Lowndes County Timeline

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1820
• Lots of 490 acres in Irwin County went to lucky winners in the Land Lottery. If a man’s name was drawn with a lot number he paid a fee of $18 to the state and gained the lot.

Counties created from original Irwin CountyCounties created from original Irwin County

1825
• Lowndes County was created on December 23 from the southern part of Irwin County.

1826
• Following an election, county clerks, a tax collector, sheriff, coroner and surveyor were sworn in as the first officials of the newly formed County of Lowndes.

1828
• Franklinville, the first county seat, was laid out near the Withlacoochee River in the northeast section of the county.

Map of TroupvilleMap of Troupville

1837
• Troupville became the county seat of Lowndes. By 1860, the tree-lined village at the confluence of the Little and Withlacoochee Rivers thrived with a court house, a famous hotel “Tranquil Hall”, several stores and shops, and a newspaper, The South Georgia Watchman.

1840
• The first Baptist congregation was organized in Troupville by seven charter members, two of whom were black slaves.

1850
• Clinch County was formed from parts of Lowndes and Ware County.

1856
• Berrien and Colquitt Counties were created from parts of Lowndes.

1858
• Brooks County was created form Lowndes and Thomas Counties and Echols from Lowndes and Clinch.

Satilla No.31860: Satilla No.3

1860
• The city of Valdosta was incorporated by the Legislature on December 7.
• The engine known as Satilla Number Three pulled the first Atlantic and Gulf train into Valdosta.

1861
• I.H. Tillman and C.H.M. Howell, Lowndes County delegates to Georgia’s secession convention, voted with the majority for withdrawal from the union.

Mayor RoberdsMayor Roberds

1863
• Lt. Reuben T. Roberds, who had been the first mayor of Valdosta, died at Knoxville, TN, as an officer of the “Valdosta Guards”.

1864
• Refugees from Liberty County, hit hard by Sherman’s march to the sea, organized what came to be known as the First Presbyterian Church in Valdosta.

James L. Pierpont1865: James L. Pierpont

1865
James L. Pierpont taught music in Valdosta. He was later to compose “Jingle Bells”.
• Federal troops of Company “G”, 103rd U.S. Colored Troops, were stationed in Valdosta.

1866
• Samuel McWhir Varnedoe founded the county’s first real school, the Valdosta Institute.

1867
• The South Georgia Times, predecessor to the Valdosta Daily Times, started publication.

1868
• Alvin B. Clark, the last agent of the Freedman’s Bureau for Lowndes, Brooks and Berrien Counties resigned and became tax collector.

1869
• Fire in the office of the Ordinary, W. H. Dasher, destroyed records of the County.

1875: A wooden structure once stood on the courthouse square1875: A wooden structure once stood on the courthouse square

1875
• A brick Court House was built on the Court House Block and was used until a new one was built in 1904-05.
• The Lowndes Volunteers, a home guard militia group, was organized with uniforms modeled after West Point.

1880
• The census reported the Naylor community had a population of 1,688 and the Valdosta community a population of 1,515.

Original Valdosta Institute1885: Original  Valdosta Institute

1885
• The town purchased the private Valdosta Institute, thereby establishing a public school system.

1889
• The Georgia Southern and Florida Railroad arrived in Valdosta from the north, expanding trade and business greatly.

Valdosta Videttes on paradeThe Videttes on parade in front of the 1895 City Hall

1890
• The Valdosta Videttes, a voluntary military company commanded by James O. Varnedoe, drilled on the public square between Ashley and Lee Streets.

1895
Valdosta’s first City Hall was constructed
• The Valdosta City Council authorized the erection of poles, wiring and other equipment by the Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company and the Valdosta Telegraph Company.

Streetcar in Valdosta1898: Streetcar system in Valdosta

1896
• Ringling Brothers Circus appeared in Valdosta for the first time.

1898
• B.F. Strickland incorporated the iconic cotton mill in Remerton.
• The Valdosta Street Railway Company secured the right to operate street cars on Toombs, Patterson, Ashley, Lee, Troup, Hill, Central, Crane and Gordon Streets.

Strickland Cotton Mill in Remerton1899: Strickland Mill in Remerton

1899
• A fire in Lake Park destroyed 14 buildings in the business section.
• The state fair attracted visitors from considerable distances to see the area’s arts and industries, prize winning livestock and long staple Sea Island cotton.
• Local citizens celebrated the arrival of the Atlantic, Valdosta and Western railroad. The third line to arrive in the county.

1900
• The Wymodausis Club, the first women’s club in Valdosta, organized and elected Mrs. Mattie R. Stevens president.

The Valdes Hotel, formerly located on Hill Avenue1902: The Valdes Hotel

1901
• Valdosta Chapter 471, United Daughters of the Confederacy, was organized.

1902
• The City Council passed the first sanitary ordinance upon completion of the new sewer line.
• Valdes Hotel opened at the corner of Toombs and Hill Avenue.
Gypsy, a circus elephant, belonging to a traveling show, went on a rampage through Valdosta.

Lowndes County Courthouse under construction, 19041904: Lowndes County Courthouse under construction

1903
• Street paving began on Hill Avenue, using “vitrified bricks” and granite curbing.

1904
• Construction began on the Lowndes County Courthouse.
• The 4-story McKey building in downtown Valdosta was built from Florida orange grove profits

1905
• The Valdosta High School on Central Avenue was built.
• The first paid fire department was established with one chief and four firemen.
• The Valdosta Times began printing a daily newspaper.

Prohibition vote at the Lowndes County Courthouse1907: Prohibition vote at Courthouse

1907
• Lowndes County went dry after local ministers and church women conducted a campaign that overwhelmingly convinced voters to support Prohibition.

1908
• Rabbi Levine was called to Valdosta to minister to the Jewish community, which consisted of about 16 families by 1913.
• J. N. Bray Lumber Company was established
• The General James Jackson Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution was organized.

1910 Post Office, and current Valdosta City Hall1910: Post Office, the current Valdosta City Hall

1910
• The Valdosta City Council set speed limits at eight miles an hour within the fire limits and twelve miles an hour beyond.
• The Post Office and Federal Building at the corner of Lee Street and Central Avenue was completed. The structure now serves as the Valdosta City Hall.

1911
• The Confederate Memorial constructed by the UDC on the courthouse square was dedicated.
• The Lowndes County Board of Health was created.

Converse Hall, the first building at SGSNC1913: Converse Hall, first building at SGSNC

1912
• The Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce was established J. T. Blalock was the first president.

1913
• South Georgia State Normal College (now VSU) opened.
• Valdosta High School fielded its first football team.

Col. W. S. West1914: Col. W. S. West

1914
• Col. W. S. West appointed U.S. Senator
• The Carnegie Library of Valdosta opened
• South Georgia Pecan Company was established.

1915
• Little-Griffin Hospital was erected on North Patterson Street.
• The boll weevil fist appeared in Lowndes County cotton fields. The crop of 1917 was devastated.

Little-Griffin Hospital 1915: Little-Griffin Hospital

1916
• Georgia and Florida Railroad hired a tobacco expert to assist farmers in handling flue-cured tobacco.
• The Valdosta Country Club was organized.
• Five prominent Valdosta businessmen and civic leaders: William S. West, Lowndes W. Shaw, Leonard F. Shaw, Daniel C. Ashley, and Owen K. Jones donated 11 acres to the city to create a public park on Brookwood Drive. The park was renamed for Richard J. Drexel in 1979

1917: West Hall1917: West Hall

1917
• Lowndes County supplied timber, naval stores, cotton, and food stuffs to the war effort. Nearly 1,300 men and women from Lowndes County served in the armed forces.
• West Hall was completed at Georgia State Womans College and was named in honor of U.S. Senator William S. West.

1918
• Lanier County was formed from Lowndes, Berrien and Clinch Counties.

The former Valdosta High School on Williams Street1922: Valdosta High School on Williams Street

1919
• Twenty-one charter members established the Rotary Club of Valdosta.

1922
• The Valdosta High School on Williams Street was built.
• South Georgia State Normal College became a four year institution and was renamed Georgia State Womans College.

1925, Daniel Ashley Hotel1925: Daniel Ashley Hotel

1923
• The first tobacco market in Lowndes County opened in Hahira.

1924
• The Salvation Army began operations in Valdosta.

1925
• The Daniel Ashley Hotel, the social center of Valdosta for many years, was constructed.

The Ritz Theater1926: The Ritz Theater

1926
•The Ritz, Valdosta’s grand theater, (not to be confused with the Dosta Theatre) opened downtown.

1928
• Emory Junior College in Valdosta was established. The former institution is now the north campus of Valdosta State University.

Emory Junior College in Valdosta1928: Emory Junior College in Valdosta

1930
• The City Council purchased 500 acres of land on the Madison Highway for an airport.

1932
• American Legion Home built.

1933
• Lowndes County became involved in the Civil Works Administration, a federally created work relief program that employed men and women hard hit by the depression.

1934
• The first electric traffic signals were installed in Valdosta.

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt speaking from the balcony of the new GSWC library1941: Eleanor Roosevelt at GSWC

1936
• The W.P.A. operated sewing rooms in Valdosta, Hahira and Lake Park, giving jobs to unemployed women and producing thousands of garments to be distributed to persons in need of clothing.
• Harley Langdale and others formed the American Turpentine Farmers Association.

1941
• Eleanor Roosevelt dedicated the new library at The Georgia State Woman’s College.

Flag raining at Moody Field1942: Flag raining at Moody Field

1942
Moody Field opened as a pilot training base during WWII.

1944
• The Valdosta Victory ship, named in recognition of the community’s support for war bond sales, was christened at the Bethlehem Steel Shipyard in Baltimore

The Valdosta Victory1944: Victory Ship

1946
• National Airlines inaugurated commercial air service to Valdosta.

1950
• Georgia State Womans College became a coed institution and was renamed Valdosta State College.

Pineview General Hospital1955: Pineview General

1953
• In October, the first carload of pulpwood was delivered to National Container Corp., which later became Owens-Illinois.

1955
• Pineview General Hospital, now South Georgia Medical, opened.

1962
• Groundbreaking held for Valdosta Area Vocational – Technical School (now Wiregrass Georgia Technical College).

Valdosta's technical college1962: Valdosta’s technical college

1963
Interstate Route 75 into Florida was officially opened

1964
• Seven thousand citizens turned out to greet the wife of U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson when the “Lady Bird Special” railroad tour stopped in the area.

1964, The Lady Bird Special passing through Valdosta1964: Lady Bird Special passing through Valdosta

1966
• Several county high schools were consolidated to form the current Lowndes High School.

1967
• Five Points Shopping Center opened at the convergence of North Patterson, Ashley and Oak Streets.

1969
• The Post Office and Federal courthouse and offices moved to new home on Patterson Street from 1910 post office.
• Valdosta High School and Pinevale High School were consolidated.

Post Office, downtown Valdosta1969: Post Office, downtown Valdosta

1971
• Coach Wright Bazemore retired after leading the Valdosta Wildcats to nearly 300 victories and 14 state championships.

1972
• The Valdosta High School campus on Forrest Street opened.

Old terminal at Valdosta AirportOld terminal at Valdosta Airport

1975
Valdosta Municipal Airport opened expanded facilities, and Southern Airways instituted jet service.

1977
• The former Valdosta High School on Williams Street was destroyed by fire.

1978
• Converse Hall, the first building constructed at South Georgia State Normal College (VSU) in 1913 was destroyed in a fire.

Overpass under construction 1982: Overpass under construction

1981
• The Chamber of Commerce opened their office in the renovated historic E.R. Barber House.
• The first official “Winnersville Classic” football game between Lowndes and Valdosta High School was held.

1982
• The James M. Beck overpass opened downtown

Valdosta Mall, from the air, in the 1980s1983: Valdosta Mall

1983
• The Valdosta Mall opened
• The Converse-Dalton-Ferrell home was added to the national register of historic places

1993
• Valdosta State College received university status, becoming Valdosta State University.

The Olympic torch passing by the Lowndes County Historical Museum1996: The Olympic torch passing by the Lowndes County Historical Museum

1996
• The Olympic torch was taken through Valdosta on its way to Atlanta for the Centennial Olympic summer games

2000
• Census data representing the population growth in the region resulted in Valdosta being named a Metropolitan Area.

2005
• Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue declared Valdosta the states first “Entrepreneur Friendly Community.”

2008
• Valdosta was awarded the honor of “Titletown” by ESPN for the community’s overwhelming athletic successes.

Sources:
Pictorial History of Lowndes County 1825-1975,
Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce timelines published in the Valdosta Daily Times, July 31, 1988 and April 26, 1992,
and the Lowndes County Historical Museum archives.