The Newton County Historic Society’s next meeting will be at 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 9 at Georgia Piedmont Technical College, 8100 Bob Williams Parkway, off City Pond Road.

Special guest speaker Robert C. Jones of Kennesaw, will present the history of Georgia during Major General William Tecumseh Sherman’s “March to the Sea.” The public is invited to attend the free event.

Newton County was an encampment for Sherman and his army as they marched from Atlanta to Savannah. Jones will speak about what it was like living during that time.

Jones is president of the Kennesaw Historical Society, as well as programs and education chairman of the Kennesaw Museum Foundation.

He is also an avid member of the board of the Civil War Roundtable of Cobb County and has written several books on various subjects of history, which can be found on his website rcjbooks.com.

The NCHS was founded on May 11, 1971, by Mary Gene Campbell Elliot. Over the past 42 years, membership has grown to approximately 153 members.

The NCHS seeks to, “promote the preservation of sources concerning the history of Newton County, the investigation, study and dissemination of such history, and to arouse the historical interest of the citizenry and friends.”

Since 1988, the NCHS has accomplished many things including the production and compilation of the “History of Newton County, Georgia,” which is available for purchase at the Covington/Newton County Chamber of Commerce; the preservation of the oldest brick building in Newton County, known as the Brick Store, which was deeded April 15, 1822; and the establishment of the NCHS Archives, under the direction of the late archivist Mrs. Paul Johnson.

There are currently four active NCHS members including the society’s officers and trustees who are working toward the goal of collecting, cataloging and preserving documents and artifacts to be made available to the public.
More information on the Society’s plans will be shared at the meeting April 9.