Clarkesville in Habersham County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

A Slice of History for Clarkesville, Georgia

Events that took place during the life of this hemlock tree.

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, December 21, 2025

1. A Slice of History for Clarkesville, Georgia Marker

Inscription.

A Slice of History for Clarkesville, Georgia. Events that took place during the life of this hemlock tree.. 1861 - Civil War begins, Georgia secedes from the Union, and the Confederate States of America is formed. , 1865 - Civil War ends. , 1867 - Charles Deas is appointed Registrar for Habersham County during Reconstruction. , 1870 - Georgia is readmitted to the Union. Clarkesville is incorporated as a Town. , 1873 - Charles Deas dies and is buried in Old Clarkesville Cemetery. , 1875 - Garnett McMillan, elected to Congress in 1874, dies and is buried in Old Clarkesville Cemetery. , 1881 - Methodist Church is moved from the center of Old Clarkesville Cemetery. , 1882 - Southern Railroad Line is extended to Clarkesville. , 1885 - Jarvis Van Buren, architect who built Grace Calvary Episcopal Church, dies. His body is returned to be buried in Old Clarkesville Cemetery. , 1894 - Elementary School and High School are established in Clarkesville. Noted photographer Frederick Eugene Durbec is buried in Old Clarkesville Cemetery. , 1897 - Clarkesville is incorporated as a City. , 1898 - E.P. West and Co. General Store is founded. The second Habersham County Courthouse is destroyed by a mysterious explosion. , 1905 - Agricultural and Mechanical High School opens. , 1907 - North Georgia Technical College is established. Habersham Bank opens, becoming the first bank in Clarkesville. Asbury House, known as Oak Heights, is built by William Rufus Asbury, a banker and general store owner. , 1910 - Streetcar service begins in Clarkesville. , 1920 - Road is paved from Cornelia through downtown Clarkesville. , 1923 - Third Habersham County Courthouse is destroyed by fire. , 1924 - Earthquake , 1936 - Wallace family buys Asbury House and changes its name to "The Charm House." , 1937 - Habersham Theatre is built. , 1944 - Martha Eliza "Tattie" Sutton becomes the final known and marked burial in Old Clarkesville Cemetery. , 1950 - Amilee Graves is elected Mayor of Clarkesville, serving until 1962. , 1952 - Habersham County Hospital opens. , 1962 - First Mountain Laurel Festival is held. , 1963 - Fourth Habersham County Courthouse is built. , 1971 - Amilee Graves is re-elected Mayor by write-in ballot. , 1983 - Mayor Amilee Graves dies. Bell tower is added to the Habersham County Courthouse. , 2014 - Clarkesville Square fire.

1861 - Civil War begins, Georgia secedes from the Union, and the Confederate States of America is formed.
1865 - Civil War ends.
1867 - Charles Deas is appointed Registrar for Habersham County during Reconstruction.
1870 - Georgia is readmitted to the Union. Clarkesville is incorporated as a Town.
1873 - Charles Deas dies and is buried in Old Clarkesville Cemetery.
1875 - Garnett McMillan, elected to Congress in 1874, dies and is buried in Old Clarkesville Cemetery.
1881 - Methodist Church is moved from the center of Old Clarkesville Cemetery.
1882 - Southern Railroad Line is extended to Clarkesville.
1885 - Jarvis Van Buren, architect who built Grace Calvary Episcopal Church, dies. His body is returned to be buried in Old Clarkesville Cemetery.
1894 - Elementary School and High School are established in Clarkesville. Noted photographer Frederick Eugene Durbec is buried in Old Clarkesville Cemetery.
1897 - Clarkesville is incorporated as a City.
1898 - E.P. West & Co. General Store is founded. The second Habersham County Courthouse is destroyed by a mysterious explosion.
1905 - Agricultural & Mechanical High

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School opens.
1907 - North Georgia Technical College is established. Habersham Bank opens, becoming the first bank in Clarkesville. Asbury House, known as Oak Heights, is built by William Rufus Asbury, a banker and general store owner.
1910 - Streetcar service begins in Clarkesville.
1920 - Road is paved from Cornelia through downtown Clarkesville.
1923 - Third Habersham County Courthouse is destroyed by fire.
1924 - Earthquake
1936 - Wallace family buys Asbury House and changes its name to "The Charm House."
1937 - Habersham Theatre is built.
1944 - Martha Eliza "Tattie" Sutton becomes the final known and marked burial in Old Clarkesville Cemetery.
1950 - Amilee Graves is elected Mayor of Clarkesville, serving until 1962.
1952 - Habersham County Hospital opens.
1962 - First Mountain Laurel Festival is held.
1963 - Fourth Habersham County Courthouse is built.
1971 - Amilee Graves is re-elected Mayor by write-in ballot.
1983 - Mayor Amilee Graves dies. Bell tower is added to the Habersham County Courthouse.
2014 - Clarkesville Square fire.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Events.

Location. 34° 36.896′ N,

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, December 21, 2025

2. A Slice of History for Clarkesville, Georgia Marker

83° 31.421′ W. Marker is in Clarkesville, Georgia, in Habersham County. It is on East Morgan Street east of Jeffferson Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 180 E Morgan St, Clarkesville GA 30523, 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 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: Old Clarkesville Cemetery (here, next to this marker); In Memory of Rev. Hugh Hawthorne (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Old Clarkesville Cemetery (within shouting distance

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of this marker); Grace Protestant Episcopal Church (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Haywood English Home (about 400 feet away); Toombs-Bleckley House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Clarkesville War Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Habersham County (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Clarkesville.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 27, 2026, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 75 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 27, 2026, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.