150 YEARS ATLANTA

Reading the old newspaper of Atlanta is a very educational experience. Besides learning who the first families and businesses were, we can find out some very interesting tidbits. A favorite fun fact: The first shipment of freight out of Atlanta was a bundle of opossum hides.

Citizens Journal September 24th, 1885

Prohibition was an issue of the day. A call was made for meetings of the citizens to organize a fire department or hook and ladder company in the city.

Capt. A. T. Anderson lost his sawmill near Kildare by fire, loss $25,000. The Blinn mill at Kildare soon to be in operation. Steel is arriving and track being laid towards Linden. Grand jury’s report showed the county affairs to be in good shape, 48 true bills found, mostly for small offenses.

Summer and fall term of White Sulphur Springs school begins Monday July 6, 1885; H. C. Nash, principal; A. L. Robinson, C. R. Curtright and A. J. Bryan, trustees.

A notice calling a directors meeting of the East Line Railroad Co., in Jefferson.

With the Journal advertisers in 1885 were: Scott, Spell and Co., hardware and furniture; W. A. Scott, Golden Rule Saloon; Ed Edelstein, Kentucky Whiskeys; M. Jacobs, dry goods; J. L. Porter, livery stable; W. A. Howe, groceries; W. W. Henderson, dry goods; Harp Bros., druggists; C. R. Kelley, general merchandise; W. A. Miles, livery stable; Towers fish brand slickers; Rutland and Morris, groceries; Douglassville High School and Business College, W. R. Chambers, principal; J. A. Bricker, watch maker; Hughes & Coke; S. J. Morris, M. D.; R. L. McClung, M. D.; V. S. Jeter, M. D.; E. M. Harp, M. D.; R. D. Lumpkin, M. D.; P. A. Skeen, Dentist; Chas. A. Culberson, Atty., Jefferson; O’Neal & Horseley, Attys.; O’Neal & Son, Attys.; Adams & Allday, gen, land agents.

We are pained to hear of the death of Mrs. Fannie Duncan, wife of Capt. W. E. Duncan, Avinger, Texas.

Married: O. O. Rhea and Miss C. F. Bransford, Thomas G. Lanier and Miss Belle Hinkle.

LOST—Gold carved ring belonging to Wade Caven, finder return to Caven Drug Store.

G. Moore was the agent for T&P Railroad.

Churches: Baptist, J. A. Jackson, pastor; A. Miles S. S. Supt.; Methodist, J. W. Horn, P. C.; A. W. Steger, Supt.; Presbyterian Rev. E. H. Keasler, services held at Methodist church every second Sunday.

June 21, 1900

An electrical storm prevailed here Tuesday night and set the F. M. Greene store on fire and also a cloth sign in the T. A. Miles Drug Store; both fires being set from lightning striking the telephone line going into the stores. Nightwatchman Burton discovered the fires, calling help and put them out with small damage.

A tribute in memory of Willie Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Smith, who died June 23rd, 1900.

B. B. Webster, Tax Assessor, was here first of the week. B. H. Singletary is preparing to burn a big kiln of brick.

The Board of Pharmaceutical Examiners for the Fifth Judicial District will hold their regular annual session at Pittsburg, July 25th, 1900. John Herring and Dosier Long came in from Huffines and report the storm Tuesday night did much damage in that community. We suppose this bunch had a good time at the party at Mrs. Jacobs last night: Misses Verna Johnson, Vergna Cameron, Essie Gamewell, Lelia Gather, Myrtle Pricker, Blanche Gardner, Mabel Law, Ida Law, Messrs. Victor Florence, Vilas Johnson, Will Johnson, Walter Cadenhead, Edgar Powell, James Hughes, Crooks Keasler, Jewel Hutchins, Abe Gardner, Jake O’Farrell, Selwyn and Earle Jacobs.

The Democratic ticket: District Judge J. M. Talbot, District Attorney R. D. Hart, Representative J. W. Hurt, County judge W. F. Ford. District clerk I. N. Marett, Sheriff I. H. Lanier, County attorney E. E. Brougher, Treasurer T. S. McDuffie, Sr., County Clerk, J. G. King, Collector B. L. Whatley, Assessor C. C. Powell Co. Judge; M. Smith.

J. B. Roberts is keeping celebrated mineral water on hand at the Annex Saloon.

Remembrances of early Atlanta

Citizens Journal 1929: The first sawmill was built just about where the Presbyterian church now stands. Soon afterwards, Capt. Boyle, built one which used steam power, just south of town on a place now owned by me. The old well which furnished water for this mill can still be located. These small mills were the forerunners of the larger ones which brought many mill workers into town. The largest of the later mills had log railroads running into the pineries for some twenty or thirty miles away.