Hmm...seems like the new TAG Railroad was not the only means of transportation at Harrisburg, Georgia, in the early days of the last century!
This photo, however, was made as a kind of joke one Sunday afternoon, according to my dad, who was born nearby (in 1884) before the railroad went through. Someone in the neighborhood had a cart with team of oxen, plus some willing neighbors who climbed aboard for the laughs - and this beauty-shot, giving us this brief glimpse into the vanished past of Chattooga County!
The dark circle at left center is the Harrisburg postmark which has bled through from the other side, proving that there once truly was a place by that name.
Today, except for its name on very old maps, and for a church, only a short country road bears that name today. I have written several stories about this entire area in recent years past, including one about Capt. Nathan Napier. Stay tuned, as there may be more.
Also, please note that the best Key Word for these writings might be "Broomtown", for those of you interested in Walker and Chattooga County histories.
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Chester Martin is a native Chattanoogan who is a talented painter, sculptor and artisan as well as local historian. He and his wife, Pat, live in Brainerd. Mr. Martin can be reached at cymppm@comcast.net.