Jasper County GaArchives News.....Bicentennial Bits - Land Project in Jasper County 1970's
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Suzanne Forte suzanneforte@bellsouth.net July 2, 2004, 9:59 pm

Monticello News
BICENTENNIAL BITS

BY

JOHN HARVEY


"Land Project in Jasper County"


	The year was 1933.  The lowest depths of the depression had been 
reached.  Franklin D. Roosevelt had begun his first term as President on 
January 20. 

	Immediately after the inauguration, Congress had begun work on 
emergency legislation to relieve the suffering in many sections of the 
country.  Among the bills passed during these early months was the bill 
creating the Chancellorsville Project.  This bill was written and introduced by 
Senator John Bankhead of Alabama. 

	The bill created a model farm community on a large trace of land the 
government had bought in Jasper, Jones, Putnam and Morgan counties, the larger 
part of this land being in Jasper and Putnam counties.  Shortly after the bill 
was signed into law, President Roosevelt devoted a part of one of his "fireside 
chats" to explaining the plans for the project.  The "fireside chats" were 
broadcast on radio time asked for by the President at certain times to explain 
many of the new laws going into effect.

	The larger part of the Chancellorsville Project land was in Jasper 
County.  Headquarters was to be in Jasper County and the government would spend 
$1 million in Jasper County with lesser amount in the other counties.  The 
tract in Jasper County was located about five miles southeast of Monticello.  
The government would build a modern school and community center near the old 
community of Smithboro. 

	ON FEBRUARY 22, 1934 the project got under way with the announcement of 
the objectives of the project.  They were:
	1.  To reclaim farmland that had been damaged by the boll weevil.
	2.  To allow young men who had been trained in agricultural schools who 
could not find land of their own to return to farming. 
	3.  To encourage young farmers to study and put into practice the best 
agricultural methods available. 
	
	Those eligible to apply for the program were men between the ages of 30 
and 40 with families.  Money was not needed if the applicant met all other 
qualifications.  Each farmer had an account he could draw on for tools and 
supplies until he made a crop.  Each had two years in which to prove his 
ability to operate his land at a profit.  Then, if he wishes to continue, the 
farm would be sold to him.  All funds were underwritten by the Chancellorsville 
Corporation with funds deposited in the First National Bank of Atlanta. 

	In 1936, the name was changed to the Piedmont Project, a name in more 
popular use in the county, and which is still used today.  The school and 
community center saw some use over the years, but being so close to the schools 
in Monticello the high school students came in to Monticello High school. 

	For a while an elementary school was operated in the building, but that 
was soon consolidated into the Monticello schools.  Finally, after the building 
had been vacant for many years, Congress voted to turn the deed over to the 
Jasper County Board of Education. 

	In the early years, the project had a number of resident managers, 
among them being young John Bankhead, who was here about a year and a half in 
1936-37.  Mr. and Mrs. Bankhead and their five-year-old daughter had an 
apartment with Mrs. Dan Gunn on Forsyth Street.  Mrs. Bankhead, an avid 
horseback rider, kept a horse in the Gunn's pasture. 



Additional Comments:
Transcribed by Suzanne Forte (suzanneforte@bellsouth.net) from copies of 
articles contained in the Monticello News. There articles were prepared by Mr. 
John Harvey and published in this newspaper during the 1970's time frame.  
Permission has been granted by Mr. Harvey for use of these very valuable and 
informative articles. 

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