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Information for Augusta, Georgia
Augusta, GA
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Latitude: 33.433271 -- Longitude: -82.022048
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Augusta is a city located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 195,182. In 1996, the governments of the City of Augusta and Richmond County combined to form a single governing body known as Augusta-Richmond County. The consolidated city-county is today simply known as "Augusta, Georgia" and not by the consolidated name. The area that comprises the city limits of Augusta (identified during the 2000 census as "the Augusta-Richmond County balance") includes almost all of Richmond County, except for the towns of Hephzibah and Blythe, which maintain governments separate from that of Augusta. Augusta's official nickname is The Garden City. It is also known as Masters City, since it plays host to the Masters golf tournament. The city recently adopted the motto, "We Feel Good", in recognition of native son and soul music legend James Brown. Notable residents include: James Brown (Musician), Hulk Hogan (Professional wrestler), and Woodrow Wilson (U. S. President). -- Source: Wikipedia.com
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Augusta is a city located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 195,182. In 1996, the governments of the City of Augusta and Richmond County combined to form a single governing body known as Augusta-Richmond County. The consolidated city-county is today simply known as "Augusta, Georgia" and not by the consolidated name. The area that comprises the city limits of Augusta (identified during the 2000 census as "the Augusta-Richmond County balance") includes almost all of Richmond County, except for the towns of Hephzibah and Blythe, which maintain governments separate from that of Augusta. Augusta's official nickname is The Garden City. It is also known as Masters City, since it plays host to the Masters golf tournament. The city recently adopted the motto, "We Feel Good", in recognition of native son and soul music legend James Brown. Notable residents include: James Brown (Musician), Hulk Hogan (Professional wrestler), and Woodrow Wilson (U. S. President). -- Source: Wikipedia.com
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Census Data for Augusta, Georgia
Georgia 2000 Census Population Profile Map| Augusta | Georgia | United States | |
| Population | 195,182 | 8,186,453 | 281,421,906 |
| Median age | 32.3 | 33.4 | 35.3 |
| Median age for Male | 30.3 | 32.1 | 34 |
| Median age for Female | 34.3 | 34.6 | 36.5 |
| Households | 72,307 | 3,006,369 | 105,480,101 |
| Household population | 184,312 | 7,952,631 | 273,643,273 |
| Average household size | 2.55 | 2.65 | 2.59 |
| Families | 48,234 | 2,111,647 | 71,787,347 |
| Average family size | 3.13 | 3.14 | 3.14 |
| Housing units | 80,481 | 3,281,737 | 115,904,641 |
| Occupied units | 72,307 | 3,006,369 | 105,480,101 |
| Vacant units | 8,174 | 275,368 | 10,424,540 |
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Other Area Cities: Aiken Augusta Evans Martinez Hephzibah
Other Popular Georgia Cities: Albany Alpharetta Athens Atlanta Augusta Brunswick Buford Douglasville Kennesaw Macon Marietta Peachtree City Savannah Stone Mountain Warner Robins
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Shell oil to unveil massive icebreaker ship in Alaska
12/08/2011
LAROSE, La. -- A longtime Shell contractor has nearly completed a massive, customized icebreaking ship for the company's drilling projects in the Chukchi Sea off Alaska.
Obama to echo Theodore Roosevelt in a big thematic speech on Tuesday
12/08/2011
WASHINGTON — Franklin Roosevelt had the New Deal. Harry Truman had the Fair Deal. John Kennedy had the New Frontier. Now President Barack Obama takes his stab at wrapping his presidency under one great mantle.
Europe confronts its debt crisis in key meetings this week
12/08/2011
WASHINGTON — After months of dithering and false starts, Europe faces a pivotal week as investors await a credible last-ditch solution to its debt crisis. The outlines of a potential solution emerged Monday, and how the rest of the week plays out will have significant bearing on ordinary Americans as well as Europeans.
When a thief steals your ID, and IRS refund
12/08/2011
Without a hitch, Miami natives Ed and Kelley Brill had filed their joint income-tax returns from the same home address for 14 years.
Nightmare: squatters claim more than $8 million in Fort Worth properties
12/08/2011
While county officials were asleep at the wheel, Tarrant County became a magnet this year for an odd assortment of squatters claiming other people's houses all over the area.
Tips for a safe, sane, frugal shopping season
12/08/2011
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Thanksgiving is barely over, but the holiday shopping season is in full swing. Between now and Jan. 1, hordes of us are expected to be out scouting the malls and neighborhood boutiques or hovering at our computers to shop online.
Shell Oil bets billions on Arctic Alaska plan
12/08/2011
NEW ORLEANS — Standing in front of a brightly colored, 3-D image of the geology far below the floor of the Chukchi Sea, Steve Phelps pointed to the "giant opportunity" that has prompted Shell Oil to pour billions of dollars into the Alaska Arctic.
Henry's Louisiana Grill Fits the Bill
12/08/2011
*a really great area for waiting on those busy nights that includes a bar big enough to eat at if you so desire…..the bar at Rays on the River comes to mind or Stoney River Steaks at Cumberland.
*something magically appears on the table for me to munch on the minute I’m seated…….Ted’s Montana Grill has marinated cucumber slices……Mexican restaurants provide chips and salsa……even Carrabbas has the sinful bread and olive oil with spices for dipping.
*the salad course includes honest to goodness homemade croutons…..NO commercial chunks of goodness from a cardboard box, please, or I will promptly tell my waitperson their croutons suck. Most of the higher-end places understand this…..sadly, after George McKerrow, Jr. sold his Longhorn’s chain they changed their croutons, and the salads have just been ho-hum ever since.
*this one is a given but of course the place has to deliver on the food. It has to be prepared to perfection or close to it.
and the most important must-have……..
*ambiance, ambiance, ambiance……some sort of gimmick like great décor, a location along an old main street or inside an old storefront. Perhaps there is fantastic patio to sit at outdoors or the grounds surrounding the restaurant are attractive. Papadeaux in Marietta has a wonderful brick entry way and the views from the windows at the far end of the dining room are attractive. The Chart House along River Street in Savannah has the tugs and the cargo freighters moving up the river and even the dining room at the Resort at Brasstown Bald can only be described as rustic elegance with open beams and stacked stone fireplaces. The windows and wide porches provide a view of the setting sun over lovely grounds that just calm the soul.
Now a great restaurant in my book doesn’t have to achieve all of my benchmarks, but I sure do hope for one or two. This past Saturday night I visited a spot north of Atlanta that met ALL of my benchmarks.
Henry’s Louisiana Grill in Acworth, Georgia.
Recently Chef Henry won the People’s Platelist Contest by ABC’s Nightline, and now I understand why.
There is only one thing I can say…..Ooh La La!
Henry’s has a wonderful bar where my husband and I waited for a table. Even though the place was packed the wait didn’t take long and we soon had our table, however, I would have been just as happy to enjoy my meal sitting at the bar. While we waited Chef Henry Chandler, the owner and head chef, made his round talking to people. He’s known to refer to first-timers to his establishment as virgins.
No sooner had we reached our table a basket of sourdough bread and the best cornbread I’ve ever tasted magically appeared on our table.
From that point on our various courses were perfectly timed. We didn’t feel hurried, but we were never left without food for very long, and of course, Chef Henry made a second appearance at our table to bestow beads around my neck….a gift of welcome he provides all female customers with.
I instantly eyed the hushpuppies that were included in the appetizer section of the menu and was intrigued enough to order them. I’m glad I did, however, I have had delicious dreams of those wonderful bits of love flowing through my mind ever since. They were the most unbelievable bits of moistness I’ve ever tasted served up with remoulade sauce on the side.
Our ceasar salads were just enough for a salad course and yes…..the croutons were tasty.
Mr. Elementaryhistoryteacher ordered the Louisiana Ohh La La……..one of Chef Henry’s signature dishes that includes oysters, shrimp and crawfish flash fried and tossed with tasso, spinach, roasted garlic and Henry’s Cajun Cream Sauce. You can order the dish with just the shrimp, etc. but my husband opted for the whole thing. The dish is served over angel hair pasta or grits. The AJC has named this dish as one of the top 50 dishes to drive for, and they aren’t off the mark at all.
Finally, Henry’s Louisiana Grill does have the ambiance. It’s friendly, it’s loud, it’s comfortable, and it’s worth the drive.
Laissez les bon temps roulex……Let the good times roll!!!!!
12/08/2011
The festival includes musical performances, educational demonstrations, a flower show, and Georgia’s official state Fiddlers’ Convention.
We stopped by on Sunday and took a walk through the exhibits……and of course, we had a funnel cake.
Here are a few of the images from the festival:
The pottery booth.......I love to watch the wheel demonstration.
Ummm....this guy was kinda interesting. Look at his feet.....:)
Interesting crafts......I guess that's a good use of the old jugs found on any Georgia farm.
Lovely painted windows to hang on a porch or in a sunroom
The train was cute....complete with a real train whistle....
Hmmmm.......
I've never had a fair burger at the fair. I've always thought they were pretty good.
Authentic outbuildings dot the fairgrounds.....
Yes, that's a tree trunk table. They wanted $250 for it.
Wood splitting demonstration.
A bonafide country cabin....
The blacksmith demonstration
The old schoolhouse....
Of course, we had the ever predictable Elvis sighting.....
Yummy!
Elvis singing for the crowd....
Lovely views of the mountains from the fairgrounds.
12/08/2011
Now….in my defense I haven’t exactly been living in Canton over the last few months until just recently, but I was a little shocked to this
These are images of Hickory Log Creek dam in Canton, Georgia. It is one of the largest dams in the state at 950 feet wide and 180 feet high. The reservoir it creates covers 4 acres and holds six billion gallons of water…..The purpose of the dam is to provide an additional source of drinking water for citizens.
Hickory Log Creek is a tributary of Etowah River
Follow this link for additional pictures at the Atlanta Journal site.
Most Georgia history students are taught that due to the colony’s warm climate and southern location many felt it was the perfect location for the cultivation of silk. They are also taught that eventually the manufacturing of silk failed and other crops became more important like cotton. Usually, the silk industry in early Georgia is just a blip on the history map…..a mention lasting about ten minutes at the most.
That’s it…..a short little paragraph for students to grasp.
Well…..there’s more to the story.
The silk industry in Georgia began in 1734 with some experimental plantings of mulberry trees in the Trustee’s Garden in Savannah. The trees were planted because silk worms live off of the mulberry leaves. In fact, the cultivation of silk was so important all Georgia colonists were required to plant mulberry trees once they took possession of their plot of land.
After a few months the colonist had to admit there were significant issues regarding the silk worms themselves. The whole process was labor intensive. The Trustees decided the colonist who had been hired to manufacture the silk needed some expert advised so they invited an Italian contingent to the colony to teach them the ins and outs of manufacturing silk, but there were constant issues between the Italians and the “Georgians.”
In fact, an Italian skilled in the production of silk named Paul Amatis accompanied Oglethorpe to Georgia in 1732, and another Italian named Joseph Ottolenghe was responsible for erecting a filature at Reynolds Square, located on Abercorn between Bryan and Congress Streets. A filature is a structure used to house cocoons and where silk is reeled. The filature at Reynolds Square held a record number of 15,212 pounds of cocoons.
John Milledge was assigned a grant of land located on Skidaway Island sometime between 1754 and 1771 where he named his plantation Modena, supposedly after an Italian town that was the center of the silk culture. Milledge’s son, John, Jr., became the founder of Franklin College which eventually morphed into the University of Georgia.
Apparently, it didn’t take long for the Georgians to have some success with actual fabric being produced as James Oglethorpe was able to supply the wife of King George II, Caroline, enough silk for a gown she wore to the King’s birthday celebration in 1735.
I would love to write I was able to locate a painting of Queen Caroline wearing Georgia silk, but at this point I can only speculate. I did find a painting she commissioned by Jacopo Amigoni (Giacomo Amiconi) in1735….the same year she reportedly wore the dress created from Georgia silk. The cape the Queen is wearing in the painting is actually a state robe trimmed in ermine, however, the dress she is wearing could very well be the dress she wore for the King’s celebration and was made entirely of Georgia silk.
By 1742 enough silk was being produced for it to be a commodity and records show by 1767, a ton of silk was being exported each year.
The Salzburger colonists outside of Savannah were also experimenting with silk and had even more success than those in Savannah. One woman in the community was quite successful creating silk for fishing lines.
Eventually the industry could not overcome the ups and downs in the Georgia climate, and cotton proved to be a far easier and more economical crop to produce.
Even so silk didn’t just go by the wayside. It was still around in the 1830s as far inland as Cherokee County. In fact, the state of Georgia historical marker at the square in front of the courthouse states, “Early settlers tried to start silk production, but were not successful, and today there remains no trace of this except Canton, hopefully named for the Chinese silk center.
At that point silk then just became a chapter in the Georgia history books.
The idea behind the Booth Museum began when a Cartersville decided to share their collection of contemporary western art with the general public. Amazingly, they do so anonymously. The museum isn’t named for the family, but is named for a mentor and someone long admired by the family.
The Booth Museum has been an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution since 2006, is the only museum of its kind in the southeast, and is described as a contemporary western art museum which means the art dates from the late 19th through the 21st Century. Many of the artists are still alive and several visit the museum from time to time for lectures.
While western art does interest me one of the permanent exhibitions really excites me – the Presidential letters exhibit. My toes curl at the thought of viewing actual letters written by the presidents.
The permanent collection at the Booth Museum also includes Civil War art
If you don’t want to tour the museum on your own you can take a Highlights Tour offered daily at 1:30 p.m. Families who arrive with children might want to check out one of the saddlebags filled with activities that go along with the exhibits and help them get the most out of the museum.
The Booth Museum is located in downtown Cartersville. While there make sure you see the earliest outdoor Coca-Cola advertisement (1894), see the Grand Theater, and visit the Bartow History Museum. There are also various spots to have lunch downtown.
The next stop while in Cartersville would be the Tellus Science Museum and Weinman Mineral Museum with over 50 cases of gems, minerals, and gold. The museum also has fossil exhibits, an underwater exhibit featuring giant fish and reptiles native to Georgia, the 9-foot wide jaw of a Megaladon – a shark found in the oceans that was larger than a school bus, and many other things.
Of course, you can’t get anywhere near Cartersville and not visit the Etowah Indian Mounds dating from 1,000 A.D., but plan carefully because the park is only open from Wednesday through Saturday. I’ve written about them before here.
Looking over my list it appears that the day is already full. The Booth recommends two hours and the Tellus states it would take three hours for a proper visit…..add in the Indian Mounds, and it’s a full day.
Hmmm…..this might turn into an overnight at Barnsley Gardens which I’ve always wanted to tour as well….not to mention spend the night. It's down the road from Cartersville in Adairsville.
Rest a little……have a fantastic dinner at the resort and then on the way home hit up the tour at Roselawn, the home of Sam P. Jones, an evangelist and the gentleman the Ryman Auditorium was built for. No, Jones was not a country music singer. They Ryman Auditorium was first known as Union Gospel Tabernacle.
I’d also like to cross the Euharlee Covered Bridge built in 1886 by Washington King son of bridge builder Horace King…..see my past article here.
Well, I’m off to find my calendar and plan my little overnight trip…….It may take a few days, however, because my days are pretty full. Most certainly, I’ll post the results here as soon as I can.
12/08/2011
For over 70 years the Armory-Auditorium as it was formerly know was Atlanta’s premier event center for concerts, theater and opera events, professional wrestling, the old-time fiddlers’ convention among many others, and the Gone With the Wind ball held in 1939. The 179th field artillery drilled there and also stored their ammunition.
I found it most interesting that the very first event to be held at the Armory-Auditorium was a ‘possum dinner held for 500 in honor of President-elect William Howard Taft. Thereafter, the portion of the building where the dinner was held was called Taft Hall. More than likely it is the same portion of the Municipal Auditorium that survives today as Georgia State’s Alumni Hall.
My research indicates there was actually a committee for procuring the ‘possums for the Taft ‘possum dinner.
This site detailing certain historical events from Worth County history confirms the ‘possums were obtained free of charge from the plantation of Judge Frank Park
Telegrams that went back and forth tell the story:
Sylvester, Georgia, January 2, 1909 – E.C. Caverly and Mr. Wilkerson, ‘Possum Committee, Atlanta: Worth County asks the honor of being allowed to furnish free to the ‘possum and ‘tater supper, the one hundred fat ‘possums required. Answer promptly so we can unloose the ‘possum dogs.
and the answer:
Frank Park, Sylvester, Georgia: We accept with pleasure and gratitude your offer to furnish ‘possum and ‘taters. Unleash your discriminating ‘possum clogs. [I’m thinking clogs should be dogs, of course.]
The Worth County history also goes into detail regarding the ‘possums and what took place once they had been “gathered”.
The deed is done! The suspense is over! The slaughter of the innocents is accomplished! The largest and most varied collection of ‘possums ever accumulated in the ‘possum state of the South went to their fate Wednesday morning not exactly like the lambs to the slaughter because they were ‘possums; and a ‘possum is not like anything else under the sun, except another ‘possum, neither is there any other creature……
How the deed was done. The ‘possum grasped firmly by his rat-like tail, is flopped with some enthusiasm, upon the ground chin down. Across the nape of his neck, is placed a broom-stick, upon either end of which the executioner places a number 11 foot (the number is important) without delay (for the ‘possum does not take kindly to this procedure) the southern extremity of the animal is smartly elevated by means of that convenient handle, his tail, and - snick! It’s all over. Another ‘possum has been gathered to his father’s in the great beyond, where perennial persimmon trees flourish, and there is no happy hunting ground.
Levi Colbert, Annie Daniels and Mahala Bennett were sent from Judge Parker’s plantation to Atlanta to help with the food preparations at the Piedmont Hotel. Mr. Colbert was a consulting cook and apparently was an expert when it came to preparing ‘possum. His method was as follows:
Immediately after the execution, the ‘possums are plunged in boiling water to remove the hair, dressed and placed in a cold salt water bath for twelve hours “to kill de animal taste, and bring out de ‘possum taste,” says Levi. Then they are parboiled… after which they are baked with the time-honored sweet potatoes; being basted during this process with a special sauce prepared after a formula newly invented by Signor John Blocoki, chief cook at the Piedmont Hotel.
At article in the New York Times advised the menu also included Turtle Soup, Broiled Georgia Shad, spiced watermelon, Boiled Wild Turkey with Oyster Sauce, Quail en Casserole. One hundred gallons of persimmon beer made by Mrs. Watson of Richard Street was served at the dinner along with champagne and claret. This counters the Worth County history which advises they’ll be no champagne or other liquid from foreign vineyard-the Georgia Prohibition law forbids.
New Georgia Encyclopedia advises Georgia had statewide prohibition from 1908 until 1935, a period that began before and extended beyond national prohibition (1920-1933).
I guess at some point the law was overlooked for the special visitor. The New York Times advised Georgia was a Prohibition state but it was not a temperance event. I should add here persimmon beer is not intoxicating, but the New York paper advised champagne and claret was also served. Asa Candler, of the Chamber of Commerce and founder of the Coca-Cola Company acted as toastmaster.
Once the dinner was in full swing, the ‘possum was brought to Taft in a chafing dish. The New York Times advised, Five hundred eyes were on the President-elect as he lifted the top of the dish and gazed at the boast of Georgia. The best dish I have toasted in weeks, said he, and judging from his satisfaction the ‘possum will become a regular White House visitor.
I just have to wonder if ‘possum ever made it onto the White House menu….
You can find out more about Taft’s trip to Georgia in 1909 over at American Presidents where I published a few more details centered on the President-elect including a bit more on his trip to the peach….er……’possum state.
You can find images and more information regarding the Muncipal Auditorium at Atlanta Time Machine here, here and here.
It's such an Atlanta tradition!
Still, I miss it atop the Crystal Bridge over Forsyth Street. Lenox is a great location, but......
The tree standing atop the crystal bridge was on the cover of Time magazine in 1961 seen above.
This year the Great Tree is from my side of the town...Douglasville, Georgia, and is just a hop, skip, and a jump from my house.
The tree is 26 years old. This means that it was just a little sapling when I first moved to my home, and now.....it's become large enough to be chosen.
I think it will do just fine!
The family who owns the tree has elected not to be identified, so I'll keep that under my hat.
The tree will be cut tomorrow, Thursday...November 10th. It will then be transported and placed on the roof of the Macy's at Lenox Square on Sunday at 10 a.m.
The Great Tree Lighting Show will begin at 7 p.m. followed by a fireworks display.
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<h3 ALIGN="LEFT"><a href="http://www.newquestcity.com/forums/templates/threads.cfm/category/S11/thread/215388">
The Witham Banking Chain</a><br />
12/08/2011<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-suO2wB4sa4Q/TlZr5r9tBCI/AAAAAAAAD-g/espF3BWGfFk/s1600/witham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-suO2wB4sa4Q/TlZr5r9tBCI/AAAAAAAAD-g/espF3BWGfFk/s200/witham.jpg" width="158" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I didn’t count all of them but there are dozens and dozens of banks listed at <a href="http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/banklist.html"><span style="color: blue;">at the FDIC site</span></a> that have closed since October 1, 2009.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">One of the more recent ones is <a href="http://www.wsbtv.com/news/28946855/detail.html"><span style="color: blue;">Silverton Bank</span></a> where the FDIC is suing 17 of the former directors due to “slipshod lending practices and for spending lavishly as the bank’s condition worsened and the economy weakened.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Silverton was a little different in that it represented <a href="http://www.ajc.com/business/suit-points-to-banks-878372.html"><span style="color: blue;">other banks</span></a> rather than the general public.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This very fact means their irresponsibility caused a “ripple effect” leading to other banks failing as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Though banking procedures and laws having changed through the last hundred years or so…..nothing really has changed regarding greed and those we trust to handle our money….case in point…..the Witham Banking Chain.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As the South moved from Reconstruction into the New South era there was a sudden spike in the number for applications for new national banking charters by business men who had taken over as the new leading class. These men understood the New South philosophy calling for changes in the southern economy in the areas of industrialization and in the textile industry in particular.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In order to get industries moving there had to be banks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In his book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cotton Fields</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and Skyscrapers</i> David R. Goldfield states, “By 1910, Peachtree Street was emerging as Atlanta’s focus for commercial and financial activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>13 banks were located within a three block area known as Five Points.” <o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">One of the best known bankers during the New South era in Georgia and Florida was W.S. Witham.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was raised in LaGrange, Georgia during the Civil War and moved to New York City in 1867.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By 1888, he had returned to Georgia and began building his banking system with his first bank in Jackson, Georgia.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Witham Banks were state banks, organized under Georgia laws with individual officers and directors and each had their own individual capital.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/GASCHLEY/2005-10/1128339744"><span style="color: blue;">As this site advises</span></a> Witham would arrive in a rural area….most of the towns that had a Witham Bank had populations of 1,000 or less…..and he would meet with local citizens persuading them they needed a bank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At many of his lectures he was promoted to citizens as the State Sunday School Association president [the meeting was held at the local Methodist Church] and he advised every merchant should take one or more shares, “for if we let this opportunity pass, we may regret it for years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The merchants, of all people, need a bank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The farmers need a bank…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The article goes on to state, “The earnestness of the speaker [Witham] commanded the closest attention of every one present, and his plea for better work in the Sunday Schools made a deep impression.”<tt><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></tt></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">By 1906 there were 72 Witham banks in Georgia and 5 in Florida.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Witham had a sweet deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After acquiring a few banks he had himself appointed fiscal agent of each affiliated bank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That position afforded him the right to shape bank policy and receive a fee from each branch of $750.00.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later Witham organized the Bankers Finance Company and conceived the idea of guaranteeing deposits before FDIC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, one of his company mottoes emphasized how safe a Witham bank was…..”Safety First!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The other motto was “Success!” which Witham promoted at every turn as he gave speeches, traveled across the country and resided in an elaborate Peachtree Street home referred to as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bide-a-wee</i> that was between Peachtree Place and 14<sup>th</sup> Street.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Witham took bank executives and their wives on extensive trips to build moral and preach his banking model to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The financial family got together for yearly meetings at some resort at the beach or mountains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes as many as 200-500 people would go along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This article from Washington D.C.’s <a href="http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84024441/1900-06-20/ed-1/seq-2/;words=WItham+Witham+Atlanta"><span style="color: blue;">Evening Times for June, 1900</span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>tells of a trip to Washington.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F20B15FF355B17738DDDAB0994DF405B868DF1D3"><span style="color: blue;">A New York Times article dated July, 1916</span></a> describes the trip to New York where an entire train was reserved for the banking officers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">By 1911, the Witham System had 125 banks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Capital had increased and the name was changed to Bankers Trust Company of Georgia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Witham stepped to the rear while W.D. Manley took the lead until the chain was forced out of existence in 1926. By this time Witham was spending most of his time in Miami speculating on real estate.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Vickers (see cite below) advises Witham hired Manley in 1900 with no banking experience, but he had been a loyal employee as a cashier of the Farmers and Traders Bank.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Manley had worked under Witham but unfortunately did not adhere to his conservative course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Manley’s course was aggressive and under his leadership the chain grew mainly in Florida.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also adhered to creative financing mean Manley would borrow from bank A to buy controlling shares of bank B.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once he owned controlling shares of bank B, it was simple to get a loan from bank B to pay off bank A.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The shares of bank B could then be used to purchase control in bank C.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For example, Vickers explains the Banker’s Financing Company of Atlanta had $100,000 of capital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Manley raised the capital by personally borrowing $100,000 from his Farmers and Traders Bank and Maddox-Rucker Banking Company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He used the money to buy 1000 shares of the Bankers Financing Company which operated as a financial agent for member banks and provided fidelity insurance to members.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">While Witham had his Peachtree Street mansion and invested in Miami real estate and textile mills, Manley lived lavishly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vickers explains during the early 20s Manley’s family lived in an Atlanta Paces Ferry mansion surrounded by 62 acres.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1923, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a reporter described turning off Paces Ferry Road and rolling down a long drive to an Italian Villa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a butler, chauffeurs, and a Cadillac limo as well as shopping excursions to New York City and Europe for Manley, his wife, and four children.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">During the months leading to the crash Manley purchased a 1926 Rolls Royce limo and large Marmon sedan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also bought his daughter a Marmon sports car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Valeria Rankin Manley was a spendthrift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1926 as the banks were failing she shopped at Atlanta’s Chamberlin-Johnson-DuBose Company which had been in operation since 1866 at their 5-story building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was considered to be the most exclusive department store in Atlanta and in the South.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just during the first half of 1926 she bought 101 pairs of hose, 32 pairs of gloves, 23 dresses, 12 pairs of shoes, 10 handbags, 5 girdles and a kimono.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were also purchases for skirts, blouses, and costly jewelry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s not forget the chairs, rugs, and other items that were purchased to decorate the home.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Manleys ended up defaulting on the charges of course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Mrs. Manley actually borrowed from her husband’s banks, and her purchases from January to July, 1926 represented<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ten percent of the capital from Farmers and Traders Bank.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Regulators finally began gathering evidence, but they kept a lid on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of curbing the crisis the official deception by regulators caused a debacle to grow beyond anyone’s control.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When word finally got out, panic hit depositors in Georgia and Florida.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>117 banks closed in just ten days.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">On June 28, 1928 a lawsuit was filed accusing Manley of massive bank fraud.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Days later 83 more banks in Georgia closed which were 20% of the state’s banking system.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Vickers advises, “At the time of the banking crash state and federal regulators tried to calm depositors by stating that Manley’s banks were small country banks that operated as independent units.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But before the collapse in July, 1926 the Georgia State Bank was one of the state’s largest banks, with its branching network of 20 offices throughout the state.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The bank failures shattered the economy in Georgia and Florida.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Many depositors lost their life savings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the end of 1926, 150 banks in Florida and Georgia were closed and more than $30 million was missing. <o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In an online book titled <a href="http://kingofcasselberry.com/id13.html"><span style="color: blue;">King of Casselberry</span></a> the author states a bank regulator by the name of Ernest Amos actually borrowed money from the same bank he regulated…..money that he “poured cash into land deals.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the banks failed he then appointed his friends to be the receivers and attorneys for the failed banks.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The New York Times</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> advised Manley’s wife filed a petition stating he had been queer for 14 years and had taken to leaving their house in his pajamas, wandering down the road, and hiding in the bushes as a defense to the criminal probe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Commission found him sane and able to handle his affairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They objected to the fact his wife wanted to place him in a private sanatorium with every need catered to while so many of his depositors had lost everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An official with the State Banking Department said there were 82 communities in Georgia where 110,000 depositors were affected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The commission’s findings cleared the way for criminal prosecution for “fraudulent insolvency”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Manley was found guilty and eventually served seven years.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Even though Manley was found guilty and did serve time banking regulators laid the blame for the scandal at the feet of the depositors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One source quoted T.R. Bennett, the Georgia Superintendant of banks……“The trouble…is not with the banks, it is with the people…agitators and hysterical people are doing incalculable harm.”<o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Yes, how dare actual citizens become upset when their money is taken and used in such a reckless and irresponsible manner?<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Witham’s obituary dated November 16, 1934 quoted him from an early interview saying, “My banks are a system, not a chain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t call them chain banks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chain banks are un-American and never succeeded here; probably never will.”<o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Witham’s banks WERE a chain, and they DIDN’T succeed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sources:<o:p></o:p></span><br /><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“The Witham Banks” by Day Allen Willey from Moody’s Magazine and American Investments, June, 1906</span></i><br /><br /><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">From God’s Capitalist:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Asa Candler of Coca-Cola by Kathryn W. Kemp</span></i><br /><br /><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">From Branch Banking:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it’s historical and theoretical position in America and abroad by John Martin Chapman and Ray Bert Westerfield<o:p></o:p></span></i><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Panic in Paradise: Florida’s Banking Crash of 1926</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> by Raymond B. Vickers</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width=](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1205626401984449616-107735500057185931?l=mymindisongeorgia.blogspot.com){kind=small}
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