A Chronology of
Americus and Sumter County, Georgia
1915 - 1961
Alan Anderson, compiler
June 1915 Professors Major W. Reddick and Alfred S. Staley were instrumental in unification of the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia, M.W. Reddick, president, A.S. Staley, recording secretary Oct. 1915 "South Georgia Progress" began daily publication (ceased publication Mar. 1917) Nov. 1915 Matthew McCullar "Mack" Lowrey, former Mayor of Amer- icus (1912-14), convicted in federal court on three of seventeen counts and sentenced to five years in Atlanta penitentiary, a result of failed First Nation- al Bank of Americus Mar. 1916 internationally famous actress Sarah Bernhardt ap- peared in 5-act play at Dudley's Opera House Aug. 1916 murder of Walter Wade, of Leslie, resulted in three trials to convict Dr. Charles K. Chapman, prominent local dentist, and W.I. Johnson, railroad security agent, of the crime in Sept. 1917; Henry T. Daven- port, of Americus, Commander, Ga. Division, United Confederate Veterans, hosted eighteenth annual reun- ion, Gov. Nathaniel E. "Nat" Harris, featured speaker at Rylander Bldg. Sept. 1916 dedication of Minnesota Monument at Andersonville National Cemetery, C.J. Clark, contractor Oct. 1916 "Americus Light Infantry" left for El Paso, Tex. dur- ing border unrest with Mexico UKN 1917 Americus and Atlantic Railroad began operations between Methvins in Sumter County and Mata, Ga., ending in 1926 Mar. 1917 U.S. Vice-President Thomas Riley Marshall gave a speech from the balcony at the Windsor Hotel for Woodmen of the World convention Apr. 1917 first Americus/Sumter County Red Cross chapter organ- ized, Stephen Pace, chairman, Mrs. S.H. McKee, vice- chairman, Mrs. I.J. Kalmon, secretary, Lee G. Council treasurer; Furlow Lawn Baptist Church changed its name to Central Baptist, Rev. Geo. F. Brown, pastor; Minnie Sue and Sarah Margaret Culpepper accidentally killed by automobile driven by Mrs. Jerry Mugivan, (wife of John Robinson's Ten Big Shows Circus propri- etor, wintering in Americus) at northeast corner Col- lege and Lee, resulting in the latter donating memor- ial pipe organ to Lee Street Methodist Church June 1917 "Sumter Light Guards" revived, Capt. Eugenius A. Nis- bet, commanding July 1917 Americus Undertaking Co. acquired first motorized hearse in southwest Georgia, a Studebaker Sept. 1917 groundbreaking ceremony for brick sanctuary of Beth- esda Baptist Church, Rev. M.W. Reddick, pastor Oct. 1917 Lee Street Methodist Church sanctuary dedicated, Rev. J.A. Thomas, presiding (southeast corner Burke and Lee) Jan. 1918 Nottingham Law first Sumter Countian to die in World War I, of pneumonia at Camp Gordon May 1918 Maj. Carlyle Wash, in machine #1778, flew first plane at Souther Field July 1918 formal opening of Souther Field, U.S. Army installa- tion, northeast of Americus (also served as training camp, then German P.O.W. camp, in World War II) Aug. 1918 Cpl. Roy S. Ratley first Sumter Countian killed in action in World War I, in France Sept. 1918 Americus Rotary Club organized, Franc Mangum, presi- dent, Frank P. Harrold, vice-president, Joseph E. Johnson, secretary, John Sheffield, treasurer, George R. Ellis, Arthur Rylander, William E. Taylor, direc- tors Jan. 1919 Americus city council officially adopted Eastern Standard Time, removing the city from the Central Time Zone Mar. 1919 concrete bridge dedicated, crossing Flint River to connect Dooly and Sumter Apr. 1919 razing of 1877 Campbell Chapel A.M.E. sanctuary pre- paratory to erection of brick replacement June 1919 Lt. Floyd A. Wilson and Pvt. Calhoun, his mechanic, from Souther Field, crashed their plane in William E. Brown's garden behind John T. Argo's house (#503 E. Church), the only physical injury having been Cal- houn's broken left wrist; William Jennings Bryan, three-time Democratic presidential nominee, made his third appearance in Americus, with a speech support- ing the League of Nations and the anti-saloon league, at First Baptist Church Jan. 1920 McCay Hill School chosen first school in Georgia to institute an auto mechanics curriculum, under federal aid, Ernest Barnett, instructor; Sumter County Board of Education consolidated New Era, Gammage, Pleasant Grove and Oak Grove in the 28th Dist., Pennington and St. Mary's to Andersonville, Sumter City divided with north to Thalean and south to Thompson, latter along with Williams, leaving only three uncombined - Huntington, Johnson and Anthony Chapel Mar. 1920 Americus and Sumter County Chamber of Commerce char- ter filed by Carr S. Glover, Frank P. Harrold and Neal A. Ray; Sumter Mercantile & Realty Co. charter- ed, first local black business corporation, Boss W. Warren, president, Major B. Phillips, vice-president, Elbert Stallworth, secretary, Dr. D.F. Pughsley, treasurer Apr. 1920 Americus Kiwanis Club organized, J. Lewis Ellis, pre- sident, John E. Sheppard, vice-president, Evan T. Mathis, secretary, Eugene Bailey, treasurer Sept. 1920 Miss Ruth Clark became the first woman to register to vote in the county's history Jan. 1921 John D. Mathis Post, VFW, organized, second one in Georgia (permanently chartered June 1923) Mar. 1921 Americus Lions Club organized, the second one in the state, Dan Chappell, president, Geo. B. Turpin, vice- president, Ernest L. Carswell, second vice-president, W.E. Rogers, third, Chas. M. Hale, secretary, C.A. Ames, treasurer Apr. 1921 First Christian Church organized with twenty members, W.A. Joyner, pastor May 1921 murder of W.H. "Bill" Scarborough at his rural store, northwest corner Hwys. 19 and 280; opening of Wise Clinic in Plains, Drs. B.T. and S.P. Wise (destroyed by fire Jan. 23,1936) June 1921 Sgt. Alvin C. York spoke at Rylander Theater and stayed at the Windsor; Americus Golf Club organized on site of old country club: G.R. Ellis, president, Carr S. Glover, vice-president, Evan Mathis, secretary, W.M. Humber, treasurer, Walter Rylander, W.M. Jones, Frank Lanier, W.C. Caye, Jr. and Thomas Harrold, directors July 1921 opening of Barlow St. ballpark (south side Hill be- tween Elm and Lee) Aug. 1921 city pool begun (now west side Barlow south of Hill), rebuilt Feb.-Mar. 2005 Nov. 1921 "Spirit of the American Doughboy" statue (now south end Rees Park), designed by E.M. Visqueney, of Ameri- cus and Spencer, Ind., to commemorate World War I veterans, was dedicated, at intersection Lamar and Lee Dec. 1921 grand opening of Americus Golf Club, site of current Country Club Jan. 1922 First Christian Church held their first service in the formerly Universalist sanctuary on Taylor Apr. 1922 Ty Cobb, the "Georgia Peach," and Detroit Tigers played an exhibition game at Americus ballpark on Barlow Aug. 1922 spontaneous combustion fire destroyed First Methodist Church sanctuary Feb. 1923 Americus police Lt. Homer A. Lee and Dave Cross slew each other in a shootout at Northview Cemetery (now Eastview), while former was trying to arrest latter Mar. 1923 Americus Klan No. 95, Ku Klux Klan, published mem- bership application in "Times-Recorder" Apr. 1923 Americus Negro Hospital (now Wild St. Day Care Cen- ter) opened under aegis of Dr. W. Stuart Prather, (north side Wild between Cotton and Jackson) May 1923 John Alden Wyche, owner of S & W Airplane Co., sold Charles A. Lindbergh, the "Lone Eagle," his first plane, a World War I surplus "Jenny," for $500, at Souther Field, where he made his first solo flight July 1923 "Shoeless" Joe Jackson played for and coached Americus baseball team at ballpark on Barlow Sept. 1923 Sumter County Schools Superintendent E.W. Dupree eliminated last one-room school house, at Pennington, with students to New Era, Pleasant Grove and Anderson- ville; fire destroyed most of Sumter City July 1924 Americus Police Department got its first motorcycle, an Indian Scout, to supplement Ford patrol car Nov. 1924 Americus' public school system only one in South with all black and white teachers enrolled in National Education Association Jan. 1925 Mrs. Emma Joiner became first woman in Sumter's his- tory to hold political office when she was appointed County Tax Receiver upon George D. Jones' death June 1925 Police Chief John T. Bragg led 200 Ku Klux Klansmen, on horseback, in parade to Barlow ballpark for rally Aug. 1925 DeMolay Chapter organized, Bobby Hooks, chairman, Samuel Lott, secretary, Lionel Stukes, treasurer Apr. 1926 Gov. Clifford Walker signed bill changing Third Dis- trict Agricultural and Mechanical School to State Agricultural and Normal College June 1926 new 10-acre recreation park named Lake Ocono, with dance pavilion (east side Hwy. 19 south of Seaboard Coastline tracks) July 1926 announcement of Prather Clinic construction (east side S. Jackson, opposite Presbyterian Church); dedi- cation of St. James Pennington Episcopal Church, W.L. Walker, engineer, Sam D. Cobb, brickwork superinten- dent (east side Hwy. 195 south of Old Stagecoach Rd.) Oct. 1926 AHS football team adopted Panthers name Nov. 1926 Mrs. Erin Watts Stewart unanimously elected County Treasurer, Sumter's first woman elected to political office; AHS Panthers completed first undefeated sea- son as Third District champions, Rufus B. Godwin, coach Jan. 1927 Rte. 3 named part of the Appalachian Scenic Highway, Quebec, Can. to St. Petersburg, Fla., permanent route for U.S. Hwy. 19 Dec. 1927 sensational trial of Samuel Hawkins Hooks, accused "Americus Strangler," resulted in acquittal Feb. 1928 Franklin D. Roosevelt, candidate for Governor of New York, spoke to Chamber of Commerce dinner at Windsor, spending the night there before returning to Warm Springs June 1928 Miss Olive Giger, of Washington, D.C., first woman attorney to appear in Sumter Superior Court history Nov. 1928 "Americus Hero," local movie made by the "Times- Recorder," starred Miss Ann Heys, Herbert Hawkins, Mrs. O.B. Biggers, Olin McDaniel, Miss Ann Walker and Joe Sutton; New Era Consolidated School dedicated, D.C. Burke, principal Mar. 1929 Plains struck by tornado from southwest to northeast, missing high school and Wise Sanitarium by 300 yards, one killed May 1929 Rylander Theater's manager, Joel Gortatowsky, showed first talking movie in Americus, "The Awakening," starring Vilma Banky and Louis Wolheim Sept. 1929 cornerstone ceremony for Mt. Olive Baptist's brick sanctuary, Rev. C.W. Woodall, pastor Oct. 1929 movie star Gary Cooper "dropped in" at Souther Field during flying tour of the United States Apr. 1930 mobster "Scarface" Al Capone passed through Americus, by train, enroute to Miami from Chicago, but did not stay at the Windsor; murder of E.M. Hobbs at Concord resulted in exile to Texas of John F. Monahan, Jr., son of Americus Fire Chief J.F. Monahan May 1930 formal dedication of Americus Negro Playground, with ballpark and swimming pool, Oscar Maxwell, president (east side N. Lee between Bay and Town Creek) June 1930 dedication of Memorial Mile by Sumter Garden Club, Mrs. H.O. Jones, president (east side Hwy. 19 north of Shiloh Rd.), a commemorative plaque honoring Mrs. Vivian Foy Jones being added May 29,1951 Aug. 1930 grand opening of Crisp County Hydroelectric Plant creating Lake Blackshear Jan. 1931 dedication for newly constructed Anthony High School, on Americus Normal College campus Feb. 1931 Americus Jaycees organized, George Ellis, president, Dr. Robert Pendergrass, first vice-president, John W. Sheffield, second vice-president, Sam Merritt, trea- surer, W. Roy Brown, secretary (national affiliation Jan. 1938) Oct. 1931 announcement that Americus Normal College became a junior college, Dr. J.M. Prance, president; U.S. Navy dirigible "Los Angeles" flew 1,000 feet over Americus during cross country journey Dec. 1931 Sumter County celebrated its centennial with parades and programs attended by thousands Apr. 1932 tornado struck Sumter County 10 miles northwest of Americus, cutting a path 3 miles long, "as wide as a city block," between the Bahnsen and Hart farms May 1932 initial broadcast of Americus' first radio station, WENC, "Where Every Nickel Counts," at Rylander Theater, by Americus Broadcasting Co., Dr. Linwood Morris, Henry P. Everett, R.T. Crabb and Stephen Pace, incor- porators (moved to Albany Dec. 1933) June 1932 last graduating class as Americus Institute closed its doors; Mayor James A. Fort and Fire Chief Jos. B. Hayes standardized over 200 hydrants and equipment according to Southeastern Underwriters Association specifications (Americus and Columbus were last two Georgia cities to do so) Aug. 1932 "Time Magazine" profiled U.S. Rep. Charles R. Crisp, of Americus, chairman of Ways and Means Committee Apr. 1933 Americus Normal College renamed Georgia Southwestern College Oct. 1933 "Tri-County News," E.L. Gammage, business manager, Harry P. Leadingham, editor, established as weekly competition for "Times-Recorder" Nov. 1933 Rev. V.W. McCranie, Scott's Mater Tabernacle C.M.E. Church pastor, murdered and parsonage burned by un- known persons Jan. 1934 announcement of CWA grant to build Americus Municipal Airport (west side S. Lee south of Columbia); Grant- land Rice, sports writer, and his guest, Rube Gold- berg, cartoonist, visited former's mother-in-law, Mrs. Florence Davenport Hollis, in Americus Feb. 1934 tornado touched down in several locations on Ameri- cus' northside, extensively damaging Sheffield Hard- ware and Glover's Wholesale Mar. 1934 D.S. Club organized by Squire Fort, et. al. Apr. 1934 dedication of First Methodist Church sanctuary, Bishop W.A. Candler presiding, Rev. H.T. Freeman, pastor June 1934 Dr. M.J. Baisden opened "hospital for colored pati- ents" at 321 Forrest July 1934 contracts let for Hwy. 19 connecting Muckalee Hill to McGarrah St., at Baisden and Davenport (completed with Lamar St. viaduct in May 1935) Aug. 1934 rerouting of Rte. 3 and U.S. 19 begun with new link from McGarrah to Hwy. 280, as well as new bridge across Muckalee Creek, in preparation for new viaduct Nov. 1934 Americus Lions Club organized, Dr. E.B. Strickland, president, Lionel Stukes, first vice-president, C.E. Niblack, second vice-president, M.T. King, third vice-president, Geo. D. Walker, secretary-treasurer; Leslie Lions Club chartered, W.T. Anderson, presi- dent, C.E. Stevenson, first vice-president, F.W. Hines, second vice-president, L.C. Lanford, third vice-president, B.L. Dell, Jr., secretary-treasurer Jan. 1935 Miss Julia Coleman, Plains High School principal, invited by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to luncheon at White House July 1935 razing of T.M. Furlow mansion, a former hospital and school, replaced by rental duplex (west side Barlow between College and Furlow) Oct. 1935 Senior Dunbar Club organized, Mrs. Leonora Lambert, president Nov. 1935 dedication of new brick Shiloh School building, Prof. J.J. Green, principal; Thad Glover supervised WPA project indexing all county records Jan. 1936 Bonnie and Clyde's "death car" exhibited at Americus Auto Company Feb. 1936 Ben S. Storey, of LaCrosse, northwest of Americus, became first black person to serve on a jury in Sum- ter County in over half a century Mar. 1936 fire destroyed the seven-room, wood frame Americus Golf Club, site of the present Country Club June 1936 Dan Chappell, of Miami, a Sumter County native, ran fifth out of fourteen in Florida Democratic guberna- torial primary July 1936 Mayor James A. Fort chosen president, Georgia Munici- pal Association Sept. 1936 Earl "Fatha" Hines, and his orchestra, played at Ry- lander Theater scrip dance Oct. 1936 A.S. Staley High School, for blacks, opened on site of Americus Institute (east side N. Lee between Pat- terson and Primitive) Dec. 1936 City Engineer S.S. Hudson installed Americus' first traffic light, at Church and Lee intersection (it was shot out by an irate citizen) June 1937 Plains High School designated "model school" by State Board of Education; Miss Ruby Wilson, first aviatrix to fly solo at Souther Field; formal dedication of A.S. Staley High School, E.J. Granberry, principal Aug. 1937 Cotton Avenue celebrated its 100th birthday; Americus named one of ten state highway patrol headquarters Oct. 1937 Wallace B. Sheffield named first Colonel of Aviation in state history by Gov. E.D. Rivers Jan. 1938 Mrs. Frank Sheffield, Jr. and Mrs. Zera A. Little- john, Jr. first women to ever serve on Americus City School Board Feb. 1938 "Americus High School" named after newspaper survey of the community ("Charles M. Hale Memorial," second runner up); Magnolia Dell donated to city as a park by Frank P. Harrold; grandstand construction started for ballpark on Bell and Oak; new Flint River bridge on Hwy. 280 named "General Howell Cobb and Captain John Addison Cobb Memorial Bridge" by Gov. E.D. Ri- vers; city and county high schools consolidated Mar. 1938 cornerstone ceremony for Americus High School, for whites (west side Harrold at Dodson) Apr. 1938 Americus Junior High School established at Rees Park; East Americus School terminated at end of school year (razed June 1978) May 1938 dedication of Recreation Building at Americus and Sumter County Community Center (southwest corner Bell and Harrold), Thomas L. Bell, mayor; dedication of First Christian Church, Rev. W.A. Joyner, pastor June 1938 Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker, WW I flying ace and Eastern Airlines president, visited Americus Municipal Air- port, on inspection tour; Windsor Hotel bought by Howell Dayton July 1938 opening game between Americus Cardinals and Albany Travelers at new ballpark (southeast corner Bell and Oak), won by home team, 1-0 Aug. 1938 Forsyth St. extension, west beyond Cotton, opened for traffic Jan. 1939 Miss Thaisa Gardner, of DeSoto, returned from Holly- wood after playing a munchkin in "The Wizard of Oz" Mar. 1939 Sumter County prohibition repeal referendum ended in 610 to 610 vote tie; pioneer Joshiah Scrutchins home, later T.M. Furlow's, first in DeSoto, burned; Americus Cardinals baseball team changed their name to Pioneers Apr. 1939 first brick home in Americus razed, built by Maj. M. Speer in 1868-69 (northwest corner Church and Jack- son), with brick used in construction of new office building on the site; GSW's first annual, "The Gale," Herschel Covington, editor-in-chief June 1939 first REA power line, 6 miles between Thomas' Store and Tom Finch's farm on Americus-Dawson Road Aug. 1939 convicts moved from old stockade, southwest corner Forsyth and Prince, to new facility on McMath Mill Rd. Mar. 1940 A.S. Staley High School selected by John D. Rockefel- ler's General Education Board as one of thirteen black schools in the South, the only one in Georgia, for an experimental program in vocational education Sept 1940 Americus began first dial telephone service Oct. 1940 Charley Green, a 25-year-old, black farmhand on the T.J. Suggs place, was the first Sumter Countian draf- ted for World War II Jan. 1941 Americus 20th most populous city in Georgia, with 9,281 June 1941 Eastview Cemetery, formerly Northview, for blacks, opened by developer Roland S. Broadhurst, more than doubling in size; Church of the Nazarene organized, Rev. David Patten, pastor; daily "Americus News," Buddy Pilcher, editor, debuted July 1941 Hancock Avenue renamed Hancock Drive Sept. 1941 bus station at Dudley and Spring opened, Harris Council, manager, J.C. Wise, of Atlanta, architect Oct. 1941 dedication of Cobb Memorial Bridge spanning Flint River to connect Sumter and Crisp counties; Negro Business and Civic League, J.D. Anderson, W.R. Bur- leigh, S.M. Weston, E. Stallworth, W.M. Carter, J.T. Phillips, E.J. Hill, J.H. Henderson, J.L. Barnum, J.B. Dorsey, executive committee, began construction of recreation center, converting former Americus In- stitute dormitory (northeast corner Lee and Patter- son) Dec. 1941 Americus Pilot Club organized, Miss Doris Oglesby, president, Mrs. L.H. White, 1st vice-president, Mrs. John Wooten, 2nd vice-president, Miss Willie Maude Johnson, recording secretary, Miss Christine Webb, corresponding secretary, Miss Elizabeth Harrison, treasurer; Americus native, Allen Chappell, became a member of Georgia Public Service Commission Mar. 1942 old ballground, south of Hill (now bisected by Bar- low), sold by City Council to Charles Lanier for development Apr. 1942 Americus had the only armed fire department in Geor- gia, 11 firemen and Chief Hugh "Hop" Henderson car- rying sidearms May 1942 Americus' first-ever black Boy Scout Troop, #200, or- ganized, sponsored by Bethesda Baptist Church, King Bryson, scoutmaster Nov. 1942 Clarence Jordan and Martin England founded Koinonia Farms, in the 17th District, as a non-profit, religi- ous corporation that was fully integrated racially Dec. 1942 Father Godfrey A. Weitekamp became first resident priest for St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church Jan. 1943 General Assembly put state on central time but Ameri- cus and Sumter County briefly retained eastern time while courthouse clock, coincidentally, was out of operation for cleaning and repairs (Americus' literal lack of time was later noted in Ripley's Believe It or Not!) June 1943 Lt. Lucius Gibson, of Americus, one of first fourteen blacks graduated from officers candidate school in Great Britain Dec. 1943 Americus and Sumter County Real Estate Board organ- ized, Milton Mize, president, R.C. Moran, secretary, Charles H. Wheatley, O.C. Law, Mrs. Herbert Hawkins, directors; U.S.S. Elmore, destroyer escort, named for Americus native, Eugene Evans Elmore, KIA, WW II Mar. 1944 exhibition of one of two unsuccessful two-man Japan- ese submarines at Pearl Harbor, on Lamar across from Windsor Hotel Nov. 1944 German P.O.W. camp established at Souther Field, with prisoners working on local area farms (closure and repatriation in Dec. 1945) Dec. 1944 AHS Panthers beat LaGrange Grangers 25-18 to become Class B State Champions, Jack Finklea and Kemp L. Carpenter, coaches Apr. 1945 Americus branch, N.A.A.C.P., chartered, John B. Dorsey, president Aug. 1945 Frank M. Staley, Jr., of Americus, became first-ever black Boy Scout to achieve Eagle rank in Chehaw Coun- cil's history Oct. 1945 dedication of new sanctuary of Daniel Grove Baptist Church, Rev. David A. Greene, pastor (intersection Ga. 49 and District Line Rd.); Americus Evangelistic Group built sanctuary, Rev. Ellis Barfield, pastor, (south side Hill, between Felder and Henrietta) Dec. 1945 Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter organized, Henry O. Gammage Post No. 4784, S.H. Dykes, commander, Joseph E. Suggs, Jr., senior vice-commander, John West Shef- field, junior vice-commander, Patrick Bynum, adjutant and quartermaster, Hollis Fort, Jr., advocate Feb. 1946 Plains Lions Club chartered, Young T. Sheffield, president, Drue P. Murray, Jr., first vice-president, O. Albert Williams, second vice-president, Claude L. Walters, Jr., third vice-president, L.L. Spence, secretary-treasurer Mar. 1946 announcement of new Country Club to be built on site of original 1910 structure, John W. Sheffield, presi- dent, Theo Baldwin, W.W. Bremly, Wingate Dykes, Ben F. Easterlin, Jr., Charles S. Hogg, Jr., Thomas B. Hooks, III, David T. Jennings, Jr., J.H. Pressley, Walter Rylander, Jr., J. Willis Shiver, Jr., Paul Wootten, directors (extensively remodeled with new swimming pool June 1971); The Americus Broadcasting Co., James R. Blair, H. Phil Jones and James W. Lott, applied to the FCC for approval of proposed radio station WDEC (first broadcast July 4,1947) Apr. 1946 dedication of St. Jerome's Catholic Church, for blacks, by Bishop Gerald P. O'Hara of the Savannah- Atlanta Diocese, Father Joseph B. Wider, priest (northeast corner Bel-Air Plaza, at that time corner Forsyth and Lamar) June 1946 Sumter County purchased Souther Field through Recon- struction Finance Corp. July 1946 Americus' first parking meters installed uptown; Americus and Sumter County Garden Clubs transferred control of Oak Grove Cemetery to city council, Carl Kobs, sexton Aug. 1946 Americus Housing Authority formally organized, Frank Chappell, chairman, W.C. Haggard, vice-chairman, Le- land Bell, secretary Oct. 1946 Mayor H.O. Jones wrote from "Americus Hotel" in Allentown, Pa., whose owner had been impressed with Americus during an earlier visit (see also, T-R 11-6- 37); first-ever Kiwanis' pet parade with Polly Marie Long first place in girls category and Bubber Eldridge first in boys category Jan. 1947 United Mine Workers president John L. Lewis bought gasoline at Lighthouse while passing through on U.S. 19 Mar. 1947 Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church relocated across Carter from its original site and dedicated its new sanctu- ary, Rev. L.J. Jones, pastor Apr. 1947 tornado destroyed Andersonville Methodist Church (re- built May 1948); Americus City Schools adopted 12th grade, to be implemented in September July 1947 Doughboy and Confederate monuments had been moved to Rees Park Oct. 1947 first-in-the-nation FmHA loan to Robert A. Hale, Sum- ter County farmer, with ceremony at Bell Park attend- ed by U.S. Senators Richard B. Russell and Walter F. George, Gov. M.E. Thompson and U.S. Congressman Stephen Pace as master of ceremonies Nov. 1947 Rosa Lee Ingram and her four sons' murder of John E. Stradford, at Lacrosse, became a cause celebre co- ordinated by W.R. Burleigh, of Americus, with Thurgood Marshall, N.A.A.C.P. director and counsel; Tenth Annual Conference of Principals of Georgia Negro Ele- mentary and Secondary Schools held at A.S. Staley High School; Americus Key Club chartered, Harry Entrekin, president, John Herbert Coman, vice-president, Lewis Easterlin, recording secretary, Jimmy Buchanan, treas- urer, Cliff Carswell, corresponding secretary Dec. 1947 Plains' first black Boy Scout Troop organized, Rev. C.M. Huff, scoutmaster Mar. 1948 1888 brick water tower razed (east side Lee north of Lamar); announcement of construction of Church of Christ (southeast corner Hill and Lee) May 1948 formal opening of South Georgia Trade and Vocational School (now South Georgia Technical College) Sept. 1948 grand opening of Harlem Theater, 210 Cotton, Elias Attyah and Theo Baldwin, owners Aug. 1949 Americus Civitans Club chartered, Ed McGowan, presi- dent, Bob Jones, vice-president, Pal Markette, secre- tary-treasurer, L.D. Kay, Red Harvey, John Pope, Clyde Bridges, Charles Smith, directors Sept. 1949 first game played in new high school football stadi- um, north of Glessner, between Harrold and Oak, imme- diately north of current Finklea-Robinson Stadium Nov. 1949 "unidentified local businessman" spotted UFO, while F.R.B.'s Miami Herald letter in T-R 9-10-52 cited 1918 Souther Field UFO sighting Mar. 1950 grand opening of Sunset Drive-In Theater (south side Ga. 280 west of U.S. 19) Aug. 1950 Capt. Richard Walter Williams, Jr., grandson of prom- inent black contractor Bright Hill, was first Sumter Countian wounded in the Korean Conflict Jan. 1951 DeSoto and Leslie got dial telephone service; Ameri- cus Moose Lodge organized May 1951 Americus Junior Chamber of Commerce chartered, James White, president, Dr. Harold Clayton, vice-president, Herschel A. Smith, Jr., secretary, Walker Bowen, treasurer, Frank Myers and Charles Smith, directors June 1951 Pfc. Luther H. Story was only Sumter Countian to be awarded Medal of Honor, albeit posthumously, for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and be- yond the call of duty in action" in Korean Conflict Aug. 1951 Citizens Bank Bldg. first office building in Georgia to comply with new state fire code (southwest corner Forsyth and Lee) Sept. 1951 dedication ceremony for site of new Southwest Georgia Experiment Station, Duncan McRainey, supervisor (south side Ga. 27, just east of Plains) Oct. 1951 movie actor Dan Duryea visited the Martin Theater during statewide promotional tour (north side Forsyth between Cotton and Jackson); announcement of future closure of Colored Hospital on Wild, and construction of annex to new Americus-Sumter County Hospital on Forsyth, W.R. Burleigh, chairman, J.L. Bozeman, first co-chairman, Emma J. Anderson, secretary, John L. Barnum, Jr., treasurer (dedicated Oct. 1953 with of- ficial opening the following month) Nov. 1951 Tex Beneke's Orchestra performed at GSW dance; Adolf Hitler's personal limousine exhibited across from Martin Theater Jan. 1952 Americus Baseball Club, Inc. surrendered its Georgia- Florida League franchise to Thomasville, ending four decades of professional baseball as the Cardinals, Pioneers and Rebels; Emperor Hirohito's personal ri- ding horse, a white stallion, displayed in Americus Feb. 1952 news article re British actor Michael Rennie, star of "The Day the Earth Stood Still," noted his World War II R.A.F. duty at Souther Field Nov. 1952 AHS Panthers defeated Cordele 47-12, first undefeated season since 1926, Jimmie Luck, coach Apr. 1952 dedication of Church of the Nazarene's new sanctuary (south side Elmo between Cherry and Mayo) May 1952 announcement of McCay Hill Grammar School's first- ever yearbook, "Maybook," Walter T. Pace, principal Aug. 1952 Northside Homes, 150-unit public housing project for blacks, ready for occupancy (between Jackson and Lee) Nov. 1952 A.S. Staley High School Tigers won Negro Class A North Ga. championship, Leroy Williams, coach, defeat- ing Elberton 26-0 Dec. 1952 new Americus-Sumter County Hospital (now Sumter Regi- onal) dedicated, construction having begun Dec. 1950, with cornerstone ceremony Sept. 14, 1951, Charles H. McCauley, architect, W.K. Upchurch, builder, Charles F. Crisp, hospital authority chairman (north side Forsyth west of Mayo) Jan. 1953 202 new street signs, black on white, installed by Americus Jaycees; Mount Mary and Old Corinth, black county schools, discontinued, former consolidated with Shady Grove, latter with Welcome Feb. 1953 dedication of Boy Scout Troop 21's hut, Charlie Hogg, scoutmaster, replaced by concrete block and rededica- ted Jan. 1957 (southwest corner Dodson and Elm) May 1953 Americus' Mary Crawford won Georgia Women's Amateur Golf Championship July 1953 Brooklyn Heights Baptist Church constituted, Rev. Ed- gar Dalton, pastor, with groundbreaking Oct. 1953, sanctuary dedication Feb. 24,1954 (northwest corner Mary and Washington); Miss America Neva Jane Langley was guest of honor at "Manufacturers Day" celebration in Americus Aug. 1953 St. Paul's Lutheran Church held first service in its new sanctuary, Rev. Russell J. Crouse, pastor, razed and replaced by Faith Baptist Church sanctuary 1986 (south side Felder at Tripp); Sumter Shrine Club or- ganized, L.D. Kay, president, Theo Baldwin, vice- president, Earl Williams, secretary-treasurer; Harrold Bros.' business records (1859-1953), four tons worth, donated to Emory University Dec. 1953 Wallace F. Cheek Memorial Baptist Church constituted July 1954 Ed Jones, son of Plains Mayor Peter B. Jones, was program assistant for Edward R. Murrow's "See It Now" CBS television series Aug. 1954 Georgia's first aluminum telephone booth installed by Southern Bell Telephone Co., Lane Watson, manager, at Pope's Place (northwest corner Magnolia and U.S. 19); 100-year-old McMath's Mill burned, west of Amer- icus Sept. 1954 Federal Power Commission approved South Georgia Nat- ural Gas Co. line to Americus, completed Sept. 1955 Dec. 1954 installation of bronze Sumter County historic marker in front of Victorian courthouse, later moved to cur- rent courthouse Jan. 1955 Mrs. Ann May McNeill, Mrs. Earl Carter, Mrs. John F. Williams, Mrs. Loren C. Greene, Mrs. Jewell D. Wallis and Mrs. Buena Vista Malloy were first women to ever serve on a Federal Court jury in Americus Mar. 1955 Cephas Williamson, of the Thalean community, National 4-H Citizenship winner, visited President Eisenhower in Washington, D.C. Apr. 1955 U.S. Air Force T-33 jet exploded and crashed at Cobb, killing both pilots; opening of "Negro branch of the Carnegie library," Frankie Harvey, librarian, removed from A.S. Staley High School May 1955 Mary Crawford, of Americus, won Georgia State Women's Amateur Golf Championship for the second time; Ameri- cus' first sewerage treatment plant began operation June 1955 oil well drilling begun on Walter Stapleton's farm at Thalean, unfortunately ultimately unsuccessful July 1955 announcement of Brig. Gen. Julian M. "Jack" Chappell, native Sumter Countian, as Commander, 7th Air Force, holder of two Distinguished Flying Crosses, Bronze Star and Legion of Merit Sept. 1955 Plains got paved streets Oct. 1955 County Commission Chairman George L. Mathews made world's first solar-powered telephone call, in 28th Dist. near Bethel Baptist Church; Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery established (southside Upper River Rd. just outside city limits); National Guard Armory completed (northwest corner Adderton and Armory) Jan. 1956 Americus Fire Department awarded first place in Geor- gia by National Fire Prevention Association, H.K. "Hop" Henderson, chief; former A.S. Staley High School principal Daniel T. Grant published When the Melon is Ripe, a book about his time in Americus Feb. 1956 Sumter County States' Rights Council organized, Eugene Horne, president, Spencer Pryor, first vice- president, Rev. W.L. Alford, second vice-president, Rudy Hayes, third vice-president, W.E. "Billy" Smith, secretary, Charles R. Crisp, treasurer; Plains award- ed first place in 1955 Better Home Towns competition sponsored by Georgia Power Co. Mar. 1956 Rev. Clarence Jordan, white, of Koinonia Farms, one of two sponsors in unsuccessful integration attempt at Georgia State University June 1956 Ty Cobb, the "Georgia Peach," visited Americus Rotary Club, a guest of his relative Preston Cobb July 1956 anonymous bombing of Koinonia Store at Sumter City Aug. 1956 groundbreaking for new Gertrude Davenport, Inc. plant (northeast corner Lester and Ellaville Rd.) Nov. 1956 drive-by shooting at Koinonia's store on Albany Hwy. Dec. 1956 announcement of donation of 19th Century statesman William Harris Crawford's 1813 suit for his presenta- tion to Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, owned by the Dud- ley family of Americus, to Georgia Archives Jan. 1957 McCay Hill School students left their 1884 structure for new Eastview Elementary School (north side Ashby at Lowe); Koinonia Farm Store, 2 1/2 miles south of Americus on Hwy. 19, dynamited; drive-by shooting at Koinonia; dedication ceremony for Boy Scout hut (west side Harrold at Virginia) Feb. 1957 one drive-by shooting at Koinonia; 70+ car parade of Ku Klux Klansmen made peaceful visit to Koinonia af- ter rally on Friendship Hwy.; GBI began investigating Koinonia for possible "subversive activities" Mar. 1957 three drive-by shootings at Koinonia Apr. 1957 Sumter County Grand Jury investigation accused Koino- nia of being a Communist front (all charges denied by Koinonia); Atty-Genl. Eugene Cook announced investi- gation of Koinonia's contributors; two drive-by shoo- tings at Koinonia; anti-Koinonia Ku Klux Klan rally in front of county courthouse on Lee; bond referendum approved new county courthouse by two to one vote May 1957 Southern premiere at the Martin Theater of "Badge of Evil," starring Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh, Orson Welles and supporting actress, Americus native, Joan- na Cook Carrison Moore (later mother of Tatum O'Neal McEnroe); Birdsey Feed Store, Byne Block (northwest corner Forsyth and Lee), dynamited for selling farm supplies to Koinonia in defiance of local boycott June 1957 broadcast of Ralph Nelson's CBS Climax! production of "Capt. Wirz, Andersonville Jailer," starring Charlton Heston as the prosecutor and Everett Sloan as Wirz July 1957 formal dedication of Plains Convalescent Home by Gov. Marvin Griffin Aug. 1957 new "Sumter County Colored High School" completed, James L. Bozeman, principal; (south side Rucker west of Jackson); completion of new Thalean Grammar School, for whites, (west side Hwy. 49 north of Sal- ters Mill Rd.) Sept 1957 completion of new 11-classroom, two-story addition to rear of 1938 AHS building; Don Latorre, one of origi- nal "Dead End Kids," served as U.S. Army recruiter in Americus Oct. 1957 cornerstone ceremony for Masonic Temple (east side Crawford north of Hwy. 27), with formal dedication June 1958; Joanna Moore costarred with Jack Lemmon in NBC's "Goodyear Theater" play "Lost and Found" Nov. 1957 opening of new Northeast Elementary School, Theodore R. London, principal, replacing ten smaller black schools (south side Upper River Rd., southeast of New Era); local Sumter County Ku Klux Klan rally burned a cross at fairgrounds; formal groundbreaking ceremony for new courthouse, with Congressman E.L. "Tic" For- rester, Barber Contracting Co., of Moultrie, builders (southwest corner Dudley and Lamar) Dec. 1957 opening of Southeast Elementary School, consolidated Nunn Industrial, Mt. Carmel, Pleasant Grove, Leslie, Flintside, Davis Grove and DeSoto colored schools, Kelsie W. Daniels, principal; first mobile home rolled off assembly line of new Marlette Coach Co. plant in new industrial park (Brady Rd. south of Felder), beginning an industry that would collapse in mid-1970's Mar. 1958 Gov. Marvin Griffin killed General Assembly investi- gation of Koinonia with pocket veto, then reversed himself, appointing Rep. George Busbee to chair com- mittee; County School Board sold these "colored school buildings": DeSoto, Leslie, Paradox, Seay, Shipp Industrial, Tabernacle, Antioch, Corinth, Sha- dy Grove, Eastpoint, Union Grove and Welcome; Miss Julia Coleman retired after fifty years at Plains HS; Matthew Kennedy, Americus native and violin virtuoso, debuted at New York's Carnegie Hall June 1958 1956 Pulitzer Prize-winning author MacKinlay Kantor and folksinger/actor Burl Ives toured Andersonville National Park in preparation for Columbia Studios movie Dec. 1958 Moose Lodge #1895 organized, Jimmy McClinton, gover- nor Mar. 1959 Mrs. Oscar Mann, then Mrs. Eric Foster, each gave birth to triplets at Americus and Sumter County Hos- pital May 1959 Mary Crawford of Americus won Georgia Women's Amateur Golf Championship for the third time;dedication of Sumter County's fourth courthouse by Congressman E.L. "Tic" Forrester Oct. 1959 formal dedication of St. Jude's Episcopal Chapel, at Lake Blackshear, Rev. Robert D. Battin, rector Nov. 1959 demolition begun on jail and courthouse by Georgia- South Carolina Wrecking Co., of Augusta; dedication of Sgt. William T. Bolin U.S.A.R. Armory (southwest corner Hickory and Patton); Bishop Arthur Moore ac- cepted Rock of Ages Home property for new Methodist Home for the Aging (392 acres opposite Country Club) Dec. 1959 Americus Optimist Club chartered, Sherman Fountain, president, D.S. Short, Jim McDuffie, vice-presidents, Marcus E. Morrow, secretary, Tom E. Holman, asst. secy-treas., Frank Chappell, Jr., Herbert N. Lowe, Lester W. Seaborn, directors Apr. 1960 Sumter Arts and Historical Association organized, Charles R. Crisp, president, Mrs. John Morgan, first vice-president, Ed Hutchinson, second vice-president, Mrs. Hollis Fort, Jr., recording secretary, Mrs. Wil- lard Riley, corresponding secretary, Kernwood Brown, treasurer; U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ezra Taft Ben- son toured Mormons' Deseret Farms in 15th District May 1960 First Methodist board of stewards published formal resolution supporting racial segregation and "sepa- rate-but-equal" doctrine; Sumter County Mental Health Association organized, J. Frank Myers, president, Rev. Robert D. Battin, first vice-president, Dr. Lloyd A. Moll, second vice-president, Mrs. W.H. En- trekin, treasurer, Mrs. Jack Moses, secretary, Dr. Frank Castellow, Dr. Jay Chambers, Dr. Bon Durham, Dr. Russell Thomas, Mrs. Mack Furlow, Mrs. Clarence Dodson, Dr. William R. Anderson, directors Oct. 1960 U.S. District Judge W.A. Bootle ordered admission to Americus High School for Koinonia students Jan Jor- dan, Lora Ruth Browne and William Wittkamper, Jr., overruling city school board ban against them Dec. 1960 erection of three historic markers by Georgia Histor- cal Commission for CSA hospitals (west side Jackson between Forsyth and Lamar), federal headquarters dur- ing Reconstruction (northeast corner College and Lee) and Speaker Crisp home (#139 Taylor) Jan. 1961 Judge W.A. Bootle hung in effigy at county courthouse while holding court at federal building (now munici- pal bldg.) Feb. 1961 beginning of 1 1/2-year urban highway project extend- ing Lamar from Prince to Oak Grove Cemetery, from Tripp east and southeast to Felder and U.S. 280, with new viaduct at west end and U.S. 19, John B. Lovell, city engineer (replaced by Chas. M. Hale, Jr., June 1961, who completed project) Apr. 1961 tornado ripped 4-mile path of destruction southeast of Americus on Hooks Mill, Leslie and Vienna Rds., with no deaths but considerable property damage May 1961 U.S. Congressman E.L. "Tic" Forrester dedicated new terminal at Souther Field July 1961 109 and 111 E. Jefferson St. houses first razed in massive urban renewal project clearing that block, first two blocks E. Forsyth and first two blocks N. Lee Sept 1961 Americus native, Griffin Boyette Bell, nominated by President Kennedy to Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals (retired 3-1-76) Dec. 1961 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spent the weekend in the Sumter County jail, after Albany Movement arrest; dedication of new St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church sanctuary, at original site, Father Raynor Dry, priest