The Griffin-Spalding Historical Society

Mission - To preserve and share the history of Griffin and Spalding County,

and to promote the preservation and use of their historic places.

The Griffin-Spalding Historical Society, a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization, was founded as the Griffin Historical and Preservation Society in 1969 by Seaton Grantland Barnes, John Henry "Jake" Cheatham, Jr., and John Hunter Goddard, Jr. They envisioned an organization which would acquaint local residents with the history of the City of Griffin and Spalding County and would inform the community of the need to preserve local sites, both commercial and residential, which hold historical significance.

Currently, the Griffin-Spalding Historical Society holds a variety of annual events and meetings to promote the history of Griffin and Spalding county and to raise funds for and awareness about preserving its historic places.

Regular annual events include a Low Country Boil, Kentucky Derby Party, Members Christmas Party, PJS with Santa, Historical Luncheons, and more.

Ms. Jewel Walker Harps, prsident of the Griffin chapter of the NAACP, speaks to GSHS members about the importance of preserving Griffin's Rosenwald School.

Recent Griffin-Spalding Historical Society community projects include:

Stabilization of Griffin’s second hospital located on Meriwether Street, commonly referred to as the “Haisten’s Building”
Hosted a Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation Ramble, which brought over 300 preservation minded people from across the state to Griffin to tour historic buildings and homes
Placement of Griffin’s historic City Hall and Haisten’s Building on the GA Trust’s Places in Peril List
Successful lobbying of SPLOST projects that promote historical preservation including the Restoration of the Historic City Hall and Griffin’s Rosenwald School (known as the Fairmont School)