Susan Ethridge Chaisson was honored by the Georgia Society Daughters of the American Revolution with the Historic Preservation Medal for her work at the Shields Ethridge Heritage Farm. State Regent Helen Robertson Powell presented the award at the 127th State Conference in Augusta on March 21.
Chaisson has been involved in Historic Preservation her entire life. Born and raised at the Shields Ethridge Heritage Farm, she grew up with a legacy started by her mother and James Pittman Chapter member, Joyce Story Ethridge. The Shields Ethridge Heritage Farm, a 501©3 property in Jefferson, contains 152 preserved acres where visitors can tour a blacksmith shop, grist mill, wheat house, commissary, schoolhouse, teacher’s house, cotton gin, mule barn and family cemetery. The farm served as a cultural and economic center in Jefferson, Georgia from 1909 to 1965 and has been a productive farm with family living on the property since 1799.
After her mother passed in 2004, Chaisson decided to step into her mother’s shoes as a sixth generation descendant and president of the Shields Ethridge Heritage Farm Foundation. Her mission was to put the Shields Ethridge Heritage Farm on the map by publicizing the farm and by securing the necessary funding to do the preservation work required by the over 200-year-old farm.
Over the past 20 years, numerous articles have been published on the Shields Ethridge Heritage Farm Foundation including a multi-page article in the current 2024-25 issue of Georgia Grown magazine. Chaisson has been instrumental in applying for grants to digitally preserve family records and movies, as well as securing an Appalachian Commission Grant to install interpretive signs and create a walking tour interpretive application for visitors.
In addition to preserving the buildings of the farm, Chaisson ensures that visitors have the opportunity to learn about the Shields Ethridge Heritage Farm through living history field trips and community events and festivals. Aside from grant funding, other farm income comes from RV rental space through Harvest Hosts, smoked Boston butt sales drives, and visitor donations.
Chaisson has also been an active member of the Tumbling Waters Society for 40 years and has been involved with the maintenance and restoration of the Hurricane Shoals Historic Village. Chaisson has been a member of the James Pittman Chapter, National Society Daughters of the America Revolution for 25 years.
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