The Story of Vidalia

During the years American Colonists fought for and won their independence from England, the area where Vidalia is now located was still a part of the Creek Indian nation. It did not officially become a part of the United States until the Creek Indian cessation of 1783.

No known Indian settlements in the vicinity of what is now Vidalia have been documented, but arrowheads and Indian artifacts have been found in the area. A survey in 1784 for a land grant near the extreme southern tip of present-day Montgomery county, less than 30 miles southwest of Vidalia, was marked to show that the land was bisected by the "Path of the Creek Nation."

The southern part of the territory acquired in the cessions of 1783, bounded by the Altamaha River on the south and the Oconee River on the west, was established as Washington County. But the Vidalia site was a part of Washington County for only nine years. It was cut from Washington in the formation of Montgomery County in 1793 and remained a part of Montgomery for 112 years.

By the time Toombs County was created in 1905, the town of Vidalia had come into being and was included in the area cut from Montgomery to form the new county. It has been a part of Toombs ever since, although its present day growth has extended its western bounday back over into Montgomery County.

After the Creek cessession, surveyors came up the Altamaha and Oconee rivers during the spring and summer of 1784 and set the boundaries for "soldier bounties" under the authority of land warrents. The bounties were issued to the state of Georgia and in turn were granted to former Revolutionary Soldiers who had applied for them.

Downtown Vidalia is located largely on what was a land grant to Malcolm McMillan, who came to the area from North Carolina between 1800 and 1815 and is said to be one of three brothers who came to the area. They were among a large number of Scotsmen who settled the area, many having previously lived in North Carolina. Early records are dotted with such names as McMillan, McIntyre, McQueen, MeLeod, McNatt, McGregor, McBryde, McLemore, mcCrimmon and McKaskill.

Other early settlers included people named Wilkes, Thompson, Peterson and Phillips. After Malcom McMillan arrived from North Carolina and, according to tradition, "pitched his tent near a large oak tree," he built first a house and then a church. A church usually becomes the center of a "community," so it seems clear that, from the time the first settlers arrived, there was always a "community" of sorts where Vidalia now stands.

The tract of land granted to Malcolm McMillan came into the possession of Rodrick McIntosh, who sold the original tract, by a deed dated January 1, 1836 to Daniel McIntyre. The land remained in the McIntyre family until after the coming of the first railroad in 1890.

During the antebellum ear, the area where Vidalia would spring up was mostly one of small farms where sheep and other livestock were raised and corn, cotton and other crops were grown.

Commerce, social life and government continued to be centered in the villages and towns along the rivers in the post bellum era. Such areas as the one where Vidalia would appear were considered backwoods, where amenities were few and life was primitive.

But the railroads changed all that. The high ground between and removed from the rivers was more suitable for building railroads than were the river valleys, so that is where the railroads went. And where the railroads went, so died commerce and all the things commerce brought.

Included in the latter group was Warren T. Jenkins, who arrived before the railroads did and formed a business partnership with Jim McNatt, a member of one of the old Scotch families that had been in the area for several generations. The business was the production of naval stores from pine trees.

One of Daniel McIntyre's granddaughters, Caroline McIntyre Mosley, came into possesion of what is now Vidalia's downtown business district by swapping with her sister, Sarah McIntyre Thompson, the tracts of land the two had inherited from their father, John McIntyre, son of Daniel.

Later, after it became clear that the "SAM" line would establish a depot where the railroads would cross the McIntyre property, Caroline—by a deed dated April 3, 1890 transferred title of 19¹/₂ acres near the proposed depot to Thomas Thompson, her sister's brother-in-law.

Although 1890 is considered the year of Vidalia's birth, the town was not incoporated until 1904. Warren T. Jenkins, who more than anyone else is considered the "founder" of Vidalia, later served as its mayor. His father-in-law John Waters, who also had come from North Carolina, was the town's first mayor.

After struggling through the Depression ear, Vidalia, prospered the same as the rest of the country did — from the economic growth generated by World War II.

While large numbers of Vidalia's young men went into the military and many of its other resients were drawn to Savannah, Macon, Augusta, Jacksonville and other metropolitan areas for good-paying defense jobs during the war, Vidalia itself played a direct role in the war effort when it became the site of a small U.S. Army Air Force base.

Almost the entire community of Aimwell just southeast of Vidalia was consumed for the base. At war's end title to the base was transferred to the City of Vidalia, which has maintained it as an airport ever since.

The post-war era brought new prosperity as new industries moved in and old ones expanded. The city continued to grow and gradually took on the characteristics of a regional trade center.

But the thing that was to bring Vidalia fame in the years proceeding tis centennial — more fame than a city its size ever realistically could hope to achieve — had nothing to do with industrial growth. It was something that harked to the area's earliest years as a place where nothing but livestock and agricultural crops were produced. Onions!

Vidalia today is blessed with favorable industrial financing, an array of natural resources, an available labor supply and cooperative local government, necessary ingredients for continued growth.

Vidalia has an active arts council that operates area wide as ORCA, is the headquarters for the Ohoopee Regional Library, an acitve and talented Community Chorus, the Ladson Genealogy Library, Franklina Community Playhouse and Altama art gallery.

Vidalia High School was awarded the 1989 Georgia School of Excellence. The city is only 12 miles from a four-year college, Brewton-Parker College, and Southeastern Technical Institute became opereational recently.

The health care needs of Vidalia and Toombs are met substancially by the modern Dr. John M. Meadows Hospital, a fully accredited facility: 87 beds with fully equipped ICU/CCU units. A variety of health care services are provided through the physcians practicing in Vidalia. Meadows Memorial has a 34 bed skilled mursing facility on the 2nd floor and a growing number of physicians are in practice in a variety of specialties.

Turpentine and timber production have given way to an industrial mix that is unique among communities Vidalia's size. Product lines include a variety of garments, tool and die, luggage, diversified metal products, circuit breakers, electrical switch boxes and electric component parts, concrete blocks, sewer pipes and an array of other products.

There is a cooperative link between government and the business/industrial segments, the willingness of Vidalia people to work toward a common goal for community benefaction, the involvement of Vidalia people in civic, fraternal and religious organizations are contingencies that ultimatley have provided a more abundant life for the people of this city.

Vidalia has come of age.

Vidalia is 100 years YOUNG and still progressing.

The Public Schools of Vidalia officially began in 1906 by an act of the Georgia Legislature. Prior to then, the children of Vidalia were provided an education by the common schools supported by the county (then Montgomery) and the state of Georgia or by church-supported academics.

If one must select a beginning of education in Vidalia, credit would go to the Daniell Baptist Association. In his Masters thesis submitted to the University of Georgia in 1987 and entitled "The History of Toombs County," Amos Milton Teasley states that in 1881 the following words were recorded: "We feel that every association in Wiregrass, Georgia should at this important period take steps to prepare schools for higher training of our boys and girls than can be obtained in the common schools of the county. We are proud to annouce to the association that our brothers in Vidalia have built a commodious two-story building, the lower story to be used for a church building and the upper sotry for two schoolrooms."

The association meeting that organized the high school was held at Red Bluff, Montgomery County, Georgia, now Treutlen County, on November 7, 8, 9, 1881. J.E. Smith was employed as principal to teach 10 months. The first term began in January of 1882. The average attendance that year was 60.

The high school started by the local Baptist Church was located on what is now Church Street, near the site of the Primitive Baptist Church. The next school building to be used was located on the northeast side of Main Street, where McDonald Construction Company is now located. The school building was later called the Tedder House.

An act passed by the Georgia Legislature in 1902 brought about a change that affected education in Vidalia. That act abloished the charter of the town of Vidalia and incorporated the City of Vidalia. As a result, the powers of the city council were broadened. A bond issue was called and passed, enabling the city to build the Vidalia Collegiate Institute. The Institute was located on First Street, between Adams and College streets. Superindendent, P.A. McQueen, the county school commissioner, wrote in the Illustrated Catalogue of Public Schools of Toombs County, Georgia, published in 1908: "The school was incorporated in a school district by an act of the last General Assembly but remains under the control of the County Board of Education during the five months free term; the four month fall term is under the charge of th local town board, thus giving nine months free school to the children in the town and five months free school to those who live in the school district out of the town limits. The school district contains 22 square miles and has a school population of 400. The enrollment last term was 317. The salary paid in this school by the Board of Education last term was $227 per month."

The law passed in 1906 providing for a system of public schools for the City of Vidalia in Toombs County also made it possible to levy taxes for the purpose of establishing school buildings. Approval of the citizens of Vidalia was necessary. In August of 1906, the results of balloting showed 101 for taxation and 13 against taxation for public schools.

The amount of tax which could be levied was limited by the same bill that made taxation possible. The Mayor and Council could levy taxes not to exceed two-fifths of one percent per annum on all taxable property of the town. The act further provided that the state funds for the public schools of Vidalia would be sent to the Toombs County school commissioner, who would pay over to the Vidalia Borad of Education its prorated share of the state and county funds. Those funds were based on the number of school-age students residing in the corporate limits and included those who lived outside the corporate limits but attended Vidalia schools.

This arrangements for receiving money through the Toombs County Board of Education lasted until 1953, when the original act was amended so that funds would flow directly to the Vidalia City Board of Education.

There have been four amendments to the original bill, limiting the amount of tax that could be levied by the city council and, in later years, by the board of education. Several other significant changes have been made in the original law. A major change occurred in 1947, when an amendment to the orginal act provided for the election of members of the board of education by the people in the primary and general elections. Then, in 1986, the Vidalia Board of Education was made a separate entity and was given the power to set millage for school operation. At that time the provision was made for electing one member from each ward and one member at large. The number of board members remained at five.

From its begining, the development of the Vidalia Public School System has been one of eontinued success. From an enrollment of 60 students and a graduating class of 11 in 1920, steady growth has led to a total enrollment of 2,631 during the 1989/90 school year. Over the past 10 years, "Senior classes" have averaged more than 100 graduates per year.

As the city and school system grew, the total cost of the school system also increased. That is readily seen by looking at the year 1914, when A.S. McQueen, City Clerk, listed school expenditures of $2,554. In 1927, state funds allotted through the Toombs County Board of Education was in the amount of $4,280. By the year 1955, when enrollment was 1,916, city funds for the system had increased to $41,505. By 1964, the total budget, composed of state and local funds, was $675,354. The State Department of Education allotted the Vidalia School System 80 teachers that year. By the school year 1988/89, the state allotted 142 teachers to the system. The same year, expenditures — including federal, state, and local funds — amounted to $8,128,016.04.

Public interest and support of the Vidalia City School System from its beginning has been demonstrated by the willingness of Vidalia Citizens to meet the needs of the expanding system. A total of four bonds issues have been called by the city council since 1906. The only bond issue to fail was held in November of 1906. The cause was an insufficient number of people voting. A two-thirds majority was required to pass the bond issue, and only 96 citizens cast ballots. The most recent bond issue was held on May 30, 1973, and was passted by a vote of 770-74.

Since the building of the Vidalia Collegiate Institute, the school system has undergone several expansions to attain tis current four campuses. After the Institute was torn down in 1933, it was rebuilt by the WPA and renamed Vidalia High School, although it contained grades one through 11. On June 19, 1964, the board designated the campus as the First Street School. The building was later torn down after it had been out of use for several years.

As a result of growth in the city and in school-age population, a new elementary school was constructed on land donated by Vidalia native Algur Meadows of Dallas, Texas, son of Dr. John M. Meadows. The school was namved for Dr. Meadow's wife, Sally Daley Meadows. The school's first principal was Miss Ala McBride, who served in that position until her retirment in June of 1988. There have been three additions to the school since 1969. Enrollment in the 1989/90 school year exceeded 600 students to grades three through five.

Three other schools are in use at the present time. The J.D. Dickerson Primary School, named in honor of outstanding black educator James D. Dickerson, houses kindergarten through second grade. The sixth and seventh grades are in the J.R. Trippe School, named in honor of Judson R. Trippe, who served as superintendent for 20 years. Vidalia Comprehensive High School contains the eight through 12th grade at the present time. All the buildings have been expanded, air conditioned and renovated as needed.

Until 1970 the schools in Vidalia were segregated. The black student population, as well as the whole community, owes much to Mr. J.D. Dickerson, who arrived in Vidalia in 1904. He opened a school for blacks on McIntosh Street in the Odd Fellows Hall. Initial enrollment was 22. Some came from distant rural areas and boarded in Vidalia during the school term. Mrs. Dickerson began teaching in 1905. The school was moved in 1907 to its new location on Third Avenue, which is now Martin Luther King Avenue. A two-story building was constructed for $6,000. Several additions wee made, including a major renovation at the cost of $40,000 in 1937. However, that frame building later burned, and a brick structure was subsequently built and used until 1988. At that time the J.D. Dickerson School on Matin Luther King Avenue was deeded to the City of Vidalia by the Board of Education and serves as a community center today.

Professor Dickerson was a recognized educator of his day. Vidalia citizens presented a solid gold medal to Mr. Dickerson in 1934 in recognition of his achievements.

Through the years the organization and development of the Vidalia City School System has been dependent upon interested people with leadership ability, beginning with the original 11 members of the board of education. They were W.F. Peacock, W.T. Jenkins, B.B. Wiggs, George N. Mathews, R.B. Homes, J.W. Poe, Dennis Durden, W.J. Poe, J.E. Schumpert, J.W. Mathews and S.A. McColsky. Down through the history of education in Vidalia, many outstanding citizens have served on the board of education. Members of this board as of June, 1990, were E.K. Stafford, Jr., Chairman; John T. Hadden, Walter O. Horne; Joe A. Palmer and Robert E. Perry, III.

One important duty of the board of education has been to select and appoint the superentendent of the Vidalia schools. The first superindendent was Professor E.L. Ray, follwed by Mr. Ainsworth, Mr. W.D. Green succeeded Mr. Ainswoth. In 1917 C.A. Sydnor was referred to as superentendent. He was followed by W.L. Downs in 1919. Mr. Downs held the position for many years.

Mr. Bela Lancaster was the superintendent during most of the thirties. He was succeeded by Carl Lancaster. Between 1941 and 1946, Mr. Poole Pickett was the superintendent.

Mr. J.R. Trippe began his tenure as superintendent in 1947 and retired in June of 1970 after 23 years of service. Tom P. Hutcheson was named superintendent beginning July 1, 1970, and worked for 19 years until his retirement in June 1989. Both Mr. Trippe and Mr. Hutcheson continued to live in Vidalia. Dr. Charles Warnock became superintendent on July 1, 1989.

It is interesting to note that in the 85 years of its existence, the Vidalia city school system has had only 12 superintendents. Fifty-six of the 85 years were the tenures of Downs, Trippe and Hutcheson.

The history of the excellence of Vidalia’s schools can be traced from several viewpoints. One way is to study the 300-plus trophies displayed in the Vidalia High School trophy case. Vidalia High won the State Literary cup in its organization level in 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, and 1931. In 1938, Vidalia High School retired the debate trophy by having won that competition three consecutive years. In 1972 and 1974, Vidalia won the sate literary meet again.

Miss Margaret Taylor taught declamation in Vidalia High School for many years. During that time she also served as drama coach. Miss Taylor was responsible for the one-act plays, which often won first or second in region competition between the yars of the 50s and 70s.

Athletic trophies are also much in evidence at Vidalia High School. A silver loving cup, dated 1931, imprinted with Vidalia High School, First Place, District Track, can been seen. There are trophies for Football District Champions in 1933 and 1934. An outstanding trophy shows that Vidalia High School won the State Championship in football in 1969.

In 1970, when all Georgia ended the dual school system, the students from the J.D. Dickerson High School brought with them many athletic trophies. The athletic talents of those students strengthened the already strong program at Vidalia High School.

Since 1970, Vidalia High School has continued its preeminence in Athletics. Records show that Vidalia has won the State Golf Championship in Class AA three times and placed second once.

A history of the Vidalia School System would be incomplete without mentioning the names of a few who taught here and retired from the Vidalia School System.

Many students can remember Mrs. R.E. “Tad” Saffold and Mrs. Amelia Swinton, who retired at the end of the 1967 school year. Another teacher easily remembered is Miss Mildred Herring, who taught seventh grade in the system for many years. It would take quite a bit of time to count the number of first-grade students taught by Mrs. Eunice Moody in the basement room of the First Street School. Mrs. Geneva Downie taught first grade here for 40 years before retiring. Mrs. Rebecca Horne retired after 34 years of teaching first grade in Viddalia.

Certainly, no one can forget Miss Sara Murchison, who taught here for more than 30 years. When she died, Miss Murchison left funds to the Vidalia City School System to provide scholarships for graduated of Vidalia High School.

Mrs. Helen Conner, mathematics teacher in Vidalia High School, is remember by many students. Mrs. Conner had the distinction of being selected by STAR students on seven occasions as STAR teacher out of a possible 22 times. How could Vidalia have maintained its excellent attendance record if Mrs. Christelle Chastain had not been elected visiting teacher on August 25, 1958?

It would be interesting to know how many verbs were conjugated in Mrs. Margaret Mosley’s English classes. We cannot know the number of students who benefited from Home Economics during the 36 years Miss Pansy Maddox taught in Vidalia. Who can adequately measure the favorite impact made by Ralph Parsons on the young men he coached and taught from 1952 until his retirement some 30 plus years later?

If the honor roll could be complete, it would include hundreds of names. It would take much space to even attempt to make an estimate of the influence and direction given the school boards by such men as Chairman Dr. Hubert Darby, Delmas Wheeler, Bill Warthen, Dr. George Merritt and Bob Perry.

Despite all of the changes, the increased enrollment, the many new buildings, the new students from other sections of the country, the teachers from 17 different states during the year 1987/89, there flows a spirit of continuity that has bound our people together from the bond issue in 1906 to build the Vidalia Collegiate Institute until today. It is this spirit of continuity that bonds us together as a community and give us the willingness to seek a common ground. This common ground is the well-being and the education of the students in the Vidalia Public Schools.

At that time there were no facilities available to educating the Negro youth of the community and realizing the need for Negro youth to obtain an education, local black leaders volunteered their labor in converting a dilapidated odd fellow hall into classrooms in full support of "Professor" Dickerson's dream. Twenty-four Negro students were on hand for study when renovation of the building was completed in September of that year. Within four months enrollment had climbed to forty-three and Mrs. Gussie P. Dickerson joined her husband in the fledgling enterprise as his assistant. Subsequently, as the enrollment continued to grow, additional teachers were employed and plans for much needed additional teaching facilities began to take shape. In 1907 two acres of land were secured for building a school on Third Avenue — a two-story structure containing five classrooms, built at a cost of $6,000, but this project as ambitious as it was for the times, was soon "overflowing, and a church was rented to accommodate the growing population of black students."

During the early thirties, Mr. Dickerson enlisted the cooperation and approval of the community and persuaded the Vidalia Board of Education to erect a modern brick structure, a WPA project. The building included thirteen classrooms, a library, two lavatories, office space, and an auditorium capable of seating 500 students. Fund raising projects, private donations, and tuition paid by our out of county students provided the financial support necessary to equip the educational institution. Parents of the students paid the salaries of two teachers in order to match funds supplied by the federal government, about $2,000.

Students attending Dickerson Training School knew Mr. Dickerson as "Fess" - most citizens in the community, black and white knew the innovative educator as a person dedicated to providing quality education to Negro boys and girls during a difficult period in the social history of the nation. He was respected for his purpose, his methods and his success, His educational dynamics left a legacy by which most of the students inherited characteristics of dignity, perseverance, school pride, and self esteem.

Under the leadership of one of Mr. Dickerson's former students, Ananias Andrews, a group of Dickerson alumni and well-wishers organized the J.D. Dickerson Memorial Association on August 14, 1976, whose major project each year is the presentation of two scholarships to deserving Negro students as a reminder to the community of the impact Professor Dickerson and Mrs. Dickerson had on the youth of Vidalia.

Vidalia's first doctors were Dr. John Meadows and Dr. W.F. Peacock, the former drawn here by his merchant brother Silas Meadows who came to Vidalia in 1890. The latter was persuaded to Vidalia residency by the purchase of 600 acres of timbered land one mile south of Vidalia from W.F. Jenkins fo $1,000 in a cash payment and a support, but small, total.

The Peacock family came here by wagon and buggy in 1894 building a home on Morris (or Peacock Street) that burned in 1909 but replaced by a home that is now occupied by the Paul Anderson Youth Home.

Both were active in civic and religious activities, serving on school boards, the council, and with Dr. Peacock elected to the legislature. Members of both large families left Vidalia to make careers elsewhere.

Dr. Meadows' family multiplied, so did Vidalia's population, making home at Jackson and First Street where he farmed several acres inadequate, he built a farm home which is now the site of First Union Bank. His office was in a wooden building on South Main Street that also housed a drug store and Vidalia's first post office operated by Mr. Jenkins.

Dr. M.L. Currie came to Vidalia in early 1900 and is said to have operated his, and Vidalia's, first hospital on Oconee Heights, but this cannot be documented. He did build the Minnie Lou Sanitarium on what is now 806 E. First Street. It contained two floors and a nurses training facility. Drs. Currie Peacock, Herrington, John Meadows, James Meadows, Tom Thompson, V.L. Darby, Moye, Rountree and a black doctor practiced here in the period between 1890 and 1918.

Doctors of that era were required to work extremely had, spend much time traveling by buggy all over two counties and even risked their lives because of the many contagious diseases to which they were exposed. They used the same medicines that had been used for hundreds of years; epsom salts, calomel, castor oil, mineral oil, quinine, paragoric, roots and herbs. Anesthesia had been used for only 50 years and sterlization of instruments had been in practice for about 40 years.

Drinking water was from open shallow wells; there were no sewers and everyone had outhouses, as did stores downtown. Screen windows were a rarity; there was no electric current for refrigeration or even fans to keep food from spoiling, though Vidalia did boast a very modern ice plant after 1905.

Early city council minutes contain protests from citizens about flooding of open sewer ditches, and the doctors as well as Dr. M.J. Rattray, the local veterinarian, acted as inspectors of restaurants, grocery stores and butcher shops. Vigilance by these men was required to avoid epidemics (that) hopefully could be controlled with quarantine. It was impossible for a seriously ill or injured person to reach a city hospital. There were no specialists to be consulted. In truth, the city hospitals were no better than the rural ones.

There is an interesting council minutes entry dated April 1910 that states that Dr. Herrington appeared before the body seeking financial aid from the council for many charity cases at the Minnie Lou Hospital. After some deliberation the council agreed to grant a $25.00 per month contribution but payment would have to be postponed until December when tax monies were available. Dr. Herrington was most appreciative but the council voted to rescind that pledge in the next meeting.

Epidemics of typhoid, smallpox, diphtheria and measles were very common and many of these patients died, particularly the young. Tuberculosis was the leading cause of death, and took the lives of two of the younger local doctors. Blood poison and diabetes were incurable.

At the end of World War II, in the winter of 1918-1919, the influenza epidemic that had killed hundred of thousands in Europe reached this country. It was the worst epidemic this nation has ever experienced. The local doctors worked until they fell ill with the flu. There was no vaccination and the only new treatment was one pill every 4 hours. This new wonder drum was a German discovery called aspirin and was considered very dangerous with unknown side effects. One of the local doctors died from flu, but after the epidemic faded in late February the doctors held a study clinic. It was discovered one of the doctors did not lose a single patient, because he had gambled and prescribed three aspirin every three hours, thus holding fever down and avoiding weakness that brought on pneumonia.

Following a surge in the early teens, Vidalia's growth moderated during the 20s. Drs. Joe Mercer, W.L. Findley, Eye, Ear and Nose Specialist, and Dr. C.D. Williams were the only new doctors practicing in Vidalia. Dr. Tom Thompson bought Minnie Lou Hospital from Dr. Currie, who moved to Texas, building there a fine reputation as a surgeon.

Dr. Findley, a native of the Blueridge District of Toombs County had a national reputation for his tonsil operation. He put his patients in a dentist chair, gave them a local anesthetic, removed the tonsils and sent his patents home with little discomfort. "Doc" was famous for the numerous spittoons in the corners of his office and operating rooms. Dr. Joe Mercer must have umpired every ball game played in Toombs County between 1920 and 1940 and shared refereeing responsibilities with Coite Somers at the local high school football games. Dr. Joe and Mrs. Mercer were greatly loved by all Vidalians and he received the first Vidalia Citizen of the Year Award in 1950. Dr. Williams was an enthusiastic quail hunter and fisherman and he and his wife were very active Vidalians.

Vidalia doctors had small offices above Deens Drug Store, the Church-Meadows Street First National Bank Building or a very small office building on Meadows Street.

For entertainment on Saturday night many people would vie for parking places along the east and west side of downtown Church Street to watch the victims of fights, shootings, cuttings and wrecks being brought up the street and up those very narrow and steep stairs. No ambulance, no stretcher.just acquaintances or police lugging the victims to be patched up or carried to jail. Not infrequently the victim would die from shock or blood loss. The survivors would then be carried down the stairs and home. $5.00 to $10.00 would be chipped in by the acquaintances for the surgery. It was ghoulish entertainment, but typical of small town southern life in the depression years, and it was also an important part of the doctor's practive.

In 1933 M.F. Brice, Dr. H.C. McDermid, Monroe Davis and Dr. Findley formed a corporation endeavoring to re-open the old Minnie Lou Hospital. But the effort failed. Accident and the very ill were taken over dirt roads to Dublin and Dr. Claxton's hospital. Vidalia lost young Dr. Peacock who had completed training at the University of Chicago, because he would have had no place to treat his patents.

Dr. O.S. Gross began practice in 1935 and struggled with the others for lack of facilities. Finally in 1938 an active mayor and council went to Washington, and with the help of Congressman Hugh Peterson, secured a $50,000.00 PWA grant to build a city hospital. The city operated it at a loss for several years, then it was leased to Dr. Mercer and Dr. Gross, ultimately selling it to them during World War II.

Prior to and during World War II the medical profession had a tremendous break-through with the discovery of sulfa drugs and then penicillin. These were not available due to war demands, but these discoveries were very effective against infections, social diseases, pneumonia and assured rapid recovery from surgery.

The national scarcity of doctors was relieved partially with the returning military doctors and during the war the government initiated a program to finance young men's medical training in exchange for service in the medical branch, also the G.I Bill financed many discharged veterans so that they could study medicine. The payments were $90.00 per month for single students and $125.00 per month for couples, plus the tuition costs. This small incentive was sufficient to get these students into and through medical school.

Drs. Herbert Conner and Henry DeJarnette were the first to begin practice here after the war. Dr. Conner was joined later by Dr. Hilbert Bedingfield, and they later opened and operated Conner-Bedingfield Clinic on Jackson Street, adding 18 beds for treatment purposes.

Dr. Everett Barfield and Dr. George Merritt, both of whom had returned to medical school after service opened practice in Vidalia.

In the late 50s Algar Meadows, son of Dr. John Meadows, and founder, president, and principal stockholder of the General American Oil Co., Dallas, Texas, provided sufficient land (and a considerable sum of money) to build a Hill-Burton Hospital. A bond-issue election was held to provide matching funds for federal monies and those contributions furnished by the Meadows family to build the facility and capital to provide financing to close the small private hospitals.

The 50 bed Meadows Memorial Hospital opened September 1963 with Dr. Meadow's great-nephew Jack Meadows as the first chairman of the Hospital Authority.

It was a bold, exciting idea. Some of the old Lyons-Vidalia bitterness surfaced, there was a great deal of opposition in both towns and the county because it meant raising taxes for something that was not really perceived as necessary.

Nearly all community leaders were strongly in favor because they knew if a community is to grow it must have a modern hospital. In a close election the county made the right choice. It it had been defeated, the Meadows family contribution would have been with-drawn and Hill-Burton funds were phased out in a very few years.

The hospital did so well that another bond issue was required for the addition of 40 beds in the early 1970s. This was also a tough vote. A group of community leaders headed by Dr. Hubert Darby worked very hard and won again.

Outstanding hospital board leadership from throughout the county has sought to upgrade staff, add the most modern equipment and recruit medical doctors.

In the 1970s medical specialists from India, Pakistan and the Philippines were welcomed and they've proven to be great additions to the medical community. This hospital persuaded the county to provide financial assistance for an emergency care unit and a detoxification unit and these additions have proven to be important to the Toombs-Montgomery County area.

In the 1970s Meadows memorial was consistently running 90% occupancy, so another addition was needed. State approval was difficult coming. Wisely the county did not want to take on more indebtedness and the county board would not agree to sign as ultimate guarantor of the $4,000,000 in bonds needed to finance the expansion and updating of the hospital. The hospital board was able to sell the bonds at a reasonable interest cost so the additional wing was completed.

All of Vidalia's hospitals have been built on the hope and faith that the community would grow and justify their existence. Meadows Memorial has become a fine modern, well-equipped hospital with 24 doctors and more than 300 employees caring for the health of all of the people of the area.

The Vidalia tobacco market, which eventually was to become the top market in Georgia, began in 1917. Tobacco first was grown in the Vidalia area few years earlier when so-called "demonstrators" came to the area from North Carolina to teach local farmers how to grow, cure and market the golden leaf.

The very first grower in the area is said to have been Dr. John M. Meadows, the man for whom Vidalia's present-day regional hospital is named. Mr. Meadows is said to have liked to combine the practice of experimental agriculture with the practice of experimental agriculture with the practice of medicine.

The absence of a tobacco market in the area was a major inconvenience to those early growers, who were forced to transport their product all the way to South Carolina to sell it. But in 1917, after a market had been established at Hazlehurst, Vidalia grower Silas B. Meadows, Dr. Meadows' brother persuaded that market's operators to bring their buyers to Vidalia for sales two days a week.

Those sales were conducted in a building Meadows owned and previously had used as a cotton warehouse. Located on West First Street beside the Georgia and Florida Railroad, it was the same building that later expanded into what came to be known was the Brick Tobacco Warehouse. It is still in operation.

The part-time market was inactive in 1919 and 1920 because of World War I. But it resumed operation in 1921 as a full-fledged market after Elza Lee Meadows, son of Silas B. Meadows, went to North Carolina and arranged with tobacco companies to have buyers sent to Vidalia.

In 1889 Warren Thompson Jenkins moved from Roberson County, North Carolina to Georgia and eventually located a turpentine operation near the center of what is now Vidalia, Georgia. The iron safe Mr. Jenkins installed in his commissary provided the foundation for growth in the area a strong, conservative financial base upon which Vidalia would grow and prosper.

Early settlers, aware of the strong box, asked Mr. Jenkins to keep their money, mostly gold, in his safe in return for a signed receipt. The popularity of his depository grew, filling it to it's capacity and requiring Mr. Jenkins to take his "depositors" funds to a bank in Savannah where they would be available on demand.

By 1901 Mr. Jenkins had issued so many receipts for money that he decided it was time for Vidalia to have a bank. Subsequently the Citizens Bank of Vidalia was organized with Mr. Jenkins as president and George N. Matthews, vice-president; and J.E. Schumpert, cashier.

By the second decade of the 20 th Century there were three banks in operation in Vidalia including the Citizens Bank, the First National Bank and the Bank of Vidalia.

The banks and their officers as recorded in the 1917 Vidalia City Directory:

The Citizens Bank (with a capital stock of $50,000) was located at the southwest corner of Church and South Main (presently Estroff's Dept. Store). Officers were: W.T. Jenkins, presient; J.E. Schumpert, vice-president; V.B. Herring, cashier; T.C. Smith, bookkeeper; The First National Bank (capitol stock of $35,000), whose original location was at the corner of McIntosh and North Main (now Lillar's Wave Shop). Officers were: W.O. Donovan, president; J.B. Manry, vice-president; George B. Roundtree, cashier; T.W. Willets, assistant cashier; The Bank of Vidalia (capital stock of $25,000), located at the southeast corner of Church and South Main (presently Phillips Pharmacy). Officers were: George N. Matthews, president; L.B. Godbee, vice-president; Abbie L. Vann, cashier.

The Citizens Bank operated principally for cotton buyers. With the deterioration of the cotton market, Citizens closed voluntarily paying off all depositors. Aware of the value of public relations, even in those early days of Vidalia, Citizens Bank furnished oil-cloth book sacks for Vidalia school students. When the Citizens Bank closed the Georgia State Bank (part of a chain owned by the Manley family) located in this building. J. frank Darby was a director of this bank, and O.C. Edison was an officer. The bank closed on July 14, 1926.

Darby Bank, founded in 1927 by J. Frank Darby, occupied the premises next, but later moved into the building at the corner of McIntosh and North Main (now Lillar's). Operating as a private institution until 1934, it became a state-chartered bank with J. Frank Darby as president and Wiley Downs, O.C. Edison, Mary Green, and Mrs. R.J. Bedgood as officers and employees. The bank moved to the corner of Church and Meadows and following the death of Frank Darby in 1948, his son, James F. Darby, Jr. became president. On April 23, 1973 the bank moved to its present location at the corner of First and Durden Streets. It is the oldest financial institution in Vidalia-Toombs County.

In the early 1930's M.F. Brice and W.O. Davis founded Brice Bank, a private bank, that was located in the corner block of buildings at First and Church Streets, becoming a state-chartered facility in October 1938 with M.F. Brice, president; W.O. Davis, vice-president; and G.H. Gibson, cashier. Davis and Gibson bought the bank in 1948 and the name was changed to Vidalia Banking Company and moved to a location at the corner of Jackson and Meadows Streets with Davis as president and Gibson as vice-president.

In 1960 a new building was erected on the opposite corner with C.M. Jordan as president, P.B. Collins and H.S. Vandiver as vice-presidents. In September Vidalia Banking Company was converted to a national bank and its name changed to First National Bank and Trust Company with Jordan was president.

In 1960 First National moved into a new building on Highway 280 in Shawnee Square, Ronald Williams followed Jordan as president, and Preston Truett is the current president operating now as First Union National Bank of Georgia.

In March of 1948, M.F. Brice reopened the Brice Banking Company at the corner of Church and First Streets as a private bank serving as its president until his death in 1960. His son the late Pete Brice was elevated to the presidency and in 1972 the institution received its state charter. A new building was erected at the corner of Jackson and Second Streets and was occupied in May of 1972. Roy Fletcher succeeded the younger Brice following his death in 1980 and the bank was purchased by local investors from the Brice family in 1984. The bank continues to operate under the same name but is owned by BMR Financial Group, Inc. Atlanta, Georgia.

In 1936, a group of citizens interested in home-ownership and savings were instrumental in the establishment of Vidalia Federal Savings and Loan Association with M.F. Brice as it's first president.

Since then D.C. Harris, W.O. Davis, W.A. Jones, R.E. Ledford and Wade Chesser, the current president, have served as presidents. Chesser joined the institution in 1947 as assistant secretary/treasurer and office manager. Vidalia Federal began its operation in the Brice Bank building, moved to a small building on Meadows Street and in the 1950's a larger location on Jackson Street was occupied. A new building at the corner of Jackson and Second Streets was constructed in 1966, the present site.

Current banking law prohibits branching over county lines. However, the city limits of Vidalia extend into Montgomery county and the Altamaha Bank & Trust Company in Uvalda and the Montgomery County Bank in Ailey operate branches in Vidalia. The Peoples Bank of Lyons has a branch in Vidalia, giving the city a total of seven financial institutions.

The (Vidalia) ADVANCE, established approximately five years before the County of Toombs was created, lacks only 10 years being as old as Vidalia, according to notes left by the late R.E. Ledford, who served as its Editor and Publisher from 1926 to 1976.

Ironically, the weekly newspaper came into being during the year of that editor's birth, but its first Editor and Publisher was the late E.C. Dickens, prominent Baptist Minister, who left the ADVANCE to become president of what is now Georgia Southern College in Statesboro.

"Editor Dickens," the Ledford notes continue, "was followed in the editorship of the ADVANCE by W.A. Jones, well-known Georgia newspaper correspondent, and Horace Dickens, a brother of the first editor." Dickens later moved to Eastman, Ga. And Jones was prominent in business affairs in Vidalia until his death but continued to contribute news and feature materials to the newspaper here and to Macon, Savannah and Atlanta daily papers.

Jones and Dickens were succeeded by the J. Kelley Simmons. Later the late Claude Methvin, member of a well-known Georgia newspaper family of Eastman and Vienna, succeeded Simmons, "W.C. Cargile, another prominent Baptist minister, succeeded Editor Methvin," the Ledford notes continue.

Another minister, J.W. McWhorter followed Cargile, remaining editor until December 1, 1920. Hugh McWhorter, Decatur, Ga., later the editor and publisher of the DEKALB NEW-ERA and a prominent Georgia legislator was a native of Vidalia and became editor of The ADVANCE.

"Thus, three of the ADVANCE illustrious editors of the past were members of the Baptist ministry." The Ledford notes continue. "Mr. McWhorter was succeeded by the late N.C. "Jack" Napier, who was a brother of the late George Napier, who was for several terms, Attorney-General of Georgia.

"Upon the death of Editor Napier, the ADVANCE was operated for a short period by a civic club — the Vidalia Kiwanis Club, with A.F. Sawyer, a well-known newspaperman as editor. Editor Sawyer retired from the newspaper profession and now lives on his farm near Vidalia."

Ledford purchased and assumed the editorship of the newspaper on January 1, 1926. His son, William F. "Bill" Ledford undertook Editor/Publisher duties at this father's death and the third generation Ledford, William F. Ledford, Jr., serves as Managing Editor of the newspaper and President and CEO of the newspapers's parent company, Advance Publishing Co., Inc. The company publishes a total market publication The ADVANCE that is distributed to some 20,000 homes. In 1989 Advance Publishing stockholders formed the Progress Pub. Co., Inc. and purchased the county organ, The Lyons PROGRESS.

Among prominent newspaper men who have been associated with the ADVANCE, since 1926 include Jack Tarver, who later became editor of the Macon, Ga. NEWS, and editor and editorial writer and columnist of the Atlanta CONSTITUTION and eventually president of the parent company, Cox Newspapers, Inc. Roy Chalker, Editor/Publisher Emeritus of the Waynesboro, Ga. TRUE-CITIZEN and Col. John Wiggins, who had a distinguished military career in the U.S. Marines and as a journalist during and following that career.

"In it's beginning," publisher Ledford said, "The ADVANCE became dedicated to the development of Vidalia, Toombs County and this section of Georgia, and this has remained it's major objective. Some of the objectives were: better schools, better community interests, better and more roads, civic clubs, a better agriculture, more and better markets for agricultural products, civic improvements, more adequate city governmental services, more industries — a balance between agriculture and industry &mdash therefore more opportunity for the people of the community."

In addition to two locations on North West Main Street, during its early years, The ADVANCE occupied buildings on Meadows Street (present location of the Atlanta Gas offices), a building at the corner of First and Jackson Street (no longer standing, but known as the Bus Station building), and its present location at 205 First Street.

With it's hand set pages in 1901, one Linotype and hand-fed Hoe press in the 20's, 30', two Linotypes and roll fed Cox-o-Type printing press in the 40's, 50's and early 60's The ADVANCE moved into the "cold-type" era and today produces the newspapere on state-of-the-art electronic, computerized equipment with laser printers and is printed at UniPress, Inc. The ADVANCE is a major stock-holder in the modern printing plant located in Soperton, Ga.

On December 4, 1920 the newspaper's lead story was tagged: "Want More Tourist Travel for Vidalia" and in it's December 1920 issue its lead story was "New England Tourist Stop Over in Vidalia." Fifty New Englanders and 20 cars were in the party, the story said. During this party's stay in the city, the then editor, N.C. Napier, headed a committee of local citizens extending the well-known Vidalia hospitality to the group, Ledford's notes said.

Eighty years later The ADVANCE and its staff join the Vidalia Centennial welcoming committee as thousands join them for the city's biggest party ever.

Christmas carols at the Vidalia homes of blacks and whites on the eve of December 25, 1960 by the Dickerson High School Choir, a gift of $100 from Mr. and Mrs. Gerry Achenbach, and refreshemnts at the home of Mrs. Flossy Hayes generated pride and excitement and inspired plans for a recreation facility in east Park.

From the happy evening's experience grew the idea for a black Citizens organization whose purpose would be to provide a recration park for the community; an unstructured committee was formed — with Flossie Hayes, B. Ernest Moore and Henry Bentley as principals — to seek funds to purchase Old Roundtree Park and develop it as a recreation center.

The dream became a reality, the name of the area was changed to East Park Recreation Center, providing facilities for baseball, softball, other recreational pursuits and later a swimming pool was built.

This civic club set a goal that would provide more participation in civic and municipal affairs of the city including participation by the Rev. R.L. Lambert, H.W. Miller, Melvin Edwards, Alfred Jackson, J.R. Turner, Eloise Allen, Ernest Moore, Henry Bentley, Flossie Hayes and other black citizens. Expressing concern for a perceived deficit of black employees in public empolyment, banks, city hall, and other businesses the group became involved in the formation of a credit union, registration of voters and charity endeavors.

In 1970 when Mayor Hugh Dixon requested that they sell the former Roundtree Park area to the city for construction of an elementary school the property was donated to the city for the erection of Dickerson Elementary school in exchange for a parcel of land at the end of Roosevelt Street. There the Vidalia Recreation Department built a park with swimming pool, shelters, and provided play equipment and space for competitive games. This park was completed and dedicated in 1975 and named Flossie Hayes Park. During the cremony, then Mayor Norwood Rhodes accepted a cash donation from the Vidalia Citizens' Club and Mrs. Hayes for the purchase of playground equipment.

The name of the organization was changed to Vidalia Citizens Action Club, Inc. in 1976 with Flossie Hayes, President; Alfred Jackson, Vice-President; Lillie B. jackson, Secretary; J.R. Turner Treasurer and Eloise Allen, Laura Carbett, David Hodge, Melvin Edwards, Sal McClain and Curtis Richardson directors.

Meeting regularly with planned programs, the organization has provided scholarships to college bound students and actively assisted those in need in the community.

The organization purchased two buses to transport children to school before the Vidalia Board of Education instituted a citywide bussing program.

Vidalia's oldest cemetery probably is three-quarters of a century older than Vidalia itself. Two of the city's four other cemeteries are also older than the city.

Located on what is now Church Street, only a block from the city's principal intersection, the oldest cemetery does not have an official name. Sharing the same city block with the Vidalia primitive Baptist Church, it sometimes is called the Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, but it is not more affiliated with that Church than with three others situated a block or less away.

When brothers Sartain and Tommy Lanier were discussing the feasibility of locating a new shirt factory in Vidalia in 1945, Tommy Lanier reputedly said, “We better locate in Vidalia, because they’ve got the best fried catfish I ever ate.”

But besides the appeal of the area’s finger-licking cuisine, both brothers lauded the commitment of “an enthusiastic group of people” as the chief attribute that made them decide to establish a plant in Vidalia.

The garment factory the Lanier brothers established eventually expanded to occupy a 200,000 plus square-foot building on North Street Extension, evolving into the present day Oxford of Vidalia. Peak employment at the plant has reached as high as 1000 employees over the years, and the factory continues to play an important role in the area’s economy.

Forty-five years later, in June of 1990, Trane Air Conditioning EVP William Kluge praised the same spirit of cooperation, commitment and enthusiasm when a consolidated Toombs County Chamber of Commerce landed its first major industrial prospect in over 15 years.

“An important factor behind our selection of this community for the location of our new plant was the attitude and involvement of the people of Toombs County…,” Kluge said at a ground breaking ceremony at the Vidalia Industrial Park.

Under the leadership of chamber president Danny Foshee, of Vidalia, and Roy Stewart of Lyons, the Vidalia chamber merged with the Lyons/Toombs Co. chamber in 1988 to form a consolidated Toombs County Chamber of Commerce. Chamber officials and local government representatives county-wide called the merger “a milstone in area economic development.”

The Piggly Wiggly Souther company, of Vidalia, traces its roots back to the arrival of the M.F. Brice family in the area in 1919.

With the encouragement of his father-in-law, E.L. Tanner, of Douglas, Brice joined H.A. Threlkeld, his brother-in-law, along with E.D. Davis and J.W. Dale to incorporate the Tanner-Brice Company.

With a trade area extending some 60-70 miles in radius, the company opened business as a distribution center for wholesale and retail groceries, dry goods, seed, feed and general merchandise.

Besides the retail country stores region wide that Tanner-Brice claimed as customers, the many commissaries supplying the needs of the turpentine camps and sawmills that thrived throughout the trade area also depended on the company.

Following the agricultural depression after World War I, supply house failures became common, and Tanner-Brice began a chain-store operation that eventually encompassed over 70 stores.

Competition, at the time, came from operations like National Tea, A&P, Rogers and the Suwanee stores. The chain multiplied, with many of the stores called “Sim’s” stores, after an admired employee, but the operation rarely showed a profit.

By the late 30’s, Brice had decided to sell to a New York investment firm, retaining one sixth interest and remaining with the firm as a consultant until 1941. In that year, when the company faced an investment crisis, the New York owners turned to Gerry Achenbach, a young Wall Street investment counselor, for help. Achenbach soon perceived that every store in the chain varied in size, fixtures, advertising and pricing. Recommending a more systematic and uniform marketing strategy, Achenbach approached the ownership in 1943, urging them to seek affiliation with the Piggly Wiggly Company, of Memphis, Tennessee.

The owners agreed, and Piggly Wiggly extended a franchise agreement that included the company in its marketing network. Since there were few Piggly Wiggly franchises south of Atlanta, at the time, Achenbach suggested that the new franchise include almost the entire state of Georgia.

The first conversion to Piggly Wiggly marketing methods came at a new Sims store in Americus that opened in July of 1943. Then the company opened a new Piggly Wiggly store in Waynesboro.

People throughout the area were quite excited when the first Piggly Wiggly store opened shortly afterward in Vidalia. It was located in a rather small building on Jackson Street that was eventually used as an educational building by the First Baptist Church.

Piggly Wiggly Southern experienced a period of rapid growth with the opening of each new store. The company acquired a large tract of land on the western edge of Vidalia in 1963, constructing a 700,000 sq. ft. warehouse with cold storage facilities, a separate office complex and a truck maintenance division. At the time, the design was hailed as “the most modern food distribution facility in the nation.”

This warehouse expansion increased the number of company employees to over 5000, with more than 400 workers employed at the central distribution complex in Vidalia. Gerry Achenbach retired in 1975, naming Ronald Frost as his successor as chief executive officer.

Frost enjoyed the loyalty and support of a younger group of executives, many of whom had started with Piggly Wiggly as after-school bag boys and apprentice butchers. This group, including Ed Brannen, Fisher Barfoot, James Long, Wilmer McGowan, Dent Temples and Kay Stafford, managed Piggly Wiggly Southern until 1986.

At that time, Piggly Wiggly Southern was the state’s largest privately-owned company, with an annual sales volume of $560 million and over 5,000 employees.

Since that time, the company has undergone two changes in ownership.

In 1986, Reardon, Freeman and Spagli, a Los Angles investment firm, bought the company with the intention of reselling it, according to PWS insiders, after a stipulated 15-month waiting period.

“The Walker property and a strip of land lying between this and the S.A.L. Railroad, said land belonging to Mrs. McIntyre,” was chosen as the site for The Bethany Home for Ladies according to the institution’s minutes of April 18, 1923.

The Vidalia Primitive Baptist’s Elder T.E. Sikes was authorized to purchase this property when it was learned that the Department of National Highways had surveyed a road that would have divide seven acres of land at the edge of Vidalia purchased earlier as a site for the home. That same year efforts were begun to construct a cottage or bungalow type building with rooms sufficient to care for the needs of elderly women got underway under the direction of “Bro.” Sikes. Since that time a number of other buildings, including an infirmary, have been built on the property.

The early Bethany Home minutes indicate that only one to five guests were accommodated at a time until facilities and adequate funds to support larger numbers of older ladies became available.

But in January of 1961 there were 133 guests from every part of the south, as far away as Texas, being cared for at the home.

The Primitive Baptist Church was instrumental in the founding of the home and Mr. Sikes served as it’s first manager and its executive board chairman until his resignation in January 1943. The well-known elder and humanitarian died that same year. Elders and members from other Primitive Baptist Churches in Georgia have served in various Bethany Home capacities over the years.

The Home’s support comes from various assistance agencies and funds, support from guests, solicitations and gifts. In the early years Bethany Home relied heavily on solicitors that were volunteers in some instances and paid employees in others. As late as 1952 solicitation was a vital part of it’s financial structure.

The Bethany Home continues to serve as a retirement and rest haven for older women and for those that have certain infirmities.

A Department of Defense Environmental Restoration Program for Formerly Used Sites says that land for the former Vidalia-Lyons Air Force Auxiliary Field, located off U.S. Highway in Vidalia, Toombs County, Ga., were acquired between November 1942 and July 1943 and included “1,217.36 acres fee and 98.96 acres easement”.

The land was acquired through purchase and condemnation and the field was originally acquired for the Army Air Forces, later the Department of Air Force, and was used as an Operational Training Unit. The area was Government-owned and operated during the period of DOD ownership.

Effective February 10, 1948, 1,314.39 acres "fee and 97.03 acres easement" were declared excess and the War Assets Administration (WAA) accepted custody and accountability for same.

The WAA conveyed "1,217.366 acres fee and 97.03 acres a vigation easement" to the City of Vidalia by quit claim deed dated February 15, 1949. The deed restricted use of the site to public airport purposes and contained a recapture clause. The deed also contained a clause that all structures, improvements, equipment, etc. shall be maintained by the City for the use and benefit of the public at all times.

The airport, with excellent runways and safety equipment capable of accommodating various sizes of air craft including corporate jets, continues to be owned and operated by the City of Vidalia having been a major factor contributing to the growth and well-being of the Vidalia community in recent years.

The Quint Shrine Club was organized in 1951. The name "Quint" was selected for the five counties represented: Jeff Davis, Montgomery, Toombs, Treutlen, and Wheeler.

Noble P. LeRoy Meadows was the first president. The membership grew, in two years, to more than 140, third largest club in the Temple, exceeded only by August and Brunswick. In addition to fun and fellowship, fund raising projects for the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children are annual events. Children from the area are taken to the hospital in Greenville; the club also assists those going to the Scottish Rite Hospital in Atlanta. In 1953 the club sponsored their first president, Mr. Meadows for the office of Oriental Guide in the Divan of Alee Temple. He was elected and served Potentate in 1957, the first Noble to hold this office that resided outside Chatham County.

Other clubs were formed that took many of the members and now Quint serves Montgomery, Toombs, Treutlen and a part of Tattnall counties.

The Quint Shrine Club has hosted three ceremonials — all successful. An "Honor Guard" unit was formed several years ago. The club now has a Mobile Patrol unit formed and the Clown Unit has been reactivated.

Only eight years after the Boy Scouts of America were incorporated on February 9, 1910 and chartered by Congress on June 15, 1916, Vidalia had three Pioneer Scouts — James Cromartie, Arthur Cromartie and Henry Wade Moore.

The Pine Ridge Garden Club was organized in April 1949 as a neighborhood club with members that had been affiliated with the older Vidalia Garden Club, that had, by that time, grown quite large. Limiting membership to 25, the dedicated gardeners foresaw a club that could meet in members’ homes with comfort and efficiency. The organizing officers were: Mrs. W.C. Somers, President, Mrs. T.D. Lamb, Jr., Vice-President, Mrs. R.H. DeJarnette, Secretary and Mrs. J.C. Austin, Treasurer.

The organization was responsible for landscaping and beautification of an area at Vidalia Garment Company (now Oxford, Vidalia) and later Vidalia’s Bethany Home became a project under the guidance of Mrs. P.L. Meadows. One hundred fifty trees, shrubs and bulbs were planted and the garden was re-landscaped.

In 1951 the “ahead of their time” environmentalist garden club members pledged: “I give my pledge as an American to save and faithfully to defend from waste the natural resources of my country — its soil and minerals, its forests, water and wildlife.”

Mrs. O.D. Warthen, Mrs. W.L. Oliver and Mrs. T.D. Lamb, Jr. were National Flower Show Judges and Mrs. Warthen was also a member of the American Camellia Society. Dr. Dennis Sikes, trustee to Woodsman-LeConte Plantation restoration became a member of the club. Five club members have been chosen “Lady of the Year”, Mrs. R.E. Ledford, Mrs. R. Hugh Reid, Mrs. James Darby, Jr., Mrs. Garth Brantley and Mrs. W.C. Rice.

Pine Ridge Garden Club participated in National Earth Day in 1990 by planting a Bradford Pear tree at the J.D. Dickerson School under the direction of the current president, Mrs. Melvin Page and a committee including Mrs. A.B. Cocke, Mrs. Ralph Conner, and Mrs. Henry Davis.

The activities of the club are recorded in a scrapbook that was preserved by Mrs. Frank Jenkins, Chairman of the first Scrapbook Committee and her successors with pictures, newspaper clipping and photographs.

The Vidalia Chapter of the Women of Georgia was organized in 1971 to offer the women employees and wives a forum to help Georgia Power Company be a ‘Citizen Wherever We Serve’. Mrs. Betty Dixon was the chapter’s first president.

Vidalia’s Boy Scout Troop 935, chartered by Robinson’s Woodwork, was established in 1989.

J.B. Robinson is Scoutmaster and Mrs. Jett Robinson is Asst. Scoutmaster.

Registered Boy Scouts for Troop 935 include: Josh Goodman, Duncan Lewis, Jeremy Joyner, Billy Griffee and Michael McCoy, Jr.

Cub Pack 933 established in 1970, chartered by the First United Methodist Church with the Vidalia Presbyterian Church assuming charter obligations in 1982.

Past Cubmasters include Robert Calhoun, John Underwood, Linda Key, Gregory Czech and Jett Robinson. During the past 22 years membership has grown from 26 to 213 and 933 was listed as the largest pack in S.E. Georgia in ’88, ’89 and ’90 and has been listed as a National Quality pack since 1982.

Mrs. Jett Robinson who has been involved in the pack since 1977 received The Silver Beaver Award in 1990, the highest award at council level.

Vidalia’s Pink Ladies Auxiliary in their 20th year in 1988 had contributed over 90,000 hours of service to patients at Meadows Memorial Hospital in Vidalia.

Easily identified by their distinctive pink coats there were only eight Pink Lady charter members and one of those uniforms when the Auxiliary was formally organized in 1968. Those eight members were Mrs. Thomas Melton, Mrs. Arthur W. Christensen, Mrs. George Williams, Mrs. George D. Anderson, Mrs. Stewart Wayne Smith, Mrs. Harry H. Thompson, Mrs. Kenneth Williamson, and Mrs. C.M. Jordan. Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Christensen are still active in the Auziliary.

The Auxiliary now has more than 45 active members with no one sharing uniforms.

In addition to providing patient and staff services, the Pink Ladies have given financial support to a number of projects with funds from the operation of the Pink Corner, a sundry shop in the hospital lobby and special fund raisers such as Holiday House, Tour of Homes, plant sales, gold sales, Love Lites, and vending Machines.

Auxiliary contributions include: cardiac equipment for ICU; ice maker for cafeteria; physical therapy equipment, equipment and furnishings for the hospital’s obstetrics and maternity wing; incubator; furnishing for pediatrics playroom; blood pressure cuffs; television and draperies for all patient rooms, microwave for the nursing stations, Pediatrics Life Support System for Emergency Medicine, support for Life Line, savings bond for the first baby born in the hospital in the new year; and two scholarships, one for advanced training to an emergency room technician and one for a nurse.

Volunteers adhere to a stringent set of rules and regulations detailed in a by-laws booklet that reminds the members that a “hospital is a place that sells a commodity that one wants to buy, at a time when the customer is least able to pay for it. And that Pink Ladies “serve all, regardless of race, color, creed or ability to pay. Let’s respect and live up to that ideal. Kindness and concern are 'good medicine.'”

Growing from the efforts of individuals dedicated to easing the hardship of Christmas of families of deficient circumstances and provide food, clothing, and toys to unfortunate and poverty stricken persons in the Vidalia area, Toombs County United Charities, Inc. became an organized charity on the 26th day of June, 1970.

In the years since its chartered beginning Toombs County United Charities, Inc. has distributed thousands of boxes of food, clothing and toys each Christmas to indigent and destitute families in this area. Prior to its inception individuals and organizations seeking to benefit the impoverish often overlapped while deserving families were inadvertently overlooked.

On every Christmas Eve since its official inception, the organization has ministered to the needs of hundreds of families in the Toombs area, making the season a happier one. In addition to tending the needs of the less fortunately with compassion, Toombs United Charities, Inc. has been a coordinating arm of community-minded individuals and organizations that have a will and determination to refine the conditions of their fellow men.

The late Wm. T. Darby, Sr. was the first president with Grace T. Cocke, Wynelle Odom, James H. Braziel, Jr., A.B. Davis, Sarah Clifton Thompson, Ronald Widner, Wm T. Darby and H.S. Vandiver serving on its first Board of Directors. Many area citizens made noteable contributions in time, funds and effort to the organization including the late Bob George who was serving as president of the organization at the time of his death in 1989.

Kaye Truett, Edgar and Phyllis Scott, Tom and Lydia Melton and the Rev. Ernest Veal met at the home of Cliff Pickens to consider the possibility of forming a new Methodist Church in Vidalia on January 20, 1968.

From that prophetic gathering Vidalia’s Grace United Methodist Church was formally constituted on June 2, 1968 by the Rev. Bernard Brown following a meeting of Rev. Brown, the Rev. Carlton Carruth and members of the official Board of the Vidalia First United Methodist Church called to discuss plans for a new Methodist church for Vidalia.

Grace United’s first services were held on May 15, 1968 in a Mobile trailer located on property known as the Irwin Hall property, consisting of 4.01 acres at the intersection of Hall Way and Aimwell Road — land that was chosen, approved and purchased by the Conference Board of Mission and Church Expansion.

According to Dr. Ralph T. Mirse, Director of the Department of New Church Development of National Division of the Board of Missions of the United Methodist Church, Vidalia’s Grace Methodist Church is the first “’United’ Methodist Church” in the nation established after the merger of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church.

Charter Day for Grace was held September 29, 1968. One hundred five members signed the Charter. The congregation met in the trailer from May 1968 until 1970 and the old house adjacent to the trailer was used for Sunday School services. Ground was broken for the present building on December 21, 1969, consecrated and occupied in 1972. A house on Rigsbee Drive was purchased in 1972 and is used as a church parsonage.

“By the will of God,” a comprehensive history church says, “Grace has continued to grow and thrive and in 1981, the need for additional Sunday School rooms plus Administrative Office became apparent. After many meeting with various Committees it was decided to build an office for a future Church Secretary, an office of the Pastor and two more Sunday School rooms. Ground for this project was broken on March 11, 1982 and this wing was consecrated in October 1982.”

Ground breaking for a larger Sanctuary and additional Sunday School rooms occurred July 31, 1988 with the Rev. Phillip Marklin as Pastor and the Rev. Harold Tucker, Dist. Supt. Construction was completed in March, 1989 and included five new classrooms and a choir room.

Pastors serving Grace include Rev. Tom Brown, Rev. Jiles Parham, Rev. Richard Webb, Rev. Cecil Ruffin, Rev. Wayne McDaniel, Rev. Phillip Marklin and Rev. Bob Norwood.

Seventeen years before Vidalia existed as such, September 19, 1874 the First Baptist Church came into being as The Gethsemane Baptist Church under the aegises of the Reb. Turner Smith, Mount Vernon.

The Gethsemane congregation met in a log structure set in the middle of what is now Church Street, some 50 feet south of the intersection of Second Street until 1893 when the Daniell Baptist Assoc. was founded. A two-story building used as a school and church was erected on land now occupied by the Primitive Baptist Church, served as the groups meeting place and in 1890 the congregation changed the name of the church to the Vidalia Baptist Church. In 1900 one out of four people in Vidalia was a member of the church, but in 1904 the church burned and records were destroyed. A new and larger building was built and used until 1919 when it was sold to the Primitive Baptist congregation.

A motion was floored and carried in 1908 that “members having not paid to help support the pastor in the past 12 months be given three months in which to pay up.” The Rev. H.W. Williams (1917-1920) will be remembered as the one who built the building fire under the congregation.

He offered, on several occasions and without response, to give $1,000.00 for a new building if nine others would match it with $1,000.00 each. His challenge was finally met when he threatened to take $1,000.00 and leave.

Worship services were being held in the old municipal auditorium and the new church was being built. In 1921 the basement of the building was nearly complete and services were held there until 1924 when the present sanctuary at the corner of Church and First Street was completed.

There are some members who will recall the first baptismal service held in the present sanctuary building. Before it was completed the congregation stood because there were no pews; there was no finished floor; not even any windows, but a baptismal service was held just the same.

It had been the hope of the people that the finance committee could complete the new building for the original $40,000.00 objective set. Even in those days inflation was taking its toll and the committee had to go on overtime to raise additional funds. Today there is no record of the exact cost of the building but the final figures must have totaled around $50,000.00, judging from entries found in the records.

The Rev. J.T.B. Anderson served the church during the construction period then Dr. J.C. Brewton, co-founder of Brewton-Parker Institute, was called as a supply pastor and he accepted membership and the pastorate on February 10, 1926.

On March 30, 1930 a resolution offered in called conference to change the name of the church to the First Baptist Church was approved and the church was officially dedicated. Dr. Aquila Chamlee, President of Bessie Tift College, preached the dedicatory service.

The early 30s were not without their lighter moments for the church despite the Great Depression. Records indicate that on June 12th, 1932, Deacons gave Dr. Brewton permission to alter the pastorium at his own expense.

Dr. J.C. Brewton’s resignation was regretfully accepted on July 3, 1935 and the Rev. Gower Latimer became the pastor holding the record (as of 1974) for the longest pastorate of the church — ten years and three months. The church counted 588 members in 1940 and Vidalia had 4109 citizens. Mr. Latimer’s pastorate ended on December 31, 1945 and on August 1, 1946 the Rev. Joe Springer became the church minister. Rev. Springer resigned in April of 1951 and the Rev. O.L. Pedigo became the 22nd pastor of the church on October 1, 1952.

Construction of the church’s mission, Smith Street Baptist Church, got underway during the summer of 1960. Rev. Pedigo resigned and the Rev. Milton Gardner became the church pastor on July 14, 1963. Rev. Gardner resigned as pastor on Sept. 30, 1969 and the Rev. Irvin Northcutt succeeded him. The Rev. T. Noewl Cooper became the 25th pastor of the church on Nov. 1, 1972. Rev. Grady Roan is presently pastor of the church.

On November 17, 1974, 32 charter members organized Vidalia Baptist Temple, located in the former Church of Christ building on Slayton Street with the Rev. Frank Morrison, Sr. as the founding pastor.

From 1974 to 1990 the church membership has grown spiritually and physically and today includes an educational building, a new sanctuary and fellowship hall. A steeple was added to the sanctuary in October 1989.

Vidalia Baptist Temple is a Southern Baptist Church cooperating with other Missionary Baptists in the Daniel Baptist Association “to reach people for Jesus in our state, nation and world.”

Adversity, overcome by faith and the spirit of man, tempered the mighty foundation that anchors the Vidalia Church of God.

Misunderstanding by existing churches regarding “what Pentecostal people really believe and what ‘Holiness’ was all about” made early establishment attempts unsuccessful, according to a history of the church.

But the church became a reality in 1944 when the Rev. W.M. Hubbard concluded a successful tent revival with a call for those in the audience that would like to unite with the church and build a church in Vidalia. Dist. Overseer, the Rev. M.B. Morris officially organized and set the church in order with 26 members. The Rev. J.W. Chancey was the first pastor and services began in a tent and later removed to a home in the vicinity of what is now the Main Street entrance to the Sweet Onion Plaza.

Pastorates by the Rev. C.W. Rhoden (1 ¹/₂ yrs), and the Rev. D.H. Stewart (5 yrs.), followed. It was under the latter’s guidance that the property at the corner of Vann and Third Street was acquired and where the church is located today. Pastors to follow Rev. Stewart were: Joe T. Flowers, B.D. Gore, W.H. Gann, J.L. and Joe E. Flowers (2nd term).

The 9th pastor, the Rev. Alvin Graham (’62-’67) instituted a building program which consisted of a sanctuary and several Sunday School rooms. These facilities are used today.

The Rev. W.T. Ogden (’67-’69) followed Graham; Charles Green, the 11th pastor, came to Vidalia in November 1969 and served until March 1974 during which new Sunday School rooms and new office space was built. Rev. Robert Sorrow (’74-’76) and Rev. Marion Tripp (’76-’79) followed Green.

The current pastor the Rev. Aaron Reaves began serving the church in July 1979 and during his leadership padding for the church pews was installed, a new steeple added to the central structure and construction of a 2,000 square ft. fellowship hall was completed.

In 1964 there were 12 Jewish families in Vidalia with no House of Worship. The majority were members of congregation in Savannah and Macon.

Pursuing the consensus that a local congregation was needed and could be supported, members of the Jewish community organized Beth Israel. The families of Ben Smith, Herman Bailey, Donald Estroff, Dane Foskey, Hyman Estroff, Seymour Brown and Max Smith organized this House of Worship.

Meetings were held regularly in the Woman’s Club building on Highway 280 West, conducted under the leadership of Rabbi Nathan Kohen of the Fitzgerald Hebrew Congregation until his responsibilities there occupied his full time. Without an ordained Rabbi, laymen conducted services and the ladies took charge of the children’s Sunday school for several years.

David Grossman, a successful manufacturer of ladies lingerie who had interests in the area as well as being a partner in Rosebud Mfg. Co., developed a close friendship with Ben Smith. Because of this friendship, his love for Judaism, and his generosity, he contributed the major cost of a House of Worship, the Beth Israel Synagogue on Aimwell Road.

The building is a unique, modern design, yet functional as a traditional or orthodox synagogue. The architect was Morton Gruber, Atlanta and the advisor was Rabbi A.I. Rosenberg of B’nai B’rith Synagogue, Savannah. The building includes a sanctuary, a social area, and classroom and storage area. It is built in the form of a six-pointed star, which represents the Shield of David.

The first officers were: President, Hyman Estroff; Vice-President, Benjamin Smith; Secretary, Louis Seif; Treasurer, Seymour Brown. Members that have served as president are: Herman Bailey, Donald Estroff, Hyman Estroff, Joseph Evans, Dane Foskey, Frank Freedman, Richard Gross, Ben Smith and Duane Tomlin. The Ladies Auxiliary first officers were Co-Chairladies: Lillian Estroff and Bebe Smith; Secretary, Evelyn Ritchkin; Treasurer, Beatrice Seif.

Rabbi Rosenberg assigned Rabbi Borach Taub as leader of four congregations until he accepted a high position in the New York area. Rabbi Isaac Isenstadt who moved his residence to Israel succeeded him. Laymen now conduct services with assistance of Rabbi Gordon of Savannah.

The Torah The Holiest books of the Jewish Religion are the Scrolls of the Torah containing the Pentateuch, or the five books of Moses, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The Scroll in the Synagogue is a letter-perfect copy of the Ancient Dead Sea Scrolls dating to the year 202 B.C.

The Torah number 453 is one of the 1564 Czech Memorial Sefre Torahs, which constituted part of the treasurers looted by the Nazis during the 1939-1945 war from the Jewish communities of Bohemia, Moravia and Solvakia. The Czechoslovak government for many years had cared them for. They were acquired with the goodwill of the government by good friends from the State Cultural Agency for the Westminster Synagogue of London.

Some of the collection remains in the Westminister Synagogue as a permanent memorial to the martyrs from whose synagogues they came. Many of them are distributed throughout the world to be memorials everywhere to the Jewish tragedy, and to spread light as Harbingers of Future Brotherhood on earth.

This scroll, from Mlada Boleslav (Jungbunz, Lais.), was written in 1850 A.D. It was acquired for the synagogue by Rabbi Hershel Brooks, formerly Rabbi of Agudath Achim Synagogue of Savannah and now of Los Angeles, Calif.

A.V. Pickeren received an invitation in October of 1925 from Vidalia-area Baptists to visit Vidalia to discuss the possibility of organizing a new church.

As a result of that and subsequent discussions, Pickeren agreed to serve as pastor for the new church, and he moved his family to Vidalia on December 1, 1925.

For approximately one year, the new pastor held services for the fledgling Tabernacle Baptist Church from City Hall in Vidalia.

On January 10th, 1926, the Tabernacle group, along with members of the North Tompson Baptist Church, agreed to merge the two churches and to continue to meet at the North Tompson location until a suitable site for a new church could be located. The Reveredn Pickeren agreed to stay on as pastor.

The church soon named Pickeren, L.H. Darby, M.H. Fountain, W.H. Sasser, M.E. Hall and P.F. Phillips to a church committee charged with locating a site, and later in January, the church broke ground for a new building on the lot presently occupied by Tabernacle at 311 Peachtree Street.

The “hammering and the sawing ceased on the Saturday before the first Sunday in April, 1926,” according to church records, and on the following Sunday, Dr. Arch C. Creel led the congregation in the first services conducted in the new building.

Securing a loan from the Home Mission Board and commitments for volunteer labor to assist hired workers, the church underwent renovations in 1932, at which time an annex to the main building was added.

Tabernacle was completely renovated again in 1980, when offices and educational facilities were added and a kitchen area was remodeled.

In June of 1989, the church appointed the Reverend Ronald Jackson pastor.

As of this writing, Tabernacle Baptist Church has a total membership of 800, with an anuual budget offering of $225,000. The church is actively involved in the work of the Daniell Baptist Association, the Ga. Baptist Convention, and the Southern Baptist Convention.

The First African Baptist Church, 206 Martin Luther King, Jr., Ave., bore the name Oak Grove Baptist Church when it was founded in 1891 by the Rev. J.C. McDonald and the first sanctuary was erected. It is not known whether this building was on the site of the present church.

The church got its present name in 1900 when the Rev. A.J. Gould became pastor and a second sanctuary was built. It was a victim of a wind storm, was severely damaged, but repaired by the congregation and used until the present structure was built.

There is no record available from 1903 to 1911, but in 1912 the Rev. Sam Walker became pastor serving for five years. Rev. Whitehead served as pastor for four years, then the church was served by the Rev. Arline for one year. The Rev. W.M. Hall was called in 1923 and served for 48 years. During his tenure the church became affiliated with the Queen of Victory Association and on September 27, 1925 a cornerstone was erected bearing the names of outstanding officers of the church including: Deacons S. Reading, D. Johnson, L. Simmons, M. Swinton, E. Owens, J.D. Dickerson, O. Pringle, R.D. Parker, R.D. Bryant and W.S. Sikes. Deacons ordained later included Joe Swinton, Wade Yopp, B.J. Smalley, A. Robinson, Tom Coe, T.R. Maxwell, E. Lewis, P. Futch and W. Lock.

A parsonage was built during Hall’s pastorate; in 1939 the sanctuary was moved back from the streets and the J.D. Dickerson Education Wing was added; Deacons Sam Averett, Elijah Barton, Elzie McCord, Edward Lockhart and R.B. McLeod were ordained.

Rev. Richard H. Lawrence followed the church’s beloved Hall as pastor. The Gospel Choir was formed during his administration and carpeting and a new sound system for the pulpit was provided. In 1974 the Rev. A.D. Baker became pastor and additional deacons were ordained, E. Williams, Eddie B. Lockhart, Charlie Sinquefield and J. Middlebrooks. In 1981 Deacons Roben Lockhart, Melvin Edwards, Horace Black and Mack McLeod were ordained and a new heating system was installed in the church.

The Rev. Milburn Phillips became the church pastor in 1983 and under his leadership services were held every Sunday and the membership grew and Deacons Sylvester White, Johnny Payne, Theawander Williams, Sol McLain and Charlie Tanner were ordained.

Rev. Lawrence returned to First African’s pulpit in 1988 and the Rev. Fredrick Dixson served until February 1989 followed by the present minister the Rev. L. Perry McNeal. Under his auspices a Nurses Aides Guild was formed; a church van purchased; installed Dial-A-Prayer system; developed full-time ministry and conducted workshops in administration, stewardship, leadership and organization.

In the early 1800’s the first church erected in the Vidalia area was a Presbyterian sanctuary.

Malcolm McMillian, recipient of an original land grant from the state of Georgia, built the church and called his cousin the Rev. Murphey McMillian as pastor.

That original congregation disappeared leaving no record of any regular Presbyterian preaching in what became Vidalia Station until October 1, 1890.

Savannah evangelist Rev. R.E. Steele visited the area at the invitation of Kenneth F. McIntosh. On a subsequent visit in November a local group heard his sermon and decided to organize a church. The group petitioned the fall meeting of the Savannah Presbyterian Church with 14 members enrolled at the organizational meeting — 9 of the original members sharing the surname McIntosh. M.K. McIntosh was ordained as the first Ruling Elder with Rev. Steele agreeing to preach one Sunday each month.

In January 1891, regular Sunday morning services began in Vidalia’s one-room schoolhouse. Church trustees purchased one-acre on the southwest corner of Church and First streets from George N. Matthews on Sept. 26, 1891. Church members built a sanctuary of heart-of-pine timber, a plain building but with a bell tower and steeple.

In the early days, the church had no Sunday school, then called Sabbath school, but in March 1892 Savannah Presbytery reported the Presbyterian children were attending Baptist Sabbath School.

By September of that year, a Sabbath School had been organized. The first session had 40 students and five teachers. Vidalia Presbyterian Church has since provided Sunday school without interruption, even during the Great Depression when the church went for a time without a pastor or a building.

In 1895, the church became a biracial congregation when Mr. And Mrs. Henry Randolph, noted in Session minutes, “colored” were accepted by letter from the Mt. Vernon Presbyterian Church. They became the church’s 36th and 37th members.

The church helped establish other congregations including Aimwell Presbyterian Church, organized by the Savannah Presbytery in 1903. The Aimwell church sold its property, at the present Vidalia Airport, to the U.S. Government in 1944 and a new church building was constructed in Lyons and the name changed to the Lyons Presbyterian Church.

In 1906 a Presbytery commission organized the Sadie Presbyterian Church in the Petross Community. That congregation dissolved in 1946 and its membership roll was transferred to the McGregor Presbyterian Church.

Vidalia Presbyterian helped found the English Eddy Chapel in 1934 and continues to provide pastoral services to the chapel.

Hard times came in 1926 when Vidalia Presbyterian lost its building. The church building committee had voted to proceed with demolition of the old building while a new one was being built. The congregation had $4,000 in its building when the Georgia State Savings Bank closed and the building fund lost. The church lost its building fund a second time in 1934 when the First National Bank closed.

For a decade the Presbyterian Church shared the Primitive Baptist Building. The church purchased its present site on the southwest corner of Church and Third streets in 1938. A new building was completed in 1940, complete with the bell from the original tower.

The church first rented a pastoral home, then bought an existing home. In 1958-59, the church built its present manse on Center Drive.

The Rev. Vaughn J. “Jay” Warthen, Jr. became Vidalia Presbyterian’s twentieth minister on July 1, 1988. Previous ministers were: The Rev. R.E. Steele; Rev. L.B. Davis, Rev. D.F. Sheppard, Rev. M. McGillivany, Rev. Charles Montgomery, Rev. Daniel A. McNeill, Rev. B.R. Anderson, Rev. C.O. Martindale, Rev. R.H. Orr, Rev. Ewell Nelson, Rev. John Haley, Rev. David A. Bowles, Rev. Richard B. Ribble, Rev. William A. Crossland, Jr. Rev. Lawrence E. Durr, Rev. Richard B. Ribble, and Rev. Bert Swearingen.

The First United Methodist Church was organized in 1891 as a part of the Higgston Circuit with the Reverend D.F. Miles as its first pastor.

Since Higgston, at that time, was the larger of the two towns the church parsonage worshiped in private homes and in the Presbyterian Church in Vidalia.

In 1902 the circuit became known as the Vidalia Circuit and the parsonage was moved to Lyons. It was during that year that a wooden church building was erected in Vidalia on the site of the present church opening its doors in spring 1903a with the Reverend S.H. Bryant as its first resident pastor. This first church was dedicated during Mr. Bryant’s pastorate with W.C. Lovett of Atlanta preaching the dedicatory sermon, delivered under a large oak tree near the site of the present church. “Methodism,” he said during his sermon, “is like nut grass, when planted it took root and was hard to get rid of.”

The small church was painted white, inside and out, and had stationary green blinds. Windows were small clear glass panes and one stained glass window was installed behind the pulpit.

The congregation out grew the wooden building and it was moved in 1918 (to serve as an interim place of worship) to make way for the construction of a brick building. The first service in the new church was held on the last Sunday in October 1920. The building was dedicated in October 1934.

The first unit of the church’s educational building was built in 1949 and included church school rooms, a parlor, kitchen, church office, and fellowship hall. The church office connedted the new building and the church. A second unite was added in 1961, extending across the front of the original educational building and included a chapel, more office space, extra class rooms, and a choir room.

Plans to organize another Methodist Church in the city began in January 1968. Grace United Methodist Church, Aimwell Road, was organized under the supervision of the older church, was built and held its first worship service on May 5, 1968. On the nationa level, the church merged with a church of earlier origins known as the Evangelical United Brethren to form the United Methodist Church.

On September 13, 1971 the congregation voted to build a new church. The sanctuary in which services are now held had a total construction cost of $370,000 and on June 9, 1980 the last payment was made on the building and the dedication service was held July 27, 1980.

Some of the ministers that have served the church since 1910 include: the Rev. Reese Griffin, Rev. J.H. House, Rev. N.H. Williams, Rev. E.H. McGehee, Rev. w. Milligan, Rev. M.W. Carmichael, Rev. J.H. Mather, Rev. W.M. Blitch, Rev. J.E. Sampley, Rev. M.A. Shaw, Rev. N.W. Lovein, Rev. M.E. Peavy, Rev. C.R. McKibben, Rev. Roy Gardner, Rev. Bernard Brown, Rev. Ellis Miller, Rev. Hal Tucker, Rev. Ellis Miller, Rev. L.D. Shippy, Rev. H.W. Scoates, Rev. Ernest L. Veal, Rev. Harold Tucker, Rev. John Quillian, Dr. J.C. Varnelle, Rev. David Blalock and Rev. Vernon Edwards, and Rev. Guy Parrish. The Rev. Bill Strickland is the current pastor.

Vidalia Centennial Memorial Book Committee

The year 1990 marks the 100th anninersary of the tiny settlement that began as "Jenkins Station" and that developed into a virbrant city that is now Vidalia, Georgia. This important milestone provides an oppoutunity to focus attention to the city's history and heritage, its growth and progress.

This memorial book is the official publication honoring the Vidalia Centennial Celebration, October 12 through October 20, 1990.

It should not be considered a difinitive history of Vidalia. Economics, and other factors, including limited space in the publication itself makes that impossible. However, it is a vehicle that will take us back in time and bring us through the formative years of the founding of the city, nostalgically transporting us to the celebration period.

Unfortunately the Centennial Memorial Book Committee could not use all of the materials that the public so generously furnished including data, records, photos, etc. We have used as much of that information as space limitations would permit. We are sure that omissions, depending on one's interests and taste, will be noticealbe to some. We apologize to any that may feel that particular facets of Vidalia's history were overlooked or ignored, or that references to specific groups, organizations, or businesses were omitted.

Despite the mandatory space and economic restraints imposed upon this group through necessity, the Vidalia Centennial Memorial Book Committee is confident that this attractive and informative publication will be a credit to the occasion, a mememto of the 100th birthday celebration of Vidalia, and engerder continue pride in Vidalia, Georgia for the next century and beyond.

The memeber of the committee, Rose and Bill Ledford, Co-Chairmen; Bill Warthen, Tom Hutchison, Ray Tapley, Massey McIntyre, Richard Herring, and Ben Jackson, are grateful for the manner in which our calls for photos and materials were answered. This effort would have been less than a labor of love for this committee and, in fact, would not have been successfully compledted without the full cooperation of Vidalia's enthusiastic, involved gerneral public.

Vidalia Centennial Memorial Book Committee