Schley County GaArchives Photo Document.....Ellavile Depot Fire, Personal Account October 3, 1956 ************************************************ 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: Jody Dillard jodyvdillard@alltel.net August 12, 2008, 10:00 am Source: Personal Document Photo can be seen at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/schley/photos/documents/ellavile19499ph.jpg Image file size: 268.1 Kb Yesterday I posted a brief old newspaper report regarding the fire that burned the original Ellaville railroad depot in 1915. That little tidbit inspired Jody Dillard to share some history about the event. I think it very interesting and I'd never heard this story prior to this. I think you might find it interesting. Thank you, Jody. (story follows) Hey Harris, Hope all is well with you and yours. I just read your latest post on the USGenWeb Archives in reference to the Railroad Depot and thought you'd be interested in a couple of letters I received years ago from William E. Dillard. We both descended from one Allen Dillard, born about 1795, and I had written Mr. Dillard. I have a letter he wrote me on 11/14/89 and he states in part: "I was working as the Night Ticket Clerk in the old wooden depot when it burned. (In fact it burned up all of my clothes, and if it had not been for Mrs. Jordan who lived across the tracks giving me some of her husbands clothes I would not have had any). I remember that the Supt. located in Columbus sent 3 old box cars to Ellaville and removed the trucks, wheels, etc., and put the cars on the ground. 1 was the office, 1 the white waiting room and one the "colored waiting room". We used them until the new brick depot was built. We thought it was really something when it was completed." In another letter dated July 27, 1990, he writes, in part: "I sincerely appreciate the nice sketch of the Ellaville depot. It arrived in perfect shape. You are correct, it was a wooden station at first. My first job was ticket seller for the two Seminoles that ran between Chicago, Illinois, and Jacksonville, Florida. I slept on a cot in the end of the station. I waked up one morning with the old wooden warehouse practically burned up and the blaze was coming thru the office. I ran out of the station in my BVD's. Dr. Jordan lived right across the street from the depot and as soon as his wife learned of the predicament I was in, she brought some of his pants and shirts for me to put on. I understand the Jordan's only son is a dentist in Atlanta, Georgia, but, I haven't had the privilege of meeting him since he was grown." William E. Dillard started as a ticket agent with the Central of Georgia Railroad in the Ellaville Depot and rose to be a President. He was about 17 when the depot burned. I can't remember exactly if he was born in Schley or Marion County, but he has family buried in both counties. He has since passed. In the late 1970's and early 1980's, the Carl Sanders Program, whatever that was, did a series of documentaries about "Great Georgians". One was on Mr. Dillard and he is described as a "railroad magnate, president of Central of Georgia Railroad." Here is where I found this info: http://www.georgiacenter.uga.edu/gcq/gcqfall97/greatga.html I have a copy of this film somewhere, but it is in bad shape now. Mr. Dillard sent it to me years ago. He said he initially did not want to participate in it, but when the producers told him it may inspire some young boy or girl with humble beginnings, and help them see that they can rise to be anything they want, he agreed to do it. He was very humble about it and downplayed his importance in history. Maybe one day I can get a better copy from the UGA. I also have a magazine article that tells Mr. Dillard's history, but I have turned my house over trying to find it, with no luck. It has to be here and will show up sometime. There are photos of him standing in an old locomotive. The article has been copied many times and not worth posting. Again, maybe someday I'll get a better copy of that also. If you are interested I will let you know when I find it. One more tidbit, attached is a copy of a Central of GA stock certificate signed by Mr. Dillard, dated 10/03/56. Hope I haven't bored you too much! Sincerely, Jody Dillard ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/schley/photos/documents/ellavile19499ph.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 4.7 Kb