Todd's Farm in the 1960's

This site is in transition. The farm being pictured is no longer a dahlia farm and this is in no way an invitation to visit what is displayed here. It is a memorial to the farm that once was.  Cecil Daniels

The Story

During the late 1920's Alvin Todd, with his young wife, Zura Gooch Todd were farming on 129 acres total, forest and bottoms, growing corn, vegetables, and whatever would sell on the market to raise a young family and pay the bills. At the time he probably had 2 young daughters, Eddie Mae and O'Nell. The farm which they were buying was part of the original Jim Gooch (Mrs. Todd's g'father) land, in fact, he was living in the original Jim Gooch log house (ca1870). His wife's parents were very close neighbors; and he noticed her flowers she grew in the yard. In particular he ask about the dahlias she was growing to profusion. With a start from her stock he began experimenting as he would any other farm crop. They did well for him, reproducing in sufficient numbers to offer some for sale.  The first advertizing was in the Farmers Market Bulletin, which was free for farmers to sell their crops.  This beginning was in 1929. He would advertize the bulbs (roots / tubers)for as little as 5 and 10 cents each. He soon expanded with new colors and varieties from what ever source he could find.  He also began saving seed and planting those to produce seedlings, for evaluation.  Very early he had a nice, almost round, whose bloom was no more than 3 inches in diameter. He named it "Little Red Riding Hood". It became a big hit and very good seller from that time on. As he expanded he would order colors and varieties from other growers, such as Dahliadel in Maryland or New Jersey. At the peak of his dahlia shipping he probably bought as much postage from the class D post office of Suches, as all other customers together.  Mr. Todd was a 'master' at making boxes for shipping and developed his own signature way of tying them securely for shipping vie parcel post. Mrs. Todd also became very involved in the busines, doing most of the paper work and preparing orders which Mr. Todd personally filled. Mail time, both coming in and going out were special.

The scene is from a 'Post Card'.The picture taken by Atlanta Journal photographer, Kenneth Rogers. Over several years Mr. Rogers was also responsible for doing 3 major write-ups on the Dahlia Farm. Those Sunday Journal articles brought thousands of visitors during the blooming season. The fields were designed with walk ways so visitors could view the flowers up close. The flower blooms were never commercially marketed, but many did find their way to many weddings.

Over the years, the Todds developed their own unique way of growing,storing the tubers, processing them and marketing. They began after a few years, printing a simple brochure, listing the varieties by name, color and type of bloom.  It was mostly a family operation, however when the Todd children were gone from the home it became necessary to hire some help for digging and dividing the tubers for shipment. They continued the Market Bulletin advertising for a while, but soon turned to commercial magazines that brought customers from other states. The ones used most were the farm magazines, such as Progressive Farmer and Farm Journal. Mr. Todd always said "dahlias are a man's flower" and he did sell to lots of men. But there was just as many or more ladies who bought through the mail order sales.
  Mr. and Mrs. Todd had 6 children; 4 girls and 2 boys.First Eddie Mae, then Nell or O'Nell, Marion (Buddy), Elsie, George and Thelma. With some help from the parents, scholarships and work, 5 of the 6 did earn college degrees through the University System of Georgia.  George, the one who did not attend college, had a 20 year career in the US Airforce then worked at several jobs, and finally a mail carrier in rural Indiana. All except Eddie Mae, who died of cancer at age of 25, raised families and have grandchildren.
  During WW2, there was a sawmill set down on the farm, run by a man named Hennesee from NC, who had a contract from the US Govt, to cut white oak timber on the Cattahoochee National Wildlife Reserve, and make barrel staves. Since metal was critical for other uses the oak barrels were used for oil and other needed things for the war effort. From this the Todd's were able to get a new road into the farm, and later materials, lumber for the floors and panelling for the inside walls. The house was small but at the time the first brick house in the community. Completed in 1949.
  In the early 50's, with the children all out on their own, outside labor had to be found. In late 1954 Elsie and new husband Cecil Daniels (me) were finishing a 2 year hitch with the US Army and living in Cameron NC. Cecil agreed to come in and help, with the idea that a partnership might develop. The oldest son Marion was also leaving service, US Airforce and returning home during that same time. For a short period, both son and son in law help with the dahlia business, growing, and shipping dahlia tubers to mail order customers. Son Marion, left to take a job in Dairy Manufacturing and Cecil left to contimue studies toward a Masters Degree at the UGA. While there, however, Elsie delivered their first child, a girl they named Cecilia Irene; using names of both parents. At UGA in Athens where they met and both earned under grad degrees, they set in to and completed MS for Cecil and MEd for Elsie.

    After working a few years Cecil agreed to return for another period of working with the dahlia business.
Cecil resigned from the Ga. Extension Service, working in DeKalb Co. Ga. They lived in Dahlonega, Cecil working during the week at the farm and Elsie teaching school in the Lumpkin Co. System.  During this period from Fall 1966 to Fall of 1967 they developed a Camp ground and a trout fish out pond for other means of income, to support both families. However in Aug. 1967 a flood hit the area and washed out the new pond, fish, and many dahlias lost. Following that event problems seem to be ever present, so Cecil and Elsie moved again to Bibb Co. where he took a position with the Extension Service again and Elsie teaching in the public school system. Soon after that, the Todds began thinking of selling the entire farm and business. The purchase was made by two men, Don Nichols and Don Singletary of Lithonia, DeKalb Co. Ga. That was in 1970. The Todd's agreed to stay on for a year and guide the Don's one complete crop and sales. The Todds moved only a few miles away only to begin another venture, planating and selling Christmas trees and some other plants, but not dahlias. The Don's did well putting in 3 or 4 crops, when Nichols developed cancer and died in 1977. Some time before that they sold the dahlia stock and business to be grown at another location in the community. Before the Todds sold and while Cecil was with the business the farm was incorporated under the name of Lost Hollow Inc. the name that was dubbed on the place when, in 1954, photographer Kenneth Rogers was driving Atlanta Journal writer Mary Lane to the farm for a possible write up.  Mary ask Kenneth where they were going and he said "Lost Hollow". So that name appeared in the article. After that people would drive to the area looking for Lost Hollow.
More to be added.

For new visitors to the site, this is a family story of Todd's Dahlia Farm which operated from the 1930's to about 1974. There is no longer a dahlia farm at the location.
Cecil Daniels, editor