150 Years and Growing Strong!

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City of Jesup celebrates TThehe PPress-Sentinel.ress-Sentinel. 150 years VOL. CLVI. JESUP, GEORGIA, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2020. 1870-2020 NO. 58. The Jesup Sequicentennial 150 years and growing strong!

Welcome to Jesup’s 150th birthday sent. Cherry Street will be section of The Press-Sentinel. sake. celebration! closed for the event. Historical photos and James R. Jesup, who was good Founded Oct. 24, 1870, the city of A time capsule pre- artwork are on display friends with Willis Clary and held Jesup is proud to celebrate its sesqui- pared by the in City Hall this title to a large number of lots in centennial this week with a variety of Tourism Board week, and a historic Jesup, has recently been the person events and several online presenta- will be buried in cemetery tour (vir- considered most likely for the honor. tions highlighting its colorful and dy- front of City Hall tual) is on the city James Jesup was affiliated with the namic history as “a railroad town.” as part of the cel- website and social East Tennessee, Virginia, & Georgia Jesup Mayor David Earl Keith pro- ebration Satur- media pages. Railroad, the parent company for the claimed this week, Oct. 18 through day. In addition, a Macon & Brunswick line. The Macon Oct. 25, as the official Jesup Sesqui- A video history mock trial at & Brunswick’s coming through Jesup centennial, and arranged a special of Jesup is being Wayne County boosted the town’s development in photo of living former commissioners presented on the High School is being the early years. and mayors with the current officials. city of Jesup conducted tomorrow An elementary school coloring con- A socially distanced gathering is YouTube channel this (Thursday) to investi- test is also planned for this week, and planned for 10 a.m. to noon Saturday week, and a selection of gate the question of which T-shirts and medallions are being of- at City Hall, and a number of state historical photos and ac- of three possible candidates de- fered as commemorative items. dignitaries are expected to be pre- counts are presented in this special serves to be credited as Jesup’s name-

The expansive rail yard and elegant depot in this early photo attest to the importance of the railroads in the early development of the city of Jesup. The history of Jesup—from railroad crossings to pine trees

A railroad town By Janet Royal Jesup was known as “a rail- and John Eden road town,” and it was said that most of the people who The city of Jesup began as a lived there were affiliated with railroad town. Though the Al- the railroad in some way. At tamaha River and the longleaf the height of the railroading pine forests inspired most of era, more than 100 trains a the activity in the surrounding day passed through the town, area, it was the railroads that and a very active rail yard de- brought life to young Jesup. veloped at the important inter- From the beginning, Jesup section of the two lines. has been connected by The Savannah & Gulf rail crossties and spikes to the rail- line carried wealthy patrons to roads that crossed within the the resort area in Thomasville city limits. and later into Florida. The Originally known simply as Macon & Brunswick line con- Station Number 6 on the nected the two important north-south line known as the Georgia cities and became Atlantic & Gulf Railroad, Southern Railway in 1894, Jesup was incorporated by the giving the rapidly developing Georgia legislature on Oct. 24, interior region access to the 1870. port in Brunswick. When an east-west line, the The city of Jesup grew up around the crossing of two important rail lines, and the depot was the cen- Passenger fares collected in Macon & Brunswick Railroad, ter of town both physically and economically for many years. At one time, 100 passenger trains came Jesup were reported as $1,000 laid its tracks through the through town every day. per day in the 1890s. town in 1871, Jesup became Movie stars and presiden- an important commercial cen- tial candidates were fairly fre- ter, and its population began eventually became its first long been debated whom of Willis Clary and held title to a quent visitors to Jesup, pro- to grow. mayor, elected at the organiza- three possibilities Jesup was large number of lots in Jesup. moting their movies and It became the county seat of tion of the first board of alder- named for. He also was long affiliated campaigning from the back of Wayne County in 1873. men in December of 1870. Morris K. Jesup (whose fa- with the East Tennessee, Vir- the trains. Though the origin of the Clary’s home sits on City ther apparently spelled the ginia, & Georgia Railroad, the Since 1979, Jesup has been name “Jesup” is unclear, his- Lot No. 1. Located at the cor- name Jessup), a banker and parent company for the Macon an Amtrak stop with two pas- torical records definitely point ner of South West Broad— railroad scion who bought the & Brunswick line. senger trains per day, and to Willis Clary as the founder once the main street in town— Savannah, Florida and West- It was at Willis Clary’s urg- many freight trains still come and organizer of the city, and and Orange streets, it’s now ern out of bankruptcy following that the Macon & through every day. The Jesup it’s likely his influence is what the offices of the Harris and ing the Civil War, is often Brunswick railroad crossed Depot has recently been reno- brought the second rail line Company accounting firm. cited as the town’s namesake. the Savannah & Gulf line vated and houses the Wayne through the sleepy town. Clary married Lucinda Hall Gen. Thomas Sidney Jesup, (later the Savannah, Florida & County Tourism Board’s of- Lee, widow of Osgood Andrew a hero of the so-called Indian Western and then the Atlantic fices. The first mayor Lee, and the family became Wars who captured the Semi- Coastline) at Jesup in 1871. Two railfan platforms offer Sometime in 1868, Clary the leaders in the new town of nole chief Osceola under a flag The intersection of the two train-watchers the opportu- made his way to Station Num- Jesup. of truce, is another candidate. lines proved to be the most in- nity to observe the rail traffic ber 6 from Appling County and But perhaps the best candi- fluential factor in the growth in safety. began to organize a town. He Origin of the name date is a less well-known rail- of Jesup in the early years. had the town surveyed and In the absence of a defini- road baron, James R. Jesup, tive historical document, it’s who was good friends with ❑ See HISTORY, Page 4C

2C Wednesday, October 21, 2020 The Press-Sentinel 150—Celebrating Jesup’s Sesquicentennial

Congratulations to the city of Jesup on its 150th anniversary! We’re proud to be a part of the community.

Our Vibrant Communities outreach programs are one way we live up to our Corporate Responsibility “Our Jesup mining Commitment. facility represents Chemours employee another great example of how our company is Cody Holland gets fulfilling our Corporate some help from a Responsibility Commitment goals student at Screven and looking at ways to minimize our Elementary School impact on the showing science can be environment.” –David Settles, fun and educational. Jesup Mine Plant Manager

The new plant is located at 892 Power Line Road in Jesup. Individuals interested in career opportunities with Chemours are encouraged to visit chemours.com/en/careers for additional information.

150—Celebrating Jesup’s Sesquicentennial Wednesday, October 21, 2020 The Press-Sentinel 3C

Jesup City Hall through the years

Rendering: LAURA COOPER / Special Photos: ERIC DENTY / Staff These four buildings have served as Jesup City Hall over the 150 years of its history. Above, Laura Cooperʼs render- JOIN US! ing of the original city hall, which served from 1880 through 1925, shows how the The City of Jesup building at the corner of Cherry and Macon streets looked before it was torn down to make Mayor and Council way for the current building at that location (now Southern cordially invites the Charm, 106 Macon St.). That building, below, served as city hall from 1926 through 2005. citizens of Jesup and For part of 1925 and 1926, city hall was located on East the community to Cherry in the building now occupied by For the Love of Yo- gurt, at right, during the con- join us on Saturday, struction of the new city hall. In 2005 city hall was moved to its current location in the old post October 24th at 10 am in front of office building, at bottom, also on East Cherry Street. T-shirts City Hall for a celebration in honor of featuring Cooperʼs renderings of all four buildings are now on sale at Jesup City Hall for $10 our 150th Anniversary! each.

David Earl Keith, Mayor

Commissioners: Shirlene Armstrong, Commissioner District 1 • Don Darden, Commissioner District 2 Nick Harris, Commissioner District 3 • Stanley Todd, Commissioner District 4 Ray House, Commissioner District 5 • Bill Harvey, Commissioner District 6 Mike Deal, City Manager • Rose Marcus, City Clerk

4C Wednesday, October 21, 2020 The Press-Sentinel 150—Celebrating Jesup’s Sesquicentennial

Two of the earliest settlers in this area were Daniel Gibson Hopps and Frances The early days of Jesup were intimately connected with the steam engines that Bennett Hopps, who owned a large farm in the county. This photo is from sometime in pulled the many trains up and down the rail lines that crisscrossed the countyside. A the 1800s. popular train was “The Bogie,” shown here.

HISTORY Continued from page 1C Street names daughter—Lucinda Claims to fame black residents of the camp. Many residents of Being a planner from Clary’s daughter, Geor- city, died in the riots. the town during this the beginning, Willis gia Buena Vista Lee— time remember fondly Clary had the streets of married Harry Whaley, Famous people who Mayor Solomon the smells from the Jesup named for trees an Englishman, and Cohen cooking at the camp. Be- as well as being num- thus began one of the Being remarkably cause of a shortage of bered. Cherry, Walnut, most influential families lived in Jesup progressive for the manpower, men from Elm, Pine and Hickory in the downtown area. times, Jesup elected a the camp were used as are a few of the streets Whaley was a good Jesup can lay claim to This University of Geor- Jewish mayor in the laborers at the McCann you find in the vicinity bit older than Georgia some very famous citi- gia football player was 1930s. Solomon Cohen Lumber Mill at Doctor- of the downtown area. and died leaving Geor- zens, including the fol- on the receiving end of a was the owner of a de- town. The numbered streets gia quite wealthy. The lowing: famous touchdown pass partment store housed begin with First Street Whaleys had a general •Anna Hall—She was thrown by Buck Belue in the Tuten Block Recent times and move out toward store on South West a teacher in Jesup who during a Georgia-Florida building. Over the years, Jesup what was then consid- Broad Street. The name became a missionary and football game. Mayor Cohen recog- has expanded as its ered to be the country, is visible at the entry to taught for 25 years in •David Larson—He nized the need for jobs business and population numbered back then the store even today. Liberia. Her most fa- won an Olympic Gold for those in the town have grown, and a num- through Eleventh The Whaleys also mous student was Medal as a swimmer in who were not affiliated ber of significant events Street. owned the Merchants William Tubbman, who the 1984 Summer with the Atlantic Coast- have altered the course The exceptions to this and Farmers Bank, became the president of Olympics. line Railroad. He per- of this expansion. rule are Macon and which Georgia Whaley Liberia. Though not a •Randall Bram- suaded the Sea Island The arrival of the Brunswick streets, ran very successfully Jesup native, she is blett—He is well-known Cotton Company to lo- Rayonier mill in 1954 which were named for following her husband’s buried in Jesup, and the in the music industry for cate a shirt factory in was likely the biggest James R. Jesup’s Macon death. This bank was Hall-Richardson Com- his talents as a per- Jesup, and Robert Pas- economic boost to the & Brunswick Railroad— bought by the Bank of munity Center is named former and songwriter, cal came to Jesup to run county and to Jesup, another point in his Brunswick and later be- for her. famously performing for the operation. The fac- bringing in a large num- favor as the town’s came American Na- •Walter Dowling— years with Gregg All- tory was in the building ber of professional and namesake. tional Bank. (American He was the U.S. Ambas- man, Chuck Leavell and on Cherry Street that union jobs to the area. The first board of al- National Bank later be- sador to South Korea Bonnie Raitt. later became Jesup Fur- It also brought in peo- dermen for the city in- came a part of C&S and from 1955 to 1959 and to •Tasha Cobbs niture Outlet. The fac- ple from Washington cluded W.C. Remshart, eventually became Bank West Germany from Leonard—She won the tory relocated to the State and other states, W.H. Whaley, G.H. of America.) The Wha- 1959 to 1963. Grammy for Best county industrial park adding to the diversity Cameron and T.P. Lit- leys owned several •Florence Reville Gospel/Contemporary and became known as of the population. tlefield, who also pub- buildings in the down- Gibbs—A Thomson na- Christian Music Perfor- Manhattan Shirt Fac- Wayne Memorial lished the Jesup Sen- town area (including the tive who retired to Jesup mance in 2014, and has tory, manufacturing Hospital, which has also tinel in the early years. Whaley Center at the in 1941, Gibbs was the won six other music shirts from Sea Island become a big driver of Early ordinances in corner of Cherry and first woman to represent awards. cotton. Jesup’s economy, was the city included setting Broad) and an extensive Georgia in the U.S. •T.Y. McGill—He is built in 1957 as a Hill- a $10 license fee for ped- amount of land in the House of Representa- currently playing in the Great Depression Burton hospital and dlers other than farmers county. tives. She was elected to National Football and World War II dedicated in 1958. A selling their own pro- Other important serve the Eighth Con- League as a defensive For most of the resi- 1972 renovation added duce, a $10 fine for dis- leaders in the business gressional District fol- tackle for the Philadel- dents of Jesup, the 40 beds and a maternity turbing the public community included lowing the death of her phia Eagles. Great Depression was unit. A 24-bed surgical peace, and a require- members of the Wilkins, husband, Rep. Ben •Trè Jackson—A Na- no more difficult for unit was added in 1982, ment that sellers of O’Quinn, Fender, Gibbs. tional Football League them than other times. and a new emergency butchered livestock pre- Harper, Kicklighter, •Reeves Mc- lineman, he played for These rural families had room and respiratory sent an ear of the ani- Ritch, Sullivan and Mc- Cullers—A native of the Los Angeles Rams long ago learned to pro- therapy unit opened in mal to the city clerk. Cann families. Jesup, Reeves was the and the New England vide for themselves 1987. The board authorized An 1880 report in the husband of famous nov- Patriots and is currently through home gardens A $7.2 million expan- public wells in 1874 and Savannah Morning elist Carson McCullers of playing for the Tampa and chickens in the sion in 1994 added a again in 1875. News described Jesup as Columbus. Bay Vipers. yard. When the call for new surgery suite and W.H. Whaley became having some 700 or 800 •Len Hauss—He is a •Barret Browning— troops to fight in World intensive care unit and mayor in 1875. inhabitants with eight well-known retired a MLB professional War II came, the town a new energy plant. A stores, three churches, a player from the National pitcher, he played for rallied their forces, and women’s center was The Whaley family Masonic hall and two Football League. various teams, including the men marched off to added in 2000. Jesup remained a hotels. •Lindsay Scott— the St. Louis Cardinals. war. Left behind, the An entirely new hos- tiny hamlet through the In 1889 T.A. Floyd women joined in the pital was opened Sept. end of the 19th century connected the Wayne fight by conserving ra- 22, 2007 and has been and on into the 1900s. County area to Liberty a central site for social offices as well as a pas- tion tickets, saving rub- recognized three times Town leaders took up County with his ferry at and community activity senger waiting room. ber from tires, and as the state’s Small Hos- business along the two Linder’s Bluff on the Al- in Jesup, burned in Also in 1889, the infa- building Liberty Ships pital of the Year. The Broad Streets, which tamaha River, and the April of 1889. Located mous Bob Brewer Riots at the shipyard in new hospital construc- ran parallel to the rail- mayor of Jesup had the on West Broad Street, occurred on Christmas Brunswick. tion was funded by a road tracks that were stumps removed from the hotel was owned by day. Though varying ac- During the war, special purpose local op- the lifeblood of the town. the streets of the city. the Coast Line Railroad counts of the incident Jesup was the site of an tion sales tax (approved Willis Clary’s step- The Altamaha Hotel, and provided railway, abound, most agree that Italian prisoner-of-war telegraph and express some 22 people, mostly ❑ See HISTORY, Page 5C

B. Grahamʼs store was a popular place in downtown Jesup in the early 1900s. An early photo shows the U.S. Post Office in Jesup, which is now city hall.

150—Celebrating Jesup’s Sesquicentennial Wednesday, October 21, 2020 The Press-Sentinel 5C

West Broad Street was the main street in Jesup for many years, with the depot on The Strand Theatre on bustling Cherry Street was a popular place in the 1950s, es- the east and hotels and stores on the west side, including the Tuten Block building, pecially for the Saturday matinee, when bicycles might outnumber the cars. Ward as shown in this circa-1900 photo. Riggins and E.J. Nix opened The Strand in 1921 on South West Broad Street, and the movie house moved to Cherry Street in 1924.

HISTORY Continued from page 4C in 2004) and revenue bonds is- In a demonstration of the sued by the Wayne County strong spirit that built the Hospital Authority and the town, the two-story building county government. has been restored in a style re- Another big event was the flecting the historic nature of coming of the Federal Correc- downtown Jesup and is now a tional Institution—FCI- modern landmark for the city. Jesup—in 1990. The city of Jesup extended its city limits Downtown Jesup to include the site of the new Though trains still run prison and provided water and through Jesup at a pretty fast sewer services. clip these days, their impor- An unhappy recent event tance in our history has been changed the face of downtown. diminished and log haulers On Aug. 4, 2014, a raging fire and chip trucks compete with destroyed the historic Whaley freight cars for keeping down- Shopping Center in the heart town busy. of Jesup. In an ironic twist for Jesup remains close to its the “railroad town,” the fire roots, however, and its people hoses stretched across the rails are proud to celebrate their to connect with additional hy- history in a city where “it all Jesupʼs first hospital was located at the corner of Cherry and Macon streets. This photo from the drants delayed four trains comes together downtown.” 1950s shows nurses gathered on the generous balconies to watch the high school band march by. through Jesup for several The hospital was founded by Dr. Elias Cameron Crummey and eventually became the Ritch-Leaphart hours. Hospital.

6C Wednesday, October 21, 2020 The Press-Sentinel 150—Celebrating Jesup’s Sesquicentennial Black citizens’ contributions to Jesup history remembered sville area and mar- community, and our By Edward Hopps Jr. ried a lady of the desire is to build upon Dasher family. It was the past and remem- (Editor’s Note: An ex- stated that he was a ber those who, even panded version of this very proud man, liked though they were dis- story, written by the by his neighbors, and a enfranchised, made a late Edward Hopps family man who loved contribution. Jr., originally ap- his little daughter. Such a person was peared in the book A It was not clear why, Boston Milliken, who History of Wayne but there was a war- was raised by a white County.) rant for Brewer’s ar- family, who never ••• rest; it was further knew his real family, The history of Jesup stated that he went to and who grew to be re- would certainly be in- town and, while there, spected and admired complete without the threw his hat into the despite hardly any ed- history of the contribu- air and shot a hole in it ucation. This commu- tions of its black citi- as a dare or a warning nity proudly claims zens, for their blood, that he would not be him as its own. sweat and tears helped arrested. There are many oth- to contribute to the fer- Then he went down ers, such as Henrietta tility of the area. Jesupʼs Hall-Richardson Recreation Center is named for two prominent black cit- the street to the over- Hopps, whose father Jesup grew up izens who played large roles in the early years of the cityʼs history. Anna E. Hall, pass where the South- could neither read nor around a railroad cen- known affectionately as “Babe,” was a school teacher in Jesup in the late 1880s and ern passes over the write and who became ter. Blacks were 1890s and taught many who went on to hold prominent places in the cityʼs life. She Coastline railroad, and the first black from brought in from Vir- also went on to become a missionary in Liberia and taught the future president, two Jesup policemen this community to fin- ginia, the Carolinas William Tubbman. John C. Richardson served as the principal of Wayne County on horseback followed ish college. and Florida as labor- Training School from about 1932 to 1941. He was said to have transformed the him. From that over- Miss Anna E. Hall, ers, and the women school, adding grades 10 and 11 to the school and creating the momentum that led pass he shot both po- who taught my father were cooks and did the to it becoming Northside High School. He also inspired many in the black community licemen, killing one of and many other black housework and the to organize to promote its interests. them. Wayne Countians, be- laundry. The majority From that incident came a missionary and worked directly or in- tortown. took my father and me about half a mile from came what some taught for more than directly with the rail- Sometime after that out to the plantation the old family site. blacks refer to as the 25 years in Liberia. road. meeting, they were where my grandfather Was Bob Brewer an Jesup, (or Bob Brewer) One of her pupils be- From what I can married. They had and his brothers were outlaw? Riots. It was recorded came the president of gather from my own four children, Victoria, born and confirmed I must give you this that whites came from Liberia, the Honorable family history, my Henrietta, Fanny and much of what my fa- as truly as I know how, many surrounding William Tubbman. grandfather’s family Edward—my father. ther had said, for he from a black perspec- communities, such as Wilber King, who fin- predated the railroad. He was called “Bud.” too grew up on that tive. These were hard Waycross and ished Clarke College in He and his brothers He was the youngest plantation. times for blacks. The Brunswick, to hunt Atlanta, delivered mail grew up on the Dan child and was born in There was much tur- South had lost the war and beat and jail and taught music and Hopps plantation August 1879, approxi- moil, bigotry and ha- and also its wealth and blacks. … Brewer re- was an outstanding about three or four mately 14 years after tred after the Civil pride, so the whites portedly hid out in the leader in the commu- miles south of Jesup the Civil War. War, and the majority vented their frustra- swamps, but he was nity for many years. on what is presently According to my fa- of it was heaped on the tions and angers and eventually found and John Miles, who was U.S. Hwy. 84, the ther, they were lean ex-slaves. The South cruelties on the ex- killed. … without a doubt one of Screven Highway. years. He said he could had lost the war, and slaves. The ex-slaves Out of fear of retribu- the most outstanding There were four boys, remember when the many whites directed themselves were filled tion and discrimina- athletes to leave Jim, George, Jack and poor whites and the their hostilities at the with much resentment tory practices set up Wayne County, served Bob. Bob was my ex-slaves suffered bit- ex-slaves. Jesup, like and anger, and they after the confronta- as the athletic director grandfather. terly for the need of many other areas of also had hopes for a tion, many blacks left at Savannah State My grandmother food. Some of the big the South, was a better life with their the area and went College. came from Virginia. land barons would get hotbed of racial unrest newfound freedom. north into other areas Charles Keller had a She was brought down together and kill hogs and violence. The possibility of a of the country. Of my business in Jesup for the Atlantic coast into and distribute them In 1889 a black man not-so-pleasant con- grandfather and his more than 50 years. It Darien and up the Al- among the needy. named Bob Brewer frontation was in- two brothers, only he served both whites and tamaha River to Doc- One of those people was a catalyst for evitable, and ulti- remained in Wayne blacks and was at one tortown. She and her was Dan Hopps, on much violence in this mately it did come. County. For many point the oldest viable father, James Hous- whose plantation his community. My father From all I heard years, Jesup carried business in the com- ton, and their family father grew up. Dick remembered him well; from the people who the stigma as a fearful munity. were slaves, as were Milliken, a descendant he said he used to play knew Bob Brewer, he place for blacks to get my other grandpar- of Dan Hopps and one with Brewer’s little was not a native of this caught in after dark. ents. She met my of my father’s white girl, who was about area but had moved Despite the problems grandfather at a picnic friends who was a year the same age as he. here from the of the past, there is a given for slaves at Doc- or two older than he, Brewer lived nearby, Milledgeville/Sander- fierce pride in this

Grace Riley Jesup Water Department Jesup’s oldest living citizen

The Jesup water department building and water tower were built in 1941 by the Works Progress Administration as part of a national effort to help the many unemployed during the Great Depression. The building bears a plaque recognizing city officials who were in office at the time: Mayor G.M. Harrington, City Commissioners J.H. Horton, T.O. Mattox, I.E. McCall, R.S. Majette, and W.P. Riggins; city clerk D.J. Surrency; and public works superintendent R.T. Littlefield.

Commemorative coin

This special commemorative coin was commissioned by the Jesup City Council to recognize the members of the Council, the mayor, city manager and the city clerk/trea- surer who sponsored the Grace Riley, seated, helps Jesup Mayor David Earl Keith proclaim this week as the Jesup Sesquicentennial Jesup Sesquicentennial. Riley is 100 years old and was recognized as Jesupʼs oldest event this week. The coins living citizen. She was born to Henry and Minnie Pine Riley on May 10, 1920, in Mari- and special T-shirts will be ana, Florida, and moved to Jesup in the early 1960s. She retired from Jesup Manor available during the celebra- Nursing Home. She has two sons, Ben and Henderson Cooper, and four daughters, tion event Saturday at Jesup Rose Carr, Pearl Jones, Juanita Wilson and Diane Pasley. “Sheʼs the backbone of our City Hall. family and the best grandmother in the world,” Pasley said of her mother.

150—Celebrating Jesup’s Sesquicentennial Wednesday, October 21, 2020 The Press-Sentinel 7C

Jesup’s mayors and commissioners

MATTIE GENEAUX / Special

Jesupʼs living commissioners and mayors gather on the steps of city hall for Mayor ond row, from left, are former commissioner Ricky Reddish, current commissioner Ray David Earl Keithʼs proclamation of Oct. 18 through Oct. 25 as the Jesup Sesquicentennial House, former commissioner Tim Cockfield, current commissioners Nick Harris and Don celebration. On the front row, from left, are former mayors Joel Greene and Mary Hitt, cur- Darden, and former commissioners Morris Melvin, Kathy Keith and Sybil Lynn. In the back rent mayor David Earl Keith, and former mayors James Bland and Herb Shaw. On the sec- row, from left, are current commissioners Bill Harvey, Shirlene Armstrong and Stanley Todd.

Mayors from 1870-2020

Nov. 2, 2014 – David Earl Keith Jan. 4, 1955 – J.A. Leaphart Jan. 16, 1905 — T.C. Slover Jan. 11, 1886 — W.H. Whaley Jan. 2, 1996 – Herb Shaw Jan. 3, 1950 – R.S. Majette Jan. 4, 1904 – S.F. Ellis Jan. 8, 1884 — Joseph J. Bell Jan. 8, 1991 – Jerry McDaniel Jan. 1, 1946 – A. Carter Jan. 5, 1903 — T.C. Slover Nov. 23, 1882 — G.M.T. Ware Feb. 17, 1987 – Mark W. Thomas Jan. 4, 1944 – George M. Harrington Jan. 13, 1902 – O.F. Littlefield Feb. 17, 1882 — A.B. Pundom Jan. 8, 1985 – Jerry McDaniel Oct. 4, 1932 – S.E. Cohen Jan. 7, 1901 – S.F. Ellis Feb. 14, 1881 — W. Garris Jan. 6, 1981 - Joel R. Greene Dec. 17, 1929 – William D. Turner Jan. 1, 1900 — T.C. Slover Mar. 8, 1880 — W.H. Whaley Jan. 4, 1977 – R.W. Woodruff Jan. 2, 1923 – R.M. Milikin Jan. 21, 1899 — G.W. Williams Dec. 9, 1878 — R.F. Lester Jan. 2, 1973 – Joel R. Greene Jan. 4, 1921 – James Steele Jan. 13, 1898 — J.H. Williams Feb. 12, 1877 — W.H. Whaley Jan. 5, 1971 – Mary B. Hitt Jan. 17, 1919 – S.E. Cohen Jan. 11, 1897 — O.F. Littlefield Jan. 10, 1876 — R.B. Harris Dec. 23, 1969 – Randall M. Walker, Jr. Jan. 2, 1917 – A.E. Knight Jan. 6, 1896 — R.B. Hopps Feb. 1, 1875 — W.H. Whaley Jan. 2, 1968 – Ralph B. Smith Jan. 3, 1916 – W.J. Broadhurst Jan. 10, 1895 – W.H. Whaley Jan. 14, 1874 — Willis Clary Jan. 3, 1967 – James R. Bland, Jr. Jan. 6, 1913 – Robert L. Bennett Jan. 15, 1894 – W.N. Clark Jan. 18, 1873 — T.P. Littlefield Jan. 4, 1966 – J.W. Yeomans Jan. 16, 1911– R.B. Hopps Jan. 8, 1892 – James Steele Jan. 13, 1872 – R.B. Harris Jan. 5, 1965 – James R. Bland, Jr. Jan. 17, 1910– O.F. Littlefield Jan. 19, 1891 — B. George Dec. 3, 1870 – Willis Clary Jan. 7, 1964 – Hugh Jordan Jan. 20, 1908– R.B. Hopps Jan. 6, 1890 — W.N. Clark Jan. 3, 1963 – Randall M. Walker, Jr. Jan. 21, 1907 – D.M. Clark Jan. 14, 1889 — R.B. Hopps Jan. 7, 1958 – Hugh C. Armstrong Jan. 15, 1906 — H.W. Whaley Jan. 10, 1888 — John Massey

Congratulations to the City of Jesup on Celebrating 150 Years!

Main Street, Jesup, circa 1900

Wayne County Court House, circa 1909 Steam Engine and Railroad Crew, circa 1910

Herschell Hires Kevin McCrary Mike Roberts James Thomas Ralph Hickox District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4 District 5 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 341 East Walnut St., Jesup, GA 31546 • (912) 427-5900

8C Wednesday, October 21, 2020 The Press-Sentinel 150—Celebrating Jesup’s Sesquicentennial

Empowering all students to reach their highest level of achievement.

A Word From the Superintendent “In a year that has been filled with great uncertainty, I am especially proud of the hard work and leadership that has been displayed by the faculty and staff members of the Wayne County School System. I commend our students and their families for their commitment to, foremost, health and safety in this trying time, and for continued academic excellence. It is truly an honor and privilege to seize the daily opportunity to shape the lives of the young people in our charge.” -Dr. Jay Brinson, Superintendent

Jesup Public School, built 1905 Madray School Red Hill School Spring Grove School

Gardi School Ritch School Screven School Odum School

Ritch School Mount Pleasant School Penholloway Early School for Black Students Early School for Black Students Early School for Black Students Jesup High School, built 1927 Where We Were In 1916, the total public school fund for Wayne County Schools was $28,265.34. The length of the school year was 110 days and school ended at 10th grade. There were at least 70 schools dotting the county with the majority having just one or two teachers for Wayne County Training School all students. Superintendent B.D. Purcell indicated in his annual report that he felt as though there were too many schools in the county and that consolidation would greatly increase their efficiency. A typical rural school such as O’Quinn School sat on no more than two acres, had a small playground, single or double patent student desks, blackboards, maps, a single dictionary, no pictures, open bucket well water, one toilet, and was unpainted. The facility could be maintained on fewer than $600 per year. Extracurricular activities at the schools included literary societies and debate teams as well as corn, canning, and pig clubs. 1930 Jesup High School Football Team -Source: Educational Survey of Wayne County Georgia (1916)

James E. Bacon Elementary Jesup Elementary Arthur Williams Middle School Martha Puckett Middle School

Odum Elementary School Martha Rawls Smith Elementary School Screven Elementary School Wayne County High School

Where We Are

In 2020, the Wayne County School System is now the county’s largest employer with 840 employees. Approximately 5,000 students occupy five elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. Due to the health pandemic, the normal 180-day school year has been shortened to 170 days. Of the nearly 5,000 students, approximately 900 began the school year completing their coursework from home in a virtual setting. From a public school fund under $30,000 in 1916, the Wayne County School System now has an annual operating budget in excess of $70 million. Four of the five elementary schools (Jesup, Martha R. Smith, Odum, and Screven) have facilities that are fewer than seven years old. The James E. Bacon facility is currently undergoing modernization that will bring it up to par with the other four elementary schools. The two middle schools (Arthur Williams and Martha Puckett) are in their original facilities that were constructed in 1993. The current Wayne County High School facility at One Jacket Drive was completed in 2001 and, although it is approaching 20 years of age, many still love to refer to it as the “new” high school. At 93%, the WCHS graduation rate is the highest it has ever been, which is a tribute to the teachers and support staff at all eight schools. Wayne County Board of Education 710 W. Pine St. • Jesup, Ga. 31545 (912) 427-1000

150—Celebrating Jesup’s Sesquicentennial Wednesday, October 21, 2020 The Press-Sentinel 9C

JANET ROYAL / Special JEFF GRIFFITH / Special The old Carter home, at 311 S. Wayne St., is listed on the National Register of His- The old J.W.C. Trowell home, at 256 E. Cherry St., is listed on the National Register toric Places. Leonard Carter is said to have completed this Victorian house in 1901 or of Historic Places and typifies the graceful architecture of the “old town.” The Trow- 1902; it now belongs to Amy Broadhurst. ells, early pillars of the nearby First Methodist Church, built the house in Jesupʼs early days. It was used to house teachers during the Great Depression and today serves visitors as the Historic Trowell House Inn. Historic homes dot ‘old town’ Jesup

in the area are the old Florence By Drew Davis Breen home, at 318 E. Plum St.; and Janet Royal the old Clary-Whaley home, at 274 W. West Broad St.; the old For lovers of historic structures, Donaldson-Jordan home, at 197 Jesup’s “old town” has a special E. Walnut St.; the old Dowling appeal. home, at 411 E. Bay St.; the old The age and architecture of Ellis-Gibbs home, at 285 S. Wayne many of these buildings has St.; the old Grubbs home, at 356 helped ensure their preservation E. Cherry St.; the old Hampton in recent decades. Lee Heritage home, at 523 E. Bay After a proposal to rezone a por- St.; the old Hooker home, at 348 tion of Cherry Street east of E. Cherry St.; the old Jones home, Brunswick Street for commercial at 347 E. Cherry St.; the old Fred use was defeated in the 1980s, a Murphy home, at 286 S. Wayne group of property owners led by St.; the old Presbyterian manse, Madge Sewell Bellinger led a at 256 S. Brunswick St.; the old move to call attention to the his- Price home (also known as the old toric nature of an area within the Poppell house), at 292 E. Plum general boundaries of Pine, West St.; the old Joseph Wilkins home, Broad, Bay and Hickory streets. at 397 E. Cherry St.; and the old That area came to be known infor- Shadie Wilkins home, at 192 E. mally as “Historic Old Town Cherry St. Jesup.” Many of these houses are still The area includes three build- used as homes, while some are ings on the National Register of used for professional businesses.

Historic Places: the old Carter The historic district also in- JEFF GRIFFITH / Special home, at 311 S. Wayne St.; the old cludes the old Episcopal church The old Clary-Whaley home, at 274 S. West Broad St., was built by city founder Willis Clary J.W.C. Trowell home, at 256 E. (now God’s Way Worship Cen- for his wife, Lucinda, and their family at City Lot No. 1 in the late 1860s, before the incorpora- Cherry St.; and the Wayne ter)—Jesup’s oldest church build- tion of Jesup. The Clarysʼ daughter, Georgia B. Whaley, lived there until her death in the County Courthouse. ing in use as a church—at 365 E. 1950s, and the house remained in the Clary-Whaley family until 1978. It now serves as the Among the other historic homes Cherry St. office for Harris and Company.

JEFF GRIFFITH / Special BRITTANY KENT / Special The old Florence Breen home, at 318 E. Plum St., was built by Theodore Wilkins The old Jones home, at 347 E. Cherry St., is now the office of attorney Leah Lewis between 1895 and 1904 and purchased by Breen in 1910. Breenʼs grandson, John Jones. Donaldson (a storied football player and coach in Wayne County, as well as a player and coach at the University of Georgia), and his wife, Anne (a longtime local teacher), spent many years there.

JANET ROYAL / Special JANET ROYAL / Special Hitching posts still stand at the old Episcopal church, now Godʼs Way Worship The Wayne County Courthouse is located on North Brunswick Street in Jesupʼs Center, at 365 E. Cherry St. in Jesupʼs historic district. historic district and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It dates back to 1903.

10C Wednesday, October 21, 2020 The Press-Sentinel 150—Celebrating Jesup’s Sesquicentennial

This postcard shows the Jesup High School building that was built in 1927. It later became Jesup Junior High before burning in 1972. Jesup Elementary School later occupied the site, where the Jesup Police Department is located today. Jesup schools evolve with growing needs

By Melba Murphy SPECIAL TO THE PRESS-SENTINEL Watching a fire

(Editor’s note: This story trees all around. We draws heavily from various By Jamie Denty strained to try to hear the historical resources, espe- shouts from fireman to cially Wayne County, Geor- (Editor’s note: This col- fireman. gia: Its History and Its Peo- umn originally appeared We watched and ple.) in The Wayne County praised the firemen; we Press in 1972.) watched and mourned the “There is no better place to To be awakened by a loss of irreplaceable create a caring, thriving, and telephone call at 4 a.m. is records and collections prosperous community than a frightening thing. To be from lifetimes of teaching. in our schools—the soul of told that the schoolhouse We watched and pondered our future.” almost in our backyard is the relocation of seventh- —Anonymous burning is a frightening and eighth-graders. We ••• thing. To turn and see watched and asked, “How The motto of today’s through the window an can you teach without Wayne County High School ominous orange sky is books?” We watched and is “We are Wayne County,” equally frightening. To speculated the cause. And and that implied ownership, learn that this building, we watched. pride and identity are re- less than a block away, One neighbor started flected not only throughout has been burning for two and completed his public the existing schools in Jesup hours and to think that schooling in that very and the rest of the county but not siren nor smoke nor building—his watch en- also in the history and evolu- odor nor noise had awak- dured three hours. And a tion of schools and education This postcard shows the “red brick school house” that was built in 1905 at what is ened us is even more younger neighbor, a recent these past 150 years. now the middle of East Cherry Street between Elm and Hickory streets. frightening. graduate of the “old junior Since the first recorded There we stood—a high,” wiped tears from her eyes. She was watch- school started in Jesup, there nis courts. The building was seventh- and eighth-graders, on the campus. It operated small band of neighbors— ing the death of an alma has been a pattern of growth, owned by a fraternal order until it burned Nov. 13, 1972. under the direction of vice helpless to aid the situa- mater—and perhaps she accommodation to changing and consisted of four large About this same time, the principal Don Blocker and of- tion, unable to leave the saw fond memories burn- needs, and community in- rooms, of which one was re- enrollment in the Jesup fered two-year programs in fiery scene. The crisp ing, too. volvement in local schools. served for the organization school reached 727, and in office training, auto mechan- night air and the piercing Early morn brought According to Judge D.M. and the other three used for Wayne County, instead of 50 ics, agriculture, electronics excitement chilled us to countless calls from stu- Clark, the first Jesup school the school. The enrollment community schools once scat- and welding. the bone. dent to student. At first, was in the unfinished fee was 30 cents monthly for tered throughout the county, By 1970 Northside closed The orange and red and there was momentary joy Methodist church building on those living in Jesup and 50 there were six schools includ- permanently as a high yellow flames would leap at the unexpected holiday. the corner of East Cherry and cents for Wayne County chil- ing Odum, Screven, Empire, school, and Wayne County high out of the roof and And then the shock of re- North Brunswick streets. dren living outside the city Piney Grove, Gardi and High School became the only then die back, only to leap ality set in. Surely, the Clark wrote: “Father moved limits. Jesup. high school in the county. up again and again. The friend was teasing; he had his family to Jesup in Febru- A continuing rise in en- As the post-World War II Principals at that campus in- black and gray and white to be. But a brisk walk in ary of 1873, at which time the rollment soon warranted the “baby boomer” generation cluded C.E. Bacon, Bill smoke huffed and puffed the misty fog to the cam- Methodist church was incom- construction of a new and reached school age, two new Cheshire, Wesley Hill, Vince its way through the flames pus proved that it wasn’t a plete, but was occupied for larger school. brick elementary schools Stadnick, Larry Cooper and into a sky sprinkled with joke. It was gone. services and also a day In 1905 the traditional were built, geographically di- Mike Rowland. At one time stars. This morning through- school. There was no school two-story “red brick school viding their population at the the ninth grade was housed The charred skeleton of out the yard, I found, building, or any other build- house” was built on what railroad which intersected on a newly built campus the structure was illumi- black, crispy remains of ing used for school purposes.” would now be the middle of Cherry Street. T.G. Ritch across the parking lot from nated by the very flames textbook pages. The once- The second school of East Cherry Street between School, named for Dr. T.G. grades 10-12. That school that brought death to the white pages, black; the record was taught by Miss Elm and Hickory streets. Ritch, was located on Cedar later was named for former aged building. black print, silver. A scrap Belle Norwood in 1876-1877 Valued at $10,000, the school Street and opened around junior high principal and The scarlet-red, con- from a Georgia history “while her father was man- featured six classrooms, an 1952. An early and notable school superintendent James stantly revolving, warning book; a remnant from a lit ager of the railroad hotel,” auditorium, a 4-acre play- principal was Lois Spence, E. Bacon when it became an lights atop the fire trucks book; bits of a science page perhaps the Altamaha hotel, ground, a library of 200 books who, according to school lore, elementary school. flashed eerie lights on all declaring “the greatest with the school presumed to and an old-fashioned bell had an electric paddle. Across reflective surfaces. With single cause of pre- be located inside the hotel. used to signal classes. Water the track, Orange Street The past trucks surrounding the ventable death in the USA In 1888 the Jesup Acad- was pumped into hall foun- School opened about 1951; half-century building, the lights today is cigarette smok- emy, sometimes called the tains from an artesian well. Tom James served as princi- In the last 50 years the ed- flashed and flashed and ing.” Jesup Institute, first estab- The length of the school year pal until he retired in the ucational landscape has re- flashed again. The rhythm And helplessly drawn, lished in the Masonic Build- was based on seasonal plant- early 1980s. At one time the sponded to a glut of changes, of the flashing lights beat we stood—watching an ing, promised to prepare boys ing and harvesting, among escalating early-elementary most dictated by changing off the long minutes of the eerie, enticing, frightening for West Point and Annapo- other factors. population necessitated split technology and state and fed- neighborhood vigil. Steady fire. I wish there hadn’t lis. Tuition rates for the first “Professor” M.H. Johnson sessions at T.G. Ritch and the eral programs, including water streams arched been one to watch. year were $1.50 and $4 per was the first principal, and transporting of some Orange prekindergarten, special edu- from hoses to the rooftop. Early Monday morning month. according to the 1916 Educa- Street students to the Em- cation, grade centers, parent Glass shattered loudly; of Nov. 13, 1972, the old Jesup’s first school for tional Survey of Wayne pire School. During the early portals, Move On When pieces of the roof crashed Jesup High School, then girls was started in 1890 by County Georgia, Jesup had years of these schools, the Ready, English as a Second inward with a deadening housing seventh- and four young women who came 10 grades, nine teachers and teaching of French and be- Language, Head Start, dual thud; the fire popped and eighth-graders, burned to home from college eager to 300 students, while a total of ginning band for elementary enrollment with Coastal crackled—and acorns the ground. busy themselves with an oc- 69 schools in the county had students was offered. Pines Technical College, dropped lightly from the cupation. Fannie Milikin, 20, a combined enrollment of In 1959 the high schools ROTC, STEM (science, tech- a graduate of Shorter College 3,000. had fallen behind in size and nology, engineering and Martha Puckett Middle for the next half-century is and the daughter of Ben- By 1920 the school on in technology to accommo- math) programs, health sci- School, named for an iconic assessed and profiled, it will jamin Milikin, persuaded her Cherry Street was inade- date students, and so a new ence programs, and Ad- and beloved educator of 50 start with the incredible chal- friends, Jenne Killen, Laura quate for the number of stu- Jesup High School was built vanced Placement classes. years’ service, and Arthur lenge which the pandemic of Hume and Betty Ledbetter, dents attending it, and some on West Orange Street. Starting in 2017, Coastal Williams, a head coach and 2020 brought and the cre- to assist her in establishing a classes had to be held in a Northside High School (origi- Plains Charter School offers math teacher at Northside ative resources and adapta- school for the young girls of neighboring house. In 1927 nally called Wayne County dropouts and those who can’t who later taught and coached tions which the school board Jesup at the corner of Bay Jesup High School, located Training School) on Pine fit traditional classroom at WCHS. In 2002 the high and school leaders and staff Street and South First on Plum Street on the site of Street taught the city’s black times or structures an oppor- school moved to a $22.6 mil- initiated. And much as in the Street. the present Jesup Police De- students. C.E. Bacon was tunity to complete their edu- lion facility at 1 Jacket Drive, beginning of the Jesup city Some 40 to 50 young girls partment and valued at principal at Jesup High and cation. and principals Mike Row- schools, there will no doubt attended the Milikin Girls $100,000, was built with Frank Robinson at North- In athletics, after years of land, Joe McPipkin, Jim be the 3 R’s, athletic pro- School, where parents paid bricks from the first school- side. A new football stadium successful baseball, basket- Pulos, Jay Brinson and now grams and competitions, tuition for their instruction, house building. The sprawl- was built adjacent to the ball, football, golf, soccer, ten- Dr. Brett McDaniel have con- well-trained teachers exceed- including classes in Latin ing campus included more school campus on Orange nis and track programs, the tinued to guide the high ing any job descriptions, chal- and German. The school con- than 40 classrooms, a library, Street by the Jesup Jaycees school system most recently school curriculum. lenging and adaptive acade- tinued about five years until a huge auditorium, a gymna- and hosted both high schools’ added swimming, wrestling, Today’s superintendent, mic curricula, up-to-date the growing city of Jesup an- sium and an athletic field. football games. volleyball and esports. The Dr. Jay Brinson, follows in technology, extracurricular swered the need for a city The high school’s first foot- In the fall of 1966 Jesup Jesup High School football the footsteps of recent school opportunities, and supportive school. ball team, coached by Pete High School, Odum High team held the state champi- superintendents Kendall parental involvement. Williams in 1923, was the School and Screven High onship in 1959, and the Keith, Harley Grove, Jerry And the vitality and pros- Public schools Railroaders, a nod to the School consolidated, and, in Wayne County High School Jones, David Norris and perity and well-being of the in Jesup founding of Jesup. Over the compliance with freedom-of- baseball team did so in 1967. Glenn Keebler, overseeing a community will be nurtured The public school system next 40 years additional choice mandates, some stu- School facilities have also budget of approximately $50 in the Jesup and Wayne was organized in 1894. A buildings housed lower dents at Northside attended changed to meet the times million; 721 employees, in- County schools and by the school for white children was school children and the band. what would be called the new and needs, especially with cluding 419 certified person- legacy of those first 150 housed in a large brown When the student body Wayne County High School. the development of the mid- nel; and 5,014 students. years. frame building on the corner outgrew the Plum Street That same year a voca- dle school concept at Jesup Fifty years from now, of Orange and Wayne streets, campus, the location became tional school, funded by a Middle School, which was re- when the history of education across from today’s city ten- Jesup Junior High, housing local bond measure, was built placed with the building of

150—Celebrating Jesup’s Sesquicentennial Wednesday, October 21, 2020 The Press-Sentinel 11C Congratulations to the City of Jesup from Al’s Auto Supply and the Clanton Family!

Billie Clanton—Businessman, Family Man, Community Leader On Nov. 30, 1941, W.E. "Dub" Clanton and Minnie Alene Strickland had William "Billie" E. Clanton. He grew up picking tobacco and harvesting turpentine. Clanton was raised and has lived in Jesup all of his life. He graduated from Jesup High School in 1961. In 1965 he married Nell Waters of Blackshear. Together they have 40 family members, including five daughters—Janet Hollingsworth, Sonya Jones, Karla Eubanks, Rindy Trapnell and Shanda Herndon—as well as 16 grandchildren, seven great-grand children and two on the way. "Wayne County is the best place on earth to raise children. I've managed to keep all of my children, grandchildren and great- grandkids here except for two," said Clanton. Clanton has always been a self- employed businessman. He was the owner of a fruit stand, a grocery store, a service station and more. Selling everything from pecans and barbecue to auto parts and cars, Billie Clanton has done it all. He Billie and Nell Clanton wear centennial costumes in the showroom of Clanton Motor became a Chrysler and Dodge Company. dealer in 1965, and was the youngest dealer in the United States. In 1966 Clanton and his wife opened the Clanton Motor Company. He sold the business and retired in 1996. Clanton is the owner of Al's Auto Parts, a Carquest parts store that he opened in 1981. As he ventured on in his business endeavors, he played a large role in preserving the history of Jesup. He served as chairman of the 1970 Jesup Centennial and buried a time capsule beside the old Jesup City Billie Clanton served as chairman of the 1970 Jesup Hall on the corner of North Centennial Planning Committee. Here, he and members of the Jesup Jaycees appear before the city commissioners Macon Street and Cherry seeking approval for the Centennial Week celebration. Street. Clanton played a large role in organizing the events to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Jesup. In his time, he has served as the 1972 Wayne County Chamber of Commerce president, owner and operator of Clanton River Ranch, the Started in 1965, Clanton Tractor and Equipment vice president of Southeastern Chrysler and Dodge Advertising board Company grew into Clanton Motor Company, a for 30 years, the chairman of Jayce Stadium, a member of Jesup Elks Chrysler-Dodge dealership. Billie Clanton was the Lodge for more than 50 years, a 12-year host of Day for Wayne, and the youngest dealer in the United States at that time. past vice president of First Southern Bank board. Clanton is also a Mason, a Shriner, a past Rotarian and a member of the Jesup Kiwanis Club. Because Clanton has led a life of service, he was awared the Distinguished Service Award by the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce in 2015. He is also in the Wayne County Hall of Fame as a Jesup High School football team member of the 1959-60 state champions. Clanton is proud to be a Wayne County native and see how the county has developed.

The Clanton family all gather together. Billie and Nell Clanton have numerous children, William “Billie” E. Clanton grandchildren and great-grandchildren. circa 1970 Mon.‐Fri. 7:00 am‐6:00 pm AL’S AUTO SUPPLY Sat. 7:00am‐5:00pm 586 W. CHERRY ST. • JESUP • 427-9571 • www.carquest.com Sun. 10:00 am‐5:00 pm

12C Wednesday, October 21, 2020 The Press-Sentinel 150—Celebrating Jesup’s Sesquicentennial

150—Celebrating Jesup’s Sesquicentennial Wednesday, October 21, 2020 The Press-Sentinel 13C

The Press-Sentinel is the 2020 incarnation of four earlier newspapers that stretch chairman, and Eric Denty, president and publisher. back to 1865 in Jesup. Current owners of the newspaper are W.H. NeSmith Jr., The Press-Sentinel’s history parallels growth of Jesup

The Press-Sentinel was first published on lished Nov. 3, 1960, when Dr. Lanier Harrell liken—as well as his daughter Fannie and son served as editors of the paper. Denty also is Thursday, Feb. 3, 1977, and Norris Strickland began the venture with Dick—were active in producing it for more the longest-serving columnist, having written but its roots go deep into Mershon Aspinwall as editor. In 1962 Evelyn than 25 years. H.A. Burns was editor from a weekly column for 50 years. the history of Jesup. Strickland, Norris’ wife, edited the tabloid 1896 to 1916. Eric Denty has been publisher of The A merging of the Jesup paper for a few months. Other prominent citizens associated with Press-Sentinel and a partner in Press-Sen- Sentinel and the Wayne Elliot Brack bought out the Stricklands the Sentinel include Dr. W.B. Brooks, George tinel Newspapers since 1996. County Press gave birth to and took over as editor on Aug. 23, 1962. M. Harrington, Ben Gibbs and C.A. Pound. Current news editor Drew Davis began as The Press-Sentinel under NeSmith joined the paper in 1971, pur- W.B. (Bill) Rhoden, who owned the Sen- a reporter in 1985 and became news editor in the directorship W.H. chasing one-third interest in the business and tinel at the time of its merger with the Press, 1996. (Dink) NeSmith Jr. immediately setting out to make it grow. bought the paper from Pound in 1950. In May Lynn Rice has served as business manager The Jesup Sentinel was W.H. (Dink) By December of 1976, NeSmith had made of 1964 he moved the offices from South West of the paper since the early 1980s, and Melisa founded prior to the city of NeSmith Jr the financial arrangements to buy out both Broad Street to the present location on Wal- Mallard, advertising manager, has worked in Jesup, hitting the streets the Press and the Sentinel, partnering with nut Street. the advertising department since 1984. sometime in 1865 under N.J. Babb and James Hickey. NeSmith was Among the competing papers absorbed by Sheila Hires, composition manager for the the editorship of T.P. Lit- named president of Press-Sentinel Newspa- the Sentinel were the Wayne County News, past 20 years, has worked in the department tlefield, according to the pers Inc. which published from 1896 to 1910, and the since 1986. Danny Strickland has been in the sketchy history surviving In 1983 NeSmith became the sole owner of Wayne County Progress, which was absorbed production department since 1981 and served the early days of the area. the corporation, and is still the principal in 1924. as production manager and master of the No copies of that original owner. The original executive group of The Press- nine-unit Goss Community offset press since newspaper survive—in A number of Jesup’s prestigious citizens Sentinel included Jimmy Bennett as execu- the early 1990s. part on account of a 1926 took part in the publishing of the Jesup Sen- tive editor, J. Fred Eden as editor, Derby Wa- A number of employees of the paper over fire—but records show tinel over the century of its recording of the ters as managing editor, Troy Fore as the years have left and returned, some more Littlefield sold the paper Eric events in Jesup, and it absorbed several other associate editor, Jamie Denty as feature edi- than once, and the experience level continues to N.M. Pafford and J.F. Denty newspapers along the way. tor, Madge Sewell as PS Magazine editor, and to grow as we age. Stone in 1887. W.H. Whaley and George Drawdy part- Henry Martin as sports editor. The Wayne County Press was first pub- nered with Stone in 1888, and Benjamin Mi- Both Fore, Waters and Jamie Denty later

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14C Wednesday, October 21, 2020 The Press-Sentinel 150—Celebrating Jesup’s Sesquicentennial Business in Jesup Much has changed; much has stayed the same

By Molly Hall SPECIAL TO THE PRESS-SENTINEL

Looking back over the 150 years of Jesup’s history, it is clear that an im- mense amount of change and progress has taken place through the years. Our city has continued to grow and advance, yet Jesup still remains true to its roots. The creation and growth of Jesup can be attributed to a few prominent sources: the Altamaha River, the timber industry, the railroad, and strong, progressive community leaders.

The railroad and early commerce The grand old Ingleside Hotel attracted weary rail passengers passing through Jesup. Originally the Wilkins Hotel, it was built in 1893 and Jesup is known as “the x city that trains built.” In remodeled in 1926 by Frank Breen, who e tended the building down Cherry Street to the OʼQuinn Block building. the late 1800s Jesup was very much a railroad com- town of Jesup is she has with 40 rooms and connect- The Altamaha area for- lose specialties plant in the backbones of our local econ- munity. There is no deny- ample banking capital to ing baths complete with est provided lumber for the world and the second- omy. ing that the railroad was accommodate her people running hot water. The mill and also facilitated the largest employer in Wayne Travelers from other pivotal to the growth of and those of the county.” hotel would go on to with- movement of logs down County. The Jesup plant towns can still be seen Jesup and Wayne County. This listing of busi- stand two world wars, the river from places such as employs nearly 800 employ- catching the Amtrak train Nevertheless, there were nesses appeared in the Jan. Great Depression and more Lumber City. The river was ees and contributes an ap- from Jesup a few times a also several other factors 31, 1889, directory in the before shutting its doors in an essential component to proximately $1 billion an- week, and CSX freight that led to Jesup’s becom- Jesup Sentinel: the 1950s. the timber industry at this nual economic impact to the passes through Jesup daily. ing the city we all know and •Four real estate W.J. O’Quinn also made time and likely was one of region. Locals are again reminded love today. agents: T.A. Floyd, S.J. a very large investment in the key factors in McCann’s Great Southern Wood of the strong presence of The influx of railroad Clark, T.P. Littlefield, and downtown Jesup in 1924, decision to locate here. Preserving is a lumber the railroad when railroad passengers and workers at the firm of Whaley and constructing the O’Quinn McCann was a success- manufacturing and build- tracks are under repair and “Station No. 6” created a Drawdy. Block, which housed the ful businessman and being-materials-distribution traffic can’t cross, as was demand for merchants to •O.F. Littlefield was in Riggins’s 500-seat movie lieved strongly in involve- company that specializes in the case in 2020. fulfill their everyday needs. the insurance business. cinema, Knight’s Phar- ment in the community. He producing the YellaWood® The Altamaha River In its early years, entrepre- •William Woods was a macy, W.J. O’Quinn & Sons was chairman of the Jesup brand of pressure-treated may not be as vital today to neurs and community lead- building contractor. Hardware, Smith’s Quality Board of Education for nine pine. Great Southern built the timber industry as ers such as W.H. Whaley, •Robert McDuffie and Shop, Humpty Dumpty years, a founding member a treatment facility in the years ago, but it’s still an Willis Clary, Tobias Little- Ben Milikin both operated Grocery and Wright of the Kiwanis Club, and City of Jesup in 2006 and important part of our local field, Ben Milikin and oth- cotton gins. Chevrolet Agency. one of the organizers of the currently employs more heritage and character. The ers helped transform “Sta- •George Drawdy and Both the Ingleside build- Jesup Building and Loan than 150 employees, mak- river is an invaluable nat- tion No. 6” into a city that Benton Strange operated ing and the O’Quinn Block Association. The impact ing it the ninth-largest em- ural resource that provides would flourish for genera- drug stores. still stand in downtown that McCann and his ployer in Wayne County. an abundance of wildlife tions to come. •Four grocers: J.W. Ben- Jesup today. The O’Quinn sawmill made on the city of Several other large in- and recreational opportuni- Thriving, forward-think- nett, William Griffin, J.T. Block holds the fully re- Jesup cannot go unnoticed. dustries closely tied to the ties to the citizens of Jesup. ing businesses and their Jackson, and the Patterson stored Historic Strand Cin- Timber is still a large timber industry, such as A lot can change in 150 leaders helped grow Jesup & McLaughlin firm. ema and Strand Bistro. The part of Wayne County and EAM and Healthy Pet, are years, but the heart of who from a place where rail pas- •Three practicing physi- addition to the Ingleside our region. Much of the also located in the city of we are as a city has sengers stopped for a de- cians: Dr. Drawdy, Dr. Building built by Breen is land in Wayne County is Jesup. The financial impact changed little. cent meal into a central hub Strange and Dr. Z.W. Lit- home to Mary’s Bow-K and still owned by companies these companies have on of trade and commerce. tle. Vintage Soul Thrift Shop. such as Rayonier Advanced our city is vast. Industries Jesup became the county •Seven merchants of dry The historic Wilkins por- Materials, the largest cellu- such as these are one of the seat of Wayne County goods and other merchan- tion of the Ingleside is now (moved from Waynesville) dise: Whaley & Lee, W.T. vacant. just three years after its of- Wilkins, J.C. Dye, T.S. Hotels and tourism were ficial creation in 1870. It’s Wilkins & Company, Mas- once a large part of down- apparent that this change set & Swindle, Black & Mi- town Jesup and its econ- Murphy Builders Supply was due to the growth oc- likin, B.R. Leggett, and omy. Currently, several k curring in this progressive W.R. Chaucey. new lodging establishments Southern railroad town. Est. 1946 •The town also had ex- are once again providing Between 1891 and 1893, press and telegraph offices. new accommodations for the population of Jesup visitors downtown. The grew from 750 to well over Continued growth Broad Street Inn recently 1,000. in Progressive Era renovated a historic build- Creating a city required Much like most of the ing downtown and has six a large amount of capital, country, Jesup grew at an rooms available. Mallard but it also required for- unprecedented pace in the Arms Inn is set to open ward-thinking individuals early 1900s. Under the within the next few weeks, willing to undertake that leadership of Mayor providing eight rooms on risk. W.H. Whaley and his Richard Milikin from 1923 the second floor of the His- son Harry W. Whaley were to 1929, the city of Jesup toric Kicklighter Building. some of those risk-takers. spent a large amount of The Wayne County Their risk would indeed capital to accommodate the Board of Tourism has re- pay off. growth and invest in the modeled and converted the Whaley & Son mercan- city’s future. “little red caboose” into tile was quite successful in The second, third, and fourth generation of Murphy owners and employees. Today A new city hall and city overnight lodging targeting the early days of Jesup, of- Jennifer Reeder and Kevin Murphy, Buck Murphy’s grandchildren, are running this four- schools were built in 1926. railfan enthusiasts. There fering a little something for generation family business. In 1927 the City Council are also two other proper- just about anyone. This is adopted a program of street ties that provide B&B-type depicted in an excerpt from Murphy Builders Supply, Jesup’s and sidewalk improve- accommodations in the an advertisement for Wha- second-longest-running business, ments. Cherry Street be- downtown area. ley & Son that appeared in began in September of 1946 when R. tween First and Broad the Jesup Sentinel in 1880: W. “Buck” Murphy, former quarterback streets received paving and The Altamaha “Everybody, great and for Georgia Tech and World War II vet, was the first 60-foot street and timber small, This notice here is to in the city. Several other Although the Altamaha returned to Jesup and saw the need you all: Read these lines streets were also paved for River does not flow through for a retail lumber business in a city and just here below, And the first time in 1927, in- the city limits of Jesup, the that had none. While the store’s see where people should all cluding East Broad, Plum, economic impact on our city building was under construction he go; Bacon, flour, corn and Orange, First, Walnut and throughout history is quite sold out of his grandfather’s, Fred hay, I will sell just any way; R. W. “Buck” Murphy served as a Jesup City Pine. Sidewalk paving clear. The community of Murphy, Ingleside Hotel. Starting with Butter, sugar, lard and rice, Commissioner, a member of the Wayne began in 1928. Doctortown (or, as it was Can now be had at any County Board of Education and was selected one lumber shed, a delivery truck and During this period, pri- once known, Station No. 5) price; Sheeting, skirting, by the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce a staff of three people, the company vate investors also saw has a rich history far pre- prints and plaids, And as Business Leader of the Year in 2009 has since expanded to include all Jesup as a place of great po- dating the city of Jesup. clothing for both men and building, home construction, and tential. J. Frank Breen pur- The community received lads ….” chased the Ingleside Hotel its name from Creek Indian remodeling supplies and employs 13 people. Buck’s son Roswell began working Not only were the Mi- in 1920. The Ingleside Chief Alec, whose Indian in the store when he was 16-years-old and served as CEO when Buck retired. likins, Littlefields, Clarys Hotel (previously known as name translates into “Doc- Today, the position of CEO has passed into and Whaleys leaders in the the Wilkins Hotel) was a tor” in English. Chief Alec Ros’ daughter Jennifer Murphy Reeder who business community; their Jesup landmark and was located at Doctortown after started going to work with her father on names are also listed as located on the corner of being pushed south out of early city leaders, serving Saturdays when she was 13 years-old, as did Cherry Street and South the Sansavilla area during as mayor and City Council her brother Kevin Murphy when he was of West Broad Street. Mar- relocation. Families occu- members. These leaders age and now Buck’s great-grandson Noah is garet E. Wilkins built the pied the Doctortown area planned for the future, as is a Saturday employee. Most recently Abbi building around 1893, after prior to the Civil War and shown by the completion of Blake McBee, Jennifer’s daughter-in-law, has a fire destroyed the well- made their living turpen- projects such as all of the known Altamaha Hotel. tining and farming. taken over inventory responsibilities while city streets being graded in The Wilkins hotel attracted In 1924 X.Y. McCann re- Kevin serves as Director of Operations. 1890 and the installation of weary railroad travelers. located then Fowler-Mc- John Yonkosky, the longest-serving street lights in 1891. In 1926 Breen returned Cann sawmill to Doctor- employee currently at Murphy’s, began in The Whaleys created the to Jesup and decided to un- town becoming Wayne 1984 as a DCT check-out student and today Merchant & Farmers Sav- dertake remodeling the County’s first large indus- ings Bank in 1892. The cre- manages outside sales. Other long-serving popular Ingleside in his re- try. The three-story mill ation of a bank locally is employees who started under Buck’s tenure In the beginning, Murphy’s began tirement years. The hotel was one the most techno- noteworthy because the ac- include Barney Brannen, “Tet” Thornton, selling plywood from the Doctortown reopened later that year logically advanced of any cess to investment capital Arthur Rooks, Charles Pye, Ralph Doomes, plant and hauled plywood to Savannah with the addition of an- such plant in the South. was likely one of the keys to Alan Brady, Debbie Priester, Clarissa Cooper bartering for hammers, nails, pain, other section extending The plant produced nearly its continued growth. A his- sheetrock, and the like. The housing from the current building 70,000 feet of lumber each and bookkeeper Maude Waters. torical profile from the demand resulting from the GI Bill, the down Cherry Street to the day. The mill employed as early 1900s states, “Per- k baby boomers, and the arrival of O’Quinn Block. At the re- many as 200 employees and haps the most fortunate 156 N.E. Broad St., Jesup Rayonier helped the business grow in opening, the hotel was con- weekly payroll was around fact connected with the the 1950s. sidered state-of-the-art $3,000. 427-9568

150—Celebrating Jesup’s Sesquicentennial Wednesday, October 21, 2020 The Press-Sentinel 15C

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16C Wednesday, October 21, 2020 The Press-Sentinel 150—Celebrating Jesup’s Sesquicentennial

JANET ROYAL / Special JANET ROYAL / Special Church records indicate that Bennett Union Missionary Baptist Church, located at The old Episcopal church (now Godʼs Way Worship Center), at 365 E. Cherry St., Pine and Second streets, was formed “under the brush arbor” in 1861, making it the is the oldest church building currently in use as a church. Episcopalians began meet- oldest congregation in Jesup. ing at the old Milikin Girls School around 1895.

‘City of churches’ has rich religious history

Its History and Its People tist, Independent Bap- By Drew Davis (published by The Press- tist, Reformed Baptist AND JANET ROYAL Sentinel Newspapers and Southern Baptist); Inc. and edited by Bobby Catholic; Church of God; Churches are numer- M. Martin). Church of God in Unity; ous throughout Wayne According to Klingon, Church of Jesus Christ County in general and Jesup founder Willis of Latter-Day Saints; Jesup in particular, re- Clary “gave an acre of Episcopal; Holiness; Je- flecting a long and rich land each to the Baptist hovah’s Witnesses; Pres- religious history in the and Methodist groups in byterian; Seventh-day community. Jesup in order that they Adventist; and United In fact, for many years might build a place of Pentecostal. A wide vari- the second-most common worship.” ety of nondenomina- question upon making a Today Jesup First Bap- tional and interdenomi- new acquaintance— tist and Jesup First national churches right after “Who are your United Methodist sit provide additional wor- people?”—was “Where across Cherry Street ship opportunities. do you go to church?” from each other on In recent years the city “Early settlers had Brunswick Street as two has even had a Christian meetings among them- of the city’s largest school—Solid Rock selves, but it was not churches. Christian Academy, lo- until a grant of land was Denominations repre- cated at 495 Hinson BRITTANY KENT / Special Many Jesup churches have grown out of other churches. Calvary Baptist Church, given that formal church sented in Jesup today in- Mosley Road (off Sunset at 415 E. Cherry St., spun out of Jesup First Baptist Church. Though the current life began,” Greta R. clude African Methodist Boulevard). sanctuary is relatively new, the church itself—currently one of the most prominent on Klingon wrote in Episcopal; Baptist (in- Cherry Street—was organized in 1939. “Jesup—City of cluding American Bap- Churches,” found in tist, Free Will Baptist, Wayne County, Georgia: General Missionary Bap- CONGRATULATIONS to the City of Jesup on 150 years of growth and progress

Leon O’Quinn, Captain Thompson and Agent Fate Clary gather at the original Odum Depot in 1900.

JANET ROYAL / Special Jesup First Baptist Church, now at 185 S. Brunswick St., is believed to have been formed in 1874 as Jesup Baptist Church. Church records were destroyed in a fire in 1940.

Several horse-drawn wagons stand empty at the new Odum Depot in 1925. The workers stand atop many bales of cotton unloaded for transport by rail. This depot was built after the original structure burned in the early 1900s.

Odum businessmen in 1955 were growing beards for the county’s 150th birthday. The men are, front row, from left, Wyman Odum, Buzzy Odum, Doug Daniel, Earl Martin and Ben Pearce and, back row, from left, are Rufus Roberson, Cliff Clements, Earl Sutton, Terrell Sutton, Genell Odum and Theron Thompson.

P.O. Box 159, Odum, GA BRITTANY KENT / Special (912) 586-2211 Jesup First United Methodist Church, at 205 E. Cherry St., was formed in 1872. The [email protected] church building now standing is the third sanctuary to sit on this spot.

150—Celebrating Jesup’s Sesquicentennial Wednesday, October 21, 2020 The Press-Sentinel 17C

CELEBRATINGCELEBRATING THETHE CITYCITY OFOF JESUPJESUP The Wayne County Board of Tourism, organized in 1984 under the Chamber of Commerce, now works under the authority of the City of Jesup. The appointed board, working with Director Heather Altman and Tonya Blanton, promotes the beautiful Happy and unique natural resources from the Altamaha River and surrounding woodlands. Throughout the year a variety of events RS celebrating the love of hunting and fishing attracts participants from neighboring counties and as far away as Ohio. YEA

Tourism throughout Jesup and Wayne County evolved as the culture 150 and technology of the country did. Jesup, affectionately known as “The Town That Railroads Built,” first benefited from tourists traveling by to Jesup, GA primitive passenger train from the colder northern states to sunny Florida. Trains stopped at Station Number 6 on the Savannah, Albany, and Gulf Railroad to restocked their water and wood supply. Train-weary travelers sometimes stayed overnight at Jesup’s earliest hotels, the Altamaha, the Atlantic and the Ingleside, built in the decades before and after the turn of the century. Local lore has it that one of the passengers, a Vanderbilt, ate at the Altamaha hotel.

The arrival of the first automobile changed transportation and tourism, but the north- south flood of highway tourism really began after World War II, with a booming economy, an increase in leisure time, and the “Golden Age of the Automobile.” Fortunately for Jesup, U.S. 301, known as the “Tobacco Road” in some states or the “Highway of Southern Hospitality,” became the traditional highway route, often physically paralleling the well-established coastal railroad route. The roadway that would eventually become U.S. 301/SR 73 began as early as 1919 as part of SR 15 and SR 38 from the Florida state line at the St. Mary’s River bridge to Jesup and Ludowici. By the end of 1921, the crossing on the Altamaha River between Jesup 1950s Motor Courts and Ludowici, was indicated to have "no bridge or ferry," The evolution went from sand clay or top soil surface to an eventual hard top surface in 1940 and Georgia had 170 miles of US 301 from South Carolina to Florida.

Candy Land The Pig Restaurant Downtown Jesup To accommodate the popularity of the 1950s road trip, Jesup businesses began to cater to the road-weary travelers making the 20-hour trip from New York to Florida. That meant gasoline, food and novelty souvenirs in places such as Stuckey’s, located just south of Rayonier and Horne’s Restaurant, on 301 south towards Nahunta. For food, travelers could visit the locally owned The Pig Restaurant, started by Sine and Veda Aspinwall; the Mimosa Restaurant, and Howard Johnson’s; a chain restaurant familiar to 301 tourists; the Dairy Ranch; and Hoke’s Truck Stop.

To accommodate the first waves of tourists, Jesupites opened their homes to paying overnight guests, and tourists homes began, including Knight’s Tourist Home on Plum Street, Norris and Henderson’s on Cherry Street, and O’Quinn on Hickory Street. In the early part of the 1950s, motor courts, sometimes independently situated rooms around a central office and pool, included, Camellia Courts, Blue Jay, The Hacienda, Azalea Courts and Cherokee Courts. Gradually, the word “motel” (a shortening of the term motor hotel) came into usage and Jesup had no shortage. The lineup began as soon as you crossed the Altamaha Bridge: Howard Johnson’s, Eden Roc, Fountain Glow, Don Juan, M Vickers in the Pines, Beacon, Landmark, Rose, Mary Ann, Royce, Anchor, Dixie, Bon Air, Robinson’s, Holiday Inn, and, Motel Jesup.

The completion of I-95 in the late 1970s curtailed the conveniently accessible interstate tourist traffic, and the focus of tourism campaigns for Jesup and Wayne County centered on the abundance of natural surroundings, especially the Altamaha River, designated one of the 75 “Last Great Places on Earth” by the Nature Conservancy. Additionally, the 11-mile Little Satilla River in the southwestern part of the county and Lake Grace, just 9.4 miles from Jesup, offered secluded fishing spots, boating, swimming, waterskiing, picnicking, and camping opportunities. In addition to the Little Satilla, three other wild-life management areas (WMAs)– Penholloway, Rogers Tract,and Sansavilla attract tourists to the area. The Wayne County Tourism Board has effectively transitioned from a travel-through community to a year-round promotion of natural resources and agribusiness tourism. Some of the many events and attractions of Wayne County are pictured here. View Along Altamaha River

The Little Red Caboose

“Madge Place” Railfan Platforms

Altamaha Peaches to the Beaches River Run

Fall Leaf Paddle 176 NW Broad Street • Jesup GA 31545 • 912-427-3233 www.waynecountytourism.com • Heather Altman, Director • Will Murphy, Board Chairman

18C Wednesday, October 21, 2020 The Press-Sentinel 150—Celebrating Jesup’s Sesquicentennial

We relocated to S. First Street as the needs of our community grew.