Duluth Historical Society Blog

Preserving our history, recording the present and reaching for the future

Staycation at the Museum!

During the Duluth Staycation 2012, the Duluth area businesses and local attractions feature the Fun Friday Series. At the Duluth Historical Society, we will sponsor “Fun Friday Games.” From 12-3 pm, Pamela Nye, volunteer archivist, will show kids historical games that children used to play. Meet her in the gazebo for lots of great ideas, such as:

  • Marbles
  • Stick-and-hoop
  • Hopscotch
  • Jumprope and jumprope rhymes
  • Frisbee

While you are here, be sure to visit our museum. We currently have a very interesting Military Exhibit, featuring uniforms and information on residents of Duluth. You can also take a walk and see our Community Garden Plots and get one for your family. There is still plenty of growing time left. Museum admission is $1.00 for Kids and $3.00 for Adults. Give us a call at 770-232-7584. Hope to see you there!

Upcoming Lectures

We are pleased to announce the speakers at our upcoming regular meetings through the end of this year:

  • June 12: Finding your Military Ancestors in Georgia; Pamela Nye, Certified Archivist, Phoenix Research and Designs
  • July 10: Hidden Treasures: Finding Strickland Family Letters in the Attic; Robin Burch, great grand daughter of Alice Strickland
  • August 14: The Artist Community in Duluth; Bobbie Flowers, Owner of Luv For Art
  • September 11: History of the Duluth Fall Festival; Kathryn Parson Willis, Duluth Fall Festival
  • October 9: What is Historic Preservation?; Maysyly Naolu, Adjunct Professor, Shorter University
  • November 13: Caring for your Photographs and Scrapbooks; Pamela Nye, Certified Archivist, Phoenix Research and Designs
  • December 11: DHS Winter Party Celebration

Please join us the second Tuesday of each month at the historic Strickland House from 7:00 – 8:00 pm. Bring your family, friends, and neighbors to some wonderful programs!

Historical Society Member Honored at Duluth’s Memorial Day Service

One of our members, Mr. Glen Faulkner, was honored at the City of Duluth’s annual Memorial Day Service. Mr. Faulkner, a Korean War veteran, was presented with a certificate of appreciation and a commemorative coin at the service on Saturday, May 26, 2012. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Korean War. Thank you, Glen, for your service to our country and for your dedication to the Duluth Historical Society. We appreciate you!

Historical Society Remembers Duluth’s Veterans

At its monthly meeting on Tuesday, May 8, 2012, the Duluth Historical Society welcomed the City of Duluth’s Public Service Information Officer, Crystal Huntzinger.  Ms. Huntzinger spoke about the history of Duluth’s annual Memorial Day celebration and the placing of veteran’s markers.  Each year the streets of the City of Duluth are lined with more than 500 markers and flags, representing those who served in the armed forces.  The flags and markers are on display the week before and after Memorial Day, and the week before and after Veterans Day.

On Saturday, May 26th at 6:00 pm the City of Duluth and the American Legion post 251 will honor the brave men and women that are serving and have served our country.  This year’s service will specifically recognize Korean War Veterans on this 60th Anniversary of the Korean War by presenting them with commemorative coins in appreciation for the service they gave our Country.

The Historical Society will honor Duluth’s veterans, as well as those currently serving, with a military exhibit. Photographs and memorabilia from WWI to the present will be on display.  Please stop by the museum between 12-3 p.m. on Fridays & Saturdays to view the exhibit and tour the historic Strickland House.

Annual Plant Sale

Exciting things are happening at the historic Strickland House in Duluth this Saturday, April 21, 2012. The Duluth Historical Society will hold its annual plant sale from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. A variety of outdoor and indoor plants, shrubs, flowers, fruit trees, vegetables, herbs, and pass-along plants will be available for sale. In addition, on Saturday, the historical society will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony to debut its newly opened community garden. Plots are now available for rent. And, while you’re there…please explore our Certified Wildlife Habitat, created by Duluth Girl Scout Troop 1941, and attend the dedication ceremony to celebrate this new designation on the grounds of the Strickland House.

All proceeds from the plant sale support the Duluth Historical Society.

Organic Agriculture

At its April meeting, the Duluth Historical Society welcomed guest speaker Mr. Sandy Asbill, owner of Sangrit Enterprises in Clarkesville, Georgia. Mr. Asbill, a former Marine, soil scientist, and seed company manager, is currently in private enterprise in organic agriculture. On Tuesday night, he spoke on the benefits of organic agriculture as an alternative to the use of factory chemicals in gardening.

Before 1973, Mr. Asbill subscribed to the agricultural methods he learned as a college student, which included the use of factory fertilizers to produce crops and factory chemicals to control pests and diseases in soils, crops, and livestock. After being introduced to organic agriculture, Mr. Asbill set out to disprove the claim that crops could be economically produced without the support of pesticides and factory fertilizers. What he learned, instead, was that not only were crops being produced without synthetic inputs, but were most often healthier and higher yielding using organic methods. This eye-opening experience was the catalyst that led Mr. Asbill to a career dedicated to the re-introduction and re-education of gardeners and farmers in the natural system of crop production.

Mr. Asbill’s organic gardening methods will, no doubt, be of great value to home gardeners and to those who will be starting their gardens in Duluth’s new community garden located at the historic Strickland House on Buford Hwy. Plots are currently available for rent. Please call Judy Wilson at 770-232-7584 or send email to comgarden@duluthhistorical.org if you are interested in a plot at the Strickland House Community Garden.

Thanks to Gwen Filardi for submitting this great summary of the meeting!

April is a busy month!

We have a lot going on this month at the Duluth Historical Society. It’s a great month to see the museum and it will be last month to see the 100 Years of Girl Scouting exhibit.

April 10: We will have a special speaker at our monthly meeting. Join us and your neighbors at 7:00 pm.

April 13-14: The house will be closed for a very special event. We love having weddings here!

April 20-21: The New Dawn Theater has graciously offered all proceeds from this weekend of their production of “Murder on the Nile” to go to the Duluth Historical Society. Tickets are only $15 for the show and only $25 for dinner and the show. Dinner will start at 6:30 pm and the show starts at 8:00 pm. It’s a great way to spend the evening and support your local history at the same time! Visit http://www.newdawntheatercompany.com/ for more details.

April 21: ANNUAL SPRING PLANTS SALE! This is a very fun event. We will start at 10:00 am and go until 4:00 pm, or until all the plants are sold. Be sure to get to the house early to get a good selection. Many of the plants have been donated by local residents, so you know it will do well in the area. We will also be answering questions about the new Duluth Community Garden and dedicating the area as a Certified Wildlife Habitat!

April 28: Historical Society members will be on hand at the grand opening of the Chattapoochie Dog Park. The ribbon cutting will be at 10:00 am, and during the day, one dog will be named “Top Dog.” This special pet will be the Grand Marshal for the October Poochfest event. It should be a lot of fun!

Celebrating 100 Years of Girl Scouts Exhibit

1914-1928 Khaki Uniform. On loan from the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta Archives.

Duluth Cadette Troop 1941 of the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta would like to invite everyone to “Celebrating 100 Years of Girl Scouting in Georgia.” The exhibit at the Duluth Historical Society Museum, located
in the Strickland House on Buford Highway, will open February 3, 2012, and run through April 28, 2012. The public will be able to learn more about the history of Girl Scouting and view artifacts such as original handbooks and uniforms on loan from the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta Archives. The exhibit at the Duluth City Hall will feature information regarding current troops and the service they perform within the community. An open house will be held on Sunday, February 12, 2012, from 3:00-5:00 pm at the Strickland House.

The Cadette troop also encourages the public to bring their memories and pictures to share of Girl Scouting in Gwinnett County, as they are compiling a more complete history of Girl Scouting in this area of Georgia. Artifacts from several local families are featured in the exhibit, including a 1930s era uniform.

The entrance to the Duluth Historical Society Museum is free for members, or $3 per adult and $1 per student. The Duluth Historical Society Museum is located at 2956 Buford Highway, Duluth, GA 30096, and can be reached at 770-232-7584 or www.duluthhistorical.org.

Pancake Breakfast with Santa’s Elves

Breakfast in the Tea Room

It is time once again for our annual Pancake Breakfast! Join us at the Strickland House on Saturday, December 10, 2011, from 8:00 am to 11:00 am and let us do the cooking for your whole family. Afterwards, enjoy a story read by Santa’s Elves in front of the fireplace. You can even bring your own camera to take a picture of your children with Santa’s Elves.

The cost is only $5 per person. Come on out and meet fellow Duluth residents. This event is always a lot of fun! All proceeds go towards the Strickland House and the Duluth Historical Society.

Happy Veterans Day

If you live in Duluth, you can’t help but notice the crosses and flags set out for all of our area veterans who have died in various wars. Everyone has heard the story of Alice Harrell Strickland, who was the first woman mayor of Duluth (and the first woman mayor in Georgia). However, did you know that two of her sons were in the military?

Newton Harrell Strickland (1884-1960) was a graduate of Georgia Tech, and made the military his career. He served in the United States Army in France and Germany in both World War I and World War II. After World War II he retired as a colonel.

Glenn B. Strickland

Glenn Beauregard Strickland (1886-1967) graduated from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, in 1909. He was a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy in World War I and was a commander in World War II. He was also one of the first Naval aviators. He was the 34th to get his wings, but he was the first to request flight training in 1909. According to a letter his son, Glenn G. Strickland, wrote to his cousin, Alice Ziegler, on 17 Jan 1975, he wrote:

“His request was returned to him from the Navy Department, saying ‘At this time, the Navy does not have any need for officers with the ability to fly aeroplanes. Nor, is any need anticipated. If the situation changes, you will be notified.’ That’s why he is number 34 instead of number 1. But, #1, T. E. Ellyson, was killed in an airplane crash in 1928, so it’s probably all for the best. As a matter of fact, he outlived all the first 24. Only three earlier aviators outlived him.”

We would love to compile more Duluth-area veterans’ stories. Please contact us at duluthhistorical@gmail.com with your story. Thanks to all our veterans for the service they have provided over the years!