Jackson County GaArchives History .....History of Harmony Grove-Commerce, Chapter 14 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 22, 2004, 12:08 am CHAPTER XIV GROWTH OF THE CITY OF COMMERCE FROM 1904 TO 1948 After the turn of the century and the change of name, Commerce began to grow, not in a spasmodic or mushroom fashion, but in a steady substantial way. The adoption and inauguration of the public school system was the first evidence of forward looking development. This was followed by the installation of the electric system both for streets and residences, and a little later, the establishment of the waterworks and sewerage system. These were the things that really put Commerce on the road to progress. In 1914 the first side walk pavement was laid. Street pavement was begun in 1927 and continued at different intervals until the town now has six or eight miles of paved streets. Other evidence of advancement has been the growth of the mercantile business, as seen in the increased number of dry goods, hardware, drug and furniture stores, followed by the introduction of the chain and department stores, all of which gives Commerce a real business air. The enlargement of the industries has added much to the financial strength of the town. The invention of the automobile and the introduction of the automobile business has developed rapidly and extensively. The establishment of the sales places for automobiles, gas, oil, and other accessories, together with the operation of garages and repair shops, has become an extensive business. Numerous filling stations, some elaborate and expensive, are located in convenient places to serve the public. The various civic and patriotic organizations have contributed in a large way to the morale and the public spirit of the town. These organizations are treated in another chapter. The Board of Trade, as an early agency in this progress, is featured in this chapter. Religious growth is worthy of note. The total membership of the churches in 1900, some 600 members, has increased to total over 2,400. The city has grown from 1,450 in 1900 to a present population of over 5,000. All of the churches have built or enlarged their facilities and have church buildings in keeping with the advancement of the town. The residential section has been largely extended to meet the growth in population. This development is especially noticeable to the casual observer and gives a very favorable impression of the advancement of the city. THE MOVING PICTURE Another feature of the evidence of the growth of the city is the moving pictures. Since its first introduction in Commerce about forty years ago the moving picture business has made great progress and is a popular and lucrative business. From the silent pictures to the talkies and technicolor productions and the introduction of television there has been a steady growth. Commerce has two commodious and well-equipped moving picture theaters. As to the educational value and tendency of the movies, it is an open question. THE ORIGINAL BOARD OF TRADE IN COMMERCE By Paul T. Harber Recent efforts exerted by local businessmen to organize a Chamber of Commerce on a modern plan, with a paid executive secretary, and properly financed in order to execute an active and definite program to promote and advance the community's broad interests, have stimulated considerable talk on the part of many old-timers relative to the original Board of Trade which functioned some 35 years ago, with pronounced success. Road Repairs Important In those days there were no paved roads. Farmers found it difficult to bring cotton to town following heavy rains. Roads became impassable at times owing to deep mud and swollen streams. One of the major activities of the Board of Trade was to raise funds by volunteer subscriptions to provide top-soil, mules and wagons for hauling materials, and pay for labor to assist the county commissioners in keeping the dirt road passable. Important roads were carefully watched for repair needs. In the trade territory, roads from Hood's Mill, Apple Valley, Arp, Ashland, Erastus, Poca, Ila, Nicholson, and Maysville were among those given special attention by Commerce business firms. In those days roads were worked twice a year by the county authorities but the result was highly unsatisfactory and the help given by the Board of Trade was a pressing need. Clean-Up Day It was the Board of Trade that sponsored an annual clean-up day for a number of years although the first clean-up day was a project of the Woman's Club. Storekeepers swept papers, litter and trash out into the middle of the streets in front of their establishments, leaving it to the wind and passing vehicles to scatter. It is said that the first clean-up campaign saw more than 25 truckloads of trash hauled beyond the city limits and dumped. Stores were given a badge of honor for complying with the clean-up plan. Chicken Coops Moved It was the practice of stores that sold chickens to place the coops on the sidewalks in front of the establishments. Commerce's women just couldn't tolerate the unsightliness of the coops, the foul odor emanating therefrom, and the squawking of the fryers. They finally got the dealers to remove the coops, which was no easy accomplishment. In the good old days of Harmony Grove, chicken coops lined the sidewalks. Why change an old custom, some of the storekeepers argued. But the men lost-as usual. First Banquet Commerce's first banquet was staged by the Board of Trade in the old frame hotel located across the railway tracks from the present depot, which was destroyed by fire many years ago. Claud Benton, brother of Theo Benton, operated the hotel at the time. Tickets sold for $1.00 each, exclusively to men. More than one hundred citizens were present for the colorful affair. Prominent Atlanta and Athens business and professional men were on the program of speakers. Another banquet was held a year later in the high school auditorium, with the ladies taking a part in the festivities. Harllee Branch, an ace reporter for the Atlanta Journal, covered the banquet for his newspaper. Commerce began to feel its importance. Two other banquets were held in the Central hotel subsequently. They were equally as important and beautiful in every detail, with a two-color printed program given to each attendant as a souvenir. Journal-Herald Tour Commerce's biggest project, sponsored by the Board of Trade was the famed Atlanta Journal-New York Herald motorcade in October, 1909. C. J. Hood furnished a White Steamer car for the tour which started from New York and ended in Atlanta. The Board of Trade raised $750.00 to finance the project. Paul T. Harber and G. L. Carson, Sr., were elected representatives to ride in the Commerce car which was driven by a Mr. Stupke, a mechanic-driver of Atlanta. It required ten days for the trip, mostly over dirt roads. A booklet telling of the greatness of Commerce, Georgia, was written by Paul Harber and scattered along the route via Perth Amboy, N. J., Gettysburg, Penn., Staunton and Roanoke, Va., Charlotte, Winston Salem, and Greensboro, N.C. On the ninth night the motorcade of 50 cars arrived in Commerce. Visitors were entertained in homes of citizens. In the evening an entertainment program was featured, including buck and wing dancing by little Negro boys, speeches by the mayor and prominent members of the tour, including James R. Gray, publisher of the Atlanta Journal. Ty Cobb was a member of-the tour. Youngsters followed him around wherever he went. A large persimmon tree containing 25 'possums was placed atop fifty pyramided bales of cotton on the main street. Yankees enjoyed the sight more than any others of the entire tour, it was said. As a result of the publicity Commerce became a well-known community in many states. Henceforth, early travelers and tourists coming south followed the Journal-Herald route. Two years later Athens saw that the highway from that city to Danielsville and Royston was paved, causing Commerce to lose the advantages of motor travel which had been developed. Glidden Tour Not content with resting on its laurels, Commerce entertained the Glidden Tour of 1910, when it was operated from Atlanta to New York. A picnic dinner was served to 150 people on the tour, in front of the home of Mrs. C. W. Hood. This further publicized Commerce which was rapidly be-coming one of the best known towns in Georgia. Press Association Another project which proved beneficial to Commerce was the annual convention of the Georgia Press Association in July, 1914. More than 200 editors and publishers were present from throughout the state. Atlanta's newspapers had photographers here to make suitable pictures, and sent star reporters to cover the business and entertainment features. In arranging for the convention the Board of Trade played an active part. Four-County Fair When some of the community's businessmen decided it would be worthwhile to stage an agricultural fair with displays entered by Jackson, Banks, Franklin and Madison counties, the Board of Trade extended practical cooperation. For four years the event was an annual attraction, the stockholders receiving a dividend when the project was abandoned. First Overall Factory It was the Board of Trade that sponsored the movement which resulted in the first overall factory being established in Commerce. Two different committees solicited and procured the funds required to start the small industry which is now one of the largest of its kind in the country. These accomplishments by the long defunct Board of Trade reflect credit upon the citizenry of Commerce of the years ago. If an organization with no paid executive secretary and no operating funds could achieve big results for the community there is a belief among businessmen today that a live Chamber of Commerce today ought to accomplish much for the benefit of the people of Commerce and vicinity. To use a popular slang expression, "The businessmen of Commerce two and three decades past had something on the ball." ADDITIONAL ITEMS OF INTEREST ABOUT THE COMMERCE BOARD OF TRADE When the Board of Trade was organized in 1908, the first banquet was held at the Alhambra Hotel. On the night of the banquet over a hundred tickets were sold. It was such a success that many citizens, who said during the week that they could not attend, came to the door seeking admittance. Dr. W. B. Hardman was toastmaster and J. K. Orr, of Atlanta, principal speaker. C. J. Hood was elected the first President and P. T. Harber the first Secretary. The following year L. L. Davis or J. M. Nix, was elected President and Paul T. Harber continued as Secretary. The annual banquets were continued, the later meetings being held in the Central Hotel. In 1914 the Board of Trade sponsored the meeting of the Georgia Press Association in July of that year. The meeting was held in the Ellida Auditorium. In the evening a reception was held at the new and spacious home of T. C. Hardman on South Elm Street. with an attedance of three hundred or more. When the Georgia Baptist Convention met in Commerce in 1916, the Board of Trade was active in arranging for their entertainment. Among the last outstanding accomplishments of the Board of Trade was the securing of the Overall Plant under the management of Fred E. Durst, Sr., and Mr. Weatherly. They came from Winder and established this enterprise in 1917. (See special sketch of the Commerce Manufacturing Company). This Board of Trade functioned for about twelve years. After a lapse of six or eight years it was succeeded by the Chamber of Commerce. P. T. Harber was the last President and G. L. Carson the last Secretary. Some of the members were as follows: A. P. Rice, G. T. Rice, W. B. Rice, Claud Montgomery, Homer Harber, Y. J. Johnson, Dr. L. G. Hardman, Dr. W. B. Hardman, J. B. Hardman, T. C. Hardman, Frank Wright, R. C. Nix, D. M. Nix, J. M. Nix, L. L. Davis, P. W. Sheppard, Robert Black, P. A. Hughes, G. L. Hubbard, C. J. Hood, M. T. Sanders, Claude Little, J. F. Shannon, E. B. Anderson, B. B. Hawks, Dr. Olin Shankle, John J. Harber, Dr. M. F. Nelms, E. B. Crow, W. T. Thurmond, E. S. Wood, Rucker Mason, M. P. Elliott, W. D. Pierce, J. T. Quinlan, C. A. Goodin, H. O. Williford, W. B. Burns, John Montgomery, A. D. Harris, R. L. J. Smith, A. B. Deadwyler, Henry Williamson, T. A. Harber, Parks Holbrook, C. W. Truitt, C. W. Cooper, et al. Meetings were held in the upstairs of the old Key Building. Some of them were lively because the ambitious members were striving to make Commerce the leading center in this section of Georgia. At that time Commerce was a great retail and cotton center. Trade came from four counties. One year Commerce cotton merchants bought more than 23,000 bales of cotton from farmers' wagons. Principal payroll was the Harmony Grove Mills. Two oil mills were in operation, a foundry, two cotton gins and several small enterprises. Commerce merchants carried large stocks of goods. The old fashioned credit system prevailed. Several cotton warehouses did a big business annually. The Board of Trade made the best of all opportunities of that time. MAYOR AND COUNCIL HEADQUARTERS On September 13, 1933, the Mayor and Council purchased the E. B. Anderson bank building, including all fixtures and the B. B. Hawks building at a price of $3,825.00 for their permanent headquarters. Prior to this time they met in various rooms and buildings rented or leased for that purpose. Among these places was a room in the block on North Elm Street near the Commerce Drug Company, a room on the same street in Mrs. C. W. Hood's property, just above the Northeastern Bank, the upstairs of the T. E. Key building on South Elm Street and Mrs. W. B. Wagnon's building on North Broad, now occupied by Richey Cafe, then later the old First National Bank Building now occupied by Louise Beauty Shop. The purchase of the present property meets their requirements, being provided with a nice room for a Council Chamber, a fire-proof vault for their books and records, office room for Water and Light Department, together with a large basement for storage of trucks and material, storage place for fire engine and large and ample room for holding elections and space for various civic projects. This purchase was a wise move on the part of the city fathers and will meet their needs for some years to come. THE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT Back in the days of Harmony Grove we had the bucket brigade who did a brilliant service in putting out fires. They had access to several public wells that furnished a good sup-ply of water. After the installation of the city water works system and the purchase of fire trucks and complete equipment, the Fire Department was organized and manned by a voluntary company which has been sponsored by the city council, with certain recognition for service rendered. This organization has done valiant work. The splendid efficiency of the company, with the latest equipment for fire fighting, have enabled them to hold any fire outbreak in check. The excellent work of this volunteer company of the Fire Department is appreciated by all the citizens. Personnel of the Fire Department O. H. Carson, Chief Lauren McDonald, Asst. Chief Pierce Yarbrough Harvey Sailers Len Bolton Billy Bolton Arthur Rice Hinton Paul Claud Seagraves Jack P. Dunson Clayton Hood Quilla Crawford 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/gms162historyo.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 16.1 Kb