Markers celebrate the history of Fayette County

For 52 years, the historical marker at the northwest corner of the Courthouse Square in Fayetteville was the only one in the county. It was dedicated in 1954. Now there are seven such markers around the county built to honor the people and places that have helped shape Fayette County into what it is today.

The courthouse marker relates the history of the county, which dates back to 1821. The city of Fayetteville was laid out in 1823. The courthouse, built in 1825 remains the oldest courthouse building in Georgia. The next oldest is in Dahlonega, built in 1832.

The tower end of the Fayette County courthouse was added in the 1880s.

Fayette County was named for the General Marquis de LaFayette, a French nobleman who assisted Gen. George Washington with men, money and supplies in the American Revolution. It is felt that some of the men first settling here may have fought under him and chose that name for their new county.

The courthouse was remodeled in the early 1960s, from a two-story with a wooden floor, to a three-story with concrete and steel floors.

In1983 it was firebombed by two criminals who hoped to postpone or cancel their impending trial. The roof and part of the walls on the third floor had to be restored.

The facility now houses the Fayette County Development Authority and the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce.

The other historical marker located in Fayetteville was unveiled May 11, 2006. It is located in front of Fayetteville City Hall and is in memory of one of Fayette County’s two natives to serve as a governor, Hugh Manson Dorsey. The other native to become a governor was William Smith who was governor of Alabama in the late 1860s.

Hugh M. Dorsey was born in Fayetteville in 1871, the son of Judge Rufus Thomas and Sarah Matilda Bennett Dorsey. Judge Thomas had served in the Civil War and was admitted to the Georgia State Bar in 1866.

Just 38 years later his son was admitted to the Georgia State Bar in 1894.

Hugh M. Dorsey served as Solicitor General of Fulton County from 1910 to 1916 and in this capacity, he prosecuted Leo Frank as the murderer of Mary Phagan in Atlanta in 1913.

He is credited with bringing to the public’s attention the unjust treatment of blacks in the state, with his book, “The Negro in Georgia.” He favored compulsory education for both races.

He served two terms as governor from 1917 to 1921. He died in 1948 and is interred at Westview Cemetery in Atlanta.

This marker is the only one of the seven to honor an individual.

Bethlehem Baptist Church celebrated its 138th anniversary by unveiling a historic marker.

The church was first organized under a brush arbor in 1867 and in 1878 James A. Arnold, a white landowner, deeded two acres of land to the members. The first building was very near the present one at 475 South Dividend Drive, opposite Peachtree City’s Falcon Field.

This community, which was first known as Clover, is now Peachtree City.

In 1904 a tract of land was purchased behind the church to serve as its cemetery and it is still in use.

A school for African-American children, grades 1 through 7 operated there until 1954.

The dedication for this marker took place on June 18, 2005.

Holly Grove A.M.E. Church dedicated the first historic marker in Peachtree City in October, 1999. As you face the church, the marker is located far to the left.

The church was established in 1896 under a brush arbor and in 1897 a white neighbor, Flimester Arnold, donated land and a stack of trees which were used to build the first structure.

There were various structures on this site through the years, including the one in 1943 that was destroyed by a tornado, leaving only a Bible and a chair. The current structure dates to the mid 1970s.

The church is located at 400 Holly Grove Church Road.

Starr’s Mill has been a mill site since the 1820s, when Fayette County was established. Glen Grove was the first name of this community and it was not known as Starr’s Mill until the late 1980s.

The current building dates to the early 1900s and is the third structure on this site. It ceased operating as a mill in the late 1950s.

Flat Rock A.M.E. church is the oldest African-American church in the county. It was established in 1854 and has moved three times from then, but always within a two-mile radius. Its current facility was built in 1978.

It has “mothered” three other churches, Little Vine in 1866, Edgefield in 1870 and Wilkes Grove in 1916.

Its cemetery contains the gravesite of Nellie Mae Rowe, who was born in the area in 1900. Her folk art is housed throughout the United States and was the subject of a major showing at the High Museum in Atlanta.

In observation of its 152nd anniversary, Flat Rock A.M.E. dedicated a historical marker on August 13, 2006. The church is located at 148 Old Chapel Road, behind the new Post Office sorting building on Ga. Highway 54.

The latest historical marker is located 1.4 miles south on Ebenezer Road, off Ga. Hwy. 54. The skirmish took place in the Shakerag community, now Peachtree City.

It relates a Civil War skirmish in the middle of Fayette County on July 30, 1864. The Union forces were engaged in a cavalry raid to cut the last two railroads supplying Atlanta. Confederate forces, led by Maj. Gen. Joseph Wheeler had these forces to attack on several flanks, and thoroughly routed the Union forces.

The marker is located on the Davis’ property, and is on the right side of the road, traveling south. It was dedicated on August 19, 2006.

The entities sponsoring the markers include the Georgia Historical Society, the Fayette Heritage Project, the Fayette County Historical Society, the City of Peachtree City, Main Street Fayetteville, the Fayette County Development Authority and the Peachtree City Heritage Historical Preservation Committee.

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