It Happened in Georgia

It Happened In...

by James A. Crutchfield

Written in a lively, easy-to-read style, this book features approximately 30 stories written for history buffs of all ages.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

130 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

James A. Crutchfield is the author of many books on United States history, including Tragedy at Taos: the Revolt of 1847, Eyewitness to American History, and Legends of the Wild West. His contributions to a variety of newspapers and nationally distributed magazines and journals number in the hundreds. He has been awarded the Spur Award from Western Writers of America and is a two-time award recipient from the American Association for State and Local History.

A native-born Tennessean whose direct ancestors were among the first settlers of Nashville in the 1780s, he has most often turned his probing eye toward their stories. But his writing career has spanned the entire continent, from the days of George Washington and the American fur trade to the Army of the West and the histories of such Western states as Montana, New Mexico and Arizona as part of his It Happened in… book series.

Reviews

[Josh Halim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I forgot or didn’t realize how much happened in Georgia. Like the Trail of Tears started in Georgia but so did the Girl Scouts of America. What a state.

[Dr. Jon Pirtle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite enjoyed this book on GA history. From the Wesley brothers' evangelistic fervor in GA, to George Washington's time in Augusta, to GA's "founder and chief benefactor, Governor James Oglethorpe," to Eli Whitney and the cotton gin, to Margaret Mitchell, to the Indians (Creek, Cherokee, and more), to Irish author Oscar Wilde's times in GA, this was a delightful read. Learned some new things about Stone Mountain, about how the English, French, Spanish, Indians, and more competed for the resources and profits GA offered, and of how the land has been so used, often misused and abused, and of why we ought to steward well and think long-term.

[Cindy Galt]

Just saw the book in Crackle Barrell, so, since I am from and live in GA, I picked it up to look at the table of contents to see what events would be included. I could not believe that Ben Epps, who was the first person to fly a plane in GA, and also had the first gas station, was not included, nor was the story of T. K. Hardy, whose murder was featured on Unsolved Mysteries, and finally, the murder of Solicitor Floyd Hoard. These three events were of more value as events that happened in GA than maybe some of the others, or should, at least, have been included.

[Mary Ann van Hartesveldt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unevenly interesting

Some chapters, like the one on the 3 governors chaos in 1947, are fascinating. Crutch field wastes our time, however, discussing how some people thought markings on a stone found in Middle Georgia indicated contact between Native Americans and the ancient Near East. He also lauds Margaret Mitchell enthusiastically without addressing her racism and its impact.

[Scott Vaughan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read. Great little stories - some unknown and not often told - from Georgia's past.