Unexpected to find this name in this place but here it is. It is in the center of Madison, on the…read moresquare with the county courthouse. It has the same text on both sides. It reads, "Oliver Norvell Hardy, of the comedy team Laurel and Hardy, lived in the Turnell-Butler Hotel which once stood on this corner. He was born in Harlem, Georgia, on January 18, 1892. The family was in Madison by that February, and may have moved here earlier. Mrs. Hardy later opened a hotel in Madison named The Hardy House. Oliver began his education at age six at the Madison Grammar School. Mrs. Hardy and her children left Madison in October 1898. Oliver Hardy died in 1957 and is buried in California where a plaque reads: "His Talent Brought Joy and Laughter To All the World."" Hardy was born Norvell Hardy, taking the name Oliver later to honor his father, a Confederate veteran who died less than a year after Hardy's birth. Though he began formal education in Madison, Hardy was restless and drawn to performance. He attended Georgia Military College and later Young Harris College, but his real passion was music. He studied voice in Atlanta and sang in theaters for modest pay, sometimes skipping lessons to perform. Hardy's entry into film began in Jacksonville, Florida, where he worked as a cabaret singer and at the Lubin Manufacturing Company. He was often cast as a villain in silent shorts, and before teaming with Stan Laurel, he had a prolific solo career, appearing in dozens of films under the name Babe Hardy. Hardy married three times: first to Madelyn Saloshin, then Myrtle Reeves, and finally Virginia Lucille Jones, who remained with him until his death in 1957. He is buried at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood, California This is marker number 104-1. It was erected in 2002 by The Georgia Historical Society and the City of Madison. There is plenty of parking in the area as well as some restaurants and shops. [Review 1311 of 2025 - 851 in Georgia - 24863 overall]

Hiding in plain sight, this marker stands on what was once the public square. The obelisk was…read moreunveiled in 1856 and is one of the oldest public memorials in the city and commemorates Benjamin Braswell, a local figure of significance. Benjamin Braswell (ca. 1749-1817) was an early settler, farmer, and philanthropist in Morgan County. He was part of a widespread family network that settled across upper Georgia after the American Revolution. Though little is known about his early life, records show he participated in the 1805 Georgia Land Lottery and was living in Franklin County at the time. By 1808, he had purchased land in the newly formed Morgan County, where he established a modest plantation focused on corn, wheat, cattle, and hogs as cotton had not yet taken hold in the region. At his death in 1817, Braswell owned more than a dozen enslaved individuals and was remembered as a quiet, generous neighbor. His most enduring contribution came through his will, which left his estate to Morgan County for the care and education of orphans. This act of generosity led to the creation of the Braswell Fund, a public trust that continues to operate today. His reconstructed grave, along with that of his wife Emily, is located in Braswell Park near the Morgan-Walton county line, protected by a wrought iron fence. Located in the heart of Madison's original 1809 town plan, the monument stands on what was once the public square. It predates many of the square's later features and has remained a constant presence through the town's evolution. [Review 1282 of 2025 - 844 in Georgia - 24834 overall]

Just off Main Street near the heart of downtown Madison, this historical marker quietly…read morecommemorates the nearby residence of a patriot who once called this area home. Though the marker still stands, it has clearly weathered the years--its surface mottled with moss and in need of some restorative care. The road here is often bustling with traffic, but visitors can find convenient parking in the lot adjacent to the Cultural Center, making it easier to stop and reflect on the legacy preserved in this modest sign It reads, "Joshua Hill, noted Georgian of the Civil War and Reconstruction, was born in 1812 in the Abbeville District, S.C. He studied law and come to Ga. to practice, settling in Madison after living in Monticello for a time. Having strong Whig and Unionist principles, he was drawn into the American or Know-Nothing party when the Whig party in Ga. collapsed and was elected to Congress in 1856, defeating Linton Stephens. An outspoken opponent of secession, Hill resigned his seat in 1861 rather than withdraw with the other members of the Ga. delegation. In 1863 he made an unsuccessful bid for the governorship. "After the war, Hill participated actively in the work of Reconstruction as a member of the constitutional convention of 1865 and as a U.S. Senator. Elected to the Senate in 1868, he qualified in 1871 and served until 1873. Although he entered Republic party and supported Radical Reconstruction, he never lost the respect and admiration of the people of Ga. "When his term ended in 1873, Hill retired from politics, coming out of retirement only to take part in the constitutional convention of 1877. He died in 1891 and is buried in Madison" This is officially designated as marker number 104-1, and it was placed here in 1963 by the Georgia Historical Commission to honor Hill's contributions and preserve his story for future generations. [Review 1299 of 2025 - 847 in Georgia - 24851 overall]

The Newton County Confederate statue in Covington Square is a war memorial erected in 1906 to honor…read moreConfederate soldiers and women who supported the Confederate cause. It remains in place amid ongoing legal and public debate over its removal. The monument features a uniformed Civil War soldier standing atop a square column. He holds the muzzle of his rifle at chest level with the stock resting by his right foot. The soldier has a beard and wears a field hat, with pouches strapped to his hips. The statue is notable for facing west, a detail said to reference General Sherman's approach from the west during his March to the Sea. On the west side, the inscription reads, "Their gallant and heroic deeds - like monumental shafts arise - from out the graveyard - of the past, - and mark the tombs - where valor lies." There is more on other sides. In recent years, the statue has been the subject of legal challenges and public debate. So while it is still standing in October 2025, I suspect that it might get disappeared quietly one night to avoid further controversy. Appreciate it or send your derision while you can. [Review 1262 of 2025 - 832 in Georgia - 24814 overall]

This marker is not far from the town square and points out a time when Georgia was the frontier…read more That's hard to believe, but yes. Here we are at this historic home. The marker reads, "Establishment of Madison was part of a larger movement to settle the Georgia frontier and the westward population shift. The first division of town land created 48 original lots, each measuring 100 by 200 feet. Lots were sold on February 23, 1809, with the average lot sale being $155. Early dwellings and enterprises were modest, frame structures. Lot No. 6 sold for $111 to Reuben Rogers who built a dwelling. Known as an I-House or Piedmont Plain, this type of structure was particularly popular in the Upland South and often built by well established farmers and townsfolk. The Rogers House (c.1810) is significant as the last remaining residence from the period of the town's original founding on its original lot. "Opened for tourism in 1992 and later joined by the Rose Cottage (1893), the house serves as an excellent example of community cooperation: property ownership by Morgan County; leadership and funding for restoration, furnishings, and operation by the City; and management of the museum complex provided by the Morgan County Historical Society." This partnership reflects Madison's enduring commitment to honoring its past--not just through plaques and records, but through the careful stewardship of the very buildings that shaped its identity. The Rogers House stands not only as a historical artifact but as a symbol of civic pride, architectural heritage, and the power of local cooperation. The marker was erected in 2011 by the City of Madison. Unfortunately, I was here well past the time for tours and was unable to see the inside. [Review 1303 of 2025 - 850 in Georgia - 24855 overall]

Someone needs to look into the traffic signs that hang from the guide wires throughout the city…read more Many of them have peeling paint and so old and ragged and should be replaced. They cannot be seen.

This marker is located in front of the historic DeKalb County Courthouse and you might miss it…read morebecause it's rather small but still recalls an important Civil War engagement. It reads, "During the Battle of Decatur July 22nd 1864 there was hot fighting in and around the old courthouse which stood on this square. Wheeler's Cavalry made a gallant charge here and captured a battery of Federal artillery with officers and men." During the American Civil War, Decatur became a strategic site in Sherman's Atlanta Campaign. In July 1864, Major-General James McPherson occupied the town to cut off the Confederates' supply line from Augusta. On July 22, during the Battle of Atlanta, Confederate cavalry under Major-General Joseph Wheeler attacked McPherson's supply wagons and the Union troops left to defend the wagons. [Review 13613 overall, 932 of 2020, number 307 in Georgia.]

Located in the courtyard in front of the Dekalb County Superior Courthouse, this marker recalls an…read moreimportant skirmish from the Civil War. The marker reads, "July 22, 1864. Coincident with Hardee's night march to attack Federal forces in E. Atlanta, Wheeler's cavalry [Flag of the CSA] was sent to seize McPherson's wagon trains parked N. of the Decatur public square, guarded by Sprague's 16th A.C. brigade & three sections of field artillery. Wheeler's men, dismounted, were deployed S. of the R.R. & drove Sprague's troops, together with the Chicago Board of Trade & Michigan batteries, [Flag of the USA] to the public square where, outflanked, they withdrew with the wagon trains to the North Decatur Road. Wheeler made no pursuit because of peremptory orders to rejoin Hardee in E. Atlanta." While this was not a decisive change in the status of the overall War, the Atlanta Campaign was key for the Union forces. http://blueandgraytrail.com/event/Atlanta_Campaign [Review 13630 overall, 949 of 2020, number 321 in Georgia.]