THROUGH
MOUNTAIN MISTS
Early Settlers of
Their
Descendants...Their Stories...Their Achievements
Lifting the
Mists of History on Their Way of Life
By: Ethelene Dyer Jones
The Miracle of
Brasstown Valley: a Book Review
Governor/Senator Zell Miller has
done it
again. He has written his seventh book, and has managed within its
pages to
turn history into a page-turner.
I gratefully received a copy
early as a
Christmas gift from a very dear friend. I want to recommend that you go
out to a
nearby bookstore in these days remaining before Christmas and either
purchase a
copy for yourself or get a copy as a gift for someone special. You will
be glad
you did.
The
Miracle of Brasstown Valley
is the story of the founding of
In his foreword, Mr. Miller
states:
While all the people, places and
most
events are real, in some instances I have filtered their undocumented
words
spoken long ago through my imagination. So be forewarned: this history
is not
pure and perfect; it's padded. But, as we say in the mountains, this is
'pert
near' how it all happened." (page 4).
Getting it 'pert near' right is
good enough
for me. Not only does the book give the history of the founding of the
college
in the mountains, which has stood as a shining light for students
educated
there since 1886, but within these pages we get lessons on geology and
theology, politics and religion. The people of yesteryear, whose names
are well
documented in family histories, in county records of land holdings, in
church
and cemetery records, in stories of their deeds passed on from
generation to
generation are mentioned in the book as Artemas Lester makes his way
from
Yatesville, Georgia, where he was born, to Brasstown Valley in Towns
County,
Georgia, learning what he can from residents he meets along the way. He
wants
to know about the land and the people, the sturdy stock who have taken
up
residence in the mountains. The literary technique is a travelogue. The
impact
is that of having been there, experienced that.
In the pages of Miracle
we meet people who have a role to play in the
background of
We meet William Jasper Miller,
better known
as "Bud," teacher at Hood's
We see Artemas Lester's first
view of Track
Rock Gap as he travels from Dahlonega to
We meet Widow Nancy Louise
Haynes Stephens
Sanderson, whose help in establishing the school in
This book is full of mountain
lore and
culture. It is a book about a dream and the price one man paid to see
it
fulfilled. It is about moving on, even before the school Lester worked
so hard
to establish, was fully functional.
The book expresses appreciation
for a solid
way of life and for the faith that seeds planted will eventually sprout
and
bear fruit. Credit is given to many people who figured prominently in
the
founding of
Governor/Senator Zell Miller and
I trace
our roots back to Thompson Collins and other people who, although not
well
educated themselves because of limited academic offerings in those
pioneer
days, wanted a better way of life and accelerated opportunities for
their
children and succeeding generations. It was on this principle that the
Rev.
Artemas Lester set about to found the school in the mountains that
became
He has Artemas Lester asking
Teacher Bud
Miller this question:
"Where do they (the students) go
when
you've taught them all you know?"
Bud stared straight into his
friend's eyes.
"Ah, that's the question. You tell me."
At Christmas, this book will be
rich
reading as you discover and rejoice in the answer.
[Ethelene Dyer
Jones is a retired educator,
freelance writer, poet, and historian. She may be reached at
e-mail edj0513@windstream.net;
phone 478-453-8751; or mail 1708 Cedarwood Road, Milledgeville, GA
31061-2411.]
Updated August 8,
2009
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