Downtown Mairetta on St. Paddy's Day

On Saint Patrick’s Day we went to the Marietta Museum of History for a brown bag event where their CEO, Mr. Dan Cox, gave a lecture.

We parked on the Square and walked down the cobblestone alley by Hemingway’s grill. I could smell corn beef steaming. A van in front of us stopped and the man inside said something to the effect why do we keep bumping into each other. He was smiling when he said that. It was one of Anna’s near-kin. We just saw him the day before at the grocery store. He had his daughter-in-law with him ready to aim her camera for commissioned pictures of Marietta. She had just shot a picture of the old Depot, now the Marietta Visitors Center, and the Kennesaw House, which has Civil War history. We made some suggestions for other photos, which they may or may not have used. It is hard to know when someone is just being nice, or you are actually giving them inspirational ideas.

The Marietta Museum Brown Bag speech by Dan Cox was informative in a very personal way. The slide show and interesting stories about the history of Marietta were presented in his own down-home way that let you know he cared about “who’s ya Mama”. His presentation brought out the rumor that there are tunnels under the Square, giving examples of who had seen them and why they thought they were there. He stated there is a possibility that Sherman’s men did not burn all the county records as believed. There is a possibility the records are in the tunnels.

Dan Cox had praise for two dead people: General Luscious Clay, who brought the military airstrip to Marietta, which changed Marietta from a little cotton farm town to an aircraft building center. Marietta Mayor Joe Mac Wilson, who was instrumental in creating the Marietta History Museum among his many accomplishments. Truth be known, if it wasn’t for Dan Cox there would be no Marietta History Museum at all! Thank you, Dan!

The Marietta Museum of Aviation History is presently being created as an extension of the Marietta Museum of History. There is a lot of money, time and negotiations ongoing to arrange the aircraft that may be on loan by the Department of Defense rather than to destroy them. They are loaned in lieu of being given to the museum. Many of the aircraft must be partially disassembled to move them even if it is only one mile away from Dobbins ARB, which all is very expensive and detailed. Since the Aviation Museum is located next to the Lockheed Plant, there were questions about trying to save the old closed Officer’s Club up on the hill above the museum. Many comments were made concerning the club being haunted, as well as the Kennesaw House. Several Ghost Hunters have filmed from there.

After Dan gave his talk he allowed questions. A lady who arrived late asked what his position was. She added that he sure knew a lot about the history of Marietta. Dan said he was the “go-for”, he empties the garbage cans and cleans the restrooms if needed. He was having a little fun at her expense as I’m sure most everyone else knew he is the founder and CEO of the Marietta Museum of History. Then he told her the truth.

The lecture was well attended with standing room only. I recognized my high school science teacher, Mrs. Howell. Mayor Thunder Tumlin was there. I overheard him introduce himself to someone as “Steve Tumlin”, which is typical of his humble persona. Not all public officials can be so described.

After we left there we walked to Johnny McCracken’s Irish Pub to celebrate St. Patty’s day with corn-beef sandwiches, being the traditionalists we are. I thought I might try a Guinness Ale too. Nope! The waitress said the fare today was an Irish buffet. That was just too heavy of a meal for us that time of day. We walked next door to Tommy’s Sandwich Shop and found the corn-beef sandwich we were looking for. Yummmmm. I remember when this storefront was Groover’s Hardware.

We walked across the park where a young couple approached us. They wanted to know if they could ask us some questions about the history of Cobb County and tape our response. The camera lady had a Flip Camera too! The park was all in bloom with flowers brightly colored and pansies looking like they had faces, tulips were standing up proud. Why haven’t my tulips started blooming yet?