I was privileged to be appointed as the Official

Historian for Fayette County in March, 1982, by the county

commissioners. I am the second person to be so appointed; the

first one, in the 1930s, was the late Lester C. Dickson.

I got my love for history from my father, the late Harold

L. Cline. We would sit and talk for hours about ancestors

and tromp through one cemetery after another.

One either loves the subject or not, and it doesn't

matter where you are residing, you become interested in the

area's history. In my case, I have been fortunate to live in

Georgia for the past 40 years and 33 of those have been in

Fayette County.

When I moved here there were only 8,000 persons

and most of us knew each other. Through my articles in the

local newspaper, I learned who was related to whom and what

their mother's maiden name was.

Consequently, I have been searching, researching,

studying and otherwise storing county history and genealogy since

the late 1960s. I've reached a point where my head is stuffed

with a thousand pieces of information, and I have always been

glad to get it out of my head into the head of whoever needs it.

I've written hundreds of articles and papers on

Fayette County on subjects ranging from businesses around

the Square at the turn of the century to the three political

parties that have served here.

Now, I know a lot of things, but they all pertain to

Fayette County. I can't help but resent those who ask me where

their great-grandmother is buried in Douglas County, or

chastise me for not knowing where their

great-great-grandfather moved to in the 1840s when he left Fayetteville. I'm

pleased that you pick up ancestors here in the 1830 census, but

please don't slam the phone down when I tell you I have no

way knowing where they came from before getting here.

I have been named as an Honorary Creek Indian for

my work on their behalf here, but no, I don't know how

many tepees there were here 2,000 years ago.

I have always spoken to school children and Scout

troops and the Chamber of Commerce Leadership class and do

so with a glad heart.

What I will not do, is write a paper for you for your

English or History class. Not even when one of your parents begs

me. I will be happy to steer you in the right direction, however.

The most unusual thing I have been asked? A

psychic volunteered an insight regarding a woman who

disappeared here several years ago and said they could see her

buried under huge rocks by a metal bridge. So I was asked if a

bridge answering a particular description existed in Fayette

County but alas, I had to say no.

Unfortunately in this case, I couldn't even steer them in

the right direction.

Even though the job is a volunteer one, I enjoy history

and will always help you when I can.

Carolyn Cary is Fayette County's official historian and editor of

"The History of Fayette County," published by the Fayette County

Historical Society.

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