The Gilmer County Genealogical Society (GCGS) has announced that it will not be holding any meetings or speaker programs for at least the remainder of this year. The Gilmer Historical Society, which has partnered with GCGS for some past events, is following suit with canceling its speaker programs for the rest of 2020.
“It’s out of concern for our membership because they are older and, not knowing what this virus is going to do, we don’t want for something to happen and it be our fault. Our board also decided to postpone board member elections till next year,” said current GCGS president Keely Chalk.
“We have suspended all history speaking engagements at the public library due to the size limitation of the groups until 2021,” added Wayne Hooper, historical society vice president.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic began, the genealogical research group held its regular meetings at the county library the second Thursday of each month. Those public meetings, which typically feature guest speakers and presentations, have not been held since the pandemic began.
“We (were going to have) a speaker to talk about aircraft used during World War II and we were going to partner with the historical society on a couple of our programs,” said Chalk about some of the programs that have been sidelined.
“That’s one thing we’ve been looking at is partnering with the historical society a little more on some of their programs to keep both our names out there and (because) we do share a lot of our membership. (We would like to) have more Saturday events and speakers because we want to have some younger people attend, but people have to work and Saturday might be easier for them to come enjoy some of the speakers. But, because the historical society has had to cancel their stuff and we’ve had to cancel ours, there’s really nothing going on.”
Genealogical society member Gladys Spivey said in-person research assistance typically conducted by GCGS members in the library’s Georgia Room each Friday is also not being done for the time being. Anyone who needs help researching their family tree can reach out via the group’s Facebook page or website, GCGSI.org, she added.
A library program at which Hooper was scheduled to read some of 65 letters written home by a Civil War solider was canceled at the onset of the pandemic.
In the meantime, Hooper said he’s put together a book of those letters written by James L. Tucker, who was a Confederate soldier in the 37th Alabama Volunteers. The letters were donated to the historical society by the soldier’s great-great granddaughter.
“He was a well-educated landowner who wrote formal letters to his wife updating her on his health, who is sick, wounded or killed in his unit,” Hooper said. “I decided, since the work had (already) been done for a slide presentation, to have it printed. I am self publishing it for the historical society and making it available to the public for a $25 donation to the historical society and museum. The bound book is 140 pages of transcripts, some original letters and envelopes, maps and comments on the events behind the letters. I have limited the first print to 25 books until we get some idea as to the reception.”
The historical society has also commissioned a new commemorative Christmas ornament showing the Tabor House that’s available for a $10 donation to the museum, Hooper added.
The museum at 138 Spring Street will be open to visitors Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m-2 p.m., and on the first Saturday of each month until the historical society breaks for Christmas.
“We are taking special care to maintain social distancing, limiting the number of visitors to five or less at one time and requiring masks for all volunteers and visitors. Everyone visiting the museum has cooperated with our requirements,” Hooper said.