Celebrating 100 Years Past and Future!

The City of Clayton was incorporated in 1823 according to the Rabun County Historical Society, so it’s no surprise the buildings in the downtown area are, in fact, historic.
Forward Rabun and the Rabun County Chamber of Commerce celebrated the construction of the building located at 28 East Savannah Street which took place 100 years ago and cut the ribbon “on the next 100 years” during a milestone event in December 2024.
The White Birch Inn is the business currently located in the space and was established in 2013, according to the website for the “boutique hotel.” 
Brenda Patterson, owner of The White Birch Inn, and Jenna Findley, general manager of The White Birch Inn, were present during the ribbon cutting celebration.
Patterson clarified it is the building that has existed for 100 years as of December, and not the business itself. “I feel honored to be the steward of such a beautiful building,” Patterson told The Clayton Tribune on Dec. 6, 2024. “We try our hardest to take really good care of it.” Patterson also owns the East Savannah Street businesses, White Birch Provisions and The Watchmaker’s Workspace.
Linda Barden with the Rabun County Historical Society was also at the ribbon cutting to honor the accomplishment of being such a significant milestone. Barden shared some history of the building and a photograph of how the building looked in the mid-1920s. A bronze plaque attached to the building reads, “This building was constructed in 1924 by Thomas E. Roane and Charles E. Cannon. Mr. Roane housed the tele-phone exchange in the second floor of his part of the building, and Mr. Cannon used his part of the building for offices and storage rooms.” The building was purchased by Chuck and Brenda Patterson in 2012 and beautifully restored as a bed and breakfast – The White Birch Inn,” according to information on the plaque, which also notes “Rabun County Historical Society 2019.”
So, the next time you are walking through downtown Clayton, consider the historic significance of the many buildings. It’s important to remember our history so we can preserve it for future generations. For more information about the Rabun County Historical Society, visit https://rabunhistory.org.