Pike County GaArchives News.....Impressions of Zebulon By A Former Citizen August 23, 1907
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Lynn Cunningham http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00011.html#0002535 January 6, 2007, 9:42 pm

Pike County Times-Journal, Zebulon, Ga. August 23, 1907

Mr. Editor: Being an old Zebulon boy, I suppose a word from me regarding the 
material growth and progress of the town of my nativity will not be amiss. The 
development of any town or community is more clearly noted by the occasional 
visitor than by its own citizens. Since leaving Zebulon eight years ago, I 
have returned regularly on semi-annual trips to my old home and consequently 
have had occasion to observe the spirit of enterprise and progressiveness that 
has been constantly manifested by the citizens, and especially the business 
men, of Zebulon. When I was forced to leave home to seek larger fields of 
endeavor, I had supposed that Zebulon had about reached her full statute of 
size; that her growth was forever limited by the lack of territory from which 
to draw sustenance for industrial development; but each succeeding trip back 
to her borders has forced upon me the realization that I was mistaken; that 
Zebulon was steadily on the move upward and onward in the march of progress. 
While her growth may have been slow compared to that of other towns in 
Georgia - especially south Georgia - it has been of substantial and solid 
nature.

No doubt the fire of three years ago proved a blessing to Zebulon in disguise. 
Many thriving towns today can date a new epoch in the history of their growth 
from, what was supposed to be at the time, a disastrous fire. While this may 
not be entirely true in Zebulon’s case, the fact remains that the fire above 
alluded to acted as a stimulus to the town’s growth. Handsome new stores of 
brick and concrete stone now occupy the business section ravaged by the 
flames, and all the merchants occupying these new buildings seem to be doing a 
thriving business. The handsome new stores clustered about the courthouse 
square would do credit to many towns in Georgia of considerably larger 
proportions than Zebulon.

Only a few years ago Zebulon did not have a bank, her business men and people 
generally being compelled to do their banking with foreign institutions. Now 
she has one of the most prosperous ans best managed banking institutions in 
this section of the state. This institution has every facility for doing a 
throughly modern and up-to-date banking business, and affords its customers a 
most efficient service.

Another mark in the material development of Zebulon was the establishment of a 
modern telephone exchange by the Bell Telephone Co., which furnishes her 
citizens a service unsurpassed by any other town of equal size in Georgia. The 
patrons of the telephone service enjoy free connection with Griffin and 
Concord, which fact adds greatly to the convenience and importance of the 
service.

One of the greatest and most important movements of all in the recent history 
of the town’s progress was the establishment of the Griffin District 
Institute, thereby enlarging and improving her former educational advantages, 
which were already splendid. This excellent school has been in the past, and 
will be in the future, the most important factor of all in the upbuilding of 
the countryside of Pike, attracting to her borders the most desirable type of 
citizenship, who come to enjoy these excellent educational advantages for 
their children.

Many new and handsome residences have been erected on almost every street 
since my departure, which denotes as much as anything the prosperity of the 
citizens of Zebulon.

Splendid churches, a good school, a live newspaper, up-tp-date merchants, 
unsurpassed banking facilities, a good railroad service that gives quick 
connection with all the important cities and towns in the state, sober and 
refined citizens and a strong moral atmosphere, together with the best water 
and most healthful climate, all tend to make the little city of Zebulon one of 
the most desirable places to live in Georgia, and it is always with genuine 
pleasure that I come back among the people here and shake the hands of old 
friends and enjoy a rest with the homefolks.

The recent probability of the discovery of iron ore in the old red hills east 
of Zebulon and the possibility of the Griffin and West Point electric line 
coming through here, make the prospects for her future very flattering, 
indeed. When these industrial dreams are realized, then it will not be 
necessary for a majority of Zebulon’s young men to leave home in the effort to 
better their condition and to take advantage of the larger opportunities 
afforded them elsewhere. - Robt. Y. Beckham

(Transcribed 6/13/06 Lynn Ballard Cunningham)

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