Adrian actually began as a place in 1891 when a post office was opened under the direction of Postmaster W.R. Smith. Smith, in accordance with the custom of the day, was given the honor of submitting a name for the town. Smith began looking at a long list of available names for a pleasant name. Smith didn’t have to look very far down the list for he decided on the name of Adrian. Adrian, a railroad town by birth, soon became a trading center for citizens of four counties which joined southwest of the new town. Those who lived in eastern Laurens, southern Johnson, western Emanuel, and northern Treutlen counties did most of their trading in Adrian - a fact that would later lead to a movement to create a new county with the crossroads town as the county seat.
No history of Adrian would be complete without mentioning an amusing story which led to the town being located in two counties, with a zig-zagging line running right through the middle of town. Joe Hutcheson and Burrel Kea each wanted a river bridge to built over the Ohoopee, known to anyone who lived in Adrian as “The Hoopee.” Kea, a county official at the time, won out. Hutcheson, not taking this defeat very lightly and not wanting to live in the same county as Kea, influenced the local members of the legislature to carve the line separating the new county of Johnson and Emanuel County in a way that none of Kea’s land was in his county. One of the results of this gerrymandered line caused Hardee Thigpen to sleep in Emanuel County, eat in Johnson County, and feed his horses in Treutlen County.
The First Baptist Church was established on September 25, 1891 under the leadership of Rev. J.A. Stephens and Rev. J.A. Chipley. The charter members of the church were J.F. Williams, Arcena Williams, Joseph Williams, Fanny M. Williams, Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Morgan Johnson, and Mary J. Cox. After a few services in a brush arbor, the church moved to a building known as the “Handberry House.” J.F. Williams, W.T. Bennett, and W.T. Phelps headed a committee to build a new church in 1892. Their efforts resulted in a two-story wooden building - the top story being the home of Adrian Masonic Lodge. This building was used until 1919, when the present building was constructed.
The impetus for the creation of the town of Adrian came in the early 1890s when Thomas Jefferson James, known to all the old-timers as Captain James, began grading his railroad, The Wadley and Mt. Vernon through the old Aaron Hutcheson place. James, like many other railroad men, used hired convict labor to build the railroad along the Johnson/Emanuel County line toward its terminus at Rockledge. James purchased the remaining assets of the bankrupt Perkins Lumber Company and set up a saw mill in the area. As many as 1,100 prisoners came to work in the mill, which was one of the largest in the state. E.P. Rentz, former Dublin banker and founder of Rentz, Georgia, took over operation in 1906. In 1908, the state outlawed prisoner leasing and the camp was closed. Captain James died in 1911. His house, said to have been located on the highest spot in town, burned in 1937, in a spectacular mass of flames which were seen for miles in every direction. Rufus Youmans, Carl Gillis, Jr., Richard Augley, Billy Belote, and others kept the mill in operation for nine decades. The Wadley and Mt. Vernon Railroad was completed to Adrian in 1893. By the end of the 19th century, the road was completed to Rockledge.
With 1,100 men in the area, the need for supporting businesses soon followed. Captain James drilled an artesian well to supply the camp with fresh water. One of his first wells, the flowing well at the northern end of the Ohoopee River Bridge, was a failure - being too far away for the water to be pumped up the hill to Adrian.
After sharing a church building with the Baptists for four years, the Methodists led by Capt. James, began the process of building their own church building. James, along with Aaron Hutcheson, Will Curry, and a Mr. Houston led the construction of Adrian Methodist Church building in 1897. That building burned in 1935 and was replaced by the current house of worship. Adrian is known far and wide for it native sons who have served in the ministry. Rev. Jack Key and his brother Rev. Billy Key, along with their friend the Rev. Robert Moye, began their ministerial careers as teenagers in the late 1930s are about to enter their eighth decades of preaching the Gospel.
Adrian Chapel C.M.E. Church was founded in 1894. St. James Baptist Church was founded in 1898. White Grove Church followed in 1900. The first school for black students was established in 1898 under the direction of Flora Troup. Faith Tabernacle Holiness Church was founded in 1933. Adrian’s newest church, The Church of Jesus Christ, began holding its services in the old Citizens Bank building in 1997.
The growth of Adrian accelerated in 1897 when the Brewton and Pineora Railroad began its operation as part of the Central of Georgia railroad system. The “B and P or the biscuit and potato” railroad crossed the tracks of the Wadley and Mt. Vernon in the center of community, which was appropriated called “The Crossing.” Some of the first stores were opened by W.R. Smith and M.L. Bailey.
Dr. Tyson led the establishment of the first telephone exchange in 1898. That same year, a catastrophic fire incinerated the main line of stores. J.Y. King moved in from Dublin and erected a department store on the ash-laden ground. In 1912, A.J. Peddy erected a line of stores along the Wadley and Mt. Vernon Railroad.
The act to incorporate Adrian as a town became effective on December 19, 1899. The town limits extended five-eighths of a mile from the intersection of the railroads. The enabling law gave the authority to the mayor and council to police the town, tax property in the town, and establish a public school system. The sale of liquor and gambling in any form was expressly prohibited. Billard and pool tables were outlawed, as well as any ten pin alley. In an effort to attract factories, new and existing ones were exempt from property taxes until 1909.
The first mayor of Adrian was Dr. Jeff Tyson. Dr. Tyson, died before taking office and was replaced by Mayor-Pro Tem, Will Curry. Capt. T.J. James, James Kea, and Aaron Hutcheson were elected to serve on the initial town council. Many of the early records of the town were destroyed when the city hall, then housed in the old depot, burned in the 1930s. Among those serving as mayor of Adrian over the last century are: Will J. Curry, M.O. Campbell, J.W.A. Ivey, Alonzo M. Rountree, W.M. Rountree, Leon G. Moye, Ed Ellison, H.C. Williams, Gordon A. Fountain, A.E. Harrison, S.P. Chapman, Carl L. Gillis, Jr., J.R. Youmans, James M. Wammock, Richard Augley, E.W. Avery, and John E. Tyson, Jimmy Woods, Von Kersey, Mike Thigpen, Harol Meeks, and Joe Lumley. Dr. Leon G. Moye served as mayor for twenty years, Von Kersey for ten years, while James M. Wommack and Carl L. Gillis, Jr. served eight years each. Enoch Oliver was the first Town Marshall.
Adrian’s population soared to nearly three thousand persons according to some. The actual population according to the census of 1900 was 833. The town’s population declined every ten years until the 1950s, when people began to return to Adrian. At the turn of the 20th Century the businessmen of Adrian included sawmill owners T.J. James and Rufus Pennington; merchants , Thomas Cheatam, William Bailey, Sidney Scott, Sig Lichtenstein, and Charlie Fountain; blacksmiths Noah Jones, Jim Ruis, and Henry Stocks; barber, Fred Page; liverymen George L. Mason and Zachariah Anderson; dairyman, Arthur Ponder; druggist, James Mason; hotel proprietor, Susan Green; and Gristmiller, Allen Ham.
The biggest industry in the town were the sawmills.Twenty eight men worked in the mill along with the 73 of Captain James’s prisoners under the supervision of John M. Davis. Among the town lawyers were Louis Lightfoot, Bryon Kea, Col.Stephens, and William Pope.. Dr. Jeff Tyson was the first town doctor. He was followed by Jim Hamilton, Alonzo Rountree, G.E. Youmans, Thomas Kea, Dr. B.C. Yates, and Dr. Hutcheson. Leon G. Moye, who came to town as the physician in Capt. James’s prison camp and remained in town, where he practiced medicine for fifty years. Dr. Donald Kennedy provided valuable in-town medical services in Adrian in the third quarter of the century in the Adrian Clinic which was established by Dr. Moye. Dr. J.R. Rogers practiced dentistry in the early years of Adrian.
Among the other early merchants of Adrian were: the Barwick Brothers, M.C. Carter, T.J. Braswell, Ed Page, W.K. Porter, A.J. Peddy, F.A. Franklin, Levy Spivey, Sam Chapman, Everett Webb, Milo Mimbs, Mrs. McConnell, George Barwick, Mr. Ellison, J.B. Hutchinson, Clint Smith, Homer Youngblood, Morris Key, Tom Fountain, the Coleman family, Mr. Dent, Will Clements, and T.J. James, who owned several business in town.
Adrian’s first bank, the Adrian Banking Company, was established on May 26, 1902 by R.M. Rogers, J.D. Tyson, H.L. Yarborough, G.H. Barwick, T.A. Cheatam, A.T. Cobb, M.O. Campbell,and C.A. Fountain. This bank was located on the old drug store site. The town’s second bank, The Farmers Bank of Adrian, was incorporated on December 21, 1905 by M.C. Carter, E.L. Ricks, A.G. Smith, T.J. James, and W.S. Clements. A third bank, the Union Savings Bank, appears to have been a successor to the first banks. It was incorporated on April 25, 1908 by T.J. James, W.F. Staten, G.E. Youmans, T.A. Cheatam, and G.W. Drake. The fourth, and most enduring, bank was incorporated on November 26, 1909. With a virtual “who’s who” of incorporators, the bank lasted until it was forced into receivership in 1932. The founders of Citizens Bank of Adrian included C.R. Williams, E.J. Sumner, G.W. Drake, Morris T. Riner, W.D. Sumner, E.W. Carter, F. Carter, S.J. Sumner, J.R. Rowland, W.R. Smith, W.S. Burns, H.A. Stewart, J.L. Williams, M.T. Drake, J.R. Cherry, C.B. Spell, John A. Braswell, F.C. Gillis, Hardee Thigpen, B.R. Sandifer, F.J. Williams, W. Horton, A.W. Gillis, J.W. Smith, James H. Campbell, Arch Woods, A.M. Skinner, Uriah Anderson, S.H. Lynch, R. L. Odom, Ira Thigpen, and R.B. Thigpen. The old bank building, used at one time as a city hall, still stands at the northeast corner of U.S. Hwy. 80 and Ga. Hwy. 15. Through the efforts of Rufus Youmans and others, the Citizens Bank of Swainsboro opened a branch bank in town, which operated into the 1980s.
Adrian had one newspaper and possibly another. “The Adrian Index”, which began in 1914, was a weekly paper which sold for one dollar per year. J.G. Elder was reported to have began publishing a newspaper in 1905.
Adrian benefitted greatly from the location of Dixie Overland Highway along its Main Street in the years of World War I. The highway, which later became known as U.S. Highway 80, brought thousands of travelers through the town, until the completion of Interstate Highway 16 in the 1970s.
By 1920, the population of Adrian had increased sufficiently to authorize the legislature to re-incorporate Adrian as a city. The city limits were extended to one mile in every direction from the railroad intersection. Mayoral and council powers were extended. The legislature gave the city the right to tax dog owners two dollars per dog, the power to limit vehicular speeds, and to make improvements to the city’s infrastructure.
Captain James built the first school near the location of the Tom Fountain home. He hired Miss Annie Cheatam to teach. The second school, located near Mrs. Emma Spell’s home, was used until 1906, when a bond issue was approved to build a new two-story school. This imposing brick structure, which was located across the street from the First Baptist Church, was completed at a cost of eight thousand dollars. Part of that cost was recouped through a tuition fee of $1.25 per student per month. It burned in February of 1926. The fourth school, most of which was razed in 1998, served students for over sixty years. A modern gym, which brought basketball indoors for the first time, was completed in the spring of 1940. Basketball dominated the sports scene in Adrian for over three decades. In 1940, the boys team won the county championship for the third consecutive year. Playing on that team, were the Rev. Billy, Kea, Henry Neal, J.T. Horton, Dale Thompson, Verlon Watson, and Edsel Flanders. They were a close team, most of them being related to each other. The current gym was completed in 1957. Adrian’s boys and girls basketball teams were always tough, fast, and scrappy. Crowds jammed the gym every night the Red Devils were at home.
Adrian sent its sons and daughters off to war in World Wars I and II. Those who didn’t enter military service served on the home front, some even moved to Savannah to work in the war supporting industries. Thankfully, most of them came home safe. Jim Gay, a member of the 11th Division, single-handedly captured 192 German prisoners in World War I. Alonzo Drake attained the rank of General and is a candidate for admission to the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame. Adrian’s biggest post war business, Adrian Housing Corporation, began in 1962 under the ownership of Carl L. Gillis, Jr., in the old D&J Building. The company’s output soared in the 60s and 70s and remains one of the largest employers in the area in their current facilities on Hwy. 80 east of town.
Adrian was, and still is, the epitome of the small towns and cities of Central Georgia. For nearly everyone who ever lived there, it holds a lifetime of fond memories. Perhaps Paul Kea said it best in his 1982 poem,
Make Me Once Again Your Barefoot Boy
“I walk as a ghost in my own hometown,
keeping to the shadows of shaded streets ‘neath stately oaks, pecan, and sycamore
looking for friendly faces from that happy carefree childhood.
Forty years away from you have not my vision dimmed.
How simple was my world in the days of my youth.
Oh! To once again feel the chill where the swamp begins at the bottom of the hill.
Bending over for that first sweet sip from Cap’n James’ well.
Watching squirrels play in the hardwoods along the lush banks.
To walk ‘neath the bridge, mist rising from the swamp,
or climb a tangled mass of logs left by time and high water.
To reach the special bend in the river where we always swam.
Come Adrian, help me throw off this sickly ghostlike visage.
Rise in youthful vigor as did the fable phoenix.
Become again what was, not is or will be.
Enshrine my name in a place of honor on your scroll of living dead.
Forgotten am I only if you forget me.
Wrap me securely in your comforting mantle of childhood joy,
lest my two worlds be always but a dream apart.
Make me once again your barefoot boy.”
Adrian is not some forgotten place to my wife & I. Mr Kea's poem means so much to us,she being born in Emanual Co. and I (for the most part) raised in Wheeler. We are 77 & 76 married 55 years. We thank you, Mr Kea for the poem.
ReplyDeleteIs the information about Jim Gay correct?
ReplyDeleteMy dad grew up in Adrain
ReplyDeleteI grew up in Adrian. My grandfather had a farm there where we grew tobacco,corn, hogs, and cows. I went to school at Adrian School, graduating in 1976. I could not have asked for a better place to live. My mother and siblings still live there. The Friday night basketball games are among my favorite memories. The whole town came out. It was great! That small school turned churned out its share of doctors, lawyers, businessmen and just plain good folks.
ReplyDeleteHad some of the best times of my life there. Left in 1974
DeleteMy daddy graduated from Adrian High School
DeleteI wish I could have grown up there. A friend of mine was born there but had to move away when his father was in the Navy. He owns property up there and goes back as often as he can. I can see the relaxed look in his face when he returns from those trips. Perhaps someday I will make the trip with him and fully appreciated the "Magic of Adrian".
ReplyDeleteiam from adrian my dad still lives there with his wife and my two sister my grandparents moved there in the late 60s my dad was born in 71 i was born in 89 even tho i live in augusta now i plan moveing back to seetle down and have kids of my own it a great town to raise a family in its fill with good ole country people and i cant wait too going fishin under the hoopee bridge this summer
ReplyDeleteI am looking for anyone in Adrian, Ga who may have know my great Aunt Sallie J. Shearin. She died Jan. 25, 1984 at the age of 91. My family in NC lost contact with her in the 1930's when she moved to Ga. She is supposed to be buried at Bethlehem Baptist Church in East Dublin, Ga. Any info about her would be greatly appreciated. I know that this is a needle in a haystack.
DeleteSallie J. Shearin's last known place of residence listed on the Social Security Death Index was Adrian, GA.
DeleteMilo Mimbs (the barber) and Laverne Martin Mimbs was my grandparents. My mom was Shirley Mimbs Seals, her siblings Shelton Mimbs and Nell Mimbs Pamperine. Estus Seals and Geneva Avery Seals was my grandparents. My Daddy was Charles Edward Seals. My grandparents are buried at Poplar Springs and Foskey Cemetary. I visit as often as I can. Every summer as a child I stayed with my grandparents and have so many GREAT memories of Adrian, Ga. After I got grown and raised my son, I moved to Adrian, Ga in 2002 and lived there till 2009. I LOVED Adrian, Ga, a GREAT place to live. Lots of memories that I will treasure for as long as I live. Thanks so much for sharing this....Marsha Seals Cumbass
DeleteMarsha Seals Cumbass: Your grand-daddy Milo started cutting my hair when I sat on a bench across the armrests. I felt grown up when I got to sit on the chair proper. Your mom and aunt Nell were two serious beauties as I remember. Outclassed all others in Adrian.
DeleteI love being in Adrian, Georgia. It is so beautiful, peaceful, and you can forget about the sad things in life while you are there. It is touched by God's loving hands, you can feel him there.
ReplyDeleteMany of my kelley family members are from Adrian. They are buried in the Adrian city cemetery. on Kelly st. it was said that they owned much of the land on that st. Does anyone know of the Kelley's?
ReplyDeleteWe moved to Adrian in 1977 I was 13 years old. I loved it there. I graduated in 1982 and worked at JB Burch oil company in town until my dad died in September. then we moved, but I'd love to go back someday and live there again.
ReplyDeleteI graduated in 1982 also what is your last name
DeleteTHE BEST place to grow up!!
ReplyDeleteI am originally from Adrian, went to school there all twelve years - I was and am still proud to be an Adrian Red Devil - great memories. My father was Elton B. Woods and drove a school bus for year.
ReplyDeleteMary Elizabeth? My name is Mitch Flanders. Your mother, Miss Lotis was my grandmother's best friend all of her life! You and I played together as small children when I was staying with my grandmother Myrtice Hopkins and sometimes we'd visit. I remember ya'll lived right off of Hwy 221, not more than a couple of miles form my Grandparents'. I sure hope you are doing well and would love to hear from you. Email me at mflanders3@gmail.com Take care!
DeleteI wish my grandfather could been frugal with his wealth and continued to contribute to Adrian growth.
ReplyDeleteWe move to Adrian when I was in the 3rd grade 3 houses down from the school on hwy 80. I remember growing up there in a small town and being an Adrian Red Devil. I would have graduated in 1978 but I moved to Vidalia and got married young. We moved back close to my mom and dad in a year or so .Talmadge Davis worked atAdrianHousing for at least 20 years pulling homes to other states ,cities and islands, my husband and I used the citizens bank branch in Adrian. I loved going to school in Adrian. The Globe Trotters came to our school and put on a show one night ,my mom Jeanette Odom plaed basketball there and they won state championships also my uncle played there BENNIE GENE Odom and they won championships. Adrian was a good quiet town and the school was good at making people who they wanted to be. Dianne Davis Fountain
ReplyDeleteAnonymous October 5, 2014 at 5:30 p.m.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have any information on a small community that used to be on Kea's Old Mill Pond Rd. near the Kea's church in late 1800's ,early 1900's ?
Durden Community? It would be nice to know more about it. Montgomery County use to be there.
DeleteDoes anyone know the history of the old house near Kea's Methodist Church on Kea's Old Mill Pond Road ?
ReplyDeleteAre you talking about the old Petty house? Some say it has lights that use to be run under that house and you can still see them when you drive by slow. I have not been that way in years. They use to tell the lights were added to keep animals out from under the house. That is all I have heard about the place. It use to be a beautiful home.
DeleteI have lived in Adrian all my life and my family has been here for at least six generations. It is a great place to raise a family but the school is closed now and Adrian homes has been closed for several years now. Nothing stays the same for ever but this little town is almost like time has past us by. Most of us know each other and that is hard to find these days. I was born in old country town and will more than likely end it here this will always be home
ReplyDeleteI wish Adrian could have something new come about to honor the past. Something annual that everyone could look forward to such as a festival. Town could fill with it's people and visitors for fun times and memories of how it use to be. It would be great to see more history on the railroad. There is a lot of potential there with the river and all the history Adrian has. It could be called The Ohoopee River Festival.
ReplyDeleteMy first husband Bobby Eugene Dudley was from Scott but grew up in Adrian attending school there with his family who has roots there deep! Always love visiting there to see Pa and Pranny and the Dudley clan! Even attended the JR Sr prom there around 79 ?!
ReplyDeleteThe best Coach I ever had was from Adrian and came to Dudley for a year to coach us. His name was Jack Drake and he was an amazing man and an awesome coach. After Dudley he went back to coach at Adrian for many years. He was a great man with an amazing family!
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DeleteI think this is the Jack Drake who graduated with my mom, Yvonne Hopkins, in 1953. I've seen her pictures of him and others in her collections. I know she thought very highly of him.
DeleteMy Aunt, Ollie Ree Ivey, Uncle and Aunt Cecil & Ruby Lee Underwood, cousins Francis and Eddie Underwood lived in Adrian for as long as I can remember. My daddy was C E Underwood. Most knew him as Mutt. We lived in E. Dublin. Daddy, Aunt Ree, Aunt Ruby Lee, & Uncle Cecil have gone on to be with the Lord. Francis & Earl Foskey still live on the farm. As a child, we were so excited when Mama & Daddy would plan a Sunday trip to visit relatives in Adrian. We attended the Nazarene campground when it was camp meeting time. I have lots of memories of Adrian. I often wish I was a child again just to relive memories.
ReplyDeleteAdrian became my new home in 1961 when Mary Nell and Elmo Woods adopted me. They showed me a love unconditionaly, and gave me opportunities I otherwise would have never known. The people of Adrian showered me with friendship and affection immediately and have since. I have treasured memories of attending and teaching at Adrian School. The first church I EVER attended was Adrian Baptist Church (ABC). I have remained the pianist there since 1965. I thank Ms. Lester Coleman for teaching me how to play. The small town of Adrian was the setting for our three boys' childhood, and remains to be for my husband, Ralph and me. I treasure the new beginning God gifted me many years ago by bringing me to Adrian. Adrian gave me solace from a stormy beginning, a warm, peaceful atmosphere, and contentment I have been blessed to experience. Adrian is HOME.
ReplyDeleteCan you please contact me. I believe you may have known my grandma she was a member at Adrian Baptist church. She passed away in 1979 on Thanksgiving day. Message me on facebook. Sandi Hall Trimm. Or call me 478 279 2247. Its very important to me
DeleteThank you
Adrian became my new home in 1961 when Mary Nell and Elmo Woods adopted me. They showed me a love unconditionally, and gave me opportunities I otherwise would have never known. The people of Adrian showered me with friendship and affection immediately and have since. I have treasured memories of attending and teaching at Adrian School. The first church I EVER attended was Adrian Baptist Church (ABC). I have remained the pianist there since 1965. I thank Ms. Lester Coleman for teaching me how to play. The small town of Adrian was the setting for our three boys' childhood, and remains to be for my husband, Ralph and me. I treasure the new beginning God gifted me many years ago by bringing me to Adrian. Adrian gave me solace from a stormy beginning, a warm, peaceful atmosphere, and contentment I have been blessed to experience. Adrian is HOME.
ReplyDeleteI was in the last class that took LATIN - there were only six of us in the class. I came to adrian in the 3rd grade - I had three cousins in my class with me and another cousin, Amanda Flanders was my techer - my uncle Lyman Hutcheson was the school bus driver - my father Linton Hutcheson was the county school superintendednt and my uncle Walter Douglas was the head of the County School board. My brother Clark & Kermit and I scooped the dirt out of the old auditorium to build the first indoor gym - I am 89 now and have outlived everymemeb er of my graduating class - Von Kedrsey, Mayor was in my class of 1944 - shortl;y thereafter I went into the Navy - got the G.I. Bill - a law degree at Mercer - served 4 years in the FBI - now live in Nauvoo, ilinois on the Mississippi - Nauvoo is to the Mormons what Mecca is to Islam. All my brothers and sisters, Doris, Maxine, Maryjo and brothers Clark, Kermit and Henry (Tank) graduated there - I still remember the train on the tracks just south of the school. I was only 16 when I graduated from Adrian 72 years ago. Kent Hutcheson
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have stories about the Lightfoot family? My grandmother Eunice was born in Adrian. This mentions that Louis B. Lightfoot was an attorney but I heard he also ran a Dry Goods store at a crossroad and was a Circuit Court judge?
ReplyDeleteI recently visited Adrian, the town where my Mom was born in 1928. Her family remained there until she was 15 at which time they moved to Florida. I understand they lived in several homes,(at least three), around Adrian. Two including the home she was born in near the Ohoopee Bridge are now gone. The third was behind a church they attended, possibly the United Methodist Church since she was a Methodist , might be the home currently there. The other home that was demolished was about a mile south of town on 15. This home she always refered to as "the house on the hill" was a farm of around one hundred acres. I attempted to identify where it had once stood, but that area looked to be built up since i was there 35 years ago. I was told a brick home had been built on the site. She would refere to the farm house on the hill more than the others the family had lived in. There was no electricity, or running water in it. They used oil lamps for lite and for water there was a brick well, and a outhouse. While living in the farm house a group of Gypsys was passing thru town and had made camp near the farm. This made the family pretty nervous. Apparently Gypsys hanging around was not good, as they were run out of town by law enforcement. From the house on the hill mom and her brothers and sisters would walk the mile to town to attend the school in Adrian. We have her school pictures with the children outside the building with mom clearly bare-footed and wearing a homemade dress. Yes this was a sign of the times for some in Adrian. She once told me that when they were at school a train ran close by the building and the kids would run over to watch and wave as it went by.
ReplyDeleteAs a child my mom was baptized in the Ohoopee River. There had once been a area set up like a park where people could go and picnic on the river and I beleive this was where they were baptized. I have a picture of my moms mother with her leaning up against a tree holding a letter from her husband who was away in Europe during World War 1. We beleive the picture was taken in this park area on the river.
My moms father had several jobs in hs lifetime resulting in quite a bit of moving the family. I was told that as his last job in Adrian before moving to Florida, he was either the Police Cheif or Sheriff of the town.
I have a picture of my moms grandparents sitting in rocking chairs on the porch of what appears to be a house. My dad said that it was the Green Hotel. I found a Green Street while driving around Adrian, and had wondered if the Hotel had been located on that street. The buildngs in Adrian look to be in pretty bad shape. Some without roofs or inside walls looking as though they might fall in or fall victim to the wrecking ball. One such building on Fountain Street where it looks like there had been a industrial area is a very small 2 story red brick stucture with the name " Allis Chalmers Tractor Machinery" painted on it. I was told that some eighty years ago my mom as a child had climbed the outside stairs { now rotted away) to the second floor to visit a dentist that had once occupied the second story of this building. It was hard to pull my eyes away from that building knowing she had been there so long ago.
My mother passed away last year and I felt the need to go to where it all began for her. As I walked and drove around Adrian it was easy to see her 80 years ago with her family walking those streets around the buildings some still there, others now gone and train tracks also gone.
My mother was born there in 1924. She was one of 6 children who grew up there. My grandfather was the chief of police for many years and was the mayor at one time. I grew up going there as a child and loved it. Only my aunt remains there but it was a wonderful town. My grandmother had a restaurant there and later my aunt and uncle had another. My mother played basketball for the Red Devils and then went on to college at Rabun Gap when she was only 16. I remember learning how to swim at the community pool when I was a child and my sisters hanging out with the Grayson brothers who later were a memeber of the Allman brothers inner circle. Drank from the artison well at the Nazerene camp grounds and generally loved the feelings of love and family I had there.
ReplyDeleteMy grandather was a Flanders and was born in Adrian, I inherited a lot of old pictures of adrian fron my great aunt Virginia. I am pretty sure she gave us some pictures of that church being built!
ReplyDeleteI'm from Adrian and would love to see older pictures of Adrian if you don't mind sharing? I could sent my info if you like, thanks.
DeleteMy grandfather was Lyman abbot kea he was born in Adrian in 1908 to Nelson and Emma kea Nelson later married Matilda he was one of 16 children I would like to get in touch with any family that is there Papa died in 2002 at the age of 95 if you know of any one please contact me at wendy7502@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI lost my tonsils thanks to Dr. Kennedy. He had a picture on his desk for years of my tongue sticking out during the procedure. Also remember him water skiing barefoot without skis at the Gillis' lake. Also remember Dr. Kennedy's father had a gold mining machine. I had a fun four years there (1956-1960). Went to first grade there. David L. Johnson
ReplyDeleteFound this while searching online today: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn95047222/1918-11-20/ed-1/seq-1/#
ReplyDeleteRead the article "soldiers alive who formerly reported dead or missing"
Anyone have info on woods family reunion,at one time it was held at the flowing Wells, thanks
ReplyDeleteWoods reunion,,please contact me at gapoboy3@gmail.com, thanks
DeleteMy name is Tracy Spiker would love to get in touch with some of the people I grew up with. I left adrian in 1974
ReplyDeleteWould love in touch with some of the people I grew up with there
ReplyDeleteHello Tracy, my name is Cathy and I think I went to school with you.
ReplyDeleteMy name is James Barwick, my parents were Otis and Mazie Barwick, we owned the old grocery store and service station next to the city hall. I have so many great memories of Adrian and growing up there. Adrian had a wonderful school, and a lot of great teachers. Would love to see Adrian put together a festival so a lot of us old timers could get together.
ReplyDelete