Johnson-Dooly-Jefferson County GaArchives History ..... Pinehurst, Dooly County, Georgia1960
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Pinehurst, Georgia
Nestled among the massive pines, gopher holes, sand ridges, and may ponds, in
the decade of 1860 to 1870 , stood a few simple homes in a village called
Fullington. Legend has it that the very first settlers did not come by
choice. Their covered wagon became mired in the mud and when they were able to
get it out, it was beyond repair and they were too tired to go further.
It is known that the area of land where Pinehast now stands, during this early
period was owned by John ad G.W. (Dock) Fullington. Some of this land they
inherited at their father's death, some they bought from their sister, Sally
Fullingon, and another brother, James Andrew Fnllington. Dock Fullington was
said to he quite a trader, particularly a horse trade. Mrs. Jim Fullington
tells that it had been handed down by word of month that they even owned land
in England. When the land was cleared and the first plans for a community
began to materialize, a fifty acre tract was set aside and plots were drawn.
According to deeds of the Pinehurst United Methodist Church the town was laid
off by the Macon Constrnction Company with the aid of W.B. Sparks and the
Fullington brothers. In 1888 the Southern Railroad began operation. This
opened the gateway to transportation by rail. The Fullingtons saw the need of
a depot ad used their "horsesense" to trade with the important officials trom
up North, offering the railroad one-half of the sales from the town lots to
encourage the railroad to build a depot.
During this time of planing, the Fullingtons had to give way to the changing of
the name of the village, because the so called "important officials" of the
railroad thought the name, Fullingon, too long. Many appropriate names were
suggested. Pond Town and Pinehurst were two of these. Althought most of the
pines are gone, may ponds remain. An act to incorporate the town of Pinehurst
in the County of Dooly was approved by the General Assanbly of the State of
Georgia December 18, 1895. The limits were to extend one-half mile diredly to
the north, east, south, and west from the point where the depot of the Georgia
Southern ad Florida Railroad Company was located. The territory formed a
perfect square. W.L. Willlams was appointed mayor to hold office until the
first Monday in January 1898. J.W. Torbert, a groceryman, F.M. Barfield, post
mater, and W.M. Haslam, druggist, were appointed to hold office as councilmen
until January 1897. G.L. Herring the first depot agent, J.J. Cooper, owner of
a "racket store" (first cousin to the present dime store) and D.T. Washburn,
farmer, were appointed to hold office until the first Monday in January 1898
when a election for mayor and their successors for a term of two years would he
held.
During this period of planning and organizing, the town continued to grow.
W.M. Haslam and S.M. Roberts having returned from the War Between The States,
where they were trained to serve in the medical division, were drafted as the
first doctors. This was necessary because the mosquitoes from the ponds and
the epidemics of flu and malaria were taking their toll among the residents.
Charlie Thompspn was the owner and operator of the first funeral home. In
later years, L.M. Peavy operated a funeral home in Pinehurst.
The story has been told that in 1890 W. A. Snelling I, while living in Macon,
had a dream which told him to go South and find a Mr. Williams who was in the
merchantile business and buy into his
business. This he did, and his son W.A. Snelling 11, is still operating a
general merchantile store in Pinehurst in partnership with his an Bill
Snelling. W.A. Snelling 111.) Mrs. J.D.H. Evers made, and sold exotic hats
for ladies while operating one of the first millinay shops. A popular hotel
was operated by Mrs. Lou Ellen Mashburn. The Grist Mill, owned ad operated by
Dock Fullington and Jasper Peavy, housed the first sub-station post office.
Prior to the railroad in 1888, mail service came by horseback in a locked bag
from Hawkinsville to Eurika, a little settlement about where the J.H. Patterson
farm is now located. Someone went for the mail about once a week. After the
railroad, first mail carriers were Y. T. Sheffieid, T.W. Walton, J.P. Cppoock,
ad John Britt.
The first certificate of stock ( $100.00 per share) bought in the Bank of
Pinehurst was purchased by Charlie Clewis when the bank was orgainzed in 1904.
This certificate was signed by W.N. Edenfield, president of the bank, and
Charles P. Ponder, cashier. The Bank of Pinehurst has been in continuous
operation since that date. P.G. Tucker owned ad operated a two chalr barber
shop. Tom Buckholts, whose son Otis Buckholts Is at present driver of the U.S.
Mail truck saving Pinehurst on its way from Macon to Cordele, worked as a
barber in Mr. Tucker's shop.
Operating for about a decade was the Farmers and Merchants Bank, reorganized by
Charlie Horne with C.R. Peavy as cashier.
On July 13, 1891, a meeting of 38 people of the Baptist Faith was held at the
Pinehnrst Academy for the purpose of orgaization. J.R. Horne, Jr., B.M.
Barfleld ad John Y. Netherton were present. They had been former members and
officials at Pine Hill Baptist during the years of 1883-1883. J.R. Horne, was
pastor of this church. When It disbanded they joined and became offlcials of
Snow Springs Baptist Church organized in 1884, and disbanded in 1891 with 23
charter members and land deeded to J.R. Horne, as trustee by John and G.W.
Fullington, the church went into full time operation with J J Hyman as pastor.
Meeting on 3rd Saturday and Sunday of each month. At present the Pinehurst
Baptist Church is full time, after years of half-time: that is two Sundays each
month, sharing preachers with Liberty Baptist Chrrrch near Findley.
Episcopal Church, South. The deed was signed in the presence of J.E. Folds, T.
J. Nease, the first pastor, and S.D. Thompson, Justice of the Peace. The
church was organized in October 1892 with 15
charter members and was connected with the South Georgia Conference, Macon
District ad Snow Circuit.
The parsonage was at Snow at the time but burned, and in Septemher 1900 a lot
was bought for $25.00 from W. L. and M. E. Wllliams by S. D. Thompson, W.A.
Snelling I, C.W. Reynolds, L. Alsobrook and George Sanders as trustees for
the purpose of building a parsonage in Pinehurst. The church is full time now,
even though the pastor also serves at Smyrna. Through the years it has
shared "circuits" with Snow, St. Paul, Henderson, Smyrna, Pleasant Valley,
Drayton, Shiloh, and Marvin, a church located south of Vienna that burned.
The town progressed in keeping with the times then Dr. V.L. Harris and G.L.
Herring bought automobiles ad W.A. Snelling II bought an Atwater Kent radio.
M. C. Peavy, Sr. is add to have sold the Ford automobile and the first rolled
cigarette.
Service stations replaced the old hitching posts as the Emporiums of the day
added gasoline to their wares for sale.
Found in the affects of Theodore L. Roberts was a ledger dated 1891-92. Neither
the store name nor the owner can be identified but it housed a restaurant,
salon, and general merchandise where the customer could buy 50 Ibs. of fhour
for $1.50 or one-half gallon of whisky. A real bargain was a beer for a
nickle to have with a lunch for 3rf cents. In 1927 a new gateway of
transportation, Highway 4I came through, thus linking Pinehurst with other
towms. This was an eventful year, for the electric light replaced kerosene
lamps and delco systems. Education has always been an important phase of
Pinehurst history. The first school was a wooden, one room building 30 a 80
feet, two doors, two windows at the Front. A row of double desks for larger
boys ad girls was at the back. The smaller children sat in tbe front. When
this building burned it was replaced by a sirnilar one with the addition of a
stage and later a music room. Some of the early teachers were: a stern looking
man known as M. Brantley, who according to legend was notorious for the use
of the rod, W.0. Sanders, Miss Lula Whitehead, Miss Emma Kemp, Miss Emmie
Hornedy, Miss Oreala Cheeves, and Mrs. Q.W. Haslam.
In1902 Miss Cora Anthony, the principal, instigated the first higb school
work. Found in the chrarter of the town dated December 6, 1902, were
provisions for the government of said towm to create the Pinehurst Public
School to operate for not less than 5 months, and fees not to exceed $6.00
annually. This did not include books. Parents were responsible for purchasing
books for the child. The hoard named to serve were Reason Whftehead, G.F.
Herring, W. A. Snelling 1, W.N. Edenfield, and W. L. Williams. ln 1908 as
plans for "school closing" were being made the school burned. The side porch
of the hotel was used for announcements of pupils completing the courses, along
with the other commencement exercises.
The following summer a new two story brick building was erected with four
classrooms downstairs and the auditorium up-stairs. As enrollment increased
part of the auditorium was converted into two classrooms. The class of 1909
was the first class to graduate and the first class in hidory of Pinehurst to
receive diplomas. Mrs. Blanche Peavy Holt was a member of the this class. The
address was given by Hon. U. V. Whipple of Cordele, Ga. Later a frame
building was built to accomodate the primary grades. That too, was soon
outgrown and in 1939 work was begun on the brick building which stands
today. Mrs. J. A. Whitehead, principal , working with the local board of
education composed of G.W, Roberts, Sr., J. E. Horne, D. E.Thompson, J. S.
Smith, and M. L. Willliams, and a most active Parent Teacher Organization soon
had the first lunchroom in the county. This lunchroom in the white building
formally occupied by the primary grades. Through the years Pinehurst kept in
step with progress, and added agricultural, bhome ecnomics and commercial
departments whichnbetter prepared students for life. The Mollie Snelling
Whitehead Library with its first librarian, Mrs B. B. Holland has meant so
much to the education and culture of the community. Pinehurst has been without
a doctor since 1950. Until 1910 there were ways at least two doctors who
would make their way through any sort of weather by buggy, open-air Maxwells
or you name it to take care of the sick. Among these were W.N. Edenfield,
V.L. Harris, J.L. Lee, Claude Harris, V. P. Jackson, and A .P. Evans, W.C.
Beacham was a dentist. Burl wilson and T. A. Bragg. Sr. doctored the animals
of the community. Farming has Farming has always been big busiess around
Pinehurst. Cotton, cotton gins, peanuts, and corn continue to br it's chief
source of income.
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