The (IN)Famous UGA Iron Horse - Greene County

 

The Iron Horse was created in 1954 by the artist Abbott Pattison. The 12 foot sculpture was placed in front of Reed Hall at the University of Georgia. Unfortunately, the students did not understand nor did they appreciate the sculpture and proceeded to deface and try to damage the structure. Eventually the sculpture was moved to its current location on Hwy 15 between Watkinsville and Greensboro. The statue is visible from the road and there is parking available. 

Steadman Vincent Sanford (1871 - 1945) - Cobb and Clarke County

 S.V. Sanford was driving force both in Education and Athletics in the State of Georgia. His early career consisted of teaching public school in Cobb County. He joined the faculty at the University of Georgia in Athens in 1903 as an English instructor.  1n 1907 he became the faulty chairman of Athletics.  During his time as faculty chairman of Athletics UGA built the Baseball field, Sanford Field (1911), the football stadium, Sanford Stadium (1929) and the basketball arena, Woodruff Hall (1924).

Sanford later became President of the University of Georgia (1932 - 1935) and later the Chancellor of the University System of Georgia (1935 - 1945). Sanford suffered a cerebral hemorrhage at a meeting of the Georgia Board of Regents in 1945 and died. He is buried in the Marietta City Cemetery.

If you are interested in learning more about S. V. Sandford 

The Personal Equation: A Biography of Steadman Vincent Sanford by Charles Stephen Gurr.  Full disclosure I do not get any commission if you click on the link and/or if you purchase the book. I just like supporting the publisher, The Georgia Press.

Clarke County (25) - Moina Michael's First Poppy

Moina Michael, the Poppy Lady is the originator of the idea of using the poppy as a symbol of remembrance for our fallen servicemen in World War II.  In November 1918 Ms. Michael was inspired by John McCrae's poem, In Flanders Field to her poem, We Shall Keep the Faith. She also went to Wanamaker's Department store and purchases several poppies. She also vowed to wear a poppy in remembrance. She campaigned not only to have the poppy adopted as the symbol of remembrance but also for the sale of poppies to support returning disabled veterans. as a result of Ms. Moina's efforts the American Legion adopted the poppy as a symbol of remembrance in 1921.

This is one of the original poppies. It is now on exhibit at the University of Georgia Special Collections Library in Athens, Georgia. 

To learn more about Moina Michael check out the Moina Michael Poppy Project.

We Shall Keep the Faith

Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields,

Sleep sweet - to rise anew!

We caught the torch you threw

And holding high, we keep the Faith

With All who died.

We cherish, too, the poppy red

That grows on fields where valor led;

It seems to signal to the skies

That blood of heroes never dies,

But lends a lustre to the red

Of the flower that blooms above the dead

In Flanders Fields.

And now the Torch and Poppy Red

We wear in honor of our dead.

Fear not that ye have died for naught;

We'll teach the lesson that ye wrought

In Flanders Fields

                                                                                                                     

Georgia Writers : Marion H. Montgomery Jr.

Marion H. Montgomery Jr. was born on April 16, 1925 in Thomaston (Upson County), GA. He served in the U.S. Army during WWII and also served as a guard during the Nuremberg Trial.  After the war he studied at the University of Georgia.  He earned both a bachelor's and master's degree there.  After teaching at private schools and studying at the University of Iowa Montgomery returned to UGA where he taught for 33 years.  His last book , With Walker Percy at the Tupperware Party: In Company with Flannery O'Connor, T. S. Eliot, and Others,was published in 2009.  Montgomery died on November 23, 2011 in Crawford (Oglethorpe County), GA.

Suggested Readings:

Novels
The Wandering of Desire (1962)
Darrell (1964)
Fugitive (1974)

Poetry
Dry Lightning (1960), 
Stones from the Rubble (1965)
The Gull and Other Georgia Scenes (1969)

It might be a little hard to find copies of his novels.  Check your local library.  When I searched for copies of Fugitive I found 15 copies in the Pines (Public Information Network for Electronic Services) system.  There are about 284 Georgia libraries participating in this system. Check with your local library.

Clarke County (25) University of Georgia Botanical Garden 1833-1856

Location:  Pope Street between Broad and Reese

Marker Text:

In 1833 Dr. Malthus Ward, Professor of Natural History, opened the University Botanical Garden at this location.  Covering the block bounded by Broad, Pope, Reese, and Finley, the four-acre garden was intended as a laboratory for learning and experimentation as well as a location of natural beauty. The promotion of the sciences, both in the classroom and through projects like the botanical garden, reflected a growing trend in higher education away from a strictly classics-based curriculum. Although the garden gained a national reputation and became one of Athens’ greatest attractions, loss of funding forced its closure in 1856. Funds from the sale of the garden property were used to erect the iron fence surrounding the campus and the Arch, a free-standing gate that has become the symbol of the University of Georgia.

Erected by the Georgia Historical Society and the Athens Historical Society.