UPSON COUNTY, GA - HISTORY "I Remember" 1998 columns ***************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm *********************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Hartford Pryor These "I Remember" columns appear each month in the Upson Historical Society Newsletter. Reprinted here with permission. July 1998 I remember when grocery store personnel would come by early in the morning to take orders. The items would be delivered later either by truck or by , boy on a bicycle. Mr. M. E. Day had a store at Five Points, and Mr. Claude Morris would go to the homes and take orders. I you ordered a chicken, that's what you would get—a live one with the feet tied together. I remember when in 1936, we had a real dry spell and people had gardens in the Potato Creek bed. I remember when we had Soap Box Derbys. We'd go to the Peerless Mill Shop to obtain material to build a wagon. This was before a fence was put up around the mill. Gears from old machinery were usec for the wheels, iron rods were used for the axles. We were also given nails and their throw away lumber. Some of the men I remember were: Mr. Bill Harrison, Mr. Bill Lindsey, Mr. Arthur English, Mr. Euel Helms, Mr. Johnny Shelley, and Mr. Ozzie Beverly. Mr. Beverly was the shop foreman. When it was time for the race we'd gather at the back gate of the Marthz Mill (now WesTek). We'd go down D Street, cross llth Avenue and onto E Street. We'd then turn left on 12th Avenue and to the finishing line at the intersection of 12th Avenue and Deluxe Circle. I remember when a former mayor, Mr Harvey Green, sold ice from a horse and wagon in the back alleys of Eas Thomaston. He is also the person who started the propane gas company ir Thomaston. Before that time, the people at East Thomaston burned coal that the company sold them for $2.00 a ton. It was delivered to their homes. I remember when there was a Bird's Eye chicken feed store located where Noell's is now. Women made dresses out of feed sacks. It was a very popular thing. August 1998 I remember when Rev. Herbert Morgan, pastor at the East Thomaston Baptist Church, set up a P.A. system in his car. He placed large speakers on top of the car and rode around the streets of Thomaston playing music and inviting people to church for revival. He was sure to be at one of the mill gates at shift- changing time. The church would be filled with people on Sunday morning. I remember when Rev. Morgan suggested to Mr. Doug Reeves, Chief of Police, that the policemen who directed traffic during funeral processions remove their hats and place them over their hearts. This practice is still followed, and many continue to commend it. I remember when Rev. Morgan would have tent revivals. They always drew a large crowd. He located his tent at various places: Five Points, Avenue L., McEachem Subdivision on Bamesville Highway, Lincoln Park and Highway 19 South near Butler. Mr. Walter Baker, who was a taxi driver, stopped at the Five Points meeting and was saved. He was later called to preach, and went back to his home in Arkansas to pastor a church there. Back in those years there was a vacant lot near where Marvin Adams Appliance Store is now located. A flamboyant Pentecostal preach "r by the name of Rev. Eskau came in and put up a revival tent. He always wore a long white robe when he preached. He was such a success that some of the people erected a large wooden tabernacle on the hill behind the store. People of all denominations went to hear him. Many Pentecostal women of that era did not cut their hair or wear short-sleeved dresses. One night I was there during a testimony service. Several women testified about their long hair. Mrs. Bertha Creamer, a Baptist, stood and said, "I am glad that the glory of the Lord is in my heart and not in my hair." September 1998 I remember when, before the hospital was built, there was a clinic [now owned by the First Baptist Church]. Dr. B. C. Adams, Dr. R. L. Carter, and Dr. T. A. Sappington worked out of it as well as Dr. Arrington who was a dentist. The clinic had clever beds. There was a nurse in charge who had to wait on patients and cook the meals. I remember another another physician, Dr. McKenzie, whose office was upstairs above the City Drug Store [now the location of Fincher's Jewelry]. Doctors made house calls then. I remember a friend, Herbert Reeves, needed his tonsils removed so Dr. McKenzie moved the kitchen table into the bedroom and did the operation. I stood there and watched him. I remember when Dr. R. E. Dallas had a clinic across from the Big Apple Store [now the location of Piggly Wiggly]. He had a patient in his clinic who had to have a penicillin shot every four hours during the night. No nurse was available. When I told Dr. Dallas that I was in the medics during the World War II, he asked if I would give the shots. I agreed and stayed the night and gave them to the patient. I remember when there was two-way traffic around the courthouse. On New Year's Eve, the town celebrated with fireworks. Young people would speed around the Square, throwing firecrackers al each other and at spectators. Boys even got on top of the buildings and tossed theii firecrackers. Things got out of hand and the celebrations were stopped. I remember when I was a kid, plenty of wild blackberries grew in the woods behind the Peerless Mill. I'd pick the berries quite often, then come back by the Peerless to sell them. Mr. Frank McDaniel would give me ten cents for the berries. This made me very happy. Back then children undet twelve could get into the movie for a dime and watch a cowboy picture. I could even stay and see it twice. October 1998 I remember when Mr. Rob Stevens had the Ford dealership where Caroline's Comer is now located. He also owned Steven's Funeral Home across from the old R. E. Lee High School. Mr. Stevens had a part-time employee named "Uncle Johnny Barker." He would walk the streets all of the time getting to know the people. The story goes that when he found someone sick, he would visit them. If someone was in very critical condition, he'd stay the night. When the person passed away, he'd recommend Stevens Funeral Home. I remember when, during World War II, there was a gas shortage and everyone was encouraged to ride bicycles. It became so popular that the city and county officials sponsored a bicycle parade. It started on the Courthouse Square, went down Bamesville Street, onto Mill Avenue, North Main, County Road, up 5th Avenue to Goodrich Avenue where the traffic light is now, and then back to the Square. This was one more big event. It was estimated that 500 bicycles were in the parade. I remember when Mr. Albert Matthews had an alligator pond behind the Old Mill. All of us kids loved to visit it. Sometimes, people who had cats and dogs they no longer wanted would bring them to this pond. They would throw the animals over the fence and the alligators would eat them. The best I can remember, there were about six alligators. To this day, I have never learned the purpose of the alligator pond. [Editors note: others who remember the pond tell how sometime parents would say to misbehaving children, "The alligators will get you."] I remember when East Thomaston had a jail. A tragic event happened. The police force was one man, riding a horse, whom everyone called "Uncle Jack Moore." One day Uncle Jack arrested his own son for drunkenness. While in jail the boy set it on fire and thus ended his own life. November 1998 I remember when Thomaston Mills, on Saturday night, would open #2 Card Room for a skating party and dancing. This was before a lot of machinery had been installed. I remember when Miss Janie H. Maddox and her daughter Lizzie ran a day care nursery on Avenue G for the ladies working in the mill. When it came feeding time, the ladies were allowed to go out to nurse their babies. This was before Gerber baby food. I remember when there was a cow pasture on Park Lane where the Finishing Division is now located. I remember when people would raise cows and hogs in the woods behind the Peerless Division.' It became such a big thing that Thomaston Mills installed a large vat with hot running water for the people to clean and cut up the hogs. After this, the people would cook the fat in washpots for the lard and cracklings. I remember when Thomaston Mills had a filter plant on 2nd Street at the Peerless Division, and at certain times of the day they released the water not to be used. We boys had learned this, and so we went to the woods and dug us a washhole to go swimming. I remember when there was a steam whistle on top of the Finishing Division of Thomaston Mills. They would blow it about 30 minutes before shift changing time, then again for the next shift to start work. It was so loud that on a still day you could hear it five miles out. I remember when there were no paved streets in East Thomaston, and Thomaston Mills had a water-sprinkler truck to wet the streets. The saying was, "if you stayed with that red dirt in dry weather, it sure would stick with you when it was wet. I remember when Mr. H. 0. Eason had a taxi and the fare was only 10 cents per trip. Cars were not so plentiful then. December 1998 I remember when Mr. Lloyd Wilson, who was plumber for the Peerless Village, would load his truck with candy, fruit, and toys at Christmas. He rode through East Thomaston and gave every boy and girl a gift which Thomaston Mills had provided. I remember the Reverend Herbert Morgan who helped to start the Empty Stocking Fund. It assisted needy families at Christmas. One year, as a fund raiser, he came up with the idea of putting on a 'Gay-Nineties" show in the old Tabernacle on Avenue H. All of the churches were invited to sing, but everyone would have to dress as they did in "The Gay Nineties." the event was such a- success that we did it wo nights. Over $1,300 was raised, which vas a lot of money in the 1940's. The Empty Stocking Fund is still in existence today, helping from one 10 rwo undred families a year. Church and civic roups cooperate to make it a success.