Draketown, Georgia facts for kids
Draketown is a small community in Haralson County, Georgia, in the United States. Long ago, people called the Mound Builders lived here. Later, around the 1400s or 1500s, the Cherokee and Muscogee Native American peoples settled in the area. The Cherokee people especially made Draketown their home.
Contents
Where is Draketown?
Draketown is about 1,243 feet (379 meters) above sea level. It's located near the borders of Carroll and Paulding Counties. Haralson County, where Draketown is, is in the Eastern time zone.
Draketown's Story
Draketown was first founded by the Cherokee people. They called it "Long Leaf" because of a tall, long-leaf pine tree that grew there. Later, men from the Ducktown Copper Mine in Tennessee came to the area. They found copper nearby. These men named the place Draketown because a drake is a male duck.
In 1896, about 100 people lived in Draketown. By 1907, the population grew to 300 people.
The Tallapoosa Copper Mine
The Tallapoosa (Waldrop) copper mine was an important place in Draketown's history. It was settled by pioneers as early as 1857, even before Haralson County was officially created.
The "copper excitement" began when a man named Elijah Brooks was plowing his field. He found a bright, yellow material that looked like copper. He sent a sample to Tennessee for testing. Soon, people interested in mining came to Haralson County. They started working on the copper mine. By 1874, a 48-foot deep shaft was dug.
Later, different companies owned the mine. They dug out a lot of copper ore. This ore was then sent to other places, like Atlanta, to be processed. The copper mining stopped around 1885. However, people continued to explore the land for more copper until about 1905.
Early Settlers and Their Stories
The Mystery of Walter S. Butler's Gold Mine
One interesting story from Draketown's early days is about Walter S. Butler. He traded with the Cherokee people for many years. He even married a Cherokee woman.
In the 1830s, the Cherokee people were forced to leave their homes. Before they left, they blindfolded Butler and led him on a long walk. They took him to a secret cave. Inside the cave, the walls were shining with gold! Butler filled his pockets with gold nuggets. But he was blindfolded again before leaving, so he could never find the cave again. Many people have searched for this hidden gold mine, but no one has ever found it.
Important Leaders in Haralson County
Many strong and helpful men were among the first settlers in the Draketown area. They realized how important it was to have a county seat nearby. These men worked to create the new Haralson County. Many people living in the county today are likely descendants of these early leaders.
Draketown's Doctors
Draketown had several important doctors who helped the community.
Robert Berry Hutcheson
The first doctor in Draketown was Robert Berry Hutcheson. He was also involved in politics, representing the area in the Georgia General Assembly several times.
Other doctors who later joined him included Ivie Golden, Benjamin Franklin Eaves, William Franklin Goldin, and William Love Hogue.
Benjamin Franklin Eaves
Benjamin Franklin Eaves was the son of early Haralson County pioneers. He studied at Emory University. He spent his entire career helping people in Draketown and the surrounding counties.
At the start of his career, Dr. Eaves was known as the "horse and buggy" doctor because he traveled to his patients by horse and buggy. In 1914, he bought his first car!
William Franklin Golden
William Franklin Golden was a medical doctor and surgeon. He practiced medicine in several counties for 40 years. He also served in the Georgia House of Representatives and the State Senate.
Dr. Golden helped build the Haralson County Courthouse. Today, that building is the Buchanan Library. He was also the president of the Temple Banking Company.
William Love Hogue
William Love Hogue became a doctor after graduating from Atlanta Medical College in 1907. He then became partners with Dr. William Franklin Goldin. He later moved to Villa Rica to start his own practice.
Other Important Businesses
Because Draketown had a good school and doctors, many people moved there. The community had different businesses, too. Calvin Cissero "Cal" Bishop ran a cotton gin and a gristmill. There was a blacksmith shop run by William Morris. Will Abercrombie built a hotel. Draketown also had a few stores, like Reeves General Mercantile.
In 1905, the first steam-powered vehicle arrived in Draketown. The first car, a Ford Model T, arrived in 1910. It was owned by Dr. W.F. Golden. A year later, four Maxwell cars arrived, including one owned by Dr. B.F. Eaves. Most people still traveled by horse and buggy or wagon because cars were expensive. It took a whole day to travel one way to the county seat, Buchanan.
The hotel built by Will Abercrombie provided housing for the teachers at the Draketown Baptist Institute.
Famous Draketown Residents
James Cleveland Moore Sr.
James Cleveland Moore Sr. was a Missionary Baptist Preacher. He was also a songwriter, singer, and singing teacher. His most famous song, "Where We'll Never Grow Old," was written after he visited his parents at Draketown Missionary Baptist Church.
Homer Franklin Morris
Homer Franklin Morris was a well-known publisher and composer of gospel music. His company, Morris-Henson Publishing Company, was very important in the 1920s. Some of his famous songs include "Row Us Over The Tide" and "Won't It Be Wonderful There."
Learning in Draketown
In 1905, the Baptist Preparatory College was located in Draketown. It served students from Haralson County and nearby counties like Carroll, Douglas, Paulding, and Polk.
W.F. Golden donated land for the Draketown Baptist Institute to be built. Around 1918, the institute closed. A community school then opened in the same two-story building.
In 1933, two other schools, Frazier's Chapel and Coalson, joined with Draketown Junior High School. Students from these schools were brought to Draketown by bus.
Around 1955, the Haralson County board of education decided that new school buildings were needed. By August 1956, Draketown Elementary School was built. It had seven classrooms and cost about $98,475.
In 1971, Haralson County High School opened. Draketown school then closed, and its students went to the new high school in Tallapoosa.
Churches in Draketown
Draketown Baptist Church is a wooden building that was started on October 11, 1879. It is located at 100 Eaves Drive.
Lighthouse Missionary Baptist Church is located at 12936 Hwy 120. Gospel Time Baptist Church was built around 1970 and is located at 1817 Frances White Rd.
