Lower Altamaha Historical Society

Lower Altamaha Historical  Society

P.O. Box 1405
Darien, Georgia
31305


Speakers at LAHS Meetings

2022
▪ June LAHS Annual Picnic
▪ July James Atwater, History of Fort Stewart, US Army Garrison
▪ Aug. Claire Shipman, History of Bees
▪ Sep. Members Show & Tell
▪ Oct. Peter Martin, Ft Morris/Revolutionary action in McIntosh Co.
▪ Nov. Chad Carlson, DOT Historian, Mitigation of Darien River Bridge Replacement
▪ Dec. LAHS Christmas Party
 
2023
JANUARY 19
This month Myrna Crook will talk about Native Americans on coastal Georgia  and their pottery as it pertains to their culture. She will bring a display case that will show the types of pottery they made and it’s evolution in their culture.
Ms. Crook is a retired university administrator.  She also had the pleasure to work along side  her husband, Dr. Ray  Crook , for decades uncovering the secretes on various archaeological sites across Georgia coast.
Currently, she retains the position of Coastal Georgia Historical Society Archaeology  lab manager and Serves on the St. Simons Land Trust History Task Force.
It is will be an exciting look into the some of the original inhabitants of our precious coast.
 
FEBRUARY 16
Jingle Davis, author, and Ben Galland, photographer, will speak at our Thursday, February 16th at 7:00 p.m.
Jingle Davis initially wrote children's stories for magazines like Jack and Jill and Children's Playmate, later moving on to freelancing for magazines and newspapers like the New York Times and Sports Illustrated. Eventually she moved to Atlanta to work full time for Atlanta Journal/Constitution in various capacities, during which time she wrote a weekly column for two years and won first place in its category from the Georgia Press Association both years
In 2006, Davis, a native of St. Simons Island, retired and now lives on property her parents bought in the 1930s which overlooks the St. Simons Sound. Her constant companion these days is Ransom, a big brindle bundle of love who may be an American Staffordshire. And now she is writing books.
Since coming back home, she has written three award-winning nonfiction books, all published by the University of Georgia Press and all illustrated by Benjamin Galland, renowned local photographer.
Their first book, Island Times, is an illustrated history of St. Simons. Their second book, Island Passage, is an illustrated history of Jekyll Island. Their third is entitled Following the Tabby Trail, Where Coastal History is Captured in Unique Oyster Shell Structures, which was published last year. The southeast chapter of the Association of Architectural Historians awarded this book its top prize in their guidebook category.
We look forward to seeing both Jingle and Ben at a our February 16th meeting at the Fort for a "show and tell”--Ben to show videos of his photos and Jingle to tell us all about her unique history book
 
MARCH 16
Our March speaker will be Paul Foster whose presentation will be, “Exploring the Past and Uniting Family and Community Through Family History Research.”
He will share stories of how he has found living descendants of people named in books, etc., that he has found, and how he has returned these items to family to appreciate and treasure as family heirlooms and keepsakes. His experiences will be both uplifting and will inspire you to think of your own love for history and community and lead you to consider how you could use it to bless the lives of others.
He says "Sometimes we happen across something from days gone by (a book, a letter, a photo, etc.) which contains a name and other identifying information inside. When that happens most of us might think “Oh, that is interesting “ but our minds may not immediately consider that these items were once a precious possession in the life of an individual...highly valued by an actual living and caring person.
"When we think of our own ancestors with fond affection, we quickly realize that we owe much of our own success in life to their sacrifices on our behalf.” Mr. Foster will discuss how people can use resources like Family Search, Ancestry. com, and often the internet in general to connect with their past. He has taken this process of historical and genealogical research to another level in his desire to be a part of what the Holy Scriptures refer to as the time when “the hearts of the fathers shall be turned to their children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers...” (Malachi 4:6).
Paul Foster is retired from some 40+ years of public service in the U.S. Navy and Federal civil service. He loves family history research - albeit he says being a self-taught hobbyist, he knows just enough to be dangerous! He and his wife Ann Foster, a retired Glynn County school teacher, run the Family History Center at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on Community Road in Brunswick.”
Come and join us for an interesting night of stories and dialogue
 
APRIL 20
Navy and Federal civil service. He loves family history research - albeit he says being a self-taught hobbyist, he knows just enough to be dangerous! He and his wife Ann Foster, a retired Glynn County school teacher, run the Family History Center at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on Community Road in Brunswick.” Come and join us for an interesting night of stories and dialogue. At our April meeting, Pam Mueller will make her sixth visit to LAHS in the last fifteen or so years to tell us about a new book she has written. The Sky Is My Home is the ninth and latest in a string of historical novels, each of which brings to life the story of an amazing, unforgettable person.
Hazel Jane Raines, a Georgia girl, is just such a person. She logged 6,400 hours of flight time during her 20 years of service. She was the first female pilot licensed just before World War II broke out. Because the U.S. government did not allow female pilots to fly fighter planes, Hazel moved to England and flew Spitfires and Hurricanes for England's Royal Air Force. Later, back in America, she flew as a WASP and then with the Third Air Force during the Korean War. She learned Portugese to teach pilots for the Brazilian Air Ministry. She became one of the first female officers in the new United State Air Force and later became a recruiter and advisor to young women entering the military. She followed her dreams, never letting rigid, traditional restraints hold her back.
Pamela Bauer Mueller was raised in Oregon. She has worked as a flight attendant, commercial model, actress, English and Spanish teacher, and a U. S. Customs officer.
Pam's young adult and historical novels earned her acclaim as 2006/2008 and 2009 - Georgia Author of the Year, three Mom's Choice and Children's Choice gold medals, the Independent Publisher's Gold Book Award, and other national awards with Writer's Digest and Foreword Magazine.
Currently, Pamela lives on Jekyll Island with her husband Michael and their cat, Morgan Maurice. They are long-time members of LAHS. She's an endearing speaker.
 
May Fred Marland, oceanographer- Sapelo Island, SAPELO ISLAND: How a Georgia Barrier Island Was Formed
June LAHS July 4th Celebration Picnic
July 20,2023: Michael Putnam, Director-FKG, Timber & Sawmill History, McIntosh County GA Taking a walk around Fort King George, it is easy to see the lasting impact of the sawmilling industry on the Lower Bluff. Site manager Michael Putnam will guide you through this 200 year history with a focus on the technological innovations, the major players in the mills, and our mission to maintain the remains of the mills.
Aug 17, 2023: T.M. (Mike) Brown, author, The Last Laird of Sapelo We are all in for a treat this Thursday night at 7:00PM at Ft King George, when author Mike Brown will talk about his new novel, The Last Laird of Sapelo. The book is historical fiction about Randolf Spalding, son of antebellum agriculturalist and politician Thomas Spalding, one-time owner of Sapelo Island. There will also be a book signing at the end of the talk.
Sept 21, 2023: Our special guest speaker will be Ranger Phil Officer, a Supervisory Park Ranger at Fort Frederica National Monument. He oversees the Fort’s Interpretation Operation on St Simons Island.

Phil’s previous work experience includes employment at such well-known locations as Yellowstone National Park, Death Valley National Park, and Harper’s Ferry National Historical Park. His passion for history brought him to Fort Frederica National Monument in early 2022, and since that time he has relished the opportunity to help visitors from around the world uncover the truth of Fort Frederica's past!

His presentation will center on the foundations of Georgia and efforts of the Scottish Highlanders at Fort Frederica and other fortifications in the "debatable land."
Oct 19, 2023: Michael Seibert, archaeologist, Fort Frederica National Monument