On May 21, 1881, Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross. While the organization assisted in disaster relief and aided the government during the Spanish-American War, it became a household name during World War I. Red Cross chapters opened nationwide, swelling to nearly 3,900 by the end of 1918. Chambers County, eager to support the […]Read Post ›

  In 1918, just after one year since the United States entered World War I, the West Point Manufacturing Company opened War Service Stations in each of the mill villages. Staffed by a secretary and assistants, these stations coordinated overseas correspondence and at-home war efforts. Located in the same building or nearby were Red Cross […]Read Post ›

In early November 1918, Red Cross chapters around the country began distributing standard boxes to be filled and mailed to the troops overseas. According to the Union Signal, the Women’s Christian Temperance Union’s journal, more than 2,500,000 soldiers serving in France were expected to receive Christmas packages in 1918. To ease and expedite the process […]Read Post ›

In 1986, the local American Legion post, Chattahoochee Valley Post No. 67, honored the Valley’s living World War I veterans. On June 10, the veterans were treated to a special dinner at the Cotton Duck in Langdale. Led by Post Commander A. L. “Red” Hay, the local American Legion arranged to read them a special […]Read Post ›

In the fall of 1918, a virulent strain of the flu swept the globe on the heels of World War I. By October 1918 Chambers County had been hit by the lethal Spanish flu. On October 7, the governor ordered the closing of public places to minimize further contagion. The LaFayette Sun reported on October […]Read Post ›

The solar eclipse on Monday, August 21, 2017 cast the United States in the shadow of the sun. Beginning around 10:15 a.m. in Oregon and slowly moving eastwards, the total solar eclipse ended in Charleston, South Carolina around 2:48 p.m. Nearly one hundred years earlier, on June 5, 1918 the LaFayette Sun along with a […]Read Post ›

Unofficially, July 26th is observed as National Aunt and Uncle’s Day.  In this area, there is one couple that stands out as the Valley’s “aunt” and “uncle.” Dan and Daisy Simms, familiarly known as “Uncle Dan” and “Aunt Daisy” were bulwarks of the community. Dan Simms began working in Riverdale Mill in 1880, the same […]Read Post ›

The July Fourth celebrations in 1929 and 1930 were particularly spectacular for the Valley.  Enhancing the normal holiday celebration were speedboat races on the Chattahoochee River. Sixteen speedboats entered the races, which began at 10 a.m. on July 4, 1929. Thousands of spectators cheered on the contestants. In an article from the Chattahoochee Valley Times […]Read Post ›

Happy Flag Day! On June 14, 1777 the United States adopted the Stars and Stripes as its national flag. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson established Flag Day by presidential proclamation. Later, Harry Truman in 1949 pushed for Flag Day to become an officially recognized holiday. Congress agreed, and established Flag Day as an annual holiday […]Read Post ›

  On June 7, 1943 the Community Canning Plant opened its doors. The Langdale Service Division of the West Point Manufacturing Company repurposed the old boiler room building of Langdale Mill. The converted building served its purpose well;  according to the Chattahoochee Valley Times printed June 2, 1943, even “if a new building had been […]Read Post ›