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We're still reading old
Moultrie Observers given to me by an out-of-town friend.
Do you remember the Frostie Bottling Company in Moultrie in 1950? It was
across the highway from the Farmer's Market and was built by Joe P. Smith
of Dade City, Florida. The facility served 12 counties in South Georgia
and was located here because of the central location. It bottled Fristie,
Double Cola, Sun-Drop and Jo-Jo Orange. The Jo-Jo Orange was a new drink
that was pasteurized and non-carbonated.
Moultrie experienced a serious fire in November of 1897.
The blaze broke out early in the morning and was soon out of control.
Within a short time, the entire block from Fisher's stables on Peachtree
Street to Horkan's bar on the corner of East and South Broad Streets was
"a bed of coals." Damage to the all-wood buildings was estimated at
$25,000. The city had no regular fire-fighting equipment, so there was
little chance of extinguishing the flames. Persons in the crowd at the
fire scene did they "best they could" in removing goods from adjacent
buildings. Blankets and water were used to save the Central Hotel and
several residents.
Following this fire and several others, a volunteer fire department was
organized by Moultrians February 4, 1898. Meeting in City Hall, the group
elected Park Harper, chief; M. J. Pearsall, second chief; and C.B. Allen,
secretary-treasurer. In addition, charter members included G. W. Spivey,
Jno. C. McRAe, J.G. Finch, Arthur Adams, Home McCall, H. J. Murphy, Z.H.
Clark, W.B. McPhaul, S. L. Sills, L.M. Autrey and J.P. McRee. The men were
divided into a hook and ladder company and a hose company. A committee was
named to go before City Council and request necessary equipment. A
constitution and by-laws were unanimously approved.
Among Moultrie's happier social events in the spring of 1897 was a
moonlight straw ride celebrated by a large party of young people. A
large "band wagon" was found inadequate, so it was necessary to bring the
Central Hotel's horse-drawn bus into service to accommodate the party.
Everybody had a good time "to the music of bells and stringed
instruments." A news report said that "such an array of pretty girls,
moonshine and music is seldom seen. Moultrie has the merriest band of
young people of any city on the globe." Mrs. J. D. Hudleson and Mrs. J. L.
Hall were chaperones.
Camp Colquitt, a group of Confederate veterans, was organized in February
1898 in Moultrie in preparation for a reunion in Atlanta in July of that
year. In a meeting at the Colquitt County Court House, the veterans named
E. Tillman, captain; Joel S. Norman, 1st Lieutenant; John Sloan, 2nd
Lieutenant; W. N. Croft, 3rd Lieutenant; R. N. Folsom, orderly sergeant;
Jno. S. Williams, 2nd sergeant; J. R. Durst, 3rd sergeant; and E. M.
McCranie, J.S. Alderman, J. J. Norman and A. Stovall, corporals. The
uniform of the Confederate Association of Georgia was adopted. L. J.
Conoly was elected secretary-treasurer.
An excursion from Pidcock to Giles' bridge on the Ochlochknee River in May
of 1897 included baseball games, basket dinners and an oration by the Rev.
A. M. Morgan, described as "one of the most eloquent speakers in the
South." The Georgia Northern Railroad offered to convey everybody from
Moultrie for a 10-cent fare, with visiting brass bands and baseball teams
riding for free.
Bees took some of the sting out of high living costs for a Moultrian in
1919. Mr. W. E. Wells shipped 3,032 pounds of honey to Atlanta and
received $407 for the shipment. Mr. Wells said the honey represented only
about a third of the crop for 1919.
I've got an entire BOX of these wonderful newspapers! More next week. |
