A Walk Through Pittard Park

Oconee Hill Cemetery - World War I Monument

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Located at Oconee Hill Cemetery, this monument was dedicated on May 30, 1925.

Inscription reads:   

“That the memory of the men of Clarke County who gave their lives in the World War in defense of their country and to perpetuate its ideals shall live as an inspiration to courage and patriotism. 1914 - 1918.

Chester P. Adair
Harry Allgood
Ed H. Bugg
Howell B. Cobb
William Randolph Epps
Allen R. Fleming
Robert T. Griffith Lieut.
Audley W. Harbin
Troy Harbin
Fred G. Hodgson, Col.
E. Hammond Johnson, Major 
James Loehr
Hal B. McWhorter
H.L. Jewett Williams, Capt.
Arthur K. Williams
Frank L. Walker


Erected by the Auxiliary of the Allen R. Fleming Post 20, American Legion, Athens Georgia, May 30, 1925”

A few notes about the men listed:

Private Chester P. Adair died of pneumonia in Toule, France on September 14, 1918. His body was returned to Athens in 1921. He is buried in Oconee Hills.

Private Harry Allgood was killed in action on July 25, 1918.

Corporal Ed H. Bugg was killed in action in the Battle of Argonne on November 2, 1918.

Howell B. Cobb died of pneumonia at Camp Forrest in Chickamagua on March 7, 1918. He enlisted in January 1918. His marker reads: "First Athens Boy Giving Life in the World War."

 William Randolph Epps was a secretary with the YMCA at Camp McClellan in Alabama.  He died of pneumonia on January 13, 1919.

Allen R. Fleming died on March 19, 1918 when his ship, the USS Manley rolled against the British cruiser HMS Montague. This caused the detonation of Manley's depth charges. 34 men were killed in the explosion. Fleming's body was never recovered. American Legion Post 20 (Athens) is named in his honor.

Robert T. Griffith died on May 9,1918 in Amesbury, Wiltshire England. He a member of the 188th Aero Squadron and was killed in a training accident.

Audley Harbin died on September 27, 1918 of wounds received in the Argonne Forest. He was the brother of Troy Harbin

Troy Harbin died on October 17, 1918 of pneumonia at Camp Hicks, TX.  He was the brother of Audley Harbin. Their father took his own life on August 3, 1922

Colonel Fred Hodgson died on August 5, 1917. West Point Class of 1881. Retired, Oct. 23, 1913 He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

E. Hammond Johnson died on May 18, 1919 from wounds received at St. Mihiel Salient.

Corporal James Loehr died on March 17, 1918 in Epinal, Lorraine France of meningitis. 

Hal B. McWhorter died on October 12, 1918.  He was killed in action in the Argonne Forest.

Captain Henry Lee Jewett Williams  died on June 9, 1918. He was an Episcopal minister. Captain Williams was killed by a German sharpshooter while on observation tour near Albert, France. Prior to the war Captain Williams was the Chair of Greek Language at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee.

Arthur Williams died on January 24, 1918 of pneumonia in Commercy, France. He was a native of Cleveland,GA.

Private Frank L. Walker died on October 9, 1918 of pneumonia at LeMans, France. He was attached to the Motor Truck Company No. 496 of the 421st Motor Supply Train in France.


Please let me know if any of the information I have found is incorrect or if you know any additional information.







 

University of Georgia - Hardman Hall

Located at 201 D.W. Brooks Drive on the campus of the University of Georgia, Hardman Hall was completed in 1918 named after Lamartine G. Hardman who was Governor of Georgia from 1927-1931.  Today Hardman Hall is home to the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps.

 

University of Georgia - Herty Field

 Herty Field 

University of Georgia

Lost Athens

Allen's (1955-2004) Normaltown

1950's to 2011. Now home to Health Science Campus

Restaurant in Normal Town.  Closed in mid 2000's

Bus Stop in Athens used to be downtown. Now located 6 miles from downtown.

Beautiful mural on the side of the Georgia Theatre. It was painted over long ago.

Elijah Clarke

Elijah Clarke Monument - Broad Street

Erected in 1904 by the Daughters of the American Revolution

Moina Michael's First Poppy

Moina Michael, the Poppy Lady is the originator of the idea of using the poppy as a symbol of remembrance for our fallen servicemen in World War II.  In November 1918 Ms. Michael was inspired by John McCrae's poem, In Flanders Field to her poem, We Shall Keep the Faith. She also went to Wanamaker's Department store and purchases several poppies. She vowed to wear a poppy in remembrance. She campaigned not only to have the poppy adopted as the symbol of remembrance but also for the sale of poppies to support returning disabled veterans. as a result of Ms. Moina's efforts the American Legion adopted the poppy as a symbol of remembrance in 1921.

This is one of the original poppies. It is now on exhibit at the University of Georgia Special Collections Library in Athens, Georgia.  

To learn more about Moina Michael check out the Moina Michael Poppy Project. 

We Shall Keep the Faith

Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields,

Sleep sweet - to rise anew!

We caught the torch you threw

And holding high, we keep the Faith

With All who died.

We cherish, too, the poppy red

That grows on fields where valor led;

It seems to signal to the skies

That blood of heroes never dies,

But lends a lustre to the red

Of the flower that blooms above the dead

In Flanders Fields.

And now the Torch and Poppy Red

We wear in honor of our dead.

Fear not that ye have died for naught;

We'll teach the lesson that ye wrought

In Flanders Fields