Schley County GaArchives News.....The Old Schley Courthouse January 17 1911 ************************************************ 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: Carla Miles http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00011.html#0002514 and Ernie Jones http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00032.html#0007882 February 12, 2004, 10:12 am Butler Herald/Ellaville Sun The Butler Herald Tuesday, January 17, 1911 Page Four Old Schley County Courthouse Sold to Local Order Knights of Pythias (From Schley County News) On last Tuesday, legal sale day, the old courthouse in the town of Ellaville, after being duly advertised by the County Commissioners was sold to the highest bidder. It was purchased by the Ellaville Lodge Knights of Pythias at the price of $1,500.00. The parties buying the same will be incorporated into a stock company at once, and as soon as this is done something like $1,500.00 will be raised for the purpose of repairing the same. They propose to renovate the building throughout, putting the building in first class order. The large and commodious courtroom upstairs will be used as a lodge room, as well as an auditorium; the rooms on the side will be converted into reading rooms for club purposes (not lockers). The downstairs will be used as offices, and when properly fixed up, they will be the most desirable in town. Withal, this new project will add greatly to the appearance and convenience of our town. The old courthouse is one of Schley's oldest landmarks, having been erected about 50 years go. The courthouse was a new structure when our fathers left for the battlefields in the early Sixties. Contributed by Carla Miles cmhistory@mchsi.com From The Ellaville Sun, Thursday, November 20, 1957 "....Inferior Court judges busied themselves at once with plans for a two-story courthouse. A contract was let to Jim Broadfield on July 10, 1858, specifying 50 percent of the money would be paid when the job was half done and the balance on January 1, 1860. Broadfield started work at once on the site of the present Ellaville Service Station and Donna Lynne Motel and Cafe. (photo of the Donna Lynn motel as well as location in Schley Photo Archives.) http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/schley/photos/ph638donnalyn.jpg Brick were made at the old brick yards on the O.L. Peacock place at Pond Town where Mrs. Allene McCall now lives. Slave labor was used in erecting the courthouse. Total cost of the building was $7,059. This structure continued to serve as the seat of the county for 40 years. In 1899 it was decided to build the present courthouse and it was completed and occupied early in 1900. The old courthouse became an office building. Knights of Pythias and the Masons occupied the upper floor and the building was known as the "Castle Hall." Among the businesses using the ground floor were a barber shop, printing office, tailor shop, and doctors' offices. In October 1937 the building was torn down to build a service station. ...." Contributed by Ernie Jones http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00032.html#0007882 This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 3.2 Kb