General Photos

This monument was ordered by a family from Columbus, GA. The life-sized angel was designed and carved abroad of Italian Marble. In route to Columbus, the Civil War caused its shipment to be stopped and stored in Griffin, GA. After the War, the original purchaser did not complete the purchase. The Ladies Memorial Association headed by Mrs. Isaac Winship attained the monument at a bargain price of $958 from the Atlanta Marble Works. Mr. G. B. Rooks made the base of the monument for $803.36 from granite quarried in Griffin. The Ladies Memorial Association had an iron fence placed around the monument at a cost of $169 and was completed in 1869.

The historic name of this buildingwas Griffin Grocery Company Building. The total area of the facility is 19,700 square feet. The late Mr. B. R. Blakely, Sr. originally constructed the building in 1899.

The Griffin W.C.T.U. Water Fountain The WCTU was organized in Griffin in 1877. In 1916 there was much agitation about liquor being shipped into dry counties. The way to get liquor was by Express from wet territories out of state. It was legal to get one gallon of liquor per month, or six gallons of beer. Later the law was changed to two quarts of liquor a month, then National Prohibition came, andt he WCTU installed the water founts. This monument was erected in the center of the park at the east side of Hill Street on East Solomon Street, located between the Masonic and the Odd Fellows buildings. This monument had four drinking founts, one on each corner on the top with the round granite ball and assembly sitting in the middle. The inscription on the ball says; "For God and home and native land". On the front of the base the inscription says: "Erected by the Women's Christians Temperance Union, Sept. 28, 1916". The monument was presented to the city with compliment of the organization.

The organ is completely mechanical. This means that from each key a series of wood slats and triggers pull down and open each valve. This is a time tested method which in parts of Europe have lasted for hundreds of years. Much credit must be given to the officals of the First Presbyterian Church of Griffin for the preservation of the historic pipe organ - a tribute to the art of early pipe building in America. The cost of the organ installed in 1894 was $1,375. This beautiful organ is still in use at First Presbyterian Church at 1349 Macon Road, Griffin, GA.

General Joe Wheeler was born in Augusta, GA on September 10, 1836. He was a graduate of the US Military Academy at West Point. He resigned his commission in the Union Army on February 27, 1861 and was appointed to the 1st Artillery unit in the Confederate Army at the age of 24 on April 3, 1861. He was constantly engaged in battle and was wounded three times. Thirty-six of his staff officers fell by his side during battle, six were killed and thirty were were wounded. He had sixteen horses shot from under him during the war.

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His headquarters were in Griffin, GA for a time during the waning years of the Civil War. They were on the corner of Hill Street and a short street named Wheeler Place, now named Tilney Street. Historians say that Gen. Wheeler's Cavalry Regiments and Fortifications caused Gen .Sherman to move to the east and around Griffin on his march to the sea, with only minor destruction to the hospital city.

This house is now on the site of his Griffin Headquarters on the corner of Hill & Tilney Streets.

Confederate Memorial Cemetery