Newspaper Page Text
1824
Town incorporated by act of General Assembly of
Georgia on November 25 and named Perry in honor of
Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, Naval hero of the
War of 1812. First academy built at Armory Grove.
1826
Methodist Church organized.
1838
Baptist Church organized.
1846
Town formally laid off in streets.
1848
■ Presbyterian Church organized.
1849
First stage coach came through Perry enroute from
Macon to Tallahassee, Fla.
1850'S
Many new homes built.
1859
Perry granted new city charter.
1870
First newspaper, Houston Home Journal, established
in December by John T. Waterman.
1871-72
First Railroad built (Fort Valley to Perry); first
telegraph service established.
1879
Houston County Fair held in Perry October 12. Public
v Library organized with 900 books.
1889
First street lights, eleven kerosene lamps, installed.
First bank, Perry Loan and Savings Bank,
established; Public School System established.
1895
Perry voted bonds November 15, authorizing building
of a waterworks system.
1905
First telephone exchange installed.
1908
Town became City of Perry by legislative act.
1915
Term of Mayor and Council extended to two years
and given control over streets.
1923
rv Consolidated school system set up under the county
Board of Education.
1925
Penn Dixie Cement Corp. Plant No. 2 bagan
operation in June at Clinchfield. Many homes built in
Perry for employees.
V
Perry's First Roads
Houston County Roads
' Planned In 1823 By Court
Houston County Inferior
Court records for March 2,
1823 show that John
Pollack was appointed
commissioner to review
and mark out a road
leading from Perry to
Buzzard's Roost on the
Ocmulgee River. Buz
zard's Roost Bluff, an
Indian landmark, was
located in the southwest
* corner of Twiggs County.
It is thought that this
road of long ago would be
Main Street to Houston
Lake Drive to Mossy Creek
(now Houston Lake) where
it curved to form Buzzard
Roost Road, now called
Bear Road, which ex
tended to the Ocmulgee
River.
Another road, which
began in 1823 was that
known as River Road on
the west side of the Oc
mulgee River. This road
k followed largely the River
Trail of the Indians.
Beginning at the public
ferry opposite Hartford,
the River Road extended
through the lower part of
-Houston County.
Records of Houston
Inferior Court dated June
2, 1823 show that Willough
by Jordan, Robert
Know-Nothing Party
* Led By Georgian
In 1849 a secret society
was organized in New
York City to exploit the
anti-alien and anti-
Cathloics feelings
•prevalent at the time. Its
members responded to
questions about the society
.with "I know nothing”;
thereford they came to be
called the ''Know
-41 Nothings”.
The Know-Nothings
organized nationally and
A Mini History Os The City
Os Perry From 1824 To 1970
Thompson, and James
McCormick were ap
pointed commissioners to
view the ground and lay
out a road as described
above. To continue the
River Road through the
middle portion of the
county, these com
One Os U.S.A.'s Top Chapters
Perry FFA Chapter Has
Won Several Natl. Awards
The Perry Chapter of the
Future Farmers of
America have won several
awards during the past
five years. In 1972, the
chapter was awarded the
National Gold Emblem for
the tenth time since 1955.
The National Silver
Emblem was won for the
second time in 1973. The
National Safety Gold
Emblem and the National
Safety Award were both
won by the Perry chapter
in 1974.
The State Cooperative
Award was given to the
openly as the American
Party in 1854. John Berrien
who had been attorney
general under President
Andrew Jackson resigned
and returned to Georgia to
become leader of the
Know-Nothing Party.
After 1856 when the
American Party carried
only one state, Maryland,
in the General election, the
party went out of
existence.
New Perry Hotel built. Several gas stations and cases
built.
1930
Georgia Power Co. came to Perry.
1936
Perry Federal Savings and Loan Association (now
Security Federal Savings and Loan) organized.
1937
General Telephone Co. came to Perry.
1938
First big tourist court, Perry Court, built at corner of
Main and Ball Streets by J.M. Tolleson.
1941
Perry included in defense area eligible to build homes
for defense workers and military personnel and schools
for their children, due to announcement that the Army
Air Corps would establish a maintenance and supply
depot in Houston County. Many new homes were built in
Perry 1942 through 1944.
1941
Waterworks system re-built and fire-fighting
equipment purchased. Post Office advanced from third
to second class. First camellia show held. First florist
shop opened.
1943
Sewerage system expanded with $30,000 bond issue
and $72,000 federal grant.
1946-47
Several businesses opened by WWII returning
veterans.
1948
New Perry Hotel remodeled and additions made to
dining room and kitchen.
1949
Perry had first city delivery in January. Number of
streets paved. Perry Merchants' Association
organized.
1950
Perry continues to grow during 1950's due to per
manency of Robins Air Force Base and WRAMA at
Warner Robins and also to the efforts of newly
organized Chamber of Commerce in 1955. Many new
homes built. New Courthouse dedicated April 20.
1951
Perry Country Club organized and nine-hole golf
course built. First City Hall built on Commerce Street.
First pest control company to establish plant in Perry
(now Getz).
New water tank erected on Macon Street and new
well dug.
missioners were ap
pointed: Daniel Brunson,
Michael Watson and
Frederick Watson. To
extend the road to the
upper limits of Houston
County the following
commissioners were
named: Reddick Bell,
“ V m m w mm ■» w
local F.F.A. for the ninth
time in 1974.
The 1975 76 officers of
the Perry FFA Chapter
are as follows: Mark
Jones, president; Jay
Willard, vice president;
Lloyd Turner, secretary;
Jimmy White, treasurer;
Jerry Pitzer, reporter;
Ronnie Thompson, sen
tinel; and Mark Brooks,
chaplain.
The Perry FFA Chapter
has participated in the
following contests in the
1975.76 school year:
Tractor Driving (Jerry
Pitzer), 3rd in District;
Land Judging Team, 11th
in District; Livestock
Judging Team, 9th in
District; EMC Contest,
Randy Hayes- winner.
EMC Chapter Contest,
2nd in District; Chapter
Cooperative, 4th in
District; Parliamentary
Procedure, Ist in District;
Dairy Products Team, sth
in State; Horticulture
Team, sth in State; and
State Co-op winner.
Tony Tyson won state in
Placement in Agriculture
Production.
The Future Farmers of
America is the national
organization for students
of Vocational Agriculture.
James Hardin and John
Clark.
This River Road no
doubt extended from
Hawkinsville to what is
now Kathleen and Bonaire
and on to Macon.
Old military roadways
were already established
in the area received from
the Treaty of Indian
Springs while these lands
were still a part of the
Creek Nation. These roads
and the Indian Trails were
used as the original routes
of the county and state
highways. Stagecoaches
furnished public tran
sportation before railroads
were built.
The Perry chapter of the I
FFA was organized in
March 1937. Advisors to
the chapter have been j
Cohen Walker, John
Etheridge, Dewey
Whiddon and E.H. Cheek.
Mr. Cheek taught I
agriculture at Perry High
School from 1955 until 1974.
Roy Peterson was an |
agricultural teacher at
P.H.S. from 1971-75.
Bill Eaves and Jake j
Redmon have been '
agricultural teachers and
F.F.A. advisors at Perry
High since July, 1975. I
Every year FFA Week is
observed during the week i
of George Washington's '
birthday in February.
President Washington was
one of the first in the nation (
to practice contour
planting, crop rotations,
fertilization and other soil i
improvement methods.
The activities of the
organization are designed
to help develop leadership I
and good citizenship and to
stimulate student interest
in higher achievement. i
The Perry Future
Farmers have made an
outstanding record which
has resulted in their I
recognition on the state ,
and national levels. (,
1953
Perry voted to issue certificates to construct and
equip a gas system to be operated by city with gas
furnished by Southern Natural Gas Co.
1955
Population passed 5,000 mark.
1957
Perry Industrial Development Corp. organized. Built
plant which was leased to Perry Mfg. Co., now Georgia
Decor, a division of Kellwood Co.
1946
Houston Home Journal sold to Cooper Etheridge after
having been owned and operated by a member of
Hodges Family since 1880.
1960
Perry Post Office moved into its new building on
Carroll Street May 18. Receipts from this first class
post office increased from $64,000 in 1960 to $145,718 in
1969.
1962
Telephone service was extended from Perry to Elko-
Henderson area.
Planning and Zoning Ordinance enacted and com
mission appointed.
$250,000 bond issue approved to build new City Hall
and extend streets and sewerage system. Eight city
streets paved.
City Industrial Building Authority established by
passage of state constitutional amendment No. 85.
1963
New State Patrol Station built near Interstate 75 at
cost of $50,000.
Open House held December 21 at New Municipal
Building located between Washington Avenue and Ball
Street.
1964
First shopping center, Perry Plaza, constructed.
Village Square Shopping Area organized in October
1964.
1965
Security Federal Savings and Loan Ass'n. held Open
House in June in handsome new building at corner of
Main Street and Washington Avenue. 166 new families
moved to Perry. Building permits totalled $2,700,000,
largest ever recorded in year in Perry.
1965
City's population increased by 2,000.
Houston Halls, Inc., nursing home, opened In Bon
Acres off U.S. 41 South. Now called New Perry Nursinq
Home.
Houston County Board of Education new SIOO,OOO
VQQfi DRV EIBfIKERH WQQHDQ SI Q «
I hISSo 1
» GROWING I
| SIRMGBt j
(I EVERY DAY! *j
S a
On September 23, 1779, Commander John Paul Jones ® (
VL said the immortal words, “I have not yet begun to fight,”
LP and defeated the British in a famous battle at sea. S'
I |
| (QCEE - Barney A. Smith |
FORD CGRNER PERRY ’ GA ’
HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL THURS., JULY 1, 1»7«,
building completed & occupied.
im
Perry's Radio Station (WPGA) added FAA Stereo to
its AM service.
1967
First National Bank held open house in new building
in December. Bank was organized in 1964.
Magee Carpet Company began manufacturing
operations in huge plant on Valley Drive in 1967.
Building was enlarged by 35,000 sq. ft. in 1960 and open
house held in October.
1969
Perry-Houston County Hospital had its opening April
2, 1969.
Interstate 75 completed to Atlanta. Opened from
Perry to Florida in 1963. Six large motels built In Perry
in 1965.
Dedication of Perry's million dollar Water Pollution
Control Plant held April 12.
Peach Harvest Festival sponsored by Chamber of
Commerce held June 26-28.
City Council voted for Housing Authority in Perry &
approved application for 225 low rent housing units.
1969
Construction of Eastgate Shopping Center between
Main St. and Houston Lake Drive begun. Another
shopping area developed at corner of Main and Second
Streets.
The Houston Home Journal was sold in October by
Cooper Etheridge and Byron Maxwell To Bobby
Branch, Lewis Meeks and G. Ogden Persons.
$850,000 of water revenue certificates to finance
further water and sewer improvements sold in
December 1969. This issue was supplemented to
$1,000,000 certificates of 1966.
Lewis Truck and Tractor Company erected new
building on Valley Road - agency for International
Harvester Company.
The city's total income in 1969 was $1,279,243.14 with
expenses of $965,117.13.
The valuation of real and personal property had in
creased to $35,910,390 in 1969 with tax revenue of
$252,783.
The 1960's in Perry were marked by continued in
crease in population, real estate development ex
pansion of tourist accomodations, and the greatest
decade of commercial and industrial building In the
city's history up to that time.
The growth during the 1970's will be given in a
separate story.