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BAHS Luncheon
Features Gas Station
By Victoria Simmons
The Byron Buzz
During the era of Joe Sul
livan’s Gas Station, Harry
Truman was President, Henry
Williams was the mayor of
Byron, gas was 18 cents a
gallon and cars could be pur
chased for about $1500. These
facts and more were told at the
annual step back in time lun
cheon put on each year by the
Byron Area Historical Society
featuring the gas station.
Believed to have been built
somewhere between 1910-
1920, a grocery store was
added in the back aroundl925.
It was owned at one time or
another by C. F. Hayes, Clint
Jackson, Gardner Walton and
of course, Joe Sullivan. In the
50’s it served as a polling sta
tion. Some Saturdays behind
the station, they would put up
a tent and do picture shows.
People were always stop
ping in to chat, play checkers
or just pass the time of day.
As most stations in the 50’s
Sullivans tried different things
to attract customers which
included a variety of animals
like monkeys and alligators.
The station closed around
1966 and Woodmen of the
World rented it for a few
years. Bobby Grimsley pur
chased the building and turned
it into a beauty shop for his
wife, Mary Jane. Ann Giles
puchased it in 1969 and it be
came Cinderella Beauty Shop
but she moved to another
location in 1984. The Meth
odist Church purchased the
property and the building was
tom down and became part of
the church parking lot.
Sullivan was bom in 1896
and died in 1968. He stood
about 5’ 10” and was said to
be a quiet man. He purchased
the station in the late 40’s. His
grandchildren would come
to spend a week with their
grandfather in the summer.
You could purchase gas and
’’put it on your bill”.
Decorations, stage props
and the actors all took you
back in time to the gas station.
Some of Sullivan’s relatives
were in attendance as guests.
Para Vinson told about the
station, after BAHS president
Marg Liaguana welcomed ev
eryone. Patty Ray introduced
the peach queens in attendance
and Rev. Jason Blankenship
gave the invocation. Attendees
enjoyed fried chicken, baked
beans, broccoli salad, potato
salad, biscuits, peach cake and
tea.
A day at Joe Sullivan’s Gas
Station brought memories and
laughter to those in atten
dance.
It was another successful
BAHS event which helps keep
Byron’s history alive.
From left, Para Vinson and cast members standing in back: Jeff Ervin as Willie Vinson, Martin Moseley as his father, Toon
Moseley, Charlie Short as George Hallman, Larry Collins as himself, a student at Mercer, Alan Dorsey as Melton Allred,
Michael Chidester as Carl Ferguson and Martin Thames as Joe Sullivan. In front are Shelby and Summer McCranie as Linda
and Brenda Lister. Mike Love in car, as a stranger in town looking to buy gas.
JOE SULLIVAN gas and oil
: amily members of Joe Sullivan in attendance from left: Sybil Chapman, Catherine Lister, Brenda Ferrara, Linda Prather,
Peggy Kitchens and Barry Kitchens.
Public Views Medical Center Of Peach County
By Victoria Simmons
The Byron Buzz
Not only was it a beautiful
day weather wise, last Thurs
day, it was a beautiful day for
The Medical Center of Peach
County (MCPC) as they cut
the ribbon to the new facility.
As CEO Nancy Peed said in
concluding her part of the pro
gram, ”It is day the Lord has
made, let us rejoice in it.”
Recognition and thanks was
given all around to everyone
involved getting the new facil
ity, a journey which began a
decade ago. A large group of
community members was on
hand to tour and get a glimpse
of the new facility, ask ques
tions and enjoy refreshments.
Dr. Ninfa M. Saunders, Pres
ident & CEO of Central Geor
gia Health System noted that in
today’s society only about 5%
of hospitals get a new facil
ity. Also on the program were
Thomas. M. Green, Chairman
of the MCPC Board of Direc
tors, Elbert McQueen, SVP of
Central Georgia Health Sys
tem, Dr. Crystal Brown, Medi
cal Director MCPC, Helen
Rhea Stumbo, Chairman Com
munity Partnership for Health
Campaign and Sean Beck,
Chaplain of Central Georgia
Health System..
The day before the ribbon
cutting, during a media tour
event, Peed said having the
new facility become a reality,
’’feels sweet!”.
Stumbo said that it was a
testament that dreams do come
true. She noted that the Medi
cal Center of Peach County
was better than she dreamed
and that was a quantum leap in
terms of quality of care which
would be given at the facility.
”It was good before,” she said
of the hospital, ”but there is no
doubt that ’’new” makes things
possible we never dreamed
about.”
Peed said she was looking
forward to opening and mov
ing patients which will take
place on July 16th. ”We were
emotional about the old hos
pital but are excited about the
new.”
Cutting the ribbon of the new Medical Center of Peach possible by donations from employees. Employees
County at left. Inset is the water feature out front made doubled the goal which was set.
BoB Raises Moore
To Benefit
America’s Heartland
When tragedy strikes, most everyone feels a need
to try and make a difference somehow. The Battle of
Byron is trying to help Moore, Oklahoma following the
aftermath of recent tornadoes.
A Battle of Byron RAISES Moore Music Fest is
this Saturday, June 22 at North Peach Park in Byron,
beginning at 10 a.m. and ending at 7 p.m. Admission
(donation) for the day of music and fun is only $5 and
all proceeds will benefit Moore, Oklahoma.
The day will begin with a patriotic opening by the
Human Trumpet who will also entertain the crowd
between bands.
• Six String 11:00
• The MaMa T Band 12:15
•Sugar Creek 1:15
• Charles Oliver & Friends 2:15
• Terry Pops Barker (The Human Trumpet) 3:15
• Road Pizza & EZ Cleghorn 4:15
• Big Daddy & Company 5:15
There will be BBQ Chicken plates, Music Fest
T-shirts, activities for the kids, face painting, silent
auction which will end at 6 p.m.& 50/50 raffles all day.
Participate and help make a difference. For more infor
mation contact Karla Chidester at 478-954-4592.
BXONORS]
Cheddar’s Casual Cafe, Freshway Market, Whitewater
Creek BBQ Sauce, Captain Jack’s Crab Shack, Mon-
gros Pizza & Burgers, Party Playgrounds Indoor Fun,
Blessed Soul Creations, TAILGATERS, Byron Fire
Dept., Georgia Bob’s Barbecue, Byron Better Home
town, ARQ Pest Control, Karla & Michael Chidester,
On the Mark, 13WMAZ, The Telegraph/Sun News,
Byron Buzz, www.battleofbyron.org