By Alynne Grace
After nearly two years of dedicated research and hard work, Suwanee Creek Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, dedicated a historic marker commemorating Suwannee Town, a Native American Village ceded to the United States in 1818. A special committee was formed under the leadership of former Chapter Regent, Cathy Hyer, and Suwannee Town was identified on an original map from that time period, which was then authenticated by Richard Plumer, author of The Town of Suwanee, Georgia Early History, as well as Corain Lowe-Zepeda of the Muscogee Creek Nation. The dedication took place during Native American Heritage Month and the bicentennial celebration of Gwinnett County. Placed alongside Suwanee Creek before it meets the Chattahoochee River. Attendees included Georgi with current Chapter Regent, Rachel Schmalz presiding. State DAR Regent, Melodye Brown, Suwanee Mayor, Jimmy Burnette, Gwinnett County Deputy Administrator, Phil Hoskins, five Georgia State Society DAR officers, Beverly Paff, co-president of the Gwinnett Historical Society, and President of River Plantation HOA, Kathy Lewis. Members from Chestatee River Chapter, Colonel William Chandler Chapter, Hightower Trail Chapter, Jacob Braselton Chapter, James Stewart Chapter, Philadelphia Winn Chapter, Sunbury Chapter, and William Day Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution also traveled to attend. Suwanee Creek Chapter was happy to honor this piece of local history along the Suwanee Creek “where it all started,” as mentioned by Mayor Burnette.
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism. Its members are descended from the patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary War. With nearly 185,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide, DAR is one of the world’s largest and most active service organizations. DAR members are committed to volunteer service having served more than 12.5 million hours in communities throughout the world during the past three years. To learn more about the work of today’s DAR, visit www.DAR.org or connect with DAR on social media at facebook.com/TodaysDAR, twitter.com/TodaysDAR, and youtube.com/TodaysDAR.
