About The Eatonton messenger. (Eatonton, Ga.) 18??-current | View Entire Issue (June 19, 2025)
» Your hometown newspaper since 1861 The Eatonton Messenger THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2025 | A3 Local individuals remembered in Juneteenth Bound by Brick exhibition Long after slavery was abolished, thousands of people — mostly Black men — were arrested, often on petty or fabricated charges, and leased to private companies under Georgia’s convict leasing system. Due to its deplorable conditions, some never made it back out alive. On June 19, 2025, award-winning Atlanta-based public historian and storyteller Kimberly Renee will debut Bound By Brick, a powerful two-part virtual exhibit that explores this brutal post-Emancipation labor system and the people and compa nies that profited from it. A digital memorial and act of remembrance, Bound By Brick uses multiple mediums, including inter active 3D art, to bring to light the system of racialized incarceration and the human cost behind one of Georgia’s most infamous industrial operations between the 1880s and early 1900s: the notorious Chatta hoochee Brick Company. The Chattahoochee Brick Company, founded in the late 1800s, became a hub of state-sanc tioned violence. Men were starved, beaten, denied medical care, and even whipped to death — all under the oversight of figures who held powerful political roles in Georgia. While most of those subjected to ARREST CONTINUED FROM » A1 So, Burket and Officer Kevin Malloy went back to the house and waited inside in the dark. When Pascual walked in, they turned the lights on and ordered him to place this cruelty were Black men, they were not alone. Others were also swept into the convict leasing system and forced into these deplorable conditions. “For many people, these camps, including Chattahoochee Brick, were death sentences,” says Renee. “Their architects ran Georgia’s cities, while these blood-stained bricks built them.” Bound By Brick traces these injustices, shining a light on the corporations and public officials who profited from this form of modern slavery, including the remnants that exist today. The Experience unfolds in two interactive parts: • Part I is free to the public thanks to financial support from the National Center for Civil and Human Rights as a part of its Truth + Transformation Fellow ship. Part I offers a historical overview of convict leasing at Chattahoochee Brick, those at its helm, and the long-standing impact. his hands behind his back. A small struggle took place while the offi cers attempted to handcuff him and when they succeeded, they called EMS to treat Pascual’s bleeding hand. A blue knife, which had been used to stab the roommate, was found in Pascual’s pocket and was held as evidence. Burket also discovered • Part II, available for free on Juneteenth, includes an interac tive, first-of-its-kind searchable database of individuals forced to work at Chattahoochee Brick and surrounding labor camps. It also highlights still-standing organiza tions that benefited from the prac tice. After June 19, access to Part II will be ticketed. Locally, within the database in part two, 11 individuals are named from Baldwin County, six are from Putnam County, and five are from Greene County. The data base outlines their name, alleged crime, years sentenced, and notes on the outcome of their involvement with the Chattahoochee Brick Company. While many now recognize June teenth as a celebration of freedom, Bound By Brick challenges visitors to confront how that freedom was continuously delayed — and in many cases, redefined to maintain the pre-Emancipation status quo. To view the ehxibit, visit kimber- lyrenee.com and click the experi ences tab. — Contributed that Dekalb County had an active warrant for Pascual’s arrest on family violence related charges. Santos Gavino Augstin-Pascual, 33, of Maple Avenue, Eatonton, is being held without bond at Putnam County Jail on charges of aggra vated assault, criminal trespass, and misdemeanor willful obstruction of law enforcement officers. TRAIL CONTINUED FROM » A1 mounted, you’ll have one of the best sculpture trails in the Southeast,”’ Kevin Tomson-Hooper said Friday night during a sculpture trail recep tion at Barrel 118. “So, we’re pretty happy about that.” Some of the original pieces were returned to their artists to make way for the latest addi tions: “Delicate Balance,” outside The Artisans Village Gallery on West Marion Street; “Humpty Dumpty,” sitting in front of Barrel 118 on North Jefferson Avenue; “Clancy,” appropriately playing his flute outside The Plaza Arts Center; and “Our Angel,” gracing the lawn at Eatonton First Methodist Church, across North Madison Avenue from The Plaza. Among the orig inal 10 sculptures, “The Professor,” at Smith Communica tions, publisher of The Eatonton Messenger; “Rival Readers,” in front of the Georgia Writers Museum, and “Swift Ferocity,” by Eatonton artist Brian Danson at the Veterans Wall of Honor Park, are all permanent installations now, after being purchased by the respec tive businesses. Robbie King, now president of the EPCOC, said during the event that he’s proud to continue supporting the sculpture trail and believes it help’s his team’s mission to promote Eatonton and Putnam County. “And when we say partner, that’s probably overly generous. I think we’re more of a supporter of the trail, but we love it,” King told more than 100 people who had gathered for the announcements. “One of the things we do in our office is attract tourists to our area. So, this is one of those things that we’re starting to see. People come here because of this sculpture trail. I see the statues, I see people walk up, get their selfies and group photos with the statues, so we know people are interested. We know they’re coming to see these, and I think it’s great.” Eatonton Sculpture Trail maps with descrip tions are available at the Chamber of Commerce office as well as next door at The Artisans Village Gallery, both on West Marion Street, across from the down- town Putnam County Courthouse. Follow us on facebook lwww.facebook.com/EatontonMessenger LYNN HOBBS/Staff The large pecan tree that was "a nice shade tree/' now lies where it crashed into the roof of the Leverett homeplace. 20. 2 • Why STORM CONTINUED FROM » A1 Creek, that my kids used to swim in. That tree that’s on my house, it was a good, healthy removal was already in progress over the weekend and “huge” tarps covered the roof. So, it looks like many more memories will be made at the homeplace. EDPAT h ILAMM COUNTRY I the ceiling like a bow had shot arrows; it’s crazy,” she described. A set of her grand mother’s china coffee cups were still sitting on a shelf, but Leverett was surprised to see one of the cups lying on the floor, unbroken. Some mirrors were knocked off the wall and onto the floor, but they also weren’t broken. Leverett and her late husband, Glynn, built the house and moved into it in 1994, two years after they married. She said Johnny Million framed it for them. “And he built it strong,” she said. “So many of the others who helped build it are now gone. I love it here. There’s a path to the creek, it’s called Turkey pecan tree. It was bearing pecans and has always been a nice shade tree in my front yard.” The storm happened around 8:30 p.m., and the heavy rainfall continued throughout the night, soaking much of the inte rior of the house where the tree had fallen. “But all that’s just materialistic,” Leverett said. “I see some bless ings from it because I was already doing some upgrades and now the insurance will help. 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