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Welcome to the Past

Southeastern Historians & Reenactors group

We are a dedicated family oriented group of Men, Women & Children That concentrate on the 1700-1900 Time period of America's rich History. With key focuses on Civilian, working class & Military Historical pivotal points of the American Revolution,1770-1790 Civil War 1860-1870 and the Great Western Migration 1840-1920

Travelers Rest in Toccoa Ga built in 1816

Bridging the Past to the Present

Keeping History Alive

A little history on the Photo above, of Travelers Rest in Toccoa Ga, Built in 1816 by James Wyly to house travelers on the newly constructed Unicoi Turnpike.

 

Travelers Rest is about 6 miles (10 km) east of Toccoa, Georgia, near the Tugaloo River, on Riverdale Road just north of United States Route 123. It was built upon Cherokee land close to the former Cherokee town of Tugaloo granted to Major Jesse Walton in 1785. Walton, a Revolutionary War soldier and political leader, was killed by Indians near here in 1789. The Walton family sold the land to James Rutherford Wyly who built the main part of the house between 1816 and 1825. Wyly opened the house as an inn for travelers on the newly constructed Unicoi Turnpike. Devereaux Jarrett bought the house on August 21, 1838 and it became the headquarters of his 14,000-acre (57 km2) plantation. Jarrett added to the original structure and opened it to the public. Due to the growing population and increased through traffic, the structure served as an inn, trading post, and post office. While the ten room house was open to the public it entertained many illustrious travelers. The Jarrett account books, that doubled as hotel registers, contain the name of the English scientist and author, George William Featherstonhaugh. He said, "Here I got an excellent breakfast of coffee, ham, chicken, good bread, butter, honey, and plenty of good new milk for a quarter of a dollar...What a charming country this would be to travel in, if one was sure of meeting with such nice clean quarters once a-day!" " The main building is a large and rambling two story wood frame structure, more than 90 feet (27 m) long. It is built out of wide pine planking and has six chimneys. One of the fireplaces has a mantle with drawers for storage of valuables. The front porch has seven rooms on each level with separate entrances, and an inside staircase providing access to the second floor.The rear of the house is where the innkeeper's family lived, with public rooms (dining room and parlor areas) in between. The post office was located on the second floor. The property includes, in addition to the main building, recreations of typical outbuildings of the 19th century, including slave quarters. It remained in the hands of Jarrett's descendants until 1955, when it was acquired by the state. Today, visitors can tour the house and see many original artifacts and furnishings, some of which were crafted by Caleb Shaw, a renowned cabinetmaker from Massachusetts.

All Photo credit to Charleston Tintypist

Bringing the Past out of the Shadows

Creating & supporting interactive and educational living history and reenacting events true to historical documented fact. We believe in true history not diluted or altered, Our future generations need to know just how Great America and those that shaped it are,

Re-creating history

Take a virtual tour of Travelers Rest

Memorial Services

Remembering our Military of the past

Historical Artist & Demonstrators

Skilled demonstrators, educate the public on 18th Century- 19th Century craftsmanship, wood working, weaving, spinning, cooking, Herbal Medicine and more.

Living History & Reenacting Calendar of Events

Bringing History to Vivid Life

Contact Us

We'd love to hear from you

We hope you enjoyed visiting our page. If you are interested in joining us as a Living Historian/ Reenactor or would like to have us present at your Event, School Program, Memorial Service, or Create an event at your Community Festival. Event or Historic site please contact with your request.

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