Dartmouth's Stake in Atlanta

IN conjunction with Dartmouth's Bicentennial, the Dartmouth Club of Georgia was host to alumni from the Southeast at a ceremony held in Atlanta on July 4 to honor Colonel Stephen H. Long, Class of 1809. On July 4, 1837, Long, by driving a stake, picked the site for the railroad terminus around which the city of Atlanta developed.

Held at Underground Atlanta, a restored historic portion of the city, the Dartmouth program got under way at 10:30 A.M. with music by Ruby Red's Band. A half-hour later the president of the Dartmouth Club of Georgia, Ben S. Read Jr. '62, gave the opening remarks and introduced Richard C. Everett '40, chairman of the program and a member of the Alumni Council. In his remarks Mr. Everett paid tribute to Charles F. Palmer '18, who "initiated, researched, and developed" this program to honor Stephen Long. The next speaker was William H. Kendall '32, president of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company. He explained that an important link in his railroad system is the Western and Atlantic Railroad, surveyed and built by Colonel Long, who is highly honored in the railroad industry. His manual on railroad operation was the industry's "bible" before the turn of the century.

The climax of the program was the presentation and unveiling of a plaque honoring Colonel Long by Orton H. Hicks '21, Vice President Emeritus of the College. The plaque was accepted by the Honorable Ivan Allen Jr., Mayor of Atlanta, and reads as follows:

COLONEL STEPHEN HARRIMAN LONG 1784-1864

WHEREAS: Explorer, inventor, civil engineer, and for half a century a leading member of the U.S. Army's corps of engineers, STEPHEN HARRIMAN LONG directed the railroad surveys which in 1837 fixed the destiny of the place - then virtual wilderness - which became present-day Atlanta.

AND WHEREAS: Long viewed the project as "the main connecting link, in the chain or system of internal improvements, more splendid and imposing than any other that has ever been devised in this or any other country."

AND WHEREAS: Long served as Chief Engineer during the initial period of construction in 1838-39.

AND WHEREAS: He afterward pursued a brilliant career as designer and builder of bridges, steamboats and railroads.

Now THEREFORE: Dartmouth College, his Alma Mater, Class of 1809, in this the Bicentennial Year of its founding and on this the 132nd Anniversary of the driving of the stake at Long's direction which located Atlanta, does hereby honor its distinguished Alumnus with this plaque presented by its Vice-President Emeritus Orton H. Hicks and accepted by Honorable Ivan Allen, Junior, Mayor of Atlanta. July 4, 1969

Richard C. Everett '4O of the Alumni Council, program chairman, speaking at theJuly 4 ceremony in Atlanta. Shown, from left, are Mr. Hicks, William H. Kendall'32, Louisville & Nashville Railroad president, and Mayor Allen.

Vice President Emeritus Orton Hicks'21 (r), who represented the College,and Mayor Ivan Allen Jr. stand beforethe plaque presented by the College tomark spot around which Atlanta grew.