carolina, followed by pioneer settlers which ultimately resulted in Indian removal westward. Early West Point residents faced many hardships and trials, but persevered. Two rail lines were conjoined in West Point, connecting the little city with two state capitals. When war came to West Point, the battle became known in the annuals of American History as “the last fort battle of the Civil War.” But like the mythical Griffith, West Point was quick to rise from its ashes and reinvent itself. The river once again played a vital role in the city’s history as it powered two new factories downstream, ultimately becoming a leading textile manufacturer in the world.

The public is invited to attend the meeting at the pavilion at 10:00 am EDT. Immediately following the program, guests are welcome to join a guided walking tour of several blocks downtown to discover the forgotten businesses that once thrived there. At the conclusion of the walking tour, guests will find a variety of downtown restaurants and eateries for lunch.

“Archaeology for Dummies”

The Spring program of CVHS will be held virtually on April 28th, at 3:00 PM (EDT). Our presenter will be David Johnson. Mr. Johnson is an “avocational archaeologist,” meaning that he came to practice archaeology outside of the traditional profession. In spite of not being an “official” archaeologist, he works very closely with the Alabama Archaeological Society. His area of specialty concerns the prehistoric indigenous populations of Alabama. He has published several books over the years and given many presentations throughout Alabama (and also Mississippi and elsewhere). His presentation for us will be entitled “Archaeology for Dummies” (not an insult to those in attendance, but rather a play on the title of various media that break down complex fields and concepts for unfamiliar readers).

David Johnson originally worked for the Alabama Department of Transportation. The discovery of prehistoric artifacts on his private property, however, led him to become fascinated by the field of archaeology. Realizing that he, a layperson with no previous experience or training in archaeology, was ill-equipped or prepared to handle these artifacts properly, he consulted local professional archaeologists. They showed him the proper ways of cataloging and recording their discoveries for the purposes of preservation and education. Through working with them (and learning how they carried out their practice), David became personally enraptured in the world of amateur (or as he calls it, “avocational”) archaeology. He began to realize that others like him (with no previous archaeological training or expertise) would need the same know-how and assistance should they also discover prehistoric artifacts. While continuing his work with ALDOT, he also began sharing this newfound passion with other “lay people.”

David has authored many books, most notably the Handbook for Alabama’s Prehistoric Indians and Artifacts (Borgo Press, 2019). This work also saw contributions from many of the professional archaeologists in the Alabama Archaeological Society. The work contains many full-scale photographs, geographic distribution charts, and detailed descriptions of various artifacts (such as prehistoric projectile points). Due to the popularity of the book in Alabama, he was also asked to publish a similar catalogue for Mississippi as well (which he will be discussing in his presentation, as it has recently been published).

Retired from the Alabama Department of Transportation, David and his wife April volunteer working with different archaeological projects and providing educational presentations to schools and other groups regarding archaeology and prehistory. He is also currently working with many Native American groups to help preserve various Native archaeological sites on Chandler Mountain in St. Claire County, AL from local developers’ plans to create a massive dam project.

Our virtual presentation will last approximately one hour (with David’s power points lasting approximately 45 to 50 minutes). The presentation will expound upon his work on the two archaeological works (for Alabama and Mississippi) as well as an overview of how “avocational” archaeological enthusiasts can participate and experience the world of archaeology in an official, responsible manner (respectful of the cultures and peoples whose artifacts are being discovered). His is a tale that exemplifies the potential that exists when professional archeologists endeavor to include ordinary lay people through educating and mentoring nonprofessionals.

Join us for this very informative and interesting presentation on April 28th. To attend this virtual meeting email ccpowers02@gmail.com prior to 12:00 PM noon (EDT) on Sunday, April 28th. You will then be sent the Zoom link with instructions regarding how to join the meeting.

A Sister’s Love: Legacy of Hank Williams and His Sister Irene

The Winter program of CVHS will be held virtually on January 28th, at 3:00 PM (EDT). Our presenter, Dr. Steve Goodson, is a longtime instructor of History at the University of West Georgia (having recently just retired) and an authority on the history of Country Music in the Deep South. This will be Dr. Goodson’s third program for CVHS, the former highlighting the life and music of Hank Williams, Jr.
“It is the story of Hank’s older sister Irene,” says Goodson. “Irene played an important but underappreciated role in protecting and promoting Hank’s reputation and legacy in the decades following his death in 1953.” Both Irene and Hank were born in Butler County, Alabama in the early 1920s. Their father Elonzo “Lon” Williams was a former Railroad Engineer for W.T. Smith Lumber Co. before serving (and suffering injuries) in World War I. Following the death of Ernest Williams two days after his birth in 1921, Irene became the oldest child of the Williams family. For this reason, perhaps, she took on a more protective role in the upbringing of her younger siblings. This applied to Hank, who struggled with Spina Bifida (a painful spinal condition) during his childhood (and later).
This presentation will highlight many of the hardships the Williams family endured during Irene and Hank’s childhood. All of this heavily influenced Hank’s musical career. Regarding Irene’s role in Hank’s career and legacy, Goodson feels that her story is very much a part of Hank’s own story (both before and after his death). He feels it is essential to all who wish to learn more about the Alabama-born Country legend.
Steve Goodson was born in Montgomery, Alabama, and grew up in nearby Prattville. He received his B.A. in History from Auburn University at Montgomery in 1988 and earned his Ph.D. in History from Emory University in 1995. He joined the faculty at the University of West Georgia, where he served as a professor (and for twelve years as department chair) until retiring just last month. His book Highbrows, Hillbillies, and Hellfire: Public Entertainment in Atlanta, 1880-1930, published by the University of Georgia Press, won the Georgia Historical Society’s Bell Award as the best book on Georgia History published in 2002. He is also co-editor of The Hank Williams Reader, which was published in 2014 by the Oxford University Press. This work has received much critical acclaim as a detailed account of Williams’ life and career.
Join us for this very informative and interesting presentation on January 28th. To attend this virtual meeting email ccpowers02@gmail.com prior to 12:00 PM noon (EDT) on Sunday, January 28th. You will then be sent the Zoom link with instructions regarding how to join the meeting.

A Home with a History – McRitchie-Hollis Home

Every house (and every home) has a history—each with its own stories, memories, and legacy of those who once lived there. Many homes also reflect the history of the community in which they live. One home that encompasses an abundantly rich history of both its many residents and its community can be found at 74 Jackson Street in Newnan, GA. This 1937 Neoclassical house has such a rich history that it has served as a museum (and home base for the Newnan-Coweta Historical Society) since 2013.
Before you go, or if you are unable to, you certainly will want to join us for an online discussion about this wonderful museum. The McRitchie-Hollis Museum will be the focus of our quarterly presentation on Sunday, July 23rd, 2023, at 3:00 PM EDT (2:00 PM CDT). This virtual presentation (once again on Zoom) will feature the director of the museum. Our presenter, Ms. Larisa Scott, NCHS Exec. Director, will share the history of NCHS and the future of the museum and other NCHS services.
The Newnan-Coweta Historical Society is a non-profit over 50 years old. Originally housed in the Male Academy Museum, the organization’s home base is now the McRitchie-Hollis Museum. Located near downtown Newnan, the museum is undergoing a major transformation. Once owned by Ellis and Mildred Peniston, members of a prominent mill family, later became the hospital auxiliary offices before becoming a museum. It still houses many of the Peniston’s former belongings (and even has their family kitchen preserved in its original state).
There are also many relics from Newnan itself on display. In the Peniston’s former dining room, one can find preserved wooden blocks that once lined the streets of Newnan’s picturesque Courthouse Square. In the adjacent room, one can find the Museum’s “meet the locals” exhibit featuring local Newnan-born figures (such as Country music legend Alan Jackson). Also, there is an exhibit dedicated to the infamous “Murder in Coweta County” (a 1948 court case notable for a White defendant, wealthy and powerful John Wallace, being convicted by the testimony of two Black laborers). This infamous case became memorialized in a 1976 book by Margaret Anne Barnes (and later as a 1983 television film starring Andy Griffith and Johnny Cash).
In another room, there is an exhibit on one of Newnan’s most notable residents: former Governor Ellis G. Arnall. Elected in 1943, Ellis Arnall was notable during his day for his opposition to the Poll Tax, White Supremacy, and the prominence and influence of the Ku Klux Klan. Unfortunately, his opposition to such things cost him his re-election bid in 1947 to Herman Talmadge. Interestingly enough, Talmadge died soon after the election, igniting what became the infamous “Three Governors Controversy”. Ellis passed away in 1989 and is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, just across the street from the Museum itself.
Our presenter, Ms. Scott, is a Georgia native and Newnan resident for 25 years. She is very passionate about history, storytelling, education and preservation. She looks forward to sharing the history of NCHS and the museum, plus future plans.
Join us for this very informative and interesting presentation on July 23rd. To attend this virtual meeting email ccpowers02@gmail.com prior to 12:00 PM noon (EDT) on Sunday, July 23rd. You will then be sent the Zoom link with instructions regarding how to join the meeting.

History Close to Home:
The Museum of East Alabama

Are you a resident of East Alabama? Did you grow up there? If not, have you ever visited the region? It is a region with a rather complex history and a richness of stories and other trappings of days long gone. Fortunately, though, there is a place where this is made easier (and wonderfully presentable). This place, of course, is the Museum of East Alabama in Opelika, AL.
Please join us for a discussion on this wonderful museum on Sunday, April 23rd, 2023, at 2:00 PM CDT (3:00 PM EDT) for our quarterly presentation. This virtual presentation (once again on Zoom) will feature the director of the museum. Our presenter, Mr. Glenn Buxton, has been the official director of the Museum of East Alabama since he retired from a long broadcasting career in 2006. He will be discussing the various exhibits and services that the Museum of East Alabama currently provides.
The Museum of East Alabama was first open to the public in 1989. It occupies the site of the former Clement Hotel on 121 South St. in downtown Opelika, AL. It is open to the public, free of charge, from 10 AM to 4 PM Tuesdays through Fridays. The museum has an impressive collection of artifacts and exhibits on display detailing the history of this region from pre-Columbian times up until the present day.
The Museum currently has two main exhibition halls, the one adjacent to the main room being reserved for the history of Alabama’s Native peoples. These exhibits cover a wide variety of historical periods of Native history in Alabama. Its oldest (and most well-known) artifact on display is a canoe used by the “Eastern Woodland” culture in 3500 B.C. The canoe was originally unearthed in northwestern Florida, but used by the same Eastern Woodland peoples who inhabited what is now East Alabama during the same time period. They have many other artifacts from both ancient and more “recent” Native inhabitants of Alabama. These artifacts include projectile artifacts (“arrowheads”), pottery, jewelry and ceremonial wear, and more. The most “recent” Native exhibit is a pair of Muscogee women’s legging (a ceremonial outfit) going back to the early 1840s.
There are many other interesting exhibits on display, such as several clothing exhibits spanning back 200 years. One of the more interesting of these is a collection of wedding gowns worn by women of the region throughout various decades of the 20th century (from the 1920s up until the 1950s). There are some very interesting “war-time” exhibits covering the “spoils of war” from World War II. One of the most notable are the collection of Samurai swords (formerly owned by officers in the Japanese Imperial Forces) confiscated by U.S. servicemen native to Lee County during the war. As one can also probably imagine, there are many exhibits focusing on the Industrial history of this region (including machinery and other exhibits from the various cotton mills that once employed the majority of East Alabama’s work force). The most recent display is an exhibit on the unfortunate history of lynchings and extrajudicial killings that African-Americans often endured in Alabama from the Reconstruction era up until the late 20th century. Part of the larger “remembrance project” based out of Montgomery, this exhibit was largely curated and produced by the History Department at Auburn University.
Join us for this very informative and interesting presentation on April 23rd. To attend this virtual meeting email ccpowers02@gmail.com prior to 12:00 PM noon (EDT) on Sunday, April 23rd. You will then be sent the Zoom link with instructions regarding how to join the meeting.