New to West Georgia? Here are some “fun facts.”
“Carrollton” was named for the estate home of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Last Living Signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Douglas County was created during Reconstruction after the US Civil War when many African Americans were serving in the Georgia legislature, and was named Douglass County after the abolitionist Fredrick Douglass. However, later it was renamed for Democratic opponent of Abraham Lincoln in the presidential election of 1860, Stephen A. Douglas.
Villa Rica became the site of the first gold rush in the United States when gold was discovered in Villa Rica “the City of Gold” in 1826.
A college was established in Bowdon in 1857. Bowdon College was Georgia’s fifth chartered institution of higher education and first coeducational institution. The college existed until 1936 under various names.
In the mid 1800’s, Newnan was known as one of the wealthiest cities in the country.
Around 1855, Horace King, a former slave and master bridge builder formed a partnership with two other men to construct a bridge, known as Moore's Bridge, over the Chattahoochee River between Newnan and Carrollton, near Whitesburg. Instead of collecting a fee for his work, King took stock instead, gaining a one-third interest in the bridge. King moved his wife and children to the area near the bridge about 1858, although he continued to commute between it and their other home in Alabama. Frances King and their children collected the bridge tolls and farmed at Moore's Bridge. When King died May 28, 1885, his body, according to family members, was carried "through the town and the men-and ladies too--came out of the shops and stores and stood with their arms folded over their hearts. King received laudatory obituaries in each of Georgia's major newspapers, a rarity for African-Americans in the 1880s South. King was posthumously inducted into the Alabama Engineers Hall of Fame at the University of Alabama.
Horton’s Bookstore, established in 1892, is Carrollton’s oldest business and Georgia’s oldest bookstore.
Famous Georgia architect Neel Reid, best known for designing Callaway Gardens, designed the Tracey Stallings Community Activities Center located at 118 South White Street in Carrollton.
In 1897, Asa G. Candler, who was born in Villa Rica, founded the Coca-Cola Company.
Thomas Dorsey, known as the “Father of Gospel” music, was born in Villa Rica on July 1, 1899. Dorsey’s compositions include the gospel classics “Take My Hand, Precious Lord” and “Peace in the Valley,” which was made famous by Elvis Presley. A Georgia Historical Marker honoring Dorsey stands at West Wilson Street and U.S. 78 in Villa Rica.
Temple gained statewide attention in the early 20th century because of the Temple Model School, known for its agricultural and homemaking programs and for its horse-drawn transportation system-the nation’s first school bus.
On January 18, 1892, Oliver Hardy, of the famous Hollywood comedy duo Laurel and Hardy, was born and raised in Harlem, Georgia.
Two Georgia governors were from Newnan: Democrats William Atkinson (1894 to 1898) and Ellis Arnall (1943 to 1947). Atkinson repeatedly condemned lynching, and though his efforts had little practical success against local indifference and racist opposition, his sustained pressure on legislators did produce laws that strengthened sheriffs' powers and toughened legal penalties for inciting or participating in mob violence.
The University of West Georgia, originally known as the Fourth District Agricultural and Mechanical School and later West Georgia College was founded in 1906. The Bonner plantation was chosen as the location for the school. Until the fall of 1965, the college did not admit African-American students. In 1955 and 1956, Jeff Long, a teacher at Carver High School (a segregated school), encouraged students to apply for admission to West Georgia. Every senior applied, and every student was denied admission on the basis of their race. In 2002, Dr. Beheruz N. Sethna (President of UWG, 1994-2013) apologized to the Carver class of 1955. A scholarship fund was started for descendants of the Carver students who were denied admission.
Funds to assist with the education of African Americans in the rural south were made available through Northern philanthropic foundations of prominent families such as the Rockefellers (Standard Oil Company and family of wife of Senior whom Spelman College was named), Rosenwalds (Sears, Roebuck and Company) and Jeanes. Of Georgia’s 242 Rosenwald schools built between 1917-1932, two were built in Carroll County: Carroll County Training School and the Springer School in Clem area.
In 1904, Philadelphia Quaker philanthropist Anna T. Jeanes donated $1 million to hire Black teachers as supervisors in African American schools to improve black communities. Mrs. Lillian Price served as Jeanes Supervisor for Carroll County during the 1950s and 1960s.
Susan Hayward lived in Carrollton from 1957 until 1966. In 1959, she won the Academy Award in for Best Actress for her role in “I Want to Live.” Her grave is located at the Catholic Church in Carrollton.
Democrat Thomas Bailey "Tom" Murphy from Breman, Georgia was the Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives from 1973 until his defeat in the general election of 2002, making him the longest serving House Speaker of any U.S. state legislature. During his tenure, Murphy was a key figure in Georgia's economic development and throughout statewide politics; and was considered by many to be the best friend Atlanta ever had in the legislature despite his rural residency and upbringing.
LeRoy Childs, the first black public library director in Georgia was a long time Carroll County resident. He was the director of West Georgia Regional Library System from 1976-1986, having begun his career there in 1951 as the bookmobile librarian before becoming a branch manager from 1951-1967, assistant director from 1967-1974, and deputy director from 1974-1976. Childs served as treasurer of the Georgia Library Association before becoming the first black president elect in 1986. He also served as chairperson of the Georgia Council of Public Libraries. He was appointed by Gov. Joe Harris to serve on the Georgia committee for the White House Conference of Libraries.
In the late 1970’s, two Black educators, Carrie Dothard (Spelman alumna), and Valdena Deas (Allen University alumna), served as the advisors to a club for girls attending Carrollton and Bowdon High Schools, The Society of Ebony Women. Two Spelman students, Vickie Cox [Edmondson] and Melba Dothard served as the President and Vice President; respectively.
Banning Mills, located on Snake Creek in Whitesburg, was the site of several scenes in the movie Fried Green Tomatoes (released 1991).
Follow Me Foundation, Inc. was founded in 1998 by Spelman alumna, Dr. Vickie Cox Edmondson and Robbin Starks Russell. The Foundation was established to assist local area schools in serving socioeconomic disadvantaged youth in Carrollton City and Carroll County schools. The Foundation was recognized by the Georgia Senate for its community involvement. Follow Me Foundation ceased operations in 2008.
The Carver High Museum and Archives was formed in November 2005 by two alumni of Carver High, Carolyn Gray ('65) and James Wyatt ('61), to preserve the history & legacy of G.W. Carver High and the other historically Black schools of Carroll County, Georgia.
The Carroll County Historically Black Colleges & Universities Alumni Association (CCHBCUAA) was founded in 2011 to support higher education through the HBCU experience.
MeToya Monroe, listed as a member of the University of West Georgia chapter, was one of five members of Delta Sigma Theta permanently expelled from their chapters in 2015 due to their participation in VH1 short lived ‘Sorority Sisters.’ The show was deemed offensive to the Black Greek community who led a successful effort to have the show cancelled.
Deirdre Haywood Rouse, a Spelman alumna, had the honor of serving as the grand marshal in the 21st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade in 2017. She was also presented with the 2018 Woman of the Year Award by the Carroll County Commerce Women’s Business Alliance Board in 2018.
In 2018, under the leadership of Spelman alumna Tanita Cox Teagle, a Carrollton High School graduate and resident of Villa Rica Georgia, an interest group was formed to establish the West Georgia NAASC Chapter.
Montero Lamar Hill, better known as Lil Nas X, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter who graduated from Lithia Springs High School. In 2019, he became a hit for his country rap breakout single “Old Town Road” after dropping out of The University of West Georgia.
For Additional Reading:
https://www.duffeyrealty.com/7-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-west-georgia/
https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/rosenwald-fund-schools-1912-1932/
https://www.nndb.com/people/076/000204461/
http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20032004/37956.pdf
https://naasc.org/newsletters/files/Nov2018.pdf
https://www.gradickcommunications.com/2020/01/16/20994/?fbclid=IwAR3Jl5KbbadhdAWcV_h_c9bUnpUk6JbzNjY_w7Z5yitHkz4CNA0OazVLcRM