The Dade County Historical Society Cemetery Walk is just a couple of weeks away. We will feature the Brock Cemetery this year. The event is planned for Saturday, May 18, 2019, from 4-6 p.m. There is no charge for this event, but donations to the Dade County Historical Society are always welcome.
Parking is limited. We request that you please park at Piney Grove Baptist Church, check in and ride the shuttle. Buses will leave the parking lot at 3:50, 4:50 and 5:50. Please arrive by half past the hour.
We are so pleased to partner with Piney Grove Baptist to provide transportation to and from the cemetery. The cemetery is peaceful and pristine and we don’t want to cause any damage to the grounds, so please plan to ride the bus. We plan to share the origin of some of our cemetery customs on the ride to the cemetery. In advance we also thank the family members and cemetery committee for allowing us to shine a light on some of Dade County’s pioneering citizens and tell the interesting stories of the lives that they led at the Brock-Morrison Cemetery.
One of our members, Dottie Abercrombie, has created a brochure that you may find scattered around town. The writing is so good that I am using most of the contents for this week’s article. So here goes.
In this Planet file shot, Daniel Middlebrooks portrays John G. Jacoway in last year's cemetery walk.
The Brock Cemetery
This cemetery, also known as the Morrison Cemetery, is located near the original Brock homeplace in Dade County. Today it is commonly referred to as “the Vice Place.” Because of its location on a hilltop on the western slope of Lookout Mountain shaded by a cluster of huge oak trees, the cemetery projects a feeling of serenity and timelessness. Within the cemetery are more than 60 marked burials dating from 1867, as well as a number of unnamed interments marked only by small stones. Many of those buried here were movers and shakers in the county from its earliest days continuing to the present as the cemetery remains an active burial ground.
In addition to the four individuals prominently featured, several additional characters will also be highlighted. As you walk through the cemetery, look for posters providing information on the following people and their accomplishments: Allie Hassell Brock, Benjamin Taylor Brock, Dr. William Eaton Brock, William Hershell Brock, Gladys Pillow Morrison, Raymond Mallie Morrison and William Granville "Zeke" Morrison.
Individuals Highlighted on May 18 will be:
George Washington Harris
-Writer, inventor, steamboat captain, railroad official
- Born in 1814 in Pittsburgh, PA., later moved to Nashville, Tenn.
- Captain of a steamboat used during the removal of the Cherokee Indians in 1838. -1840, published his first work of political satire
- Relocated to Dade County as president of Wills Valley Railroad
-1866, published his best-known book, “Sut Lovingood: Yarns Told by a Nat’ral born Durn’d Fool”
- 1869, died under suspicious circumstances.
- Body brought back to Trenton to be buried beside his wife. His grave was unknown for many years.
- 2008, group of scholars discovered his grave and erected a monument in Harris’s honor
Douglas Eaton Morrison (The Colonel)
- Born February 9, 1893, Dade County
- Grew up in the New England community of Dade County
-Graduated Georgia Tech with a degree in electrical engineering.A student leader and outstanding athlete, he was president of his class and captain of the football and baseball teams.
- Served in the U.S. Army in France, Belgium, and the Philippines (serving in both WWI and WWII).
- 1945, retired as lieutenant colonel and moved back to Dade County to serve his community.
- His swimming pool was used for swimming lessons by hundreds of Dade County children.
Catherine Clarke Morrison
- Born 1903 in Portland, Maine, daughter of the mayor.
- 1923, married Douglas Eaton Morrison.
-At her husband’s retirement moved to Dade County.
- Publisher and owner of the Dade County Times for 20 years.
-Charter member of the Board of Trustees of the John L. Hutcheson Memorial Hospital.
-Executive committee of the Cherokee Regional Library for 25 years.
-Leading force in bringing about the library program in Dade County.
- Numerous volunteer positions including the American Red Cross and the League of Women Voters in Georgia.
-Member of the Colonial Dames of America, the Society of Mayflower Descendants, the Dade County Historical Society and the Trenton Garden Club.
- Member of the Thankful Episcopal Church.
Dr. James Russell Brock
-Born June 20, 1861, in Dade County
-Studied medicine at Emory University and Atlanta Medical.
-Returned to Trenton where he lived and practiced medicine on Main Street and served as physician at the Rising Fawn convict camp.
- Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Georgia.
-Deputy Warden at the United States Penitentiary in Atlanta.
- 1917, killed by a prison inmate
Our featured individuals will be portrayed by the following:
Reece Fauscett will portray Douglas Eaton Morrison. Reece served as a Methodist minister in various locations for more than 30 years and recently retired as pastor of Trenton UMC. Reece and his wife, Wylene, reside in Trenton.
Reese Morrison will portray Dr. James Russell Brock. Reese is a lifelong resident of Dade County and is descended from several of the individuals buried here. He is a principal business IT analyst having worked both domestic and international assignments. Reese and his wife, Syd, reside on Sand Mountain
Patti Nethery will portray Catherine Clarke Morrison, whom she knew well and called “Aunt Catherine.” Patti has resided in Dade County since the age of five. Her father, Martin Nethery, was a native of Dade. Patti is a retired registered nurse who worked for Hutcheson Medical Center in various roles for more than 44 years. She and her husband, Anthony Emanuel, reside in Trenton.
Tom Randolph will portray the colorful writer George Washington Harris. Tom is an educator with the Dade County School System. He teaches 8th-grade English at Dade Middle School. He and his wife, Fran, reside on Sand Mountain.
The mission of the Dade County Historical Society, Trenton, GA (DHSGA) is to recognize and protect local history in the form of architecture, family histories and photographs, and area history. For further information contact donnam.street@gmail.com or log onto our Facebook page.
To join the Historical Society and/or find out about future programs and plans, stop by the DCHSGA welcome table located at the entrance to the cemetery. Dues are $10 per year. If you can't join us, but would like to help with programs like today’s or our other efforts, please place a contribution in the designated basket at the welcome table.
Available for purchase at the event or at local banks and the Dade Library:
Dade County Historic structure Pewter Ornaments $15
Books:
History of Dade County, Georgia- $20.
History of Dade County, Georgia Vol. II- $35.
Dade County Georgia Cemeteries- $30.
