(This is part two of a series on passenger trains serving Marietta. Part one records the story of the last of the historic passenger trains serving Marietta.)
Once, passenger trains brought visitors, new residents, a host of business opportunities and future historic legends to Marietta. Then, passenger train service ended quietly with Marietta’s last passenger train on April 30, 1971.
With the completion of the Western and Atlantic line from Atlanta to Chattanooga, the sleepy town of Marietta became a tourist destination thanks to passenger trains. Marietta celebrated the arrival of the first of many passenger trains on Christmas Eve, 1842. Then, an excursion train traveled from Marthasville (now Atlanta) to Marietta. Dignitaries and celebrants enjoying the historic occasion filled the train. But many of the passengers proved uncertain and somewhat fearful of the newfangled technology.
According to published reports, when the engine reached the trestle over the Chattahoochee River, passengers demanded the engineer stop the train, fearful the bridge would collapse. They disembarked and walked across the bridge, with the train following once they were safely across. When the train finally reached Marietta, the town celebrated with a party.
In the early years of passenger trains, riders enjoyed the convenience of a regular schedule while receiving only the most basic transportation amenities. New steam engines required frequent stops for water and fuel. Smoke and ash from the engines often filled the trailing passenger cars. The rail cars offered more comfort than a stage coach. But train travel required patience, endurance and determination in the hot wooden cars seated on hard bench seats.
Marietta’s Tourism Growth
By 1845, the Western and Atlantic operated passenger trains and freight service from Atlanta to Adairsville. In 1850, the line reached Chattanooga. As the line extended, the number of passenger trains increased. And Marietta grew as a bustling railroad stop.
At nearly 1,000 feet above sea level, wealthy residents from Georgia’s coastal plantations traveled on passenger trains to Marietta. They sought the town’s cooler summer climate, lower risk of summer diseases (carried by coastal mosquitoes) and natural springs.
Local resident Dix Fletcher converted a trackside warehouse into the Kennesaw House hotel in 1845. The hotel became a convenient and popular stop for travelers on the growing number of passenger trains. And it served as a temporary residence for the wealthy coastal vacationers who made Marietta a favorite summer destination.
Advertising to Travelers
In Fall of 1857, entrepreneur Thomas Markley opened a book, music and jewelry store in the Dunn’s Hotel, located on the corner of Marietta Square. Hoping to reach the traveling class arriving on passenger trains from South Carolina, Markley purchased several advertisements in the Southern Enterprise newspaper in Greenville, SC. Markley advertised “melodeons, violins, flutes and guitars,” as well as watches, silver pens and pencils, books and stationary.
Businessman (and later, a reputed Union spy) Henry Greene Cole opened a bed and breakfast. Later, he operated the Marietta Hotel on the south side of the square, described as the finest in Marietta.
Capitalizing on Marietta’s growing reputation as a summer retreat, Dr. Carey Cox built a resort in the shadow of Kennesaw Mountain. The location specialized in “water treatments” from a local spring, reputed to deliver restorative effects for the tired and sick. By 1861, the location attracted visitors in what the city’s website describes as “a substantial tourist industry.”
Passenger Trains and Recovery
Rebuilding after the Civil War, passenger trains again brought new residents and tourists to Marietta. And the railroads actively promoted Marietta as a preferred stop.
In April 1867, the Western and Atlantic Railroad sponsored a press tour to Marietta, promoting the railroad’s newest equipment and featuring the city’s amenities. According to a report in the Atlanta Intelligencer, the tour included “about 20 of the press gang, and several of the city’s most prominent gentlemen.” The report described the visit to Marietta as “pleasantly passed in our delightful little suburban village.”
Promotions worked well, and the Marietta Journal joined in the cheerleading. A June 1870 edition of the newspaper stated: “No better place on the globe than Marietta to find all that is desirable in a summer resort . . . so come on.”
By 1885, Marietta again gained a regional reputation. The city was an ideal retreat for both Southerners escaping summer heat and Northerners seeking milder winters. Promotional materials highlighted its “splendid atmosphere, pure water, lovely scenery, and associations with a resident population noted for culture and refinement.”
Western and Atlantic Railroad continued as a major promoter of Marietta. A brochure published by the company in described Marietta as “The Gem City of Georgia,” and promoted the town’s “pure atmosphere, historic scenery and beautiful drives,” all at an altitude of 1,150 feet above sea level.
