From the Historic West Point & the Chattahoochee Valley Facebook Page
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.