Notes

The Old Pickens County Jail (1906-1982) is Pickens County’s third jail. When constructed, the jail with its metal ceilings topped with poued concrete was considered escape-proof. Pauley Jail Building Co. of St. Louis furnished and installed the steel jail equipment. Local artisans completed the marble and brick exterior at a cost of $28,631. The marble came from the Southern Mill in Marble Hill, GA. The sheriff’s family lived on the first floor with cellblocks for men and women on the second floor.

What was originally the children’s bedroom now houses displays of early Pickens County, the marble industry, and maps. The “family room” contains a tribute to the Cherokee, Mississippian, and Woodland Native Americans. Another original bedroom later became the sheriff’s office and booking room. And in the kitchen, the sheriff’s wife prepared meals for the family and the prisoners. Two cellblocks upstairs were designated for males or females. Also on the second floor is a working gallows that was installed when the jail was built in 1906. It’s never been used. Because Pickens County sheriffs and deputies helped ATF agents find and destroy illegal moonshine stills in the area, a portion of the second floor is dedicated to Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms agents.

The Marble Valley Historical Society took possession of the building in 1982 and spent approximately $150,000 renovating. Today, the jail is on the National Register of Historic Places and is open for tours.

Notes

The marble industry in Pickens County, Georgia owes its success to the perseverance of early settlers and entrepreneurs. From Henry T. Fitzsimmons, who recognized the value of high-quality marble, to the Tate family who acquired large tracts of land, the industry grew steadily. The founding of the Georgia Marble Company in 1884 marked a turning point, as it brought together the best quality marble in America under one company. The plentiful supply of marble was extracted and distributed throughout the country by railroad, making Pickens County a hub for the marble trade. Today, visitors can learn more about the history of Pickens County Marble at the Marble Museum, which showcases the industry’s rich heritage.

To learn more about Pickens County Marble visit our Marble Museum located at
500 Veterans Memorial Blvd, Jasper, GA 30143.
Our hours are Monday – Friday 8:30am – 4:00pm.

Notes

Situated on an enormous vein of marble is the historic Tate House. Built as a personal home by Colonel Sam Tate, land/baron, philanthropist and business tycoon. Passing the north of the mansion is the “Old Federal Road” where the Cherokee Indians lived until ordered off by the “Treaty of New Echota.” In 1834, this led to the forced removal known as “The Trail of Tears.” As a result, the Tate House is now the fifth site on The Chieftain Trail, dedicated by the governor of Georgia, August 1, 1988.

In 1834, Samuel Tate purchased the land the Tate House stands on and moved his family from Lumpkin County, Georgia. His son, Stephen Tate, began the mining of marble, which eventually placed Tate, Georgia on the map. It was Stephen Tate’s son, the eldest of his 19 children, known as “Colonel Sam Tate,” who consolidated the marble interests and gained control by 1917. Designed by the International Architectural Firm of Walker and Weeks, Cleveland, Ohio, building began in 1921. Legends were told of a rare, bright pink marble, referred to as “Etowah” marble. In 1920-21, Colonel Sam began watching the rare Etowah Pink Marble that came from the quarry just behind the house.

Setting the matching pieces aside, he began construction of the Pink Marble Mansion. By 1926, Colonel Sam, his brother Luke (family attorney) and sister Florentine resided at the mansion. The second floor has four bedrooms, each featuring its own marbled bathrooms, mantled fireplaces, plus a morning kitchen and an office. The summer kitchen on the first floor has the original triple oak iceboxes and tin sink with butler’s pantry.

Colonel Sam died in 1938 at the age of 78, only 12 years after moving into his house. Neither he, his brother Luke nor his sister Miss Flora ever married. The last of the immediate family left the house in 1955. The house remained unoccupied and neglected until 1974, when Ms. Ann Lard of Arizona discovered it. She purchased the house and began a 10-year restoration project. In January 2001, the estate was purchased by Holbrook Properties, LP. Lois Holbrook and Marsha Mann plan to continue the restoration of the mansion and gardens. Recently Tate House was named one of the top “must see” places in Georgia by Georgia Magazine.