The First Fourth of July Parade in Peachtree City, 1973

The Fourth of July in Peachtree City has become for some, an important tradition. One must get up very early to secure a spot to watch the fireworks, setting out your tarp and blankets around Lake Peachtree. Then, you will need to find your way to the parade route to see all your neighbors gathered together to create one of the best Fourth of July processions in the area. If you do not arrive early enough, you will be stuck with no place to relax when the fireworks start and stuck behind all the tall people as the parade goes by. But we have not always been fortunate enough to have such a celebration right here in our backyard. The birth of the first Peachtree City Fourth of July Parade on July 4th, 1973 can largely be attributed to Sallie Satterthwaite.

In an article she wrote in The Citizen for the 50th Celebration of PTC, she tells the story of her desire for a large patriotic celebration, but she could not do it alone. With the help of the community, they were able to see it happen. She and a group of volunteers went door to door to raise money for fireworks. They put articles in the paper to find participants for the bike and golf cart contest. The fire chief lead the parade, which had more participants than bystanders. There were by her estimate only a few hundred people, but “officials estimated it was the largest gathering in Peachtree City’s short history”.  Ms. Satterthwaite’s vision lives on, each year getting bigger and better, bringing enjoyment to many hundreds of people each year.

Sources: The Citizen for the 50^th Celebration of the Founding of Peachtree City.

By Angela Pendleton.

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Parker Wesley Dorman

Parker Wesley Dorman was born in Fayette County on July 6, 1887. His family roots go back to the 1820’s in Fayette County. He served as a Private in Company M 130^th Infantry in World War I. The 130^th Infantry saw action at the Somme Offensive, at Meuse-Argonne, at Lorraine and at Picardy. In 1919 he married his high school sweetheart Johnnie Dickson. They lived on Railroad Street for many years. It is now Jeff Davis since the railroad stopped in 1939. Parker died January 8, 1961 and is buried in the City of Fayetteville Cemetery.

By Deborah Riddle

Source: Fayette County Georgia Heritage Book

Cemetery Records, Fayette County Georgia

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Nathaniel Stinchcomb

Nathaniel Stinchcomb signs Loyalty Oath, verifying that he “had not been disenfranchised for participating in any rebellion or civil war against the United States, nor for felony committed against the laws of any State or the United States: that I have never been a member of any State Legislature, nor held any executive or judicial office in any State, and afterwards engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States…” He lived in Shake Rag Election Precinct, now a business district in Peachtree City. Nathaniel was 68 years old at this time.

Sources: Military records Ancestry.com

By Jane Strickland

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Mule fall through Ginger Cake bridge.

Georgia, Fayette County

To: Board of Commissioners of Roads and Revenues of Fayette County

The petition of F. M. Norton shows as follows:

-1-

That he is the owner of a certain mule, to wit, a black mare mule about five years old, and about 14 hands high, the same being a medium size mule.

-2-

That on the 29^th day of July he was driving said mule to a one-horse wagon on the public road of said county, leading from Russell’s Mill to Fayetteville, the county seat of said county.

-3-

That as said mule was being driving along said public road, between Bennett’s Mill and Fayetteville or about one mile and a quarter from Fayetteville, it came to a public bridge on said road spanning Ginger Cake Creek, and said mule was driven on said bridge, which had no open patent defects, but which in fact was defective in that it had planks on the floor of the same that were old and rotten, which was unknown to the driver of said mule at the time said mule was driven on said bridge.

-4-

That the said mule was quietly crossing said bridge the planks on the floor of same suddenly and without warning gave way and broke into plunging said mule through said bridge and seriously injuring same.

-5-

That said injury was as follows: said mule was skinned and bruised about the knees, legs and elsewhere, which injury caused said mule legs to swell up, and leave scars thereon which will and has permanently injured and damaged said mule either to use or for the purpose of sale, that said injury was caused by no fault of said driver, but the same was caused by the negligence of the county authorities in not having said bridge in good repair and safe for the passage of mules, wagons and other vehicles.

-6-

That said mule was injured and damaged to the sum of $50.00, and this sum is now due the said F. M. Norton by the county of Fayette.

Wherefore the said F. M. Norton files this claim before your Honorable Board, and asks that you inquire into same and pay him the sum of $50.00 for said damages and for the loss of time he sustained in using said mule, which was for 21 days

(signed) F. W. Norton

Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 1^st day of October 1918. Edgar P. Mize

By Tony V. Parrott

Source: Miscellaneous Fayette County records

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Miles M. Tidwell

Miles M. Tidwell was a local lawyer. Citizens were aware that the Union Army was near. Tidwell hung a large flag in the window of his office. When the Union Army came to town at 7 a.m. that hot July day, they rounded up all the citizens in town and gathered them on the grounds of the Courthouse. The Union Army saw the flag and went to Tidwell’s office and tore it down. They tied his hands behind him and put him on the back of a stolen white mule. This celebrated orator soon began to regale the soldiers with stories of his time as a Colonel in the conflict. He amused them so they forgot the chore at hand. Then the dispatch came that the Confederate Cavalry was on its way. Their departure from the Courthouse was done in a hurry and they did not have time to torch the Courthouse.

By: Deborah Riddle

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Jack “Shorty” Crawford

Enrolls in National Youth Administration School

Jack Crawford joined the National Guard in 1939. He was assigned to the 214^th Coast Artillery Unit. During that summer, their unit was in Florida for training. Crawford had hurt his knee paying football in high school, and it would jump out of joint sometimes. At one point Crawford asked for a pass to go to town. His Lieutenant said he would grant him a pass if he could do a couple of back flips. Crawford commenced to do a back flip and when he landed, his knee jumped out of joint. The doctors physically disqualified him to be in the Army National Guard. That was the end of his Army career and he had no chance of service in WWII. Therefore, he enrolled in the National Youth Administration School (NYA).

The NYA gave him free room and board plus ten dollars per month. He worked on the job training. They provided classes in woodwork, sheet metal, aircraft mechanics, welding, auto mechanics, radio shop and more to provide things needed by the government.

Later in life, Crawford settled in Fayetteville. He was a member of Fayetteville First Baptist Church. He was an artist. He did paintings and worked with copper.

Jack Crawford died in 2000

Sources: My Grandpa was no sissy by Jack Crawford and Shawn Self; 1998

By Angela Pendleton

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Hugh Manson Dorsey

Hugh Manson Dorsey was born in Fayetteville to Rufus and Sarah Dorsey on July 10, 1871. He attended school in Fayetteville and graduated from the University of Georgia in 1893. He studied law and was admitted to the Bar at the Fayette County Courthouse house in 1894. In 1916 he resigned as Solicitor General after he had successfully prosecuted Leo Frank. In 1917 he was elected Governor of Georgia. He was elected to a second term in 1919 unopposed. He ran for United States Senate against Tom Watson and lost. Before leaving office as governor, he wrote a pamphlet, A Statement From Governor Hugh M. Dorsey as to the Negro in Georgia (1921). The pamphlet lists more than 130 instances of forced labor and lynchings of African Americans. He was the only man from Fayetteville, Fayette County to serve as Governor of Georgia.

He returned to private law practice until he was appointed Judge City Court Atlanta in 1926, a post once held by his father, and served until 1935. In 1935, he became Judge of the Superior Court. He served as Superior Court Judge until 1948^[1]. He died June 11, 1948 and was buried in Westview Cemetery.

Word Count 201

By Deborah Riddle

Source: Georgia Historical Marker and accompanying research at the Fayette County Historical Society

Reviewed by Tony Parrott

^[1] Proceedings, p.119

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Hill P. Redwine

Hill P. Redwine was born in Fayette County in 1882. He drove a cart to Fayetteville to go to school and stayed with his grandfather Monday through Friday. When he was 18, he and his brothers formed a partnership known as Redwine Brothers. A partnership that lasted over 60 years. H. P. went to work for W. S. Witham in the banking business. During the 12 years he worked for Witham he sent money to his brothers to invest. The Redwine Brothers brought the Farmers and Merchants Bank in the 1920 and H. P. served as President for 1955 to 1969 when he became the chairman of the board.

1945. P. was Mayor of Fayetteville from 1939 to 1945. In the 1930s he donated the land for the Fayetteville Methodist Church. He received a 35-year award from the Standard Oil Company. He was a licensed embalmer. The Redwine Ford Dealership was one of the oldest in the state.

The Redwine Brothers also had interest in cotton seed mills and warehouses. H. P. was especially proud of the lumber mill. The family farm grew from 100 acres to 3200 acres.

1. P. died on July 16, 1971 and is buried in the Fayetteville City Cemetery.

By Tony Parrott

Source: Obituary Fayette County News (undated)

Redwine Family file at Fayette County Historical Society

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Fayetteville Enterprise/Gazette Correspondents Reunion

On July 27, 1906, a reunion of newspaper correspondents for the Fayetteville Enterprise/Gazette was held at Starr’s Mill, Georgia with the morning program beginning at 9:30 a.m. After a song, the meeting was called to order by president W. M. Speer, after which Reverend W. A. Sears delivered an invocation. Miss. Ida Virginia Speer delivered a welcome address followed by a response from Mr. T. J. Entreken and a recitation by the Honorable C. L. Moses. The chief address was then delivered by the Honorable Clark Howell. After an intermission of 1 ½ hours for lunch and intermission, the afternoon session began with a song followed by a speech by Mr. Lester Dickson. Another song then ensued with the Honorable Harvie Jordan following with an address, Judge R. B. Russell then delivered the focal address, after which a general invitation was given for anyone wishing to speak. An election of new officers was held, with the last song, “God Be with You till We Meet Again” closing the ceremony.

By: John Lynch

Source: Official Program of the event

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Fayetteville City Election

The annual election for Mayor and town council was held Wednesday. There was no opposition to the old ticket, but some of the candidates were very inclined to grumble at having to serve another term. However, they were held in line by the kind but firm determination of other citizens who were all horribly frightened lest the job might be thrust on them. The ticket is as follows:

For Mayor

1. W. Culpepper

For Councilmen:

1. P. Mize
2. H. Stephens

John Brodgen

1. D. Redwine
2. A. Lester

After a hard day’s work, the marshal managed to get enough voters to the polls to have these gentlemen elected, and they will be compelled to serve out the sentence.

By Tony Parrott

Source: Fayetteville News, July 12, 1907

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