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Thomaston-Upson Bicentennial Mural
Between 2024-2025, the Thomaston-Upson County Bicentennial Committee planned numerous events and activities to honor the 200th anniversary of the creation of Upson County (Dec. 15, 1824) and the City of Thomaston (June 11, 1825).
One such project was a new mural for downtown, which sought to add to the beautification of the area, as well as highlight businesses, local figures, and unique resources which compose the character of Thomaston and Upson.
Representatives from UGA's "Color the World Bright" Program worked with the Thomaston-Upson County Bicentennial Committee to design the mural. The program's students travelled to Thomaston in August, 2025 to complete the project.
Visitors can find the mural at 5 Tower Events, owned by Mrs. Seretha and Mr. Charlie Hobbs, located at 105 N. Church Street.
Funding for the mural was made possible by the following sponsors:
- The City of Thomaston
- Flint Energies
- Upson EMC
- Thomaston-Upson County Bicentennial Committee
The purpose of this page is to describe each of the elements of the mural. Short descriptions may be found in the slideshow, while more detail is provided below.
Short Descriptions
Shoal Spider Lily - Found at Sprewell Bluff
Shoal Bass - Found in Flint River
Spool of Thread - Textile Industry
BF Goodrich Tire and Textile Shuttle
Martha Hudson Pennyman - 1960 Olympic Gold Medalist
Mattie Lou Pollard Cato - 1947 National Spelling Bee Champion
Travon Walker - First Overall Pick in the NFL Draft, 2022
Hugh Frank Radcliffe - Thomaston's "Strikeout King"
Wayne Cochran - Singer known as the "White Knight of Soul"
Roman "Doc" Turmon - Harlem Globetrotter & Philanthropist
Upson's Peach Industry - 1870s-1960s
Mica Mining & Mule Trading Industry
Hotel Upson - Thomaston's 5 Story Hotel Downtown
Upson's Historic Courthouse - Built in 1908
Ritz Theater with Art Deco Facade - Built 1927
Andrews Chapel One Room School
Thomaston Mills' Old Mill/Gray Mill - East Thomaston
Martha Mills - Silvertown
The Shoals spider-lily (Hymenocallis coronaria) current range includes Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina. In Georgia, they can be found amongst the rocky shoals in the Chattahoochee, Broad, Savannah, and Flint Rivers. This perennial herb has showy and fragrant white flowers. One flower opens per day on a given plant and remains open overnight, attracting many pollinator moths by night and butterflies and bees by day. Each pollinated flower produces a heavy fruit that drops in the water and lodges in place or is carried by currents and gets lodged in crevices among rocks downstream. Viewing times to spot these treasures along the river are mid-May through early June and are best viewed by kayak, canoe, or small boat.
Shoals spider-lilies were once prevalent in streams and rivers throughout the southeastern United States but changes to stream physiology have reduced numbers. Threats include stream impoundment and water quality degradation.
Information gathered from Georgia DNR websites.
The Shoal bass (Micropterus cataractae) is Georgia’s native riverine sportfish. True to their name, they can be found along the shoals in some of the prettiest stretches of rivers and streams in the state. Their native range includes the Chattahoochee and Flint River basins. The Flint River supports a significant population of shoal bass, specifically in the middle and upper river, where rocky shoals and swift currents are abundant. This species is prized amongst anglers and known to put up a worthy fight.
Shoal bass are medium-sized fish reaching lengths of 18 to 24 inches and commonly weighing up to 8 pounds, depending on habitat and food availability. Hybridization with the non-native spotted bass is an immediate threat to the population of shoal bass. Distinctive markers of a shoal bass include what appears to resemble tiger stripes on the body with no tooth patch. They are opportunistic predators with a diverse diet that include crayfish, minnows, insects, and small fish.
The Flint River supports a significant population of shoal bass, particularly in the middle and upper reaches, where there are numerous rocky shoals and swift-flowing currents.
Information gathered from Georgia DNR websites and https://gon.com/fishing/beginners-guide-to-georgia-shoal-bass-fishing
The spool of thread is a tribute to the great textile industry of Upson County, which began in the mid 19th century, and grew exponentially at the start of the 20th Century with the creation of Thomaston Cotton Mills, Inc. in 1899.
Thomaston Mills consisted of numerous divisions, including the Old Mill also known as the Gray Mill, on Barnesville Street, the Peerless Division, the Bleachery, also known as the Finishing Division, and the Sewing Division. Each played their part to progress the raw, unprocessed fibers, into a variety of products including: broadcloth, pillow cases, bed sheets, denim, osnaburg, etc. The mill built an entire village for its employees and their families, complete with churches, schools, homes, recreational spaces, a company store, and more. This village was known as East Thomaston.
Likewise, the mill village of Silvertown was created for the employees of Martha Mills, a division of the B.F. Goodrich Company in Akron, OH. Martha Mills was initially built in late 1926 by Thomaston Cotton Mills Inc., thanks to a monumental deal completed by Thomaston Mills, B.F. Goodrich, and Fisk Rubber Company - the decision was touted by the Atlanta Journal to be the deal of the Century, making Thomaston the center of the nation's textile development. The mill opened on January 1, 1927. By 1929, B.F. Goodrich decided to exercise their option to purchase the mill and made it their Southeastern division, responsible for producing tire cord for their Akron tire plant. Silvertown was named for a brand of B.F. Goodrich Tire.
A BF Goodrich Tire and Textile Shuttle. Both are representative of Upson's textile industry. While Silvertown's Martha Mills was known to produce tire cord for Goodrich's Headquarters in Akron, OH, both Martha Mills and East Thomaston's Thomaston Mills made the product. In the era of World War II, tire cord was considered an essential wartime materiel. In fact, both of Thomaston's Mills made 25% of the nation's tire cord, according to The Thomaston Times, November 18, 1943.
A textile shuttle is a device used in the Weaving Department to carry the weft (crosswise) threads through the warp (lengthwise) threads, creating fabric. It's essentially a spindle-shaped device that holds a bobbin or quill wound with weft yarn, which is then passed through the shed (the opening between warp threads). In earlier years, shuttles were made of dogwood. The shuttle seen here would have been found in both Thomaston Mills as well as Martha Mills.
Image courtesy of the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. Martha Hudson Pennyman is an Olympic Track and field goal medal winner. At the 1960 Olympics held in Rome, she ran the first leg of the 400-meter relay race. The team won Olympic Gold thanks in part to her efforts. She was later inducted into the Tennessee State University Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1986.
Mrs. Pennyman was born in Eastman (Dodge County), Georgia, in 1939. In 1957 she graduated as salutatorian from her high school and accepted a scholarship at Tennessee State. While at TSU, Hudson (nicknamed "Pee Wee" due to her 4 ft 10 in frame) won the national AAU 100-yard dash, set the record for the 75-foot dash, and came in second for the 50-yard dash. During her Olympic run, Martha competed against athletes 6 inches taller than her. Georgia Encyclopedia - Martha Hudson
She taught at Upson Lee North Elementary for over 30 years. On July 12, 1996, she was honored to help carry the Olympic Torch through its relay in Thomaston. Martha Pennyman, encouraged the mass by saying, “I remember when I was very young, I dreamed of going to the Olympics and winning a gold medal, so I worked hard to do that. You, too, can work hard to achieve the best you can… Remember that a quitter never wins and a winner never quits.” Thomaston Times, July 15, 1996.
Mattie Lou Pollard Cato was the winner of the 20th annual Scripps National Spelling Bee, 1947. She was the first Georgian to win the national spelling bee, edging out 6,000,000 other grammar school students.
Born September 15, 1932, Mattie Lou was educated in the Sunnyside one-room schoolhouse. Her teacher, Mrs. Ethel Phillips, taught 34 students, consisting of eight grades and all subjects, but still spent considerable time with Mattie Lou going over a myriad of different words.
The 14 year old Mattie Lou out-spelled her 2nd place opponent by successfully spelling "maggoty", and finally "chlorophyll" which secured her the win. Time Magazine. June 9, 1947
When she arrived home to Thomaston, she was greeted by a 150-car motorcade and 3,000 people, including Georgia's Governor, who waited for her at Upson's courthouse square.
As an adult, Mattie Lou, now Mrs. Mattie Cato, worked for the Department of Defense and later the National Park Service, where she retired in 1989.
She passed away due to a long fight with cancer in Norcross, GA, on January 10th, 2006. She was 73 years old.
Her family lovingly remembers that she did not correct others' spelling, but did point out errors in print. Legacy - Mattie Cato Obituary
Info contributed by the family:
Travon Walker, a proud native of Thomaston, Georgia, is a professional football player for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the National Football League. Known for his strength, athleticism, and character, Travon is a rising star on the field and a respected role model in his community.
A 2019 graduate of Upson-Lee High School (ULHS), Travon was a standout three-sport athlete, excelling in football, basketball, and track & field. He played a key role in helping lead the ULHS basketball team to winning back-to-back CLASS 4A state championships, showcasing his rare combination of size, speed, and coordination. His dominance on the football field earned him statewide recognition and college offers from across the country.
Travon went on to play college football at the University of Georgia, where he was a major contributor to one of the most dominant defenses in college football history. He completed his college career by helping lead the Bulldogs to victory in the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship.
In the 2022 NFL Draft, Travon made history by being selected No. 1 overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Since entering the NFL, he has been a key part of the Jaguars’ defense, known for his versatility, work ethic, and playmaking ability.
Despite his national success, Travon remains deeply connected to his hometown. He is passionate about giving back, inspiring youth, and showing what’s possible through hard work and dedication. He is the founder, CEO, and heart of the Travon Walker Foundation. His inspiring vision and passion for giving back fuels his mission to empower youth to reach their full potential.
His journey from ULHS to the NFL is a powerful example of local talent reaching the highest levels of achievement—while never forgetting where it all started.
Hugh Radcliffe was born in Fort Valley, GA, November 27th, 1928.
As one of the first ten inductees in the Thomaston-Upson Sports Hall of Fame, Radcliffe is well remembered for his recording holding game in which he pitched a staggering 28 strike-outs against the Poets of Macon’s Lanier High School. The day was April 19th, 1948. The monumental nine inning game, held at Silvertown Ballpark, led to a career with both the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Yankees organizations which lasted until 1954.
So how was the “one in a million” feat of pitching 28 strike outs possible in a regular nine inning game? Typically, striking out every batter would have resulted in 27 total strikes, but this on extra was the result of the catcher dropping the ball. The Lanier runner was able to make it to first base before the ball was thrown there, and the pitch was still counted as a strike.
After his baseball career, Radcliffe worked for telephone companies and was also the Recreation Director for Cordele, GA in Crisp County. In his years as the Rec Director, Radcliffe was said to have made a positive impact in the lives of hundreds of young men and women.
The Hugh Frank Radcliffe Clubhouse was dedicated in the Historic Silvertown Ballpark on April 21, 2008.
Radcliffe passed away on November 10, 2017 following extended illnesses.
His loved ones remember him as an outgoing and honest man, always willing to help those in need. Hugh Frank Radcliffe - Find A Grave
Wayne Cochran (b. May 10, 1939) was an entertainer, known for his outlandish performances, pompadour hairstyle, and flashy jumpsuits. As a young man he worked on a garbage truck for the City of Thomaston. From an early age, he knew he wanted people to know his name and remember him.
After moving to Macon, GA, Cochran befriended Rhythm and Blues singer, Otis Redding, playing drums on his tracks, “Shout Bamalama” a song which was given to him by another Georgia icon, Little Richard.
After forming his group, the C.C. Riders, Wayne wrote “Last Kiss” which shot to #2 on the Billboard Top 100 list after it was borrowed by J. Frank Wilson & The Cavaliers. It later saw renewed fame when Pearl Jam covered the song in 1999, bringing it again to #2 on the Billboard Charts. Cochran was said to have written the song about his first wife’s best friend who died in an auto accident.
Cochran’s famous bleach blonde pompadour hairstyle was influenced by James Brown, who Cochran idolized. The updo was so important to his routine, Cochran even carried a beautician with him on tour, and was stated to have paid up to $250 per week to keep up with it.
His song “Going Back to Miami” although never commercially famous, was a big hit on the Jackie Gleason show, and helped the C.C. Riders in their rise to fame.
Cochran was also friends with Elvis and allegedly inspired the legend to sport his well-known Las Vegas style capes and jumpsuits.
His impact in the world of rhythm and blues is evident. In the 1980 film “The Blues Brothers” Cochran is referenced. Throughout his career, he obtained the moniker “The White Knight of Soul.”
After retiring from music, Wayne became an evangelist in Florida, where he lived out his days. He passed away on November 21, 2017 from cancer, at the age of 78.
Roman “Doc” Turmon was born March 14, 1933, in Shady Dale, Georgia. His parents were Mrs. Ollie Lee Turmon (nèe Isaac) and Roman E. Turmon, Sr. Roman’s dad was also known as “Doc” and is said to be Thomaston’s first African American doctor.
After graduating from Thomaston Training School (later renamed Drake High School) in 1951, Turmon was brought to Clark College in Atlanta, where he became the first athlete to receive a full scholarship to the school. At Clark, Turmon was taken under the wing of Coach Leonidas Epps, who worked with the 6’4 athlete to become a powerhouse on the court. During his time there, he scored a conference record by achieving 42 points in a game against Morehouse. He finished with averages of 33 points and 27 rebounds per game.
Many years later Turmon repaid the debt to his former coach. When Epps retired in 1978, Turmon returned to his alma mater where he coached without pay for a short period. (The Atlanta Constitution, January 18, 1978)
After graduating from Clark College, Roman played five years for the Harlem Globetrotters, alongside names like Wilt Chamberlain, Meadowlark Lemon, and Charles Hoxie. In 1958 he was voted the team’s MVP as well as MVP for the World Series of Basketball.
After his time with the Globetrotters, Turmon played a brief 3-month stint with the New York Knicks. He then went on to have a successful five-year career with the Allentown Jets. During his time there, he led the Jets to two championship titles in 1962 and 1963. He was again voted MVP in 1962 for the Eastern Basketball League. Incredibly, Turmon also held a full-time job during this period as an employee of the Juvenile Welfare Division of New York. (Thomaston Times, March 1, 1962)
Post retirement, Turmon found success by opening two Chicken Delight restaurant franchises in Harlem and Brooklyn. (Thomaston Times, July 7, 1966)
In later years, he worked for the State of New York and the Gateway National Park Service where he remained until his passing. Roman Turmon died June 9, 2001, and is buried in the historic Westview Cemetery in Atlanta.
Peach growing was once one of Upson’s largest industries. Imagine for a moment, the next time you pass what is now McDonalds and Walgreens, that the area was covered in peach orchards.
In the early 1900’s cotton reigned king, but the mounting threat of the crop destroying boll weevil made farmers turn to other means of profit. Their answer: peaches.
By July of 1901, the President of the Central of Georgia Railway Company told reporters that peaches were now their second largest exported freight, after cotton.
In 1919, the business grew rapidly with the introduction of refrigerated railway cars, meaning farmers could now ship to the Northern States. A.D. Williams shipped this first refrigerated batch from the Williams and Child Farm in Yatesville. Williams became one of the most successful peach growers in the South, with Fruit Hill Farms (Yatesville). In the July 26, 1946 edition of the Thomaston Times, a national critic named Williams the best Peach Grower in the World, as his crop never produced anything lower than a U.S. Grade No. 1 or better.
By 1928-1929, Upson was producing more peaches than anywhere else in the United States.
In the mid 1940’s the labor-intensive work provided much needed financial relief to women during World War II, as they could work for 40 cents an hour. (James “Red” Shirley WWII Letters Collection)
Ultimately business waned by the 1960’s because of canning, lack of labor and regulations.
(Peach Industry, Lateral Files: History, Thomaston-Upson Archives)
While the following image depicts a miner and mule together, the two industries were virtually unrelated!
Between the late 1860’s-late 1930’s, mule trading was one of the area’s largest industries. The multi-purpose mule was utilized both in farming as well as travel. Therefore, a large-scale operation grew locally, sometime after the close of the Civil War when trains began to resume operation.
Mule stables once filled Thomaston’s downtown. Places like the Ritz Theatre, former Hometown Printers, Wtga/Fun101FM, Baby Lane’s Children’s Consignment, former Jin’s Beauty and Sabrosos next door, former West Central GA Bank, and Pasley Funeral Home’s former location across from the Post Office were all sites for the former mule sheds. In what was the Thomaston Health Spa at the corner of E. Lee and Center Streets, stood another longtime trading post, Mr. E.T. Black’s Stables.
Mr. Ernest Thomas Black, originally from The Rock, was a two-time Mayor of Thomaston (1918-1921) + (1924-1925), peach grower, and successful livestock dealer. In December of 1934, he and Will Trice brokered a deal with President Franklin Delano Roosevelt for the sale of two mules, which the President named “Tug” and “Hop” after two of his aides, Harry Hopkins, Secretary of Commerce, and Dr. Rexford Guy Tugwell, Undersecretary of the Dept. of Agriculture. President FDR was said to be delighted to have appropriately named them as one can hop while the other tugs.
The trade added to Thomaston’s already lucrative livestock industry. At one point, this area was known as Mule Capital of the South with the largest distribution center south of Atlanta. It is said the volume of sales here was second only to St. Louis. The square was apparently so crowded with mules that wagons and buggies had a tough time crossing the streets.
The trade eventually died out as the boll weevil invaded cotton crops across the South and the introduction of farm tractors eliminated much of the need for the animals. Mr. E.T. Black passed away suddenly in May of 1937. A few years later, his stable was destroyed by fire, eliminating one of the last traces of the thriving industry.
Thomaston’s Mica Mining Industry was prevalent both in World War I and World War II. The flaky, glimmering, translucent mineral was used as an insulator for radio equipment. The material was perfect for this purpose as it is heat resistant and does not conduct electricity well.
Prospectors looked for larger sheets of mica which resembled pages out of a book. The very first mica mine was discovered in Upson County in 1916 on the property of the Brown Family. Local stories state that after money was stolen from James B. Brown, his son Miles and wife Josephine, sought the help of a fortune teller named Sis Whitten, who lived in Milner. Whitten was successful in aiding the family to find the missing money and also advised Brown to search along the banks of the old road on his farm. What Miles found indeed looked like pages from a book, and his Brown Mica Mine (also known as Parrish) became one of the most profitable in the area.
The county contained a total of 33 mines and mica prospects, the quality of which was regarded highly. According to the June 21, 1918 edition of the Thomaston Times, national geologists declared Upson to have some of the best mica deposits in the United States.
The mineral’s importance only grew during the next world war. During the years 1942 and 1943, reports from the Thomaston Times noted 3 out of 5 of the nation’s most critically needed wartime materials were produced in Thomaston, that of tire cord, duck cloth, and mica.
The industry was not without its challenges. The work was very labor intensive and a cave in occurred on at least one occasion.
The demand for mica greatly diminished after the close of the war.
While no local mines are still in operation, the mineral is still utilized in a number of products like microwaves, cosmetics, and paints.
Hotel Upson:
The historic Upson County Courthouse, situated in the heart of downtown Thomaston, is the third in Upson County’s history.
This magnificent structure was completed in December, 1908, with construction taking a mere total of seven months. (May, 1908-December 21, 1908)
The project’s architect was Frank P. Milburn & Co., Washington D.C., while the builder was Gude & Company, Atlanta. The cost of construction was approximately $60,000. Nationally renowned, Frank Pierce Milburn planned the structure as a neoclassical design, common of other civic buildings erected during the period. Typical of the style, Upson’s courthouse appears as a grand scale structure, fit with blond brick, ionic tetrastyle columns, and a natural terracotta tiled roof. Both the pediment and clock tower were scaled down from his initial concept advertised in the Thomaston Times, February 28, 1908.
Milburn’s neoclassical designs can be witnessed in many civic buildings across the southeast, including two others in Georgia: Abbeville (Wilcox County) and Brunswick (Glynn County). Just one year after Upson’s courthouse was completed, Milburn designed one in Jasper, Indiana (Dubois Co.), which is considered a sister courthouse to our own. Amazingly, the architect left his mark on another historic home in downtown Thomaston, the McDaniel-Atwater-Daniel Home on West Main Street.
Local legend states when the courthouse was constructed, a $10 was inserted into one of the columns, so the town “would never go broke!” A secondary source in the Archives suggests the money was placed in one of the columns on the west side of the square.
The Ritz Theater was built in mid-1927 on the site of the former William Capers Hightower Mule Stable, opening August 8th. The first film shown was “Tell It to the Marines.” Tickets were only .25 cents for adults and .15 cents for children. The first owner and operator was Mr. W.C. Stubbs. Unfortunately, tragedy struck within a few weeks of the grand opening, which led Stubbs to sell the theater to Messengers Odom & Hardy. The duo already owned the nearby Palace Theater and eventually owned several other theaters across town, including the African American Harlem Theater located at the corner of Walker and Hightower Streets, the Silvertown Theater, and the Five Points Theater.
Originally, the theater was designed in Spanish Mission Style architecture. Odom & Hardy drastically altered the façade in December, 1938, to reflect the popular art deco look of the time. While generations remember the iconic art deco tilework which adorned the front of the building, the majority of the tiles were removed ca. 2020, as many of the tiles had become loose and unsafe over the passage of time.
The building housed more than just the theater and hosted a variety of businesses, including the longtime Red’s Pharmacy, owned by Mr. “Red” McClellan (who also owned McClellan’s Pharmacy), the Wheeless Jewelry Store, as well as a number of doctor’s offices upstairs.
For decades, the Odom family continued to operate the Ritz. Eventually, the family decided to put the theater up for sale. In 1989, John Cox purchased the building and made considerable improvements, including repainting, fixing broken windows and tiles, repairing the marquee, and more. By 1997, ownership shifted to Amy and Malcolm Neal who continued to keep the historic theater alive. In 2009, theaters began to replace their film projectors with modern digital projectors. With film studios migrating toward digital media, the Neal’s made every effort to fundraise and convert their own equipment to digital. They were able to replace both the screen and projector in 2014. In 2020, the Neal family sold the theater to Mr. Woody Heath, who renovated the lobby and café.
Currently, the theater is owned by Mr. Ricardo and Mrs. Ellyn Dias who made the decision to purchase the theater in 2023, once they recognized its impact in the community. Mr. Dias has additionally made a number of improvements, including a new screen, improving the sound system, and the purchase of a new popcorn machine.
The Andrews Chapel One Room Schoolhouse - Representative of Rural Education in Upson
In 1827, William G. Andrews of Oglethorpe County, Georgia drew a land grant in Upson County and developed a large plantation. He home schooled his nine children using the family Cyphering Book (Now in the Thomaston-Upson Archives). After his death in 1875, his son, Thomas G. Andrews obtained the plantation and grist mills. In 1876, Thomas saw the need for a one-room schoolhouse. The school was built by the community and was named Andrews Academy.
In 1896, Thomas Andrews’ daughter, Elizabeth, married Drake Colquitt at the Andrews Academy. Following the ceremony, Thomas stated, “They would have a singing there for the next one hundred years.” Afterwards the school was named Andrews Chapel. In 1996, the one hundredth was held by the community.
In 1911, heavy winds destroyed the small structure. The following year, new superintendent of schools, John A. Thurston, pledged some school money and the community constructed the present day building.
Sometime in the early 1930's, enough timber was sawn on the property to add the stage accommodation for student plays, again, built by the community. The school remained active during the 1940-1941 school year but was closed in 1942 when students were transported and consolidated with Yatesville and The Rock Schools. Around this time, Andrews Chapel was one of over forty schools in the county. Today is the only one room school building remaining.
Stepping in the school is like taking a step back in time. The building and its contents have been well preserved and many of its original features remain.
Original desks, books, & other artifacts are on display. When necessary, additional efforts have been made to replicate historic conditions.
Moreover, the school is a testament to the community.
Andrews Chapel was utilized for many community events such as family reunions and weddings. The building was maintained by local families and friends until 2018 when it was deeded to the Upson County Board of Commissioners.
In 2020, the Upson BOC contracted the Georgia Trust to complete a conditions assessment of the property, and addressed concerns from their report.
Presently, the Upson Historical Society manages and maintains the property. The Society has additionally completed a host of renovations to ensure the school retains historic integrity. In 2025, the Upson Historical Society was awarded the “Excellence in Preservation Award” from the Georgia Trust for Historical Preservation.
Thomaston Mills - Old Mill/Gray Mill on Barnesville Street (East Thomaston)
In December of 1899 Thomaston Cotton Mills was granted a charter and in 1900 Robert Edgar Hightower, Sr. became president and took over management at the shareholders’ unanimous request. In the Early History of Upson County (Nottingham and Hannah) it is stated, “The inspired leadership and foresightedness of Mr. Hightower has built from that humble beginning, a mammoth industrial enterprise.” His family continued to lead the company. The city of East Thomaston was incorporated as a separate municipality for Thomaston Cotton Mills and the surrounding residences of the employees of the mills.
By the time of World War II Thomaston Mills was comprised of Thomaston Cotton Mills (1899), Peerless Mill (1919), Thomaston Bleachery (1924), and the Griffin Mill was purchased ca 1930. Early products included osneburgs, sheeting, and tire cord. During WWII Certificates of Necessity were issued by the government for war material such as tire cord (vast amounts were shipped to England and within the U.S.), industrial fabrics, and yarn and fabrics for uniforms, and these had to be fulfilled before orders from customers. Even with hundreds of mill employees called away to serve their country, Thomaston Cotton Mills met this challenge by working 48 hour work weeks, and applying skilled workers to manage equipment that could not be replaced with newer parts during the period of scarce resources. Throughout the years Thomaston Cotton Mills adapted to market changes as well as technological changes.
As the mills expanded with increasing number of employees, building houses to accommodate them was an ongoing activity of the company within the East Thomaston Mill Village. In 1919 with the building of Peerless Mill, the company hired Draper and Co. to layout the grounds of this mill village as well as West Point Iron Works to build new houses. Existing houses were renovated. In its earliest days, Thomaston Cotton Mills provisioned its employees, many commuting from rural farms by horse or on foot, with kerosene and coal and developed boarding houses, homes, hotel, stable, and butchering facility. With East Thomaston Mill Village clustered around the 3 divisions of TCM, it numbered approximately 624 houses with its own mayor and council, police force, mill operated school system employing teachers for grades 1-8.
In September, 1945 Thomaston Cotton Mills dropped the word cotton from its name, reflecting that some synthetic yarns, as well as cotton, were being used, becoming Thomaston Mills, Inc. The company continued to diversity its product lines and adapt to ever changing technology, markets and business conditions for over 100 years. It finally succumbed to global pressures. By 2001 the company sold its name, Thomaston Mills, Inc., to ADT American along with a warehouse and automated sewing operation, which continues to operate.
Martha Mills (Silvertown)
In April, 1926, executives from the B.F. Goodrich Rubber Company, from Akron, Ohio, began a tour of the South in hopes of finding a suitable textile mill to produce tire fabric for their company. By April 16th, the company had visited mills at Cedartown, LaGrange, West Point, Columbus, and finally Thomaston, as their last stop. The company boasted that Thomaston Cotton Mills compared favorably with any other mill in the country and that none surpassed it in the South. News broke two weeks later that Thomaston Cotton Mills had struck a monumental contract with the Goodrich Co. as well as Fisk Rubber Company. In a recorded history of Thomaston Cotton Mills, Hard Times, Good Times, author Charles Josey quotes a report from the Atlanta Journal, dated April 28, 1926, which labels the act as ““the greatest textile deal in World’s History,” one that would make Georgia the producer of 60 percent of the country’s tire fabric and 50 percent of all used.” The contract entailed the building of a new three-million-dollar textile plant in Thomaston, equipped with 35,000 spindles which would produce cord for B.F. Goodrich tires. It was slated to last 10 years with the contract total at an estimated worth of $100 million dollars. Mr. R.E. Hightower, Sr., former President of Thomaston Cotton Mills, and current president for the company’s stockholder’s association was described as the leading spirit in negotiations. Hightower’s eldest son, William Harrison Hightower, Sr., current President for Thomaston Mills, and L.W. “Chip” Robert, consulting engineer, were also present at the signing of the deal.
Work was to begin immediately on the new textile factory, named “Martha Mills” for Hightower family matriarch and R.E. Sr.’s wife. First, a design was needed. William Harrison Hightower, Sr. and Chip Robert sailed to England in order to inspect various mills to ensure the latest innovations were incorporated. Robert, who served as the architect for the new mill, was a longtime friend of the Hightower family, having played football with W.H. Sr. at Georgia Tech. It was ultimately decided the mill would receive an art deco exterior. Next, land had to be secured. Mr. R.E. Sr. and associates chose the site for the new mill to be located North and West of the Peerless Mill, another plant owned by Thomaston Mills. He then purchased the land from Mrs. G.A. Weaver, Sr. for approximately $40,000. Martha Mills would provide 2,000 new jobs for the area and necessitated the building of 300 cottages to house mill employees. On January 1st, 1927, the new mill officially began production.
The B.F. Goodrich Company exercised their option to purchase Martha Mills, effective January 1st, 1929, as part of a prior agreement with Thomaston Cotton Mills. The company announced that Mr. Albert Thompson Matthews, production manager for Thomaston Mills, would become the new plant manager for Martha Mills. They also intended to expand the mill to double its capacity. Once the purchase culminated, Martha Mills became the official textile division of the B.F. Goodrich Company. Original specification booklets housed in the Thomaston-Upson Archives show that Goodrich immediately began the task of creating a community village for the workers of their Martha Mills. Numerous cottages, schools, churches, and a community center building were planned in 1929 alone. Again, Chip Robert’s firm, Robert & Company Inc., was listed as the architect in the specifications. The reason for building the new community was simple. At the time, the local workforce was dominated by farmers. If the company wanted to compete with the benefits offered to workers through sharecropping, they would need to provide similar incentive. Thus, through 1936, B.F. Goodrich built 840 houses, three schools, two churches, a shopping center, a filter plant, and an athletic field for its workers and their families. The company also utilized the land for peach growing, branding the product as B.F. Goodrich Peaches. Ultimately, the company was building what they referred to as a “world model” textile village.
The new mill village was aptly named Silvertown in January, 1929, after a popular brand of B.F. Goodrich tire. Two years later, it was incorporated by an act of Georgia Legislature as the City of Silvertown. With the cottages and community buildings still underway, Goodrich also undertook the task of hiring a landscape architect to design the environmental aesthetic of Silvertown. Nationally renowned City Planner, Earle Sumner Draper, based in Charlotte, N.C., was brought in. Drawings housed in the Thomaston-Upson Archives show Draper’s masterplan for the city, dated March 8, 1929. His work of Silvertown’s North, South, & Highway Villages reflects a scene of curvilinear streets, blocks of cottages following a coded scheme, sidewalks, Martha Mills, the Community Center and other intricate architectural elements. Another plan of Silvertown’s West Village shows the planned schools, churches, more cottages, and another reservoir to match the adjacent one belonging to Thomaston Mills. This plan also features the village’s entryway, comprised of two symmetrical islands.