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Fort O. Right in Our Backyard

April 26, 2021

Grocery stores, fast food restaurants, home improvement places and a lot of medical offices line the main thoroughfare when you drive through Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. Have you ever wondered how this growing area of Catoosa County got its name? What history took place here that put this town on the map?

Horsing Around

Well the U.S. government was not horsing around back in 1902 when Fort Oglethorpe became a United States Army post. It served primarily as a cavalry post for the 6^th Cavalry. Back in World War I, Fort Oglethorpe was home to more than 4,000 German prisoners of war. The post was also used in this war and in the next war as an induction and processing center. During World War II, this area was a major training center for the Women’s Army Corp.

After the War

After World War II the post was declared surplus and sold. The great news for residents of Fort Oglethorpe and visitors, was that the majority of the old post formed the nucleus for the present community of Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. You have to visit Barnhardt Circle which sits right in the middle of the post. You can see the original officer’s homes, bandstand, gymnasium, theatre and polo field. This is a true piece of Americana. Stand in the middle of the post and let it sink in that Fort Oglethorpe was visited by U.S. Presidents, military heroes and celebrities. Make sure you check out the 6^th Calvary Museum which is right there in the historic district. If you are a Civil War history buff, the City of Fort Oglethorpe is home to the Visitor’s Center at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, the nation’s oldest and largest Civil War Park. In the past few years, vintage baseball games have been played at the polo field. It is truly a form of living history as the game uses rules, uniforms and gear from the 1860’s.

We Support you

TVFCU has been a part of the Fort Oglethorpe community since 2001 when we opened our branch at 200 Alamar Street. Branch manager, Nanette Mull, has been there almost the entire time. She, along with other TVFCU employees live in North Georgia and consider a lot of their members to be family. It is not unusual for long time members to just stop in and share news from around the town.