One of the most popular tales about Brantley County history is, "Nahunta stole the County Site from Hoboken". When Brantley County was initially created Hoboken was designated as the county site. Dissension and subsequent elections resulted into three years of court battles. Finally, the Supreme Court made a decision honoring a vote of the people which favored moving the county site to Nahunta. While the Hoboken faction was establishing new strategies for another appeal, a group of young men from Nahunta (apparently through motivation of the older politicians) went to Hoboken and relocated the county records to Nahunta. They would have you believe, without official knowledge.
Following that event there has always been some "brazen antagonist" proclaiming that he helped steal the county records from Hoboken; others have declared their involvement of driving the truck. Others have said, "It wasn't a truck at all, it was a mule and wagon".
We quickly concluded that not all of those tales could be true. It was apparent that some were fabrications to satisfy the "story teller's" purpose. The controversial tales, however, did identify the existence of a two sided court battle for the "county site".
The controversial tales pertaining to the "county site" were mostly geographically oriented. The majority of the population residing in /around and west of Hoboken favored the county site at Hoboken; those living east of Tiger Bay and the Kneeknocker Swamp opted for Nahunta. Most assuredly the economic potential of each community was sufficient reason for the division. Could we say that the dissension over all these years was due to a "business decision" that went bad?
We use the term "Fire Tower Ridge" as a symbolism of division between the east-west "county-site political sectors". This symbolism acknowledges diverse views, and acknowledges democracy as a way of solving those differences. This is not to say that voters did not exist on either side of the ridge which favored the other town for the county site. The Hoboken precinct had 11 votes for movement of the county site to another location; Nahunta had nine voters who did not want the county site moved from Hoboken.
Fire Tower Ridge: Also known as TRAIL RIDGE, a Historic Marker on U.S. 82 (old 84) between Nahunta and Hoboken). This ridge interrupted only by major streams, extends south from the Altamaha River in Georgia to the Santa Fe River in Florida, a distance of 130 miles. It is an ancient barrier each formed many miles offshore in the sea which covered this area during the Pleistocene or last Ice Age. The top of the ridge is now about 100 feet above sea level and formed a natural trailway for the Indians and early white settlers through the coastal lowlands.
During the late 1930's the Civilian Conservation Corp. (C.C.C.) constructed a fire observation tower at the peak of Trail Ridge. It remain there, reaching high above the pine saplings throughout the twentieth century, although unmanned during the latter part of the century. This tower wasn't there during the "county site court battles". We use it's presence simply as a symbolism of division.
MISSING ELEMENTS OF HAPPINESS: In 1920 all residents of the new county were overjoyed with it's creation. Nearly eighty years later, we can visualize the pandemonium that must have occurred throughout the new county; hur-rah, hur-rah! A common thread of agreement was apparent both east and west of "fire tower ridge." This is not to suggest that the people of Brantley County were an unhappy people prior to it's creation. In fact, just the opposite.
Like the early pioneers who crossed the western plains, the southeastern migrants also met adversities, environmentally, as well as Indians, French, and Spanish warfare. Perhaps their greatest obstactle was "scratching out a living" from a southern, insect infested forest land which was often very relentless against the manual tools available for clearing the land, such as axes and grubbing hoes. For the most part they were a people who sought freedom and fortune, migrating southward from the northern colonies, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, going into North and South Carolina and ultimately into Georgia. Others settlers of Georgia included Oglethorpe's colonies, and those who returned to Georgia after the Revolutionary skirmishes. Most south Georgia settlers were a humble people of pride and hard works. Survival and work ethics were taught by their forefathers. They grew to depend upon each other for safety. Hard works and friendships are natural ingredients of happiness. Where these elements are found, community churches, schools, and social involvements flourish.
"Strong willed, moral people who face natural adversities, and depend upon sunshine, rain, and dirt for survival normally "praise their God, from whom all blessings flow." They built community churches close to their homes. The construction of schools also followed that order. Community schools were built by the local people, and normally inherited the name of the person who donated the land and/or building materials. With county records showing the existence of 38 community schools at the creation of Brantley County, we believe that a comparable number of churches existed.
"Involvement in self government" was the apparent missing element of contentment in the life of pre-Brantley County folks. Whatever the reason limiting their participation in county governmental affairs, excessive mileage and inadequate transportation to respective county sites must have been a factor. County wide dissatisfaction was a result.
Politics is a necessity is a democratic society. The people of Brantley County wanted nothing more than "honesty and integrity" in their newly established county. Mindful, it was a time shortly after World War I when the entire United States was trying to recover from the after-affects of a national crisis; a time when birth pains of the League of Nations was still being felt. It was a time of poverty, and very few jobs.
Differences among those early pioneer adversaries was mostly "political", but what makes that any different than today. Politics in Brantley County has all ways been interesting. It's a big county with many roads, buildings, people, and other assets. It's a county made up of personalities; some with selfish desires, others for the good of the people.
Political views and opinions are necessities in a democratic government and will always exist. If you have doubt, visit the meetings of Brantley Countys commissioners. Their battle strategies and political maneuvers would make up a "bill-board" for the greatest show on earth. Parliamentary law controls heated battles at every meeting, but the measuring stick the final "vote". It represents the workings of a democratic society.
If struggles between the east-west sectors of Brantley County continues today, its at that level, with each Commissioner fighting for the equity of distribution for his district. Again, who could expect anything less? Differences of opinions will always exist, just as they did during the court battles for the county site.
County Commissioner and other county officers are "champions of the people." When elected, they pledge to "fight the battles of right and wrong," battles for the people. Keep that in mind when voting for "a champion" at the next election. Unproved friendships may not always be the best "champion for the good of the people". The element of time has revealed many self serving interests over the years. You be the evaluator, "How can a person with little financial means, enter a county office, which pays a modest salary, and exit that office with property holdings exceeding the measurements of a rich man. It has happened.