The City of Jasper
The county seat of Pickens, Jasper was named after Sergeant William Jasper, a Revolutionary War hero. Williams Jasper was born around 1750 in South Carolina; and died October 9, 1779 at Savannah, Georgia.
He enlisted in the 2nd S.C. Regiment at the beginning of the Revolutionary War and distinguished himself when the British fleet attacked Fort Moultrie. Without regard to the hail of cannon ball fire, he leaped through parapet opening in order to recover the fallen flag of South Carolina. After the battle, Jasper was presented with Governor Rutledge's own sword, as well as a lieutenant's commission, to which Jasper was reported to have said "I am not fit to keep officers company; I am but a sergeant." During the assault on Savannah, Jasper received his death wound while fastening his regiment's standard to the parapet. History records that he never relaxed his grip and he carried the colors to safety before he died.
The town of Jasper was formed just a little east of the geographic center of the newly created county. From its early development Jasper was no different from most other communities in that its major influences were the family, church and schools. However it was the completion of the railroad to Jasper that contributed to the "growth" of the community. In 1883 the rail's construction to Jasper was completed and gradual progress extended the railroad through North Georgia. The completion of the railroad opened up Jasper and Pickens County to industrialism. There were small enterprises, such as milling, metalworking, and even brick making, however the old wagon trails were inadequate as an avenue for large scale manufacturing activity. All of that changed when the railroad was opened, giving Jasper a corridor to the outside world.
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Railroad use decreased as roads and highways improved. While many of the roads in Jasper and Pickens county were not paved until the 1950's, many people moved or vacationed in this area for the same reason the original commissioners chose it as the county seat - its natural beauty. The city of Jasper is located on a ridge surrounded on almost all sides by a view of the mountains. It has been said of this view, "No language can describe or painter paint their rugged beauty or their awe inspiring sublimity." Highway 515 has improved the ability to access the first mountain city, ensuring its continued growth. Our founding fathers most likely never dreamed of Jasper as the city it is today, and will be tomorrow. |
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Marble Hill
"This little village is located at the northeastern end of the marble quarry area. The mercantile enterprises were largely supported by the workers in marble. The town lies between several mountains at the head of Long Swamp Valley - a region of natural beauty. The first Catholic Church ever built in Pickens County was located here, when a number of marble-cutters of that faith came into the Valley to do some work for the old Piedmont Marble Company. They erected and dedicated this church and worshipped in it for a time, but when their jobs were done and they returned to their former homes the church went into decay. No it would be hard to pick out the exact spot on which it was located."
Talking Rock
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"Several legendary accounts are given with regard to the naming of Talking Rock; one is the story of an unusual echo that was supposed to come from a nearby rock cliff; while another story tells about a rock with which some of the Cherokees played a trick on one another. The little town is situated on a creek of the same name. Being on the Old Federal Road, it was one of the earliest settlements in this region, and some of the earliest churches and schools in Pickens were at or near the present site of the town. Talking Rock is also close to the site of the old Indian village, Sanderstown. |
One of the earliest cotton mills in Georgia was started in Talking Rock by William C. Atherton, and flourished until the Civil War when it was destroyed by Sherman's raiders. The Talking Rock neighborhood was settled by a number of Presbyterian families, most of whom came to Pickens County about the time of the Indian removal. It is located on the old L&N Railroad line." Today Talking Rock is a quiet little village off the beaten path along the creek where Cherokees once farmed. Just a few quaint ships where the conversation is as interesting as the antiques and collectibles. A tiny Post Office. A couple of church's in the mountainside and cemeteries with markers telling stories of a lively past. It is just the setting that makes one want to abandon big city life forever - but when this sentiment was related to one of the town's original residents, he was heard to remark, "Don't forget to shut the gate behind you!"
Tate
"Widely known as the home of Georgia marble is the little town of Tate. The main quarries of the Georgia Marble Company were located here, as well as one of its large marble works. The is one of the oldest settlements in the County, and in fact was the site of the very first election and court held in the newly organized Cherokee territory in 1832. The settlement was the called Harnageville, after Ambrose Harnage, in whose house the early court was held. The post office at this place was officially known as Marble Works for a period of years; then it was renamed Hargnageville; and when the railroad came through in the early 1880's the town received its present name. A high school building here was built of Georgia marble, made possible by the interest and liberality of Colonel Sam Tate, one of the founding fathers."
Nelson
"As the marble industry developed in the County, the need for another finishing plant caused The Georgia Marble Company to purchase the property of John Nelson, located on the railroad near the Cherokee County line, for this purpose; and the town that sprang up there logically took the former owner's name. Mr. Nelson was a farmer and also a gunsmith of considerable note, and today there are many Nelson rifles throughout the country and many beautiful works of art in marble, have been finished here. Among the skilled workmen at Nelson have been a considerable number from Italy and Scotland, where they were also workers in stone, and some remained to become citizens."
Blaine
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…From the History of Pickens County by Luke E. Tate - 1935
