Whitfield-Murray Historical Society

THE BLUNT HOUSE is one of oldest two story homes built in Dalton.  It was the home of Ainsworth Emery Blunt, the first mayor and Postmaster of Dalton.  Mr. Blunt was originally from New Hampshire.  After moving South, he taught carpentry, blacksmithing, coopering, and religion to the Cherokee Indians.  He soon married Harriet Ellsworth, and later Elizabeth Christian Ramsey of Tennessee.  In 1838 Blunt gave communion to the Cherokees as they began their "Trail of Tears" to Oklahoma.  He was also one of the founders of the First Presbyterian Church in Dalton and was a very influential and prominent man among the Southern society of Dalton.

The Federal style house was completed in 1848.  In 1864, the Blunt family moved to Illinois; and the house was used as a hospital by the Union Army.  At one time it was also occupied by the Confederate Army, led by General Joseph E. Johnston.  Except for this brief period during the War, the Blunt family occupied the house from its construction until the 1978 death of Mr. Blunt's granddaughter, Emery Kirby Baxley.  The interior of the home is described as "feminine" because only three men ever lived in the home --A. E. Blunt, Thomas Kirby, and John Baxley.  Each room has original furnishings used by the family.  The oldest piece is the blue buttermilk chest brought from New Hampshire to Brainerd Mission in 1822.  The home was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.  Visitors can view vintage clothing and accessories, first edition books, antique toys and tools, family linens, antique kitchenware and many more items on display.

THE HAMILTON HOUSE is the oldest brick home in Dalton.  It was built in 1840 and restored in 1984.  The house originally belonged to John Hamilton of White Plains, Westchester County, New York.  Born August 17, 1803, John was a civil engineer who came to Kingston, Tennessee to make improvements along the Tennessee River.  John Hamilton married Rachael Loyd Wester in Tennessee on February 13, 1834.  About five years later, the couple moved to Georgia where John helped construct the railroad system connecting Atlanta to Chattanooga.  Hamilton purchased the land where the house now stands from an Indian named Young Bird.  It is said that Young Bird was actually killed on what is now Thornton Avenue when he was thrown from his horse.  The Hamiltons' names are found on rolls of the First Presbyterian Church along with the names of some of their slaves.  After Mr. Hamilton's death in 1853, Rachael and the children continued to maintain the plantation.

Confederate General Joseph H. Lewis used the Hamilton House as the headquarters for the Kentucky Orphan Brigade during the Civil War Era while Rachael was away in Middle Georgia.  Rachael died in June of 1876, and sometime later the house was sold to Crown Cotton Mills.  The house was used by the thriving textile industry as the superintendent's headquarters.  The Frank and Maud Hamilton family --no relation to the John Hamiltons --occupied the home from 1904 until 1983.

In 1997 the house was purchased by the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Today the historic home contains a variety of special collections including, Tufted Bedspread, Civil War, and Cherokee Indian displays.