A Change in Management at the Lois Cotton Mill

 107 years ago…news concerned the Lois Cotton Mill where there was a shift in control of the mill among the members of the Geer family out of South Carolina who owned the mill at that time (the second owners of the mill). One brother resigned as president and another brother who had been the superintendent of the mill and lived here in Douglasville, Major Earnest Geer, took over in the top spot. Major in this instance does not indicate military rank but was Mr. Geer’s first name. He and his family lived here in Douglas County for several years and were very involved. Geer eventually served a term as Douglasville’s mayor. I provide the complete text of the article below:

“At a recent meeting of the directors of the Lois Cotton Mill, J.M. Geer of Greenville, South Carolina, President of the mill tendered his resignation.

This was a complete surprise to the directors, but after hearing Mr. Geer’s explanation of his action his resignation was accepted, and his brother, M.E. Geer, the present manager and Vice President was elected President in his stead, and JM Geer was elected Vice President. An executive committee consisting of A.W. McLarty, J.T. Duncan, and L.C. Upshaw were also elected at this meeting. In the promotion of M.E. Geer to the presidency of the company the directors feel that they are bestowing a merited endorsement of his successful management from the building of the mill to the present.

The Lois Mill has had a somewhat remarkable career, having been built and started during the panic days of 1907-1908. It moved steadily on when other financial enterprises were collapsing, and many old established mills were being forced to close down. And it now enjoys a most excellent credit and is regarding in the east, where many of its largest stockholders live, as one of the safest and most promising financial enterprises of its size in the South.

The remarkable success of the new President has gained for him an enviable reputation among the stockholders and directors of the mill, and he is receiving congratulatory letters from quite a number of them who live away from here. Mr. Geer has proven himself a most valuable citizen since he cast his fortune among us in 1907. While at all times an alert and keen businessman he has never been too busy to lend a helping hand in every laudable enterprise that had for its object the upbuilding of Douglasville. And we understand that he is now planning, from his new vantage ground, to do more for us than he has ever done – in the promotion of a new cotton mill enterprise, which will be as large or larger than the present mill.

We most earnestly urge all our citizens and businessmen to back up Mr. Geer in his effort to make Douglasville one of the most prosperous towns in all this section of Georgia.”

Gipson's Annual Chili Cook Off

February 16, 1988…Jessee Yearta gives Jim Gipson a heaping spoonful of hot chili after the Douglasville cook won the second annual Gipson’s Chili Cookoff. 

Gipsons was located on Fairburn Road where El Don Tequila’s Mexican Restaurant is today.

Via Sentinel

Rock Inn Cafe

 An ad for The Rock Inn Cafe run by the Redding family from March 1949

Notes Regarding a Letter from Benjamin F. Moody Prior to 1862

As I was going through some of the boxes that were given to me containing the papers and notes of Fannie Mae Davis I found this. 

Someone (not FMD) took some notes regarding pioneer Campbell County settler Ephraim Pray in a mix of longhand and the not so much used today shorthand (Gregg's).

Deciphering it some…this information may have come from a letter B.F. Moody wrote to his mother referring to Ephraim Pray as “Uncle Pray.” Anyone knowing shorthand is welcome to transcribe for us! Benjamin F. Moody died in 1862 during the Seven Days Battle in Virginia. His home was at the present-day site of Prays Mill Baptist Church.

You can click on the image and the zoom feature on your device to enlarge it. 

Via: Papers of Fannie Mae Davis/Merrill and Tim Mason

John Pendleton Watson, Jr. (1849-1917) - Obituary

 1077 years ago…This obit for John Pendleton Watson, Jr. (1849-1917) appeared on the first page of the “Douglas County Sentinel” published on Friday, February 2, 1917. He was the son of Samuel H. Watson, Jr. and grew up at Dark Corner where his father was appointed postmaster in 1840 and by 1853 was a justice of the peace. He was named for his uncle John Pendleton Watson, Sr. (1809-1889) who was in Campbell County by 1836. I’ve transcribed the full obit below.

From the obit…”When news reached Douglasville Saturday morning (February 27) that Mr. John Pendleton Watson had died suddenly at his home in Adairsville, it cast a shadow of gloom over the entire community.

Mr. Watson had spent most of his life here and no man was better known throughout the county. For many years he was one of the leading merchants in Douglasville, and besides holding other positions of honor and responsibility, at one time represented this county in the state legislature. <served 1886-1887>

At the time of his death, he was a traveling salesman <census data shows he was a tobacco salesman> and made this town frequently and was here on Wednesday before his death.

Mr. Watson was 64 years old and had been married twice. His first wife was Miss Savanah Stewart, sister of Dr. FM and ER Stewart of this place. Three children from this union survive him, one son, JM of Dallas, Texas; Mrs. Lucile Moss of Nichols, Florida; and Miss Annie May Watson of Adairsville.

His second wife was Miss Reecie Stewart of Adairsville, who, with one son, survive him. He also leaves three brothers; J.A. of Lithia Springs, I.M. of Atlanta, and M.B. of Douglasville, and one sister, Miss Sallie Watson of Douglasville.

His remains were brough to Douglasville Monday evening and the funeral conducted Tuesday in the chapel of the Douglasville College, where an immense crowd gathered to the last tribute of respect. The services were conducted by Rev. Mr. Maxwell, of Adairsville, his pastor, assisted by Rev. J.C. Atkinson. <the Douglasville College, a school serving grades 1-11 sat approximate where the fire station/armory sits today on Church Street>

He was a consistent member of the Methodist church and of the Masonic Lodge, which fraternity performed the last sad rites when his remains were interred in Douglasville cemetery. <Find-A-Grave does not show his grave and the notes of Joe Baggett indicate a marker is missing>

He was a good citizen and will be greatly missed, not only in his home community but here, where he had spent most of his life.”

Via: Douglas County Sentinel – February 2, 1917

Ads from the Douglasville & Vicinity Phone Book for 1963-1964

 Ads for the Coin-O-Matic Laundry, Browning’s Taxi, and J. Cowan Whitley’s funeral home published in the Douglasville and Vicinity phone book for 1963-1964

You can click the label "Douglasville and Vicinity Phone Book" to see more images from the book. 

An ad for Builders Supply Company which was located at Church and Campbellton. What is there today?

 Having grown up as the daughter of a lumber yard manager, I love the tagline “There is a material difference.” This ad was published in the Douglasville and Vicinity phone book for 1963-1964

Douglasville Elementary - Music Recital - 1953

Another recital for Douglasville Elementary School from the Gladys Adams collection. This is dated May 21, 1953. 

Do you recognize a name or two? <You can click on the image and use your zoom feature to read a bit closer>

To see other recital programs click the label "Music Recitals" at the bottom of this post or in the Index along the right side of this blog.  

Via: Gladys L. Adams Collection/Merrill and Tim Mason

Historic Doors

 The doors at the Campbellton Masonic Lodge…Oh, the history that has passed through these doors!

 The lodge was erected in 1848 and is still used today.

MV Jim Gisi...A Grand Guy!

I’ve recently been gifted several boxes of items that once belonged to Fannie Mae Davis. I’m still wading through and have realized this may take me a year or two going through it at a slow rate. Much of it appears to be book research. 

One of the first photo items I’ve uncovered is this photo of M.V. “Jim” Gisi. Mrs. Davis wrote on the back of the photo “A Grand Guy!” 

Mr. Gisi was originally from Missouri and lived in Douglasville for several years. He was associated with Freeman Finance for many years until he retired in 1969. He was a past president of the Atlanta Consumer Loan Exchange as well as longtime secretary for the Douglas County Chamber of Commerce. He was also connected with the Douglasville Lions Club – selected their man of the year in 1974. He also volunteered with the Douglas County Department of Family and Children Services.

Via: Papers of Fannie Mae Davis/Merrill and Tim Mason

Douglasville and Vicinity Phone Book for 1963/1964 - City/County Officers

 Here is a list of city and county officers published in the Douglasville and Vicinity Phone Book for 1963-1964.  

Douglas County Board of Commissioners - Disbursements - 1917

 107 years ago...the disbursements made by Douglas County Commissioners were published in The Douglas County Sentinel for January 26, 1917. 

Times have certainly changed.

Douglas County - Western Auto Reciept - 1968

An April 1968 receipt for a television set bought from Western Auto. Notice Gladys Adams paid half down and the remaining half one month later. Also notice the initials I.O. on the receipt. Those were the initials of Ike Owings, the owner of store.

Via: Gladys L. Adams Collection/Merrill and Tim Mason

Architect Drawings for the 1896 Douglas County Courthouse

One of the last official duties Wes Tallon (Information Officer for the county) completed in 2018 prior to retirement was to personally oversee and pay for the restoration of the original courthouse plans for the Douglas County Courthouse that was built in 1896 on Broad Street where the Douglas County Museum of History and Art sits today. The plans were in a very deteriorated state, but Wes was determined to bring them back to life and found a company to help him do so. Since the courthouse was destroyed by fire in 1956, that made his effort even more meaningful for the citizens of Douglas County. Today, a set of the plans are on file at the courthouse, the Douglas County Museum of History and Art have a set, and Wes was very kind to give me one as well. The plans are a very cherished item in my old Campbell/Douglas County collection of artifacts and images. <You can click on the image and use your zoom feature to see the plans a bit closer.>

Upshaw Building

A view of the old Upshaw building in downtown Douglasville in 2014 on the day it burned. At the time the space was owned and occupied by Town & Country Upholstery. Sadly, it was discovered that the fire was arson, and the owner of the business was convicted. He placed the entire historic district in jeopardy that day. The quick work of Douglas County’s Fire Department kept that from happening. The building was repair and has a new business within its walls today

Douglasville Elementary - Students of Gladys Wood

A group photo of music teacher, Gladys Adams, with her students at Douglasville Elementary during the 1965-1966 school year. I’ve included the back of the photo where Miss Adams wrote the names of the students. <Click on the image and use your device’s zoom features to see the writing a bit closer>

Via: Gladys L. Adams Collection/Merrill and Tim Mason

Douglas County's 75th Birthday and Some Thoughts Regarding Pearl Harbor

This image was taken at the end of November 1945 for a combined welcome home celebration for men who had served during World War II and Douglas County's 75th birthday. From left to right: William Lawler, Grover Lee, Paul Umphrey and Roy Marlow.

Soon after Pearl Harbor the “Douglas County Sentinel” posted some of the feelings of various citizens as we entered the war. Here are five:

W.B. Underwood said, “America has been forced into a war that we did not want and tried to avoid. By the counsel of Divine Wisdom, and the help of Almighty God, and the full cooperation of the people, we confidently expect to win the victory and build a better world for all people.”

Mrs. J.R. Hutcheson said, “The war situation I think was brought on by men and nations being used by the forces of evil. Greed, tyranny, oppression, intolerance, hatred, envy, and malice are some of the forms of evil which led to war shutting the door to Christ and opening it to evil has plunged the world into war.”

Charles L. Allen added, “As Christians and as Americans we are still opposed to war, because we know there are better ways to settle our arguments, but a few men in Japan, Germany, and Italy do not see it as we do, and because of them we have to fight whether we want to or not.”

R.E. Hamilton stated, “To the Legionnaires and citizens of Douglas County…..Never before in the history of our country has there arisen such an emergency. Our freedom is at stake. The Frank P. Dorris Post of the American Legion will deem it a privilege and not a sacrifice to be of service in this hour. Therefore, as commander of this post I pledge our loyal support to our government.”

R.H. Hutcheson, Commanding Douglas County’s Unit of the State Defense Corps said, “Georgia has always been patriotic. We have one of the best state defense corps in the country and Douglas County has two units with a strength of sixty men.

Yesterday, our government placed us on active duty which means we are subject to call within the state. We are ready. Employers are expected to cooperate by allowing members to leave when on duty. War is serious business. The whole nation must now put forth an all-out effort – stay on a 24-hour, seven-day basis. Mothers must consider it an honor to have a son in the armed forces. We must forget selfish interests, and – remember Pearl Harbor, and “give ‘em hell.

Lithia Springs - Bennett's Store

My personal photo I took in 2013 of the doors at the old D.W. Bennett Store in Lithia Springs. It was later demolished, but for many years was a Lithia Springs landmark.

Music Recital - May 18, 1951

I was recently gifted the personal papers of music teacher Gladys Adams (1895-1979) and plan to post things as I wade through the collection. Miss Adams taught with the Douglas County School system as well as gave private piano, voice, and harmony lessons. This is a recital program given May 18, 1951. You might recognize some names. I would appreciate any recollections you might have regarding Miss Adams here in the comments. <You can click the image and then use your zoom feature to see it a bit closer>

Via: Gladys L. Adams Collection/Merrill and Tim Mason

The Bankhead Highway

 107 years ago, this week…The proposed route for The Bankhead Highway was on most people’s minds. The Bankhead Highway Association had formed in 1916 with many proposed routes. Today, we know that the fixed route between Washington, D.C. and San Diego, California did come through Georgia and most importantly Douglas County providing one of the best roads in the area as well as revenue for the many businesses that sprang up to accommodate the hundreds of travelers each day that would make their way through the county, but in 1917 it was still uncertain if the route would go through Douglas County.

In the issue for January 12, 1917, the Douglas County Sentinel provided some updated details for the highway and stated, “…This is a Big thing and Douglas County can’t afford to sleep over her privileges. It’s not a dream, but a reality and it’s coming here if we want it and take proper steps to get it, but unless we do, it will go where there is sufficient interest and appreciation to conform to the requirements of the U.S. government…”

Social News - December 28, 1917

 The social and personal news in Douglas County, Georgia fron The Douglas County Sentinel dated December 28, 1917

There are several names here to review