From The Ellaville Sun, Thursday, November 20, 1957
"....Inferior Court judges busied themselves at once with plans for a two-story courthouse. A contract was let to Jim Broadfield on July 10, 1858, specifying 50 percent of the money would be paid when the job was half done and the balance on January 1, 1860. Broadfield started work at once on the site of the present Ellaville Service Station and Donna Lynne Motel and Cafe.
The old courthouse became an office building. Knights of Pythias and the Masons occupied the upper floor and the building was known as the "Castle Hall." Among the businesses using the ground floor were a barber shop, printing office, tailor shop, and doctors' offices. ...."
Contributed by Ernie Jones [email protected]
NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS
Sealed proposals will be received by the commissioners of Schley county up to
12 o'clock, noon, Wednesday, August 31, 1899, for the erection and completion
of a two story brick and stone court house for Schley county, according to
plans and specifications prepared by Golucke & Stewart, architects. Plans and
specificiations will be on file at the office of commissioners at Ellaville,
Ga., and office of archutects, Atlanta, Ga., on and after 28th of July. The
payment for work to be made from time to time as work progresses, on estimate
by the architcts of the work done, and the balance in cash on completionand
acceptance of the building by the commissioners. Bond in double the amount of
the contract will be required by the successful bidder. The right is reserved
to reject any and all bids. Proposals to be marked "Bids for Schley County
Courthouse" and addressed to W.D. Murray, at Ellaville, Ga.
By order county
commissioners, sitting for county purposes. July 14, 1899.
A.M. Caskey
T.V. Bridges
V.H. Tondee
G.T. Walker
W.D. Murray
Commissioners Schley County, Georgia
The old courthouse is one of Schley's oldest landmarks, having been erected about 50 years go. The courthouse was a new structure when our fathers left for the battlefields in the early Sixties.
Contributed by Carla Miles [email protected]
From "Ellaville and Schley County.....an historical sketch..p. 31" -- "Old Schley County Courthouse being torn down - about 1937"
Note:"History of Schley County Ga....p. 153" says "In 1937 a gymnasium was built" ----- In the attached jpg the gymnasium can be seen......built at least before the old courthouse was torn down.
It's my understanding that the confederate memorial in the city park once
stood in front of the old court house before the "new" road was built to Buena
Vista..Hwy 26. (The old Buena Vista road originated near the train tracks at
the north edge of town at the Standridge gas station and Hwy 19............the
number "19" can be seen on a sign in the left quarter of this picture with an
arrow beneath it pointing north..........the number "3" is beneath the
arrow, "Ga state Rd 3."
Ernie Jones
"The outstanding work of the chapter since it's organization has been the building of the Monument to the Confederate dead. This was accomplished during the administration of Mrs. S.C. Collins.
The monument stands at the conjunction of Broad and Oglethorpe streets. The U.D.C. was aided in its erection by the citizens of Ellaville and Schley County."
Note: The seats are gone now. The plaque remains on a small monument on the east side of the park nearest the court house. It's inscription is as follows:
"The seats in this park are dedicated by the children to honor their mothers on Mother's Day, May 11th, 1930."
Namely (Deceased) Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Williams Dozier Mrs. Sarah Jane Harden Mrs. Mary Chapman Williamson Mrs. Susie Sherman Smith Mrs. Jessie Peacock Collins Mrs. Georgia Battle Jordan Mrs. Katie Rogers Williams (Living) Mrs. Lillie Davis Dixon Mrs. Evelyn Stokes Hart Mrs. Helen Sewell Stevens Mrs. Mamie Stevens Collins Mrs. Lillie (Mae Woodall) Hill Mrs. Elizabeth Williams Jordan Mrs. Addie Smith Munro (Aunts) Miss Julia Peacock Mrs. Nettyle Williams Dixon Source: The History of Schley
The Georgia GenWeb
Project