Jackson County GaArchives History .....History of Harmony Grove-Commerce, Chapter 7 1949 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 August 21, 2004, 5:41 pm CHAPTER VII GROWTH OF THE TOWN HARMONY GROVE, INC., 1884-1904 AND THE CITY OF COMMERCE TOGETHER WITH ALL OFFICIALS AND OFFICERS, 1904-1948 The town of Harmony Grove, Ga., was incorporated in 1884, a charter having been approved by Governor Henry D. McDaniel Dec. 24, 1884. An election was held Jan. 15, 1885 and the following Mayor and Councilmen were elected: W. A. Quillian Mayor W. C. Green Councilman 1st Ward R. B. Burgess Councilman 2nd Ward G. W. D. Harber Councilman 3rd Ward W. S. Edward Councilman 4th Ward The first meeting of the Council was on Jan. 19, 1885. William H. Simpkins was elected Clerk, W. C. Green, Treasurer, and G. B. Whitehead, Marshal. Salaries fixed for officers were: Mayor $ 50.00 per year Clerk 50.00 per year Treasurer 15.00 per year Marshall 300.00 per year Councilmen served free. All officers were exempted from street tax. Street tax was $3.50 a year. The first tax assessment was .20 on $100.00 and penalties were designated for violations of the ordinances. The town was divided into four wards. TREASURER'S REPORT FOR 1885 RECEIPTS: Fines & Cost $ 173.00 Tax on Shows 43.50 Street Tax 286.90 Tax on Personal Property & Real Estate 566.00 TOTAL RECEIPTS $1,069.40 EXPENDITURES: For Work & Material on Streets 245.30 Officers Salaries 415.00 Calaboose & Printing & Misc. Accts. 219.48 Cash on hand 189.62 TOTAL 1,069.40 POPULATION IN 1886 Male Female White 395 198 197 Negro 184 79 105 Total 579 277 302 POPULATION IN 1948 Estimated Registered Voters Church Mem'ship. White 4800 1180 1979 Negro 600 144 435 Total 5400 1334 2414 The charter of Harmony Grove was unique in the history of the towns of the state in that this instrument contained a provision in section 31 that the Mayor and Council of the town of Harmony Grove shall never have power to license the sale of spirituous, malt, vinous, alcoholic or intoxicating liquors or beers of any kind in the town of Harmony Grove. This provision was transferred into the Charter of the City of Commerce. The credit for this wise provision was due chiefly to C. W. Hood and Dr. W. B. J. Hardman. An ordinance was proposed in 1906 in reference to the sale of spirituous liquors to increase the fine for violation from $300 to $ 500, or 60 days, not to exceed 12 months on the street. This ordinance was passed. In 1906, the first electric lights were contracted for with the Harmony Grove Mill to install twenty or more street lights, the mill to have the street franchise to install lines and sell current to the town. This contract was to continue for eleven years. After the expiration of this contract, the city installed a light plant at the waterworks site, and paid the Harmony Grove Mill $6,800.00 for their lines, poles and other equipment. The city continued to produce electric cur-rent until 1927 when contract to purchase current was made with the Georgia Power Company. An ordinance for fire protection was passed in Feb. 1907. A Fire Department was organized and it was provided that in the fire area that no building or structure should be erected other than brick, concrete or stone. This area extended from Homer Street to the railroad crossing near the Methodist Church and from the railroad on the west. Dwellings were exempted. An election was held July 16, 1907 to vote bonds for water-works and sewerage; $45,000.00 5% bonds were issued in 1908 and $8,000.00 5% bonds in 1909 for sewerage. The first waterworks commissioners were T. C. Hardman, chairman, C. J. Hood and Claud Montgomery. The first superintendent was D. L. Caston. A preliminary survey was made in 1907. Purchase was made of 2.6 acres of land from H. E. Hardman for the waterworks site. Also the right of way for the pipe lines to the corporate limit was secured and same was incorporated as part of the city. This land was deeded Sept. 11, 1908. The contract for installing waterworks and the sewerage system was given to J. B. McCrary Company of Atlanta. Eight thousand dollars 5% bonds were issued in 1913 for paving side walks. The contract was let to W. C. Campbell Company, Columbus, G a. T. C. Hardman, chairman of the street committee, was supervisor of the project. More than two and one-half miles of concrete sidewalks were paved in the fall of 1913 and the spring and summer of 19141 the owners of property paying one-half the cost. Thirty-one thousand dollars 5% bonds were issued in 1927 for the paving of some two and one-half miles of concrete pavement of streets. The paving began at the corner of Washing and North Elm Streets extending to Madison Street. The State Highway Department participated one-third in this part of the highway with the property owners paying one-third on either side of abutting property. This project covered also Broad Street from intersection of Rice Street to intersection of Jefferson Street and also Cherry and State Streets. Wingfield Company of Augusta were the engineers. The Powell Paving Company of Winston-Salem, N. C., were the contractors. T. C. Hardman, chairman of the street committee, with the assistance of W. M. Thurmond, supervised the paving. Later black top street pavement was laid on several streets and concrete sidewalks were laid in which the property owners paid one-half and the city one-half. No bonds were issued for this construction. Some streets were paved by property owners, the city not participating. Among these was Homer Street from intersecting North Broad to the corner of Short Street. The extension of Homer Street was paved by the State High-way, property owners paying for grading and sewerage. Washington and Jefferson Streets were paved by the State High-way. Other streets have been paved by property owners paying entire cost. During the Harmony Grove Period the chief of police was called the Marshal and the others were nightwatchmen or night police. Under the City of Commerce, the chief officer is the chief of police and the other officers are designated by number. Street Paving Bonds confirmed Oct. 20, 1927, $31,000.00. High School Bonds dated Feb. 1, 1936, $20,000.00. TOWN AND CITY OFFICIALS Mayors Treasurers Clerks Marshals 1885-86 W. A. Quillian W. C. Green W. H. Simpkins G. B. Whitehead 1887-88 R. L. Hardman T. E. Key J. F. Goode J. R. Hix 1889 W. W. Stark W. S. Edwards W. H. Simpkins N. P. Lovin 1890 T. E. Key W. A. Quillian H. H. Duncan B. A. Bray 1892 W. B. Hardman C. J. Hood H. H. Duncan R. H. Hawks 1893 W. B. Hardman D. U. Carson A. H. Thurmond S. T. Hawks 1894 W. B. Hardman D. U. Carson A. H. Thurmond R. H. Hawks 1895 A. B. Deadwyler M. T. Massey G. L. Carson R. H. Hawks 1896 J. D. Barnett T. E. Key W. D. Williford H. S. Jackson 1898 Chas. M. Walker J. T. Quillian W. D. Williford H. S. Jackson 1899-02 J. B. Hardman L. L. Davis J. N. Telford H. S. Jackson 1902-3 C. J. Hood W. B. Burns J. E. Stevens H. S. Jackson Chief of Police 1904 T. E. Key W. S. Mize L. L. Davis G. L. Carson, Jr. 1906 P. Cooley A. P. Rice T. A. Little J. R. Little Clerk and Treasurer 1907 C. J. Hood A. P. Rice H. S. Jackson 1908 J. M. Nix A. P. Rice B. R. Vaughn 1910 J. B. Hardman C. A. Goodin 1912 T. A. Little C. A. Goodin 1914 E. B. Anderson C. A. Goodin 1916 C. J. Hood C. A. Goodin B. R. Vaughn 1918 C. J. Hood C. A. Goodin S. A. Mize 1920 W. W. Stark C. A. Goodin H. H. Seagraves 1922 J. B. Hardman N. B. Lord C. M. Almond 1924 J. B. Hardman N. B. Lord C. M. Almond 1926 C. J. Hood N. B. Lord John W. Sailers 1928 C. J. Hood Mrs. N. B. Lord (Supplied) C. H. Nelms 1930 L. L. Davis P. B. Trawick C. H. Nelms 1932 L. L. Davis P. B. Trawick C. H. Nelms 1934 J. B. Hardman P. B. Trawick J. R. Hix 1936 J. C. Verner Carl Williamson J. R. Hix 1938 J. C. Verner Carl Williamson J. R. Hix 1940 L. L. Davis Carl Williamson C. H. Nelms 1942 H. C. Sims Carl Williamson Avery Byrd 1944 H. P. Little Carl Williamson Avery Byrd 1946 H. P. Little Carl Williamson Avery Byrd 1948 H. P. Little Jack Meaders A. D. Fitzpatrick Acting Mayor G. 0. Castellaw Mayor P. T. Scoggins Clyde Short A. D. Fitzpatrick CITY PARKS The Hood-Quillian Park was donated to the city for park purposes May 18, 1904 by C. J. Hood and J. T. Quillian. This park was on a branch with a spring at its head just below J. B. Hardman's dairy on the north side of town. This park was used for several years, but went out of use after the city received the gift of the Willoughby Park, nearer town. The Willoughby Park was tendered to the city Oct. 3, 1910 by heirs of the C. W. Hood Estate. A pavilion was built in 1913. This park, consisting of about four acres has been improved at various times by the erection of and by the construction of a swimming pool and electric lighting of the grounds. This park has served well the needs of the community in public speakings, barbecues and anniversaries. The Hood-Quillian Park was secured by the American Legion and the V.F.W. in 1949 partly by purchase and partly by donation. They are building a splendid commodious lodge home and otherwise improving the property as a recreation ground. One of the special features is the restoration of the large spring and water supply. Additional Comments: From HISTORY OF HARMONY GROVE - COMMERCE JACKSON COUNTY, GEORGIA BY THOMAS COLQUITT HARDMAN 1810-1949 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/jackson/history/other/gms155historyo.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 10.4 Kb