2025 Historic Preservation Awards Recipients

The Whitfield-Murray Historical Society was founded in 1952 as part of an effort to restore the historic Vann House in Spring Place, Georgia.  In 1976, following a period of inactivity, the Society was reorganized as a non-profit organization seeking to preserve and document the history of Whitfield and Murray Counties. The WMHS maintains eight local historical properties that would otherwise be in danger of neglect or destruction, and many one-of-a-kind documents that are unavailable elsewhere.

WMHS presented their 29th Annual Historic Preservation Awards in 2025 at the Crown Garden and Archives, located at 715 Chattanooga Avenue, Dalton, GA  30720

2025 Awards & Scholorships

The 2023 Preservation Awards were awarded as follows.

All of these award recipients have made innumerable contributions to preserving the important history of Whitfield and Murray Counties.

High School Students were presented with scholarships based on their contributions to historical preservation. 

2023 Historic Preservation Awards Recipients

The Whitfield-Murray Historical Society was founded in 1952 as part of an effort to restore the historic Vann House in Spring Place, Georgia.  In 1976, following a period of inactivity, the Society was reorganized as a non-profit organization seeking to preserve and document the history of Whitfield and Murray Counties. The WMHS maintains eight local historical properties that would otherwise be in danger of neglect or destruction, and many one-of-a-kind documents that are unavailable elsewhere.

WMHS presented their 29th Annual Historic Preservation Awards on May 7, 2023, at the Crown Garden and Archives, located at 715 Chattanooga Avenue, Dalton, GA  30720

2023 Awards & Scholorships

The 2023 Preservation Awards were awarded as follows.

Lonnie Eoff was presented with an award by Dale Lowman.

Ellen Thompson presented Bruce Davies with an award.

Roland Rankin was presented with an award by Judy Alderman.

All of these award recipients have made innumerable contributions to preserving the important history of Whitfield and Murray Counties.

High School Students were presented with scholarships based on their contributions to historical preservation. 

The Pete Sims/Mary Gene Dykes Scholarships were awarded to Dalton High students Sarah Forberger, Nellie Gregg, Parth Karande, and Anna La.

The James and Nell Ruth Loughridge Scholarships were awarded to Murray High students Ben Clark and Cameron Cloer. 

The Paul Ross Scholarships went to North Murray High students Janna Baggett, Wakelynn Legg, and Anslei Powers.

The Dot Seaton Scholarship was awarded to Northwest Whitfield High students Mary Jones, David Minter, and Alex Ogles.

The Marvin Sowder/I.V. Chandler Scholarships were awarded to Southeast Whitfield students Chaston Atkins and Jazmine Ayabar.

No students entered the scholarship competition from Coahulla Creek High School. The scholarship is named in honor of Judy Alderman and Dr. Don Thomas.  

A special thanks goes to the Mashburn Trust/Foundation for a grant supporting the scholarship fund.

Three elderly men smiling, standing together inside a rustic restaurant or café. The man on the left holds an award or plaque, the man in the middle holds a glass award, and the man on the right holds a small object. Behind them is a sign that reads 'Employees Only' and a brick and wood interior.

Student Recipients of 2023 Scholarships:

L-R Front Row: Janna Baggett, Anslei Powers, Mary Jones, Jazmine Ayabar

L-R Back Row: Ben Clark, Chaston Atkins, David Minter, Alex Ogles

Not pictured: Sarah Forberger, Nellie Gregg, Parth Karande, Anna La, Cameron Cloer, and Wakelynn Legg.

Three students receiving scholarships, two females holding certificates and one male holding a framed award, standing in front of an American flag and a beige wall.

The 2023 Preservation Awards were awarded as follows.

Roland Rankin was presented with an award by Judy Alderman

Lonnie Eoff was presented with an award by Dale Lowman.

Bruce Davies was presented with an award by Ellen Thompson.

Group of nine teenagers, five standing in the back and four sitting in the front, holding certificates of achievement or awards in a room with light-colored walls and windows, celebrating their accomplishments.

2023 Scholarship recipients:

Anna La, Parth Karande, & Nellie Gregg.

2022 Historic Preservation Awards Recipients 

For nearly four decades, the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society has presented scholarships at the area public high schools.  The scholarships are designed to reward seniors for their interest and work in local history; thus, they are a bit unique among scholarship programs.  They are earned scholarships which are not based on grade point averages, possible college majors, family income, etc.  The scholarships also honor members of the society who have ties to the particular school or community. This year, the honorees have done everything from setting up for historical society events and inventorying historic markers to making local history field trips, researching family history, scanning records at the Murray County Courthouse, and volunteering at the Vann House or other local historic sites.

2022 Awards & Scholorships

Recipients for 2022:

Avery Woodson, who received the Marvin Sowder-I.V.

Chandler Scholarship at Southeast Whitfield High

Manush Patel received the Judy Alderman

Don Thomas Scholarship at Coahulla Creek High. 

No applications were received from Northwest Whitfield or Dalton High.

Recipients for 2022:

Receiving the James and Nell Ruth Loughridge Memorial Scholarships at Murray County High School are Jada Cline, Lauren Champion, Caleb Peden, Sarah Ridley, and Samuel Woodall. 

At North Murray, the scholarships are presented in memory of Paul Ross. 

Honorees are Rachel Haught, Robbie Linginfelter, Avery Seay, and Samantha Walker.

Funding for the WMHS Scholarship program is provided by private donations and a grant from the Mashburn Trust.

A group of young people and older adults standing on steps outside, holding framed certificates, smiling, during an award or graduation ceremony on a sunny day.

Pictured here at a recent of the WMHS are (Front L-R) Sarah Ridley, Jada Cline, Manush Patel; Middle (L-R) Avery Seay, Avery Woodson, Lauren Champion, Caleb Peden, and Samuel Woodall;  Back (L-R) are scholarship presenters Marvin Sowder, Judy Alderman, and Tim Howard.

A young woman with long blonde hair holding a framed certificate, smiling at the camera, indoors with a stained glass window and textured wall in the background.

Rachel Haught

Young woman smiling and holding a framed certificate in front of a colorful stained glass window.

Samantha Walker

Young man wearing a gray and black baseball cap with 'Wander' written on it, holding a framed certificate, standing in front of textured glass doors.

Robbie Linginfelter

Four older adults standing outdoors on a sunny day in front of a white fence, holding blue boxes. Two women are wearing glasses, and all are smiling. There are trees and houses in the background.

Every May the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society recognizes individuals, groups, and entities who have made significant contributions to historic preservation in the two counties in celebration of Historic Preservation Month as sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Honorees for 2022 are Vivian Chance of Dalton who has spent countless hours coordinating fundraisers at Crown Gardens and Archives, the headquarters of the WMHS and Dale Lowman who has worked for many years preserving historic photos from the area, serving as chair of the Wright Hotel Committee, researching/writing about local history, and volunteering at many historical society events.

 

The awards were recently presented at a Society meeting held at the Old Spring Place Methodist Church.  Pictured here are Melissa Burchfield (Awards Committee Co-Chair), Lowman, Joan Dooley (WMHS President) and Chance