Memories of By-Gone Days in Muscogee County, Georgia

McMillan or Mack Miller Park?

The park was named after a black man who sold Insurance, drove an ambulance and Mr.Mack Miller worked for the family who used to own the Oak House or the restaurant on the left after leaving Hamilton, GA. Mr. Mack Miller owned land in that area and worked with young children early in the 1900s.

I honestly thought it was McMillian, I can almost see the sign in my mind as a teen going past the park and even when we would go with our children. But we visited the Library, City Hall and they all say the name of the park was, Mack Miller. Even the Fire Chief in Hamilton agreed with me that he remembered McMillian.

Jan called Bo Callaway and talked to Mrs. (Beth) Callaway and she said the park has been Mack Miller since day one. Hmmmmmm. Mrs. Callaway being from Hamilton, said she used to play in the large house which is now the Oak Room/House. when she was a child. Since I can't remember if the restaurant is Room or House, maybe it was Mack Miller and not McMillian.
What do you remember?     Sandra

Assorted Memories Shared

1957 graduation, Billy Case and I went to the Goo Goo and went inside with the white table cloth. Our dance was at the Country Club, my dress was beautiful. I was on cloud nine.

Remember the Liberty Bell Pool, at Pine Mountain?

I had two sisters who graduated from Jordan in 1949 and 1947.

Most of the young people at my church went to Columbus High School. A few went to Baker. My church was on Macon Road and Dixon Drive, not to far from Cross Country and Columbus Square.

Patricia

Anyone remember the Chickasaw when it was downtown? Also, Nichols Alley?
The Chickasaw later moved to Macon Rd. and has since been torn down to make way for an Eckerd's Drug Store.

Also, another gone but not forgotten place was the Municipal Auditorium. Fred Ward, the wrestling promoter, constantly sold this venue out for his various wrestling matches. I saw a lot of good concerts there, including Lynyrd Skynyrd (before they crashed in MS.) The original members have since reformed and will be performing soon during the 'new fair' down at the South Commons Civic Center. Speaking of fairs, anyone remember the old barbecue places behind the Auditorium during the fair-gone but not forgotten!!

I believe I have a pic of Dr. Pemberton's house around here somewhere that I took a long time ago while family was visiting. I may even have some old post cards laying around as I am a pack rat. I will try to go around and take some pics of some of the older places around when I get a chance.

Also, anyone remember quarter mile out on the Ft. Benning reservation off Chatsworth Rd.? I remember many of guys racing there cars to see whose was the fastest!!!

A place that is still around, but way out Macon Rd. in Talbot or Marion Co. was Blue Hole. Many a picnic there!! The water was so clear. Flat Rock has sure changed a lot. Hardly any water coming over the rock and the little swimming hole below it for the kids is barely ankle deep if that deep.

Patricia A. Cantrell Memories

I do remember the band, Anthem, from the Zodiac. Another band played there quite often, Target (I think that was their name-will have to check with some of the members.)

I know of a place on Buena Vista Rd. that is now almost gone. We called it Clay Hill. It is close to WLTZ-Channel 38. A lot of teenagers used to go up there back in the 70's and early 80's.

There used to be a lake/pond up the street from my house that the neighborhood kids liked to go to. Moon's lake, of course, we called it Moonie's Lake. The lake has now been drained and is over grown. I believe some houses are going up on the old banks.

Edgewood Drive-in was not the only drive-in town. There were also the Columbus on Benning Rd., Victory off of Victory Drive, Rexview over where Cols. Tech is now, and the Phenix over in Phenix City.

Of course, some of the old mills are gone now. I can't remember the name of the one near the 14th St. bridge, but Total Systems built their complex there and tore most of it down. They did retain the old Mott mansion on the river to use as offices, I believe.

Do you remember Liberty pool up in Harris Co? That water was so-o-o-o-o cold up on Pine Mountain. It is shaped like a liberty bell. I believe the water is now heated.

From Kemis: Liberty Pool is somewhat heated. The spring fed water is mixed with chlorine water so it cools it down. Some of the rocks have been replaced with regular blue pool probably because of age. The pool was built as part of Roosevelt's CDC program.

A lot of our old memories of Columbus are now gone. Thank you for reviving the interest in the old places. I could probably think of some more if I really thought about it for awhile. One place does come to mind, though, and that is Columbus Square Mall. I just wish they could have left the mall as it was and put the new library in it, but I think it had a lot of asbestos in the old building. Patricia

Jean Harron Memories

This was located in lower downtown Columbus on 6th Avenue near the jail. Mr. Arthur Bussey opened it after the Army took over his beloved Riverside Plantation at Ft. Benning. My Grandfather would take me there for ice cream. Every time I go down 6th Avenue I think of that ice cream as it was like hand cranked and soooooooo good.

Riverside Plantation is now the home to the Commanding General of Ft. Benning. It was the last of the great working plantations in this area. Arthur Bussey built it and the U. S. Army purchased it in 1919. The Bussey's used it as a summer home. They raised cotton and other crops and Arthur has a creamery which is now part of the Staff Judge Advocates building at Ft. Benning. He pumped water up from a holding pond which is still there to a water tank which was located behind the creamery. The house and the creamery had a hand pump which they could draw water from. The kitchen portion of the Riverside Plantation is the oldest part of the house as it had been a meeting house built by Col. William Woolfolk a soldier of the American Revolution. Mr. Bussey moved it on logs pulling by mules to it's present spot and added on the rest of the house. Jean

Memories from Jeanette

Flat Rock, I believe out on Buena Vista Road. My family enjoyed picnicking at Flat Rock.

Goo Goo was a hang out for teenagers. Especially those from Jordan High School.

There was a Mitchell Shop on the same street the Georgia Theater was located on but the opposite side - one block up. I ate there many times. He made that candy with marshmallows, nuts and chocolate. I can taste it now. (1958-1962)

Within the Columbus and Phenix City area, the Idle Hour Park held the biggest Easter egg hunt. As a child I went every year and we ate boiled eggs for weeks. Later years they hid bags of Easter egg candies.

Anyone remember the name of the drive-in restaurant at I believe River Road and 45th Street, next to the Rexview. They made the best B-B-Que sandwiches.

There was also a drive-in restaurant out on Victory Drive made the best steak sandwiches. Can't recall the name.

The Royal Theater on Talbotton. They had Saturday morning movies with serials. Lash Larue, Johnny Mack Brown, Gene Autry, etc. Flash Gordon serial.

Bradley was on Broad just up from Rialto.

Hot dogs were good from the Orange Bowl on Broad.

I received info that Flat Rock is on Warm Springs Road and the drive-in at 45th and River Road was Clearview.

Anyone on the list who went to Jordan High in 1953-1954 - my freshman and sophomore years?

The old Roy Martin (of Martin Theaters) home was located on Talbotton Road. It faced both Talbotton and a road off Talbotton. Martin Theaters were all over GA and AL.
Next to it on the side road was the old Lowe Home. I think after the owner died it became doctors offices. I think the owner was a Ms. Lowe and she had been a school teacher. They uncovered murals on the walls. I believe it has been torn down. It was a beautiful old home.

Near the above location was the Tasty Sandwiches Shop. They prepackaged sandwiches. Think I have the name correct.

Perhaps the oldest theater in Columbus was the Pastime which was located on Second Avenue up near Bibb City.

I believe it was at the Royal Theater that Roger Williams, the pianist had a concert and he wanted to purchase the baby grand piano but they wouldn't sell it to him.

Phenix City was known nation wide in the 50's. The word was Gen. Patton wanted to take his tanks and wipe it off the map so I've heard. When Patterson was killed in Phenix City it was the first and only time I've ever heard a paper boy call EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT. Jeanette

Memories from Max Smith

I graduated from Jordan in 1953. I nearly lived at Stripling Pool during the summer as I lived on Gentian Blvd.

There was a cemetery near the Goo Goo and one dark night I was cutting through it and an object like a white sheet came floating toward me, never touching the ground just moving its legs and approaching. After jumping off the path one of the black Goo Goo workers dressed all in white passed me on a bicycle.

I usually went to the Rialto (sp) theater downtown as it had a western every Saturday with a serial. The Georgia I believe down town but toward the phone company had the first run movies. Wasn't the other theater downtown the Bradley?

I remember coming out of the theater one Saturday and everybody was crying as Franklin Roosevelt had died at Warm Spring, Georgia. I believe the train came through Columbus that took his body back for burial.

While at Jordan we would go about 4-5 blocks toward the Warm Springs Rd and eat scrambled dogs for lunch nearly every day. They had the best onions. Must have been Vidalia Onions before we knew about them.

I remember the cold water at the Pine Mountain swimming pool also. Stripling Pool got their water from a lake just up the road from them.

I also remember an April fool joke by the Columbus Ledger. They had the picture of a large battle ship that was visiting Columbus on the front page and had got up the Chattahoochee due to new technology of getting over dams etc. The width of the battle ship was at least 4 times as wide as the Chattahoochee River. But there were traffic jams downtown to see the battle ship.

Also I saw many games by the Columbus Cardinals out at Golden Park. I still have an autograph book of the team one year and several made the majors. At the end of one year the fans had been on the 2nd baseman all year and suggested he be sent down to a lower league. He told the papers where he hoped the fans went was a lot hottest than where they wanted him to go. Believe his name was Eddie Pullins.

Memories from Kemis

Flat Rock is out Warm Springs Road. Like many places the water isn't as deep as it once was. . . I've worn out several bottoms of jeans sliding down those rocks (never was brave enough to try it in a bathing suit like many others did.)

The drive-in restaurant on River Road and 45th Street was the Clearview (now a gas/convenience station.) If I'm not mistaken the restaurant on Victory Drive is Gus's - still there today. The outside doesn't look very different They had really great steak sandwiches - just like the Varsity did.

Memories from Dick & Cathy Coulter

I'm Dick Coulter, a 1953 Columbus High graduate, and I'm new to the list. I found the mention of Eddie Pullins most humorous. I was at Golden Park that evening when Eddie made his now infamous remarks to the right field bleacher fans. Great memories.

Memories from Jordan High School

Does anyone know the where the cannons are that once sat in front of Jordan High School (JVHS). I remember them being large enough that the cheerleaders could stand on them and one person could sit stretch their legs out while having their picture made.

The cannons they have in the naval museum are small and not at all what I remember. I have been told that these are the cannons that was in front of JVHS for many years. But, I remember then being much larger.

I can't remember when the cannons were placed at Jordan , why or who gave them to us. I remember my older sisters talking about the cannon , they attended Jordan in the late 1940s and the cannons had been there for a while.

I do remember there was a cannon, can't remember if there was one or two , but they sat in the front yard of an old house on Hamilton Road not far from what is now Rose Hill fish restaurant . The restaurant was also across the street on Hamilton Road , and the Peabody Apartments. which is now a vacant lot.

Does anyone remember what happen to the one large cannon ? When it came to JVHS to live and why was it given to JVHS and who gave it?

This is the same cannon that was painted Columbus High School colors in the mid 1940s. In return Jordan High School painted on the front of the building (Columbus High School) JVHS in tar and this wasn't removed until the fire at Columbus High School when boys (?) sat Columbus High School on fire with air plane fuel.

Just curious and wanting to know if anyone else remembers the story as to what happen to the Cannons that reaped with memories of everyone who entered and exited Jordan High School ..1905 -

Sandra

maiden name Waldrop

Muscogee County, Georgia

Thanks to Linda Boggs for sharing the History of the Jordan High School Cannon. This was certainly a surprise when Linda answered back so quickly with sharing History with us.

RED JACKET FACTS

The chronicle of the original gun is deeply interwoven with the culture and traditions of Columbus.

Organized in 1835 the Columbus Guards saw action in the Indian uprising of 1836, the war with Mexico in 1846, and the War Between the States in 1861. Full size fireable replica of the Red Jacket Cannon guards the entrance of the pub

In 1861, Laura Beecher (cousin to Harriet Beecher Stowe) purchased the salute gun now known as the "RED JACKET". It was presented to the Columbus Guards in honor of her nephew Lieutenant W. G. Clemons. The name it seems comes from the red jackets that were worn by the Columbus Guards. The unit served as honor guard to Jefferson Davis on his trip to Montgomery for his inaugural. The "RED JACKET" was taken along and used to fire the first salutes to the new president. At the fall of Columbus to General Wilson in 1865 it was thrown in the river.

Later that same year a steamboat found the "RED JACKET" entangled in its anchor. The gun ended up in New York City. As luck would have it, Capt. Tom Blanchard saw a newspaper article telling of a celebration and describing the gun. Lamar Chapel arranged for the purchase and return of the gun to Columbus in 1884.

The "RED JACKET" stood vigil at the old library and the Courthouse for many years and even gave its name to the Jordan Vocational High School Mascot (hence the name Jordan Red Jackets). In 1930 some "Good Old Boys" (most likely inebriated) stole the "RED JACKET" took it to the river and attempted to fire it. The gun exploded but unfortunately none of them was injured or killed. Alva Smith, of the Columbus Historical Society, found the pieces and stuck them together.

In 1996, William Gantt produced a full-sized drawing of the gun from measurements taken from it. He commissioned the Breitling Arms company of Demo polis, Alabama to build a full size, fireable replica of the "RED JACKET" for THE CANNON BREWPUB. The gun was first proved on July 29, 1998 one hundred and thirty years after the original

The original "RED JACKET" is displayed in the Iron Works museum room.

The Red Jacket is the signature gun of the Brewpub.

If I recall correctly, I was attending Jordan when the cannons were painted and "our" boys went to CHS and painted the building. I was there in 1953 and part of 1954. Perhaps they were painted on two different occasions.

Jeanette