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placed five names into a hat, agreeing local steamboat line, banks, an insurance the name drawn would be the name of company, the Rome Railroad Co. and had ROME’S HISTORIC the new city. Recalling the seven hills of extensive farming interests. For almost ancient Rome on the Tiber River, Rome 25 years he owned 2 bridges crossing the was Colonel Mitchell’s suggestion. Etowah and Oostanaula Rivers, charging a toll for their use. He and Mrs. Shorter 9 Dr. Robet Battey were very active in the Rome Baptist Dr. Robert Battey was an eminent Church, contributing 6 of the 8 thousand surgeon recognized world-wide for dollars needed to build the church. It performing the first oophorectomy was in the basement of the church in Myrtle Hill (operation to remove the ovaries). 1873 that final plans were made for the Dr. Battey’s procedure is still taught organization of the Cherokee Baptist in medical schools today more than a Female College with Alfred Shorter century later. Following the Civil War, he chosen as President of the Board. The Cemetery returned to Rome to practice medicine name would later be changed to Shorter and later served as President of the College to honor Alfred and Martha for Georgia Medical Association. The Battey their contributions. Mausoleum is the largest mausoleum in Myrtle Hill Cemetery. It contains more 12 Gammon Family than 40 bodies, with the identity of The Gammon Family lived on E. Third MYRTLE HILL CEMETERY many unknown. Before modern burial Avenue near the Etowah River. Rosalind techniques and refrigeration, Romans and John Gammon were parents of three whose out-of-town relatives died while sons, Montague, Von Albade and Will. visiting, received permission to store All three boys were outstanding athletes. Branham Avenue the bodies in the mausoleum until Following his graduation from Rome cooler weather. Many never returned to High School, Von entered the University 12 retrieve the bodies. of Georgia in the fall of 1896. He was the quarterback of the football team 10 Augustus Wright that year the first undefeated season for 11 One of four United States Congressmen the University. In 1897, he was moved 10 9 buried in Myrtle Hill, Wright was also a to fullback. On October 30 of that year, Avenue Pennington 7 member of the Confederate Congress. during a game with the University of 8 During the Civil War, President Lincoln Virginia, Von suffered a severe head urged Wright to ask both Georgia injury and died the next day. He was Governor Joseph Brown and the eighteen years of age. On November 6 President of the Confederacy, Jefferson 1, 1897, Von’s funeral was held at the 5 Davis to surrender. Both refused. Even First Presbyterian Church. All of his 4 though Wright did deliver this message teammates sat together near the front Myrtle Street from President Lincoln, he remained of the church. That day, a move began in 2 3 South Broad Street loyal to the South. After the Civil War, the state that would make football illegal 1 he remained in Rome practicing law, in Georgia. The Georgia legislature was and was a member of the Georgia called into session and passed a bill that 1 Charles W. Graves..................1892-1918 Constitutional Convention of 1877. He would put an end to the game. Rosalind Myrtle Hill Cemetery is a died at his home “Glenwood” in 1891. Gammon, who in 1897 could not vote, special place with scenic 2 Nathan Bedford Forrest Monument was upset that a game so loved by her 3 Women of the Confederacy Monument 11 Colonel Alfred Shorter views of the city located at son was being abolished in his name. She the confluence of three 4 Civil War Soldiers’ Area Alfred Shorter was born in Washington, sent an impassioned letter to Governor 5 Julia Omberg.........................1842-1922 Georgia on November 3, 1803. Orphaned Atkinson asking that he veto the bill. rivers. Picturesque as a child, he was reared by relatives She signed her letter, “Von Gammon’s markers and monuments 6 Ellen Axson Wilson...............1860-1914 near Eufaula, Alabama. He eventually Mother”. The bill was vetoed. Memorials line the terraces of this 7 Thomas Berry........................1821-1887 ...............1838-1926 left there with his total possessions in dedicated to Rosalind Gammon as “The “field of history”. Frances Rhea Berry a hand satchel along with a pet rooster Woman Who Saved Football in Georgia”, 8 Daniel R. Mitchell..................1803-1876 under his arm. At the age of 16, he are located in Rome on Broad Street and These are but a few of the many interesting men and 9 Dr. Robert Battey..................1828-1895 found employment as a clerk in the store in Athens at the University of Georgia. 10 Augustus Wright...................1813-1891 belonging to John Baldwin of Monticello, women who have 11 Alfred Shorter.......................1803-1882 Georgia, eventually becoming a partner. enriched our community. 1799-1877 In 1834, he married Baldwin’s widow, Martha Baldwin Shorter....... Martha Harper Baldwin, who was 4 years 12 Gammon Family his senior. They moved to Floyd County Be safe and preserve the integrity of this historic site: in 1837. An astute businessman, Colonel Respect funeral services l No gravestone rubbings l Do not lean or sit on walls or markers Shorter traded in cotton, merchandise Cemetery tour information: 706-295-5576| Help locating a grave: 706-236-4534 and real estate. He was part owner of a 7.15 4 Confederate Section the improvement to working conditions yrtle Hill Cemetery is Rome’s most tangible link to the past. This death”, grew wild on the hill These are the graves of more than for women and to promote better M National Register of Historic Places site was established in 1857 and and gave the cemetery its 300 soldiers, both Confederate and housing for Washington’s impoverished. is the final resting place for more than 20,000 people who have shaped Rome’s name. Rome’s early history Union who represent all eleven states Eleanor Roosevelt considered Ellen history. Among these are four Congressmen, a U.S. Senator, America’s Known of floods and river rampages of the Confederacy, as well as the as her mentor on social issues. Ellen Soldier, and a First Lady of the United States. It is significant that three of the presented challenges to border states. There are 81 unknown died in the White House on August 6, seven hills of Rome were chosen as burial grounds. Rome’s first cemetery, everyone, including the Confederate and two unknown Union 1914 at the age of 54. Funeral services soldiers. Rome was a hospital center were held at Rome’s First Presbyterian Oak Hill, located on Lumpkin Hill was established in 1837. The third cemetery funeral director. Boats were Church. Her graveside service was located on one of Rome’s seven hills is the Rodeph Sholom Cemetery. Situated often used in removing during the war. When Union troops under the command of General the largest ever to be held at Myrtle atop Mount Aventine, this cemetery was established in 1875. the body of a deceased Hill. In 1998 the Rome Area Heritage person from the home to Sherman left Rome in November 1864, he ordered all of Broad Street Foundation dedicated a bronze plaque Cemetery, meaning a “sleeping place”... the funeral parlor during in memory of Ellen Axson Wilson. such difficult times. None Angels abound on Myrtle Hill burned except for a few buildings that Myrtle Hill Cemetery, “Where Romans Rest”. were used as hospitals. Several of our 7 Captain Thomas Berry & worried, however, that the downtown churches were also used By the 1850’s the citizens of Rome realized that more room would be needed; final resting place of their loved ones would suffer from the ravaging floods. In Frances Rhea Berry as hospitals, which spared them from This is the gravesite of several members therefore, a tract of 32 acres was purchased from Colonel Alfred Shorter. those days Myrtle Hill was the cemetery most often used by Rome urbanites being burned. Many of the soldiers of the Berry Family, including Thomas Colonel Cunningham Pennington, a civil engineer, drew plans for interment for the burial of their dead. Myrtle Hill stood high and dry a century ago just as buried here were in those hospitals. and Frances Rhea McChesney Berry, on six levels. Vinca Minor, more commonly called Myrtle, or the “flower of it does today. 5 the daughter of one of the wealthiest Julia Omberg men in Alabama. At the time of their In 1872, Dr. Robert Battey performed marriage, Thomas was 39 and Frances VETERANS PLAZA the first oophorectomy (removal of was 18. the ovaries) in the world. The patient The centerpiece of this plaza is the tomb of America’s Known Soldier, Charles Graves, and a popular hero of the Civil War. This was 30 year old Julia Omberg. The Thomas was 21 when he moved to which is guarded by three 1904 water cooled automatic machine guns. A bronze monument was erected by the United surgery took place on the kitchen table Rome from Tennessee to work as replica of a World War I “Doughboy” also enhances this inspiring site. More than 3,000 Daughters of the Confederacy to honor of the Omberg residence, which is an apprentice to a storekeeper. His Forrest for his role in capturing a Union located on W. First Street. A lynch mob industriousness and ambition led engraved bricks honor and memorialize military veterans and civilians for their service Thomas to own a store of his own.

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