History
Haralson County, Georgia Has a Rich Vineyard History
Lithia Springs Hotel, Tallapoosa, GA
Although at first Haralson County's economy revolved around gold mining, after the mines were depleted inhabitants made their living by farming, chiefly cotton, and harvesting the stands of lumber prevalent in the area. Some residents, notably those in Tallapoosa, took advantage of the area's magnificent natural beauty, a mineral springs, and the arrival of the railroad in the 1880s to encourage the tourist trade by developing hotels and resorts. One of the numerous northern visitors to the county was Ralph L. Spencer, a Connecticut land speculator and entrepreneur who established the Tallapoosa Land Mining and Manufacturing Company in 1887. Spencer organized Tallapoosa's first municipal electric light company, water works company, and athletic association. He also was a prime investor in a glassware factory in town. When mining waned, Spencer embarked on what may have been his most interesting endeavor—the establishment of a planned community for the purpose of wine making. He invited some of Pennsylvania's Hungarian immigrants to leave their mining jobs and relocate to 2,000 acres near Tallapoosa where they could produce wine. Led by their priest, Father Francis Janishek, 200 families accepted Spencer's invitation. They planted vineyards and established wineries in the community they named "Budapest." Their success with viticulture attracted other groups from around the country, many of whom established their own vineyards and wineries. Most notable among these were about 200 families of Slovakian origin who established a community called Nitra three miles north of Tallapoosa. The county's population became quite diverse as immigrants from other European regions joined the first groups. The town of Kramer was incorporated on September 5, 1883, and given the name Bremen. It was originally named for a German immigrant that owned a local vineyard but the name was changed at Kramer’s request to honor the city of Bremen, Germany. Just as the county's vintners began to flourish, however, Georgia passed the Prohibition Act of 1907, effectively ruining the industry and causing many of those in the new communities to leave the county.
Taken from the New Georgia Encyclopedia and Wikipedia
Taken from the New Georgia Encyclopedia and Wikipedia