Helen 101 book offers local lessons

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  • White County author, historian and humorist Emory Jones’ newest book takes readers to school about the city of Helen. (Photo/Stephanie Hill)
    White County author, historian and humorist Emory Jones’ newest book takes readers to school about the city of Helen. (Photo/Stephanie Hill)
  • "Helen 101" by Emory Jones is now available. (Photo/Stephanie Hill)
    "Helen 101" by Emory Jones is now available. (Photo/Stephanie Hill)
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Do you know 101 fun facts about Helen and the surrounding area?

Well if you don’t, Emory Jones has you covered with his newest book, Helen 101.

This release follows the success of his many books, including White County 101, and focuses on interesting facts, things to do and places to visit in Helen and the surrounding area. Jones says someone recommended he write the book to appeal to visitors.

“The tourists are all coming to Helen, so I figured a Helen 101 book would be a good thing to do,” he says.

One topic in the new book covers how Helen became Alpine Helen, especially with 2019 being its 50th anniversary, Jones says. That includes information about the “founding fathers” of the Alpine transformation, John Kollock, Bob Fowler, Jim Wilkins and Pete Hodkinson.

The book is not just about Helen, however. It includes facts about the area and local attractions since there is so much to do around the area for people to experience, he says.

“We even talk about the Gainesville, the gold museum in Dahlonega, Tallulah Gorge, and Cleveland,” Jones says. “It lets (tourists) kind of experience the area’s sense of community.”

Jones says locations included in the book came from a list he made of places he would recommend for a person to visit.

“My original list was about 115, and it’s amazing what there is to tell a tourist,” Jones says. “I just thought if I could sit down with a tourist and tell them 101 things I would like for them to know about the area, that’s what I would choose. That’s why some of them are history and some of them are places you can go.”

The book costs $12.99 and can be found at multiple locations throughout White County, including Nix Hardware, Mt. Yonah Book Exchange, the White County Historical Society, The Lavender Cottage & Garden, the Sautee Nacoochee Cultural Center, Old Sautee Store, Randy’s Helen Pharmacy, the Helen Welcome Center, Hardman Farm Gift Shop and more.