Norfolk southern railroad gave the montezuma depot to the macon county historical society in 1980. Dec 28, 2019 macon, ga the world is filled with wonderful people doing the right thing at the right time in the right way for the right reason. Macon lies near the geographic center of the state, approximately 85 miles 7 km southeast of atlanta, hence the citys nickname the heart of georgia. November 1, 1937 october 10, 2019 macon, ga john thomas farmer, sr. Statewide railroad industry context pdf georgia department of. The railroad itself comes to life as well, for we see through the lenses of company. A concluding chapter briefly summarizes changes in the branchs operations from 1914 to now. Historical facts such as these come to life through the photographs in this book. Macon is certainly not the largest railroad hub in the countrynot even in georgia.
The charter allowed for the construction of a line from brunswick, georgia or a point along the atlantic and gulf railroad 185679 to macon, georgia. She was inspired to write this book after moving to payne city, a former textile mill village in macon, georgia. Following the civil war, willis clary of appling county made his way to jesup then known as station number 6 on the atlantic and gulf railroad. Jul 01, 2019 this all changed on december 1, 1916, when macon terminal stations doors were thrown open to an eagerly awaiting populace. Georgias first railroad tracks were laid in the mid1830s on routes leading from athens, augusta, macon, and savannah. Sidney lanier, who name is best known for the northeast georgias lake sidney lanier, was born in macon in 1845, the same year that the central railroad completed a line from savannah to macon, linking central georgias agricultural wealth to the coastal ports for shipping. Central of georgia railway ga images of rail jackson mcquigg, tammy galloway, scott mcintosh, atlanta history center on.
This book traces the events that began some 78 years before, in 1838, with the entry of macon s first railroad line and led to the creation of macon s downtown treasure. Some twentyfive years later, the state not only could claim more rail miles than any other in the deep south but also had linked its major towns and created a new rail center, atlanta. The central of georgia railway was formed in 1833 to connect macon, ga. Summary shows railroad lines emanating south and east of atlanta going toward macon and columbus, ga. The central of georgia railway reporting mark cg started as the central rail road and canal company in 1833. An extension of the museum is the memorial rock located close by, where the macon massacre occurred during the civil war. Baker, went to be with his lord and savior on tuesday, november 12, 2019 after reaching the age of 87 years old.
With over 4,600 miles of active rail lines, georgia has the largest rail network in the southeast. The tubman museum is the largest museum in the nation dedicated to educating people about the art, history and culture of african americans. The nationally registered structure was rehabilitated in 2002 and now serves as the macon county historical museum. Was there an underground railroad movement in macon, ga. Until a new and comprehensive history of nineteenthcentury upson county is written, this book will serve as the primary resource for much of upson history outside of just the railroad. The macon and brunswick railroad company was granted a charter by the state of in march 1856. Macon and western railroad company railway historical society. Before it was home to the worlds busiest airport, atlanta was a. This railroad was constructed to join the macon and western railroad at macon, georgia, and run to savannah. Railroad history southern railways down south savannah chat dublin trains georgia atlanta september 24, 1910 engine 1535 being built in the macon shops, in macon, ga. Acquiring our book is a good way to see the railroad passenger history of atlanta. Comprehensive list of the most haunted places in macon, ga, each with ghostly history, photos, maps, gps coordinates and much more. Reprinted from the right way magazine, volume 51, no.
The macon and brunswick railroad ran from macon, georgia to brunswick, georgia. Great smoky mountains railroad 45 mitchell st, bryson city, nc 287 the railroad cafe 117 lowe st, fort valley, ga 31030 green brier rail service 7591 ne industrial blvd, macon, ga 31216 norfolk southern 355 turpin st, macon, ga 31206. That was the question posed to us by reader danyelle moore of macon through macon me. This work is the definitive history of the first railroad to operate in the state of georgia. Macon county vital records can be found at the georgia department of health which has copies for copies of birth and death records since jan 1919, copies of marriage since june 9, 1952 to 1996 and a divorce records index since june 9, 1952. An economic depression halted building, but when the railroad started building again, it managed only another 11. Its system map branched in every direction away from macon, georgia. Steinberg, an ardent railroad enthusiast and historian, traces the history of the station and the events that began in 1838, with the entry of macons first railroad line and led to the creation of macons downtown treasure. The northern pacific railroad, the sioux, and the panic of 1873 by m. This railroad was constructed to join the macon and western railroad at. Founder from the beginning, jesup has had its history connected by crossties and spikes to the railroads that crossed within the city limits.
Our work allows citizens to take preservation into their own hands. The central lured tourists to southern destinations with its passenger service on the nancy hanks and the man o war, two trains named after prizewinning race horses. Railroad maps, 1828 to 1900, available online, georgia library of. The 91st county, it was named for the recentlydeceased general nathaniel macon of north carolina. The fort was named for an indian scout sent to the area to set up trading, and the city was named for a beloved north carolinian statesman. Steinberg on behalf of the middle georgia regional library author. There are no trains in the bible, but the pastor at northminster presbyterian church in macon has a long family history with the railroads. In his book the new south comes to wiregrass georgia 18601910 author.
With the help of our community, we are proving that macon is preservation. The central of georgia railway company was incorporated on october 7, 1895. Georgias location provides direct rail access to the midatlantic, northeast and midwest regions of the united states. Macons historic districts historic macon foundation. He has written more than forty books on historical themes, including a guide to the civil war in alabama, a guide to the civil war in georgia and the battle of allatoona pass. Our local history and georgia artists exhibits display significant artifacts from macon and georgia history.
Arthur e cochran was named the president of the company during a meeting of stockholders that same year. Its forerunner was the thomaston and barnesville railroad company that was incorporated dee. Where can find macon county birth, marriage, divorce and death records. Macon was founded in 1823 on the banks of the ocmulgee river, growing out of the 1806 frontier fort hawkins.
The roots of the tubman exhibits go as deep as our own home in macon. Docent services and facility management are provided through the macon county historical society in order to attract visitors. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. The mchs genealogy research library has a large selection of probate, cemetery, and school records, along with family files, maps, county history books, and much more information for those searching for their own genealogy. Civil war maps, available online, railroads, georgia library of.
Find daily local breaking news, opinion columns, videos and community events. As a way to better attract investment capital, the railroad changed its name to central rail road and banking company of georgia. These words are inscribed on one of macons historic markers dedicated to preserving the citys rich african american history. It was not until 1838 that it opened for business with a 5 ft 1,524 mm gauge line from macon, georgia to forsyth. The state of georgia built a railroad and still owns it to this day. Railroads, in macon, ga macon, georgia railroads, mapquest. Shows railroad lines emanating south and east of atlanta going toward macon and columbus, ga. Where is the underground railroad located in downtown macon. Macon saved its impressive terminal station, and fine old stations. Baker january 27, 1932 november 12, 2019 macon, ga harold e. As richard prince points out in his book, central of georgia railway and connecting. Follow the telegraph for the latest headlines on macon telegraph news.
It was bought in foreclosure and the name was changed to the macon and western railroad. See more ideas about railroad history, southern railways and history. The first president of the central of georgia was william washington gordon, who oversaw the building of the rail lines to macon and the initial construction of a. The southern railway acquired the central of georgia in 1963 and closed down the savannah shops, ending over 100 years of railroad activity at the site. Macon lies near the geographic center of the state, approximately 85 miles 7 km southeast of atlanta, hence the citys nickname the heart of georgia located near the fall line of the ocmulgee river, macon had a 2018 estimated population of 153,095.
The consolidation of the macon and western railroad company with the central railroad and banking company was approved by the general assembly aug. The contributions of the railroad to georgias history have been increasingly. Robert is also an ordained elder in the presbyterian church. The earliest inhabitants were the cherokee, muskogee who later became part of the creek nation and uchee indians. Museum collection tubman museum art history culture. Construction of a railroad line began in 1835 and by 1843, the line to macon had been completed, a distance of 190 miles making it, at that time, the longest. Author billie coleman is a historian and cultural preservationist of southern history. Historic macon foundation became the regional leader in historic preservation on july 31, 2003 with the merger of the middle georgia historical society and the macon heritage foundation. Macon and western railroad company central of georgia. The macon railroad industrial district symbolizes the importance of business to macons economic base. Upson county railroad central of georgia railway historical. Map of northwest georgia from atlanta north to chattanooga, tenn.
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