Alpharetta Receives Honors

publication date: Oct 11, 2008

Jonathan Copsey / Beaconcast.com

Some say the best things come in threes. For the city of Alpharetta, two was their lucky number. They double dipped on the award circuit and received two rarely given honors at last week’s city council meeting.

State Representative Chuck Martin presented a house resolution to Alpharetta congratulating it’s 150th anniversary. “From the north Georgia mountains to the Chattahoochee River, along the Cherokee Indian trail,” read Martin from the official proclamation, “a tiny village named New Prospect Campground was formed and, prior to being chartered in the 1800’s, the city was known as the Town of Milton. And on December 11, 1858, the town was chartered to be the county seat of Milton County and was renamed Alpharetta.”

In celebration of its 150th anniversary, Alpharetta has erected historical markers throughout the downtown district. A pictorial book has also been published through the cooperation of both the City and the many members of the Historical Society, who worked together to bring Alpharetta’s history to the forefront.

“People are hungry for history,” proclaimed Historical Society member Aubrey Morris, who is as contributor to the many historic events for the Sesquicentennial. Morris is regarded a local authority on the diverse and obscure history of old Milton County. Preserve AmericaBurt Wilkerson, Regional Director of the southeast division of the Housing and Urban Development Department, declared Alpharetta a Preserve America city.

“It’s a pleasure to be here to celebrate the first lady’s designation of Alpharetta as a Preserve America community,” said Wilkerson.

Preserve America is a White House initiative, spearheaded by First Lady Laura Bush, which encourages and supports community efforts to preserve historic assets. Alpharetta is one of 12 cities throughout the country to receive the designation this year. “Alpharetta has done an amazing job of preserving a small town feel in what is otherwise a whole lot of development all around. Without your efforts, all this history and heritage will be lost. Once it’s gone, it’s not coming back.”

“We accept this honor and it’s because of the hard work by Kim Dodson and the Historical society’s people,” said Alpharetta Mayor Arthur Letchas. “A lot of folks here did a lot of work and we appreciate it all.” Dodson is the Special Events Administrator for Alpharetta.