History of the Smyrna Historical and Genealogical Society

The Smyrna Historical & Genealogical Society was chartered and incorporated as a not-for-profit organization under the laws of the State of Georgia May 17 1985. The incorporators were former Smyrna Mayor Harold Smith, his wife Betty and Emmett Yancey. The first meeting was March 27, 1986 with 18 people in attendance. Meetings continue to be the last Thursday of January, March, May, July, September and November.

The stated purposes were to be a membership organization for collecting, preserving and distributing information, photographs and other memorabilia relative to the City of Smyrna and the surrounding area. Another goal of the organization was the establishment of a museum and research library for its members and the general public. The official publication, Lives & Times, was first published in March 1986, and is published every other month.

Five years later the Smyrna Museum was established in the building at 2859 King Street, which formerly housed the Smyrna Health Clinic. Smyrna Jaycees constructed the building on property owned by the City of Smyrna.

The museum opened to the public April 25, 1992, in connection with the Jonquil City Spring Festival. The first exhibit was from photos and memorabilia which had been collected and stored at the Smith's home for several years. Two rooms were established for permanent displays of the history of Smyrna. one room contained photographs showing how Smyrna had changed over the 100 years or so. The second room featured artifacts and memorabilia from early Smyrna businesses, clubs, churches, civic and social organizations, and the city government.

The third room was devoted to research materials, including bound volumes of Smyrna newspapers dating to the 1950's, exchange newsletters and quarterlies, county and city histories, census records, etc. Betty Smith, one of the co-founders of the Museum, died of cancer in September, 1993. Saddened members of the Society dedicated the Museum in her honor in January, 1995.

Mayor Bacon told the 200 in attendance at the dedication and open house that the building would be demolished as a part of the redevelopment of downtown but he assured the group that a new home would be found for the Museum. Smyrna's original depot was demolished by the railroad in 1959 after freight and passenger service was discontinued. (It had been constructed in 1910 at a cost of about $2800). The New Smyrna Museum building is a replica of the old L & N and NC and St L Railroad station, a result of Mayor Bacon's assurance.

The Museum provides a permanent home for the thousands of photos, documents, and other items which have been collected and donated by citizens and others over the years. The street level of the Museum is for exhibits and displays which are changed from time to time, as well as the permanent photos, artifacts, and memorabilia which reflect the history of the Smyrna area. A 2000 square foot basement houses the archives, museum and historical society records, and a meeting area which will seat about 40. The meeting space is partitioned off with murals that depict the inside of Aunt Fanny's Cabin Restaurant. The 1890's era cabin was moved from its location on Campbell Road to the present location to serve as the City of Smyrna's Welcome Center, a part of the Museum, Smyrna Memorial Cemetery and Aunt Fanny's complex.

Another interesting item is a section of track that was recovered 18" below the surface of Atlanta Street located when construction was underway. The track was from the old Atlanta Northern Railway streetcar line, discontinued in 1947. Also recovered from the same spot on Atlanta Street were some of the original cobblestones which was the first paving for the original US 41 which ran through Smyrna. A large brass bell from the top of a steam powered locomotive from bygone days reminds visitors of the clanging as the trains approached a street crossing. other railroad memorabilia include a "Partners" desk which was used in the railroad station at "Grinder's Switch," the hometown of Minnie Pearl. The desk was a gift from Ruby Spradley Austin, whose son Jim worked for the railroad at the time the station at "Grinder's Switch" was discontinued. The typewriter used by Station Master and former Smyrna Mayor John Tatum is on display along with the guns he used, kept all these years by his daughter, Elizabeth Johnson, while he was at work at the railroad station. The typewriter was used to type telegraph messages which were received in Morse code.

A part of the historical complex is the Smyrna Memorial Cemetery, older than Atlanta's Oakland Cemetery, located directly across Atlanta Street from the Museum. It was begun by the First Methodist Church in 1838. Dozens of Smyrna's early pioneers are buried there. Smyrna streets bear the names of many also buried there: Dunn, Fleming, Foster, Hill, Hamby, Whitfield, including Smyrna's first Mayor, John Moore. One of the unique burials took place there when Joe Chancey's arm was accidentally shot off. The arm was buried in the cemetery and Joe would often visit the grave and place flowers on it. When Joe Chancey died on May 14, 1954, the rest of his remains were buried at New Smyrna Cemetery, about one mile from his arm. A Pathway of Honor curves from the entrance on Memorial Drive to the middle of the cemetery. Engraved memorial bricks are placed to honor the living and the dead. Proceeds are used for upkeep and restoration of the cemetery.

The sources for research are available for public use. These include the U. S. Census records for Cobb County from 1840, microfiche records of the National Genealogical Society Quarterlies dating from 1912 to 1986; cemetery records of Cobb County and others, Smyrna Herald and Smyrna Neighbor Newspapers dating to the mid 1950's.

The Museum is operated by volunteers from the Historical Society, as well as other civic organizations, including the Smyrna Golden K Kiwanis Club, and interested citizens. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. There is no admission charge but donations are accepted. Special times other than regular hours may be arranged by calling 770-431-2858 or 770-435-7549. Group visitations are encouraged.