chehaw Archive

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VINTAGE ALBANY: The Chehaw Massacre

 


The Creek War, also called the Red Sticks War, lasted from 1813 to 1814. During this time many of the Upper Creek (Muscogee) had been moving southward from Alabama and Georgia into the open territories in Florida. A civil war between the creek themselves began. The “Red Sticks”, Upper Creek, allied themselves with the British in the War of 1812, whereas the “White Sticks”, Lower Creek, were allied with General Andrew Jackson.

Jackson had been ordered into Georgia in 1817 by President James Monroe to prevent slaves from leaving Georgia and heading into Spanish held Florida. The upper Creek and the Seminoles were joining forces with escaping slaves and with the British. They began attacking white settlements.

The Lower Creek Indians that lived near what is now Albany were called the Chehaw. The Chehaw, along with Cherokee and Choctaw Indians fought alongside General Jackson in what became the First Seminole War.

On April 22, 1818 Captain Obed Wright led 230 men in an attack on the peaceful settlement of Chehaw. Wright claimed to believe the Chehaw were the same Creek Indians that had been attacking settlers in the area. Wright had already been informed by other officers that the Chehaw were peaceful Indians and had in fact welcomed, fed and cared for General Jackson’s own soldiers only weeks before. Wright went against orders, and obtained permission from the Governor of Georgia to attack the town anyway.

The numbers of the dead vary from as few as seven victims all the way up to 50, mostly old men, women and children. The Chehaw were ruled by an elderly chief by the name of “Major Howard.” After the slaughter, the chief approached Wright holding out a white flag. Wright ignored the gesture and ordered the soldiers to fire again, and then the old chief was even bayoneted. The few remaining Indians fled and the village was burned. Many of the Chehaw burned to death in their houses.

News of the massacre reached General Jackson by way of a letter from General Thomas Glascock, after he reached the village some four days later and discovered the carnage. Jackson was incensed to learn of the murders and in a letter to the Georgia Governor William Rabun, he expressed his anger at the “base, cowardly, and inhuman attack on the old women and men of the Chehaw Village” he continued, “whilst the warriors of that village  were fighting the battles of our country against the common enemy,”

Jackson further reprimanded the Governor for giving an order that allowed the massacre to take place and promised to have the Wright arrested, confined and brought to justice for the murders. Jackson closed his letter with, “This act will, to the last ages, fix a stain upon the character of Georgia.”

Jackson apologized to the remaining Chehaw people and promised the guilty would be found and punished.  General Jackson then ordered that Captain Wright be found and put in chains to await President Monroe’s orders.

In May Major John M. Davis had Obed Wright arrested and confined at Milledgeville. Wright then tried to use a writ of habeas corpus to gain his release from captivity. President Monroe ordered him to remain confined. Wright managed to escape and was never tried and punished for his crimes.

The Daughters of the American Revolution erected a monument on the site of the massacre on June 14, 1912. The stone monument can be found inside Lee County just off New York Road in a shady park.

 The Chehaw Monument, photo taken June 14, 1912

Betty Rehberg is the historian for the Albany Journal and maintains a group on Facebook called Vintage Albany Georgia.

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Chehaw Gears Up for the 3rd Annual Fundraiser with a change of scenery

 

Special to the Journal

 

The 3nd annual “Sip & Safari” event, a fundraiser to benefit Chehaw’s Wild Animal Park, is sponsored by Heritage Investment Center, Proctor and Gamble, and Watson Spence. The event will take place within Chehaw’s new safari exhibit, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2011 from 5 p.m. till 10 p.m., with cocktails, dinner and dancing.

“The event being held at Chehaw is a change from previous years, but we believe guests will be impressed with our new exhibit and will enjoy the change of scenery from Fowler Farm,” says Doug Porter, executive director of Chehaw. “We’ve appreciated the generosity of the Fowlers for allowing us to hold this event on their property in the past, but this year it’s time for Chehaw to show off its newest gem.”

Chehaw is excited about this year’s Sip & Safari event and the unique experience guests and patrons of this special event will have within the new safari exhibit.

Featuring one of only two zoos in Georgia accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Chehaw also includes a BMX bicycle race track, 18-hole disc golf course, Wild Trail for walkers and runners and one of the largest playgrounds in the state. Chehaw hosts special events throughout the year, like the Native American Cultural Festival in the spring, Swamp Stomp Summer Camps in the summer and Festival of Lights during the holidays. For more information, visit www.Chehaw.org or become a Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/chehaw.

 

 

 

 

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Chehaw Celebrates Groundhog Day


Official Chehaw prognosticator, Asante the meerkat, will serve as a substitute for the job’s customary species this Groundhog Day. Thursday, Feb. 2, the meerkats will be let loose at 9:30 a.m. to see if they can find their shadows.  If Asante reaches his sentry point without seeing his shadow we can look forward to an early spring.

Meerkats are small burrowing animals, living in large underground networks with multiple entrances which they leave only during the day. One meerkat stands sentry while others are foraging or playing, to alert them of approaching danger. When a threat is spotted, the sentry gives a warning bark, and other members of the gang will run and hide in one of the many holes they have spread across their territory. If there is no threat, the sentry meerkat stops signaling and the others feel safe to emerge.

For more information call 229.430.5275. Chehaw is located at 105 Chehaw Park Rd. in Albany, Georgia.

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Chehaw to Close January 16 – 27

 


Nature’s Playground temporarily closes for forestry management

Special to the Journal

(Albany, Ga.)- Chehaw Park will be closed January 16 – 27, 2012 to safely and effectively thin and maintain pine trees in the public areas of the park such as picnic, camping and play areas. January is the park’s lowest traffic season for and therefore is the perfect time to close for this type of maintenance program.

In late 2011, the Chehaw Park Authority received its Certified Forest Steward designation from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Georgia Forestry Commission.  The park was commended for displaying the importance of quality forest management through the use of prescribed burning, thinning, and other activities in the mature pine stands.  Chehaw Park functions as an important natural green space for the local urban and suburban communities in Dougherty and Lee County. The continued maintenance and enhancement of the forested landscape within the park provides an important refuge for numerous animals and plants.

“The Chehaw Park Authority takes its commitment to preserving the resource that is Chehaw Park seriously,” says the park’s Executive Director, Doug Porter. “By closing for a few days and maintaining our timber, we will be preserving our assets for future generations.”

 

ABOUT THE PARKS AT CHEHAW                                                                                                                        

Featuring one of only two zoos in Georgia accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Chehaw also includes a BMX bicycle race track, 18-hole disc golf course, Wild Trail for walkers and runners and one of the largest playgrounds in the state. Chehaw hosts special events throughout the year, like the Native American Cultural Festival in the spring, Swamp Stomp Summer Camps in the summer and Festival of Lights during the holidays. Chehaw offers one of the area’s finest facilities for events such as weddings, family reunions and birthday parties.  Come visit Nature’s Playground today and make it home to your next special occasion. For more information, visit www.chehaw.org or become a Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/chehaw.

 

 

 

 

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Chehaw gets award

Chehaw executive director Doug Porter accepts an award from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for the park’s forestry stewardship on November 19.
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14 Year Old Red Wolf Dies at Chehaw

ALBANY, Ga.–Chehaw is saddened to announce the death of its oldest red wolf, Ol’ Maw. At 14 years old, she passed away of natural causes during the night of September 27. Old Maw was born on the 9th of May, 1997. She came to Chehaw from the North Carolina Zoological Park in 2003.  Red wolves typically live up to 14 years in captivity.

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Chehaw Showcases Animals at Zookeeper Release

Chehaw staff will be taking animals to the first showing of Zookeeper tomorrow, Friday, Jul. 8 at Carmike Cinemas. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., moviegoers will have the chance to meet real-life zoo staff as well as interact with some of Chehaw’s friendly critters from the zoo.

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Chehaw changing, growing

One of Albany’s premier attractions has been evolving over the past year, and its staff is excited about the future.

Doug Porter, executive director at Chehaw, told the Kiwanis Club of Dougherty County, “Chehaw has changed a lot just in the past year or so. New wilderness animals have been added, as well as picnic facilities and a BMX bike course.

Another addition has been an interactive children’s playground that includes a life-sized simulated termite mound complete with realistic-looking meerkats.

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Our New Arrivals Need Names

Chehaw holds contest to name baby emu’s

 

(Albany, Ga.)- Two baby emus made their début into the world at Chehaw Wild Animal Park on March 1, 2011. After some special care and time with their mother, the emus are now available for public viewing. There is just one problem, the emus need names!

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Master Gardners at Chehaw

Here are two photos of Master Gardeners working to spruce up the education garden at Chehaw in advance of the Native American Festival.

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