Six Historical Markers Unveiled in Fulton

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FULTON, Al. (WCBI) — It was a celebration of history in Fulton.

It started at Itawamba Community College. The kickoff of a day that would see the unveiling of six historical markers around Fulton. Lynn Blaylock was one of the organizers. She says this day had been in the works for quite some time.

“It’s a very long process with the Department of Archives, getting all the historical information, getting the facts right, she points out. “Once they approve it then the markers have to be made. And that takes up a pretty good amount of time, a couple of months to do that,” Blaylock says.

“Fulton is just such a unique place,” says Fulton Mayor Lynette Weatherford. “Everybody is so close. Everybody is so interested in their past and their history here and we’ve just enjoyed this weekend where everybody could come home,” she says.

ICC President Mike Eaton was honored that the school had the honor of being the first stop on the unveiling tour.

“It’s very special because Itawamba Community College started in 1948 and has a sixty year plus history right here that has been amazing,” he boasts.
Buses took those in attendance to each site including the old grammar school which is still used for plays and other events.

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History founded the state historical marker program in 1949 as a way to easily identify promote historically significant site across the state. Since then approximately 900 markers have been erected. And a marker placed at a location is a long and rigorous process.

“They have to be of some kind of significance,” notes Blaylock. “Some of ours are historical, some of them are architectural. Some of them are a significant site like the ICC college and Fulton Grammar school.”

Blaylock says the day also featured tours and open houses of the sites including the historic Gaither home on main street.

“My great-great grandfather came here in the 1840’s, says Danny Gaither.” He was a merchant here. And he also had six brothers and sisters that came with him. So my family has been here and a mercantile business on the square ever since,” Gaither said.

And it was on the square where it ended, with the unveiling of the marker at the Itawamba County Courthouse.