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jenkinscountytimes.com
The Jenkins County Times
Wednesday, October 11, 2023- Page 11
The Ogeechee River and the rice trade
After taking a local trip on the river, my
journey along Bulloch County’s northeast
boundary ends and Bryan County begins.
The coastal Georgia county claims a rich
history that spans the stories of slaves and
rice plantations, industrial philanthropists,
and a takeover by the federal government,
all shaped by the region’s geography and
the Ogeechee. When colonial Georgia was
founded in 1733, the tmstees prohibited
slavery, primarily because they envisioned
a society in which citizens earned a
comfortable living instead of attaining
personal wealth from the labor of others.
This ban lasted until 1750 when the low
country surrounding the Ogeechee stirred
the economic hopes of planters. The area
was well suited for the cultivation of rice.
Which was a cash crop that demanded
scores of laborers, between 1750 and 1755.
Georgia’s slave population grew from
500 to 18,000, and extensive rice plantations
were formed in the tidewater along the
banks of the river. The establishment of
the Ogeechee-Savannah Canal in the 1840s
further expanded the slavery-based rice
economy by providing an easy route to get
the crop to markets in Savannah. By 1855,
3 million pounds of rice were produced
annually at many County plantations. This
economy abruptly ended in the 1890s when
hurricanes wiped out the region’s rice
industry. Left behind were some of the most
impoverished communities in the state.
Then in 1925, auto-industry pioneer Henry
Ford, like many northern industrialists of
the early 1900, began purchasing land
along the Georgia coast, including some
85,000 acres on both sides of the Ogeechee.
His philanthropy led to the establishment of
agricultural operations, medical facilities,
housing, churches, schoolsf or blacks and
whites and even a vocational trade school.
In 1941, grateful citizens of Ways Station
renamed their community Richmond
Hill to honor Ford and his nearby home,
“Richmond,” that overlooked the Ogeechee.
Finally, in 1940, the U.S. Army entered the
county to establish Ft. Stewart, taking over
280,000 acres and displacing some 4,500
residents. Cheap land and its proximity to
the strategic port of Savannah attracted the
Army.
See ya next week!
Uncle Roger
*
FBLA
enjoys
rally
at Six
Flags
By JoBeth Johnson,
Special Contributor
for
The Times
On October 2nd, 2023,
twenty-seven middle
school FBLA members
attended the Fall
Motivational Rally at Six
Flags over Georgia. Along
with 4,600+ other members.
Rally attendees enjoyed
lunch, a general session,
competitive events, and a
fun-filled day at Six Flags.
The general session was
led by FBLA state officers
and featured motivational
speaker, Patrick Grady.
Mr. Grady is a native
of Wahoo, Florida, and
inspired students to reach
for and achieve their goals,
no matter what obstacles
lie ahead. Additionally,
members competed
in three Rally events
including T-shirt Design,
Membership Rack Card,
and Info graphic. Students
and advisers had a fun time
and a great kick-off to the
Future Business Leaders
of America conference
season! Photo contributed.
Live Auctions Every Friday & Saturday!!
+7"
rpRlNGfCREEto
■ AUCTION CO. ■
425 I Iwy. 25 South
. Millen, Georgia 30467
(478)401-5007
Welcome Jenkins County Times!
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’ e O/- (
Jenkins County Farm Bureau will hold its Member Appreciaiton Day/Annual Meeting.
All members are invited to stop by for a bag lunch.
Thursday, October 26, 2023
ll:00am - l:00pm
7 704 E. Winthrope Ave. \ Millen, CA 30442
Thank you for being a Jenkins County Farm Bureau Member!
The Best Pest Control
In Town!
Call Chris Today!
(912)403-2536
(g) 478 401-0495
513 Cotton Ave
Millen. Ga
BRINSON (J) short*! Brinson
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ex Commercial
Medicare
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Supplements
@ Title Bonds
& AFLAC Products
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FUNERAL HOME
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ft Broker/Owner
