Living on the Unicoi Road [Paperback]

Matt Gedney (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1996

From its begining at a long-abandoned and all-but-forgotten pioneer cemetery, this 192-page book sets off on a three-centuries-long odyssey through the Helen valley and across much of North Georgia. The region was the wild domain of panthers, Indians, traders, and soldiers for a hundred years until the Unicoi Road was begun in 1813. The next century belonged to the pioneers and gold miners whose story is told for the first time. With over 50 pictures and illustrations, UNICOI ROAD is a virtual front porch where one can sit and watch a long-lost tale of the north Georgia mountains unfold. The tale does not end there, though, for the author follows the threads of the past to find them still woven into the evolving tapestry of modern life in the beautiful northeast Georgia mountains.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Gedney weaves a captivating tale.... a most refreshing approach which blends the best of fact-based history with the charm of good old-fashioned Southern storytelling.... a beautifully done work -- I read it twice within a few days! -- D. Michael Allison, National Allison Family Association

From the Author

My family came to Helen in the 1930s to mine gold, long before the road was paved and Helen became a popular resort town. Like most miners, they found little gold, but the family has been there ever since. As one resident recently said of Helen, "you know, this has been an interesting place!". The first written account of the area dates back to 1715 during the days of the Cherokees. I was fortunate to find a number of other sources -- including the diaries of an early valley resident -- which revealed the story of the brave pioneers and wild gold miners who once inhabited the Helen valley.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Little Star Press; Revised Edition edition (August 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0965119696
• ISBN-13: 978-0965119696
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #847,890 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing glimpses into the history of Helen and its environs, February 24, 2006

By 

K.Perla (Georgia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Living on the Unicoi Road (Paperback)

If you are someone like me who has driven by dilapidated structures or stumbled through small cemeteries and been curious about the people who lived and died in the area, you will be intrigued by the histories Mr. Gedney describes. The photographs and maps he includes add to the stories and give you a fascinating view into the past. Some of the book focuses on the gold rush, but most of the stories contained are about the people who lived in the area and the different paths they chose.

I plan on visiting the Helen area and seeing for myself the different places the people lived... I will take the book along as a guide.