Helen in White County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Gold, Lumber and Tourism in the North GA Hills

— Helen to Hardman Heritage Trail —

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, December 21, 2025

1. Gold, Lumber and Tourism in the North GA Hills Marker

Inscription.

Gold, Lumber and Tourism in the North GA Hills. . First People , The people who built Nacoochee Mound, the Mississippian people, called this fertile valley home a thousand years ago. When European traders arrived here in the early 1700's, the Cherokee and other Native American people lived in the area. By the 1800s it was turned to farm land and pasture., The Road to North Georgia , Many of the early settlers in North Georgia traveled from the Carolinas utilizing the Unicoi Turnpike, a former buffalo trail and later a Native American trading route. The Unicoi Turnpike passed along the property that is now called Hardman Farm. A portion of this historic road has been preserved between the brick building and the West End mansion at Hardman Farm, lined by large black walnut trees., Gold Fever , When gold was discovered here in 1828, fortune seekers rushed in. By the 1860's most of the gold was mined out. At the north end of the trail, you can see remnants of the England Mine., Lumber Industry Brings Prosperity , In 1911, the Byrd Matthews Lumber Company was formed to harvest 36,000 acres of nearby old growth timber., Company Town , Owners of the Byrd-Matthews Lumber Company built the twon of Helen to house timber cutters and lumber factory workers. Along with workers, Helen began attracting the attention of tourists trying to beat the Georgia heat. One of th emost popular hotels at the time was Mitchell's Mountain Ranch Hotel., Helen's Name , In 1913 the area now known as the town of Helen was named after Helen McComb, the daughter of a Byrd-Matthews Lumber Company (operating in Helen at the time) manager of the niece of John E. Mitchell a major real estate developer in the area., Mountain Revival , In 1969, renowned local artist John Kollock and three local businessmen designed a plan to update the former logging town into an attractive tourist location reminiscent of a Bavarian alpine village., Tourist destination , Helen thrives today as the host of yearly festivals and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Georgia, attracting over 1 million visitors a year., Eastern White Pine , During the heyday of the lumber industry in North Georgia this wood was used for the masts of world war one ships.

First People
The people who built Nacoochee Mound, the Mississippian people, called this fertile valley home a thousand years ago. When European traders arrived here in the early 1700's, the Cherokee and other Native American people lived in the area. By the 1800s it was turned to farm land and pasture.

The Road to North Georgia
Many of the early settlers in North Georgia traveled from the Carolinas utilizing the Unicoi Turnpike, a former buffalo trail and later a Native American trading route. The Unicoi Turnpike passed along the property that is now called Hardman Farm. A portion of this historic road has been preserved between the brick building and the West End mansion at Hardman Farm, lined by large black walnut trees.

Gold Fever
When gold was discovered here in 1828, fortune seekers rushed in. By the 1860's most of the gold was mined out. At the north end of the trail, you can see remnants of the England Mine.

Lumber Industry Brings Prosperity
In 1911, the Byrd Matthews Lumber Company was formed to harvest 36,000 acres of nearby old growth timber.

Company Town
Owners of the Byrd-Matthews Lumber Company built the twon of Helen to house timber cutters and lumber factory workers. Along with workers, Helen began attracting the attention

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of tourists trying to beat the Georgia heat. One of th emost popular hotels at the time was Mitchell's Mountain Ranch Hotel.

Helen's Name
In 1913 the area now known as the town of Helen was named after Helen McComb, the daughter of a Byrd-Matthews Lumber Company (operating in Helen at the time) manager of the niece of John E. Mitchell a major real estate developer in the area.

Mountain Revival
In 1969, renowned local artist John Kollock and three local businessmen designed a plan to update the former logging town into an attractive tourist location reminiscent of a Bavarian alpine village.

Tourist destination
Helen thrives today as the host of yearly festivals and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Georgia, attracting over 1 million visitors a year.

Eastern White Pine
During the heyday of the lumber industry in North Georgia this wood was used for the masts of WWI ships.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas • Roads & Vehicles.

Location. 34° 41.751′ N, 83° 42.703′ W. Marker is in Helen, Georgia, in White County. It can be reached from Edelweiss Strasse

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, December 21, 2025

2. Gold, Lumber and Tourism in the North GA Hills Marker

east of South Main Street, on the right when traveling east. Marker can be found along the Helen to Hardman Heritgage Trail. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Helen GA 30545, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Georgia’s Mountains. It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Gainesville & Northwestern Railroad (within shouting distance of this marker); Ronald H. Glaze - The Distinguished Service Cross (approx. half a mile away); The Hardman Farm Estate (approx. half a mile away); The Unicoi Turnpike (approx. 0.6 miles away); Welcome to Hardman Farm State Historic Site (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Creamery (approx. 0.6 miles away); Sheep Barn & Bull Pen (approx. 0.7 miles away); Welcome to Hardman Farm (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Helen.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 15, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 15, 2026, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 57 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 15, 2026, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.