Selected Timeline of Troup County History
English Colonization and the Revolutionary War, 1607-1783
1733
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Georgia founded by Gen. James E. Oglethorpe; 13th British colony -- named for King George II.
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1739
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Gen. J. E. Oglethorpe traveled to West Georgia to meet Creek leaders (probably came through Troup County
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Federal Period, 1783-1820
1789
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George Michael Troup born, son of George Troup and Catherine McIntosh
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1793
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Militia from near Augusta, Georgia, retaliated against Creek raids by burning the village of Ocfuskeneana on banks of Chattahoochee River. Site now called "Burnt Village.
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The Antebellum Period, 1820-1860
1807
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Horace King, Bridge Builder, born a slave in South Carolina
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1823
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George M. Troup elected Governor of Georgia
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1824
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Grayson's Trail was a well-established Creek Indian path north of the area that becomes LaGrange.
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1825
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William McIntosh, President of the Creek Nation, and 49 other chiefs sold the land between the Flint and Chattahoochee Rivers to the United States
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The Marquis de Lafayette visits Georgia and is welcomed to the state by Governor Troup. Lafayette remarked upon the similarity of West Georgia to his estate, the Chateau de LaGrange, in France.
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1826
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Troup County created by the Georgia General Assembly
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1827
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Troup County Academy established, first school in county
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1828
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"Town" of LaGrange named county seat of Troup County; the name "LaGrange" proposed by Colonel Julius Caesar Alford and named for the country estate of the Marquis de Lafayette
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1829
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West Point organized (originally named Franklin)
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1830
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Hill View Cemetery established on grounds of Troup County Academy with burial of Abner Turner
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1831
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LaGrange Female Academy (LaGrange College) chartered
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1832
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Mickleberry and Nancy Coleman Ferrell bought land and built a home with a formal garden on Vernon Road.
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1834
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Bird's Mill (later Young's Mill) built (other early mills established in Troup County included O'Neal, Smith, Norwood, Dennis, Dallis, Pool, Eichelberger)
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1835
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John and David Culberson establish sawmill
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1837
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Robert C. Brown established Brownwood Institute, a school for girls (later becomes Brownwood University for Males)
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Montgomery and West Point Railroad incorporated
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1838
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City of LaGrange took control of Troup County Academy and renamed it LaGrange High School
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1841
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Sarah C. and Blount C. Ferrell began developing "Ferrell Gardens" which they called "The Terraces"
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1844
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John Maier, noted artist, applied for American citizenship in Troup County
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1845
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Louis Merz immigrated to West Point from Bavaria; died a Confederate soldier at the Battle of Sharpsburg (1862). He kept a diary from January to July 1862.
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A mill was established on Flat Shoals Creek. Three years later the mill was converted to cotton manufacturing, the first in Troup County
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1846
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Horace King freed by his owner, John Godwin
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1847
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Railroad incorporated, to run from Atlanta to LaGrange
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Robert Robertson of Scotland built first textile factory in Troup County to manufacture thread from wool
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1849
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Atlanta and LaGrange Railroad charter included an extension to West Point.
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1840s
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Godfred Kener, of Germany, established furniture factory in LaGrange
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1850s
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Christian, Valentine, and James Zimmer open German restaurant in LaGrange
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Albert Lehmann, German watchmaker, becomes proprietor (owner) of jewelry store in LaGrange
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Other families emigrating from Europe in the 19th century included: Wolf, Berringer, Freisleben, Merz, Hagedorn, Herzberg, Stein, and Holle
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1851
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Montgomery and West Point Railroad completed to West Point
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Bank of LaGrange established by Samuel Curtright and ten other men
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1852
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Jewish merchant Heyman Heyman emigrated to LaGrange from Germany; later established Heyman-Merz Merchandise Company in West Point
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1855
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"Bellevue," home of Senator Benjamin Harvey Hill completed (only Troup County home designated as a National Historic Landmark)
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1856
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LaGrange re-incorporated as "City of LaGrange"
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1857
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Atlanta and LaGrange railroad became Atlanta and West Point railroad
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The Civil War and Reconstruction, 1860-1877
1861
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Nancy Harts organized to defend LaGrange when the LaGrange Light Guards, and most able-bodied men enlisted in the Confederate Army
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1864
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Southern Female and LaGrange Female Colleges share faculty and facilities
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1865
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Battle of Fort Tyler (West Point, GA)
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Warren Temple United Methodist Church established. Congregation moves into new building in 1930 constructed by John Moore
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First Baptist Church of Fannin Street established
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1870
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Hogansville incorporated; named for local land owner William Hogan, who began the town before 1860
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Fuller E. Callaway, Sr. born in LaGrange.
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William O. Tuggle begins collection of local Indian lore in Oklahoma (1870s)
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William Jarboe, first Catholic mayor of LaGrange, elected
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1871
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Southern Female College, destroyed by fire in 1864, relocated to Church Street
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John E. Toole became first public school superintendent (called commissioner) in Troup County
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Troup County Board of Education established
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c.1872
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Horace King and sons establish construction company in LaGrange
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1876
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West Point Board of Education established
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1877
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Ulrich Bonnell Philips, nationally noted historian, born in LaGrange; He writes Life and Labor in the Old South, which is published in 1929
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The Growth of America: Agricultural, Industrial and Urban Changes, 1878-1914
1886
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Jefferson Davis made speech in LaGrange, his only one while en route to Atlanta for unveiling of statue honoring Benjamin H. Hill
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1888
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Callaway Department Store established
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King Street named in honor of Horace King and his son Marshall
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1889
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First modern textile plant opened in LaGrange located on Morgan Street
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1890
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Mountville Military Institute established (1890s)
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1892
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County Jail on Hines Street built (now Chattahoochee Valley Art Museum)
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1893
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LaGrange Telephone Exchange opened with 28 subscribers
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Hogansville Board of Education established
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1895
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Dixie Mill opened, the oldest surviving factory in Troup County
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1896
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Robert E. & Walter G. Park established Park High School in LaGrange
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Glass Bridge constructed over Chattahoochee River by John and George King, sons of Horace King
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1897
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Mountville, "oldest settlement in Troup County," incorporated as a town
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1899
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February 13, temperatures reach -10 degrees below zero, the coldest day ever on record in Troup County
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1900
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Trimble Brick Company established in northeastern Troup County
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Fuller E. Callaway and others establish Unity Mill (plant now called Kex)
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Families emigrating to the U.S. during the early 20th century included: Jabaley, Solomon, Gay, Joseph, Katter, Mansour, Struletz, Frosolono, and Edelson
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1902
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Confederate monument dedicated on square; (now located on New Franklin Road)
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1903
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LaGrange Board of Education established
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LaGrange High School opened on Harwell Avenue
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1905
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Elm City Cotton Mill established
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1906
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Court Square (now Lafayette Square) and Main Street, paved
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Atlanta, Birmingham and Coastline Railroad includes a stop at the northern Troup County community of Abbottsford which was originally settled by Scots
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1908
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LaGrange Fire Department organized for the first time with paid firemen
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1909
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An orchestra was organized in LaGrange by Joe Frosolono, a violin player who was born in Italy
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1910
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Joseph Eugene Dunson and others established Dunson Mill
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1911
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In an address at the depot, former presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan paid a glowing tribute to LaGrange saying "it was a garden for the purposes of cultivating great men."
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1912
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Post Office on Main Street, LaGrange, completed
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Chinese Laundry on Main Street operated by Hong Ying
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World War I, Roaring Twenties, Great Depression and New Deal, 1914-1940
1915
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Jewish immigrant and merchant, Hyman Kaplan, moves to LaGrange; born in Jerusalem
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1916
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Charlie Joseph emigrated to LaGrange from Lebanon
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Dunson Hospital, first public hospital, opened
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Italian villa of Fuller and Ida Callaway, "Hills and Dales," on Vernon Road, completed. Designed by Neel Reid
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1917
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Mansour's Racket Shop, forerunner of Mansour's Department Store, opened
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Local chapter of American Red Cross established
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1919
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Severe flood in West Point. Other bad floods hit the town in 1929 & 1961.
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1920
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Charlie Joseph's, home of "World's Best Hot Dogs & Hamburgers," opened
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Goldstein Brothers, dry goods (clothing products) located on East Court Square advertises "Store of Quality"
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March, cyclone (tornado) hits Troup County, over 200 dead and injured
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1921
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Sisters Anna, Lois, & Ethel Young open the Colonial Hotel on Ridley Avenue
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1925
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Severe drought in Troup County, remembered as "the year you could walk across the Chattahoochee River"
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1926
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LaGrange City Hall constructed
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"Sunny Gables," designed by P. Thornton Marye, constructed for Mary B. Nix
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1928
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LaGrange Reporter and two other weeklies merged to become LaGrange Daily News
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1929
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Callaway Memorial Tower dedication
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1930
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Robert Elliott Burns escaped from prison in Troup County and goes on to write I am a Fugitive from the Georgia Chain Gang, which has been made into two movies and won an Academy Award for Paul Muni
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Nick Xinor operates Greek Restaurant in LaGrange
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LaGrange Theater on Main Street opens
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Callaway Cubs, semi-professional baseball team, wore a patch of a cotton bale on right arm and a patch of elm leaves and roses representing LaGrange's slogan as the "City of Elms and Roses" on left sleeve
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1931
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A major fire on Main Street destroyed many buildings
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1932
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LaGrange Daily News declares Simon Struletz "City's Unluckiest Man" when home burns, dynamite explodes and car burns all in a short period of time.
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1933
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History of Troup County written by Clifford Smith
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1935
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Clark-Holder Clinic founded
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City Swimming Pool built on Church Street, LaGrange
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1936
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Callaway Airport constructed by Works Progress Administration. Field was in use by pilots before this date
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Courthouse burns on November 5th
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City-County Hospital built
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LaGrange College experimented with co-education but drops after one year
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1937
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Lamar Dodd, nationally renowned artist raised in LaGrange, began teaching career at University of Georgia
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Royal Theater in Hogansville constructed by Lam Amusement Company; later operated by Jabaley family
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World War II, 1939-1945
1939
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New Court House opens on Ridley Avenue
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1930s
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4-H Clubs introduced into local schools
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1930s-1945
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President Franklin Delano Roosevelt periodically seen driving roads of Troup County, always had a friendly wave
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1941
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WLAG goes on the air as first local radio station
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1941-45
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Hundreds of Troup County men and women leave their families and friends to help support U. S. war efforts, including Alfred Flowers and many others
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1942
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Callaway Auditorium completed
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1943
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Callaway Community Foundation established. Later becomes Callaway Foundation, Inc.
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1944
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Congregation Beth-El moves into old Episcopal Church building on Church Street
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Korean Conflict (Early Cold War Era, 1945-1960)
1946
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LaGrange Troupers play professional baseball. The team serves as farm team for New York Yankees from 1949 to 1951
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1948
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Hubert T. Quillian, President of LaGrange College, dies
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LaGrange City Cats named Alabama-Georgia Baseball League champions. Glenn Robertson, first Black elected to LaGrange City Council, played on team.
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1949
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Behr's Women's Specialty Shop opens on Main Street; owner is Harry Behr
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1953
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LaGrange College becomes permanently co-ed
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Lucy Morgan and Benjamin Harvey Hill Homes opened
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WTRP goes on the air
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1956
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Troup and Ethel Kight High Schools opened
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Edelson Brothers open Army Store on Hines Street. Their father Harry emigrated to the U. S. in 1914 from Minsk, Russia
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1957
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Seven Atlanta college students arrested while skinny-dipping on Square, a fraternity initiation prank
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1960
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Democratic Candidate for President John F. Kennedy visits LaGrange, school children line route as he drives by
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Vietnam Era, 1961-1975
1961
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Gypsy Queen in City-County Hospital, December 1961 to January 1962, created problems with her people camped all around hospital
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1963
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Chattahoochee Valley Art Association (now Museum) organized
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"Affair on the Square" begins
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1968
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Callaway Mills sold to Deering-Milliken
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1970
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January 9, Myrtice Carpenter ice skated on the Fountain with permission from Mayor Gardner Newman
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Persian Gulf Conflict (Late Cold War Era, 1975-2000)
1975
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West Point Lake completed. Has 525 miles of shoreline and is 25,900 acres.
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1976
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Statue of Marquis de LaFayette placed in center of square in downtown LaGrange
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1977
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Interstate 85 opens
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1978
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Richard English is first African-American elected to Troup County Board of Commissioners
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1979
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Interstate I-185 open
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Aso, Japan and LaGrange become "Sister Cities"
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1980
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NOK holds opening ceremonies at LaGrange plant with Japanese and American leaders present (later becomes Freudenberg-NOK)
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1983
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Troup County Archives opened
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La Fiesta, LaGrange's original Mexican restaurant opened, later becomes El Reyes, managed by Alfonso, Rodolfo and Carl Reyes
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1984
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Dr. Santiago Garcia named as head of Department of Education at LaGrange College
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1985
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January 21 is coldest day in Troup County in twentieth century. Temperatures reached a low of -4 degrees below zero
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1986
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West Point and Troup County schools merge
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1988
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TV 33 goes on the air
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1989
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Poti, Republic of Georgia (formerly Soviet Union) and LaGrange become "Sister Cities"
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Kay Durand becomes the first female elected to the LaGrange City Council
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1992
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Carl Von Epps elected to Georgia General Assembly, first African-American to represent Troup County area
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1993
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LaGrange City Schools merge into the Troup County School System
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1994
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Jeff Brown becomes first Republican elected to the Georgia House of Representatives from Troup County since the 1860s
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1995
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October, Hurricane Opal damages power lines, knocks down trees, and generally disrupts life in Troup County for about a week
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1996
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Olympics held in Atlanta. Over 500 athletes practice and train in Troup County
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LaGrange and Craigavon, Northern Ireland, become "Sister Cities"
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1997
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Dezayee family, Kurdish refugees, flee Saddam Hussein and Iraq and settle in Troup County
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1998
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Mama Flora's Family, a CBS Hallmark movie, filmed at Troup County Courthouse
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1999
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December 31: Year 2000 welcomed in by LaGrange "Downtown Countdown" on the Square
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Primera Iglesia Hispana de LaGrange, the first local Spanish language church opens in the former Unity Methodist Church, built by John King in 1903
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The 21st Century
2000
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Statue of LaFayette 'refuses' to be moved off Square. Instead statue is "refurbished" while standing in place. Statue is rededicated in ceremony with American and French residents in attendance, led by LaGrange Rotarians
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LaGrange is named as "Intelligent City of the World", partly because of free Internet services to all cable subscribers
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2001
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SPLOST vote approved, new Troup County Courthouse along with other recreation department projects to be built
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2003
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Georgia, Florida, and Alabama are in talks concerning the use of water from the Chattahoochee River. Chattahoochee is a Creek Indian word meaning colored or painted rocks. The river passes through Atlanta, Franklin, LaGrange, West Point and Columbus before entering Alabama. At the Florida border, it joins the Flint River to become the Appalachicola and empties into the Gulf of Mexico.
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LaGrange D.A.S.H. and Habitat for Humanity sponsor a large housing building project. 22 houses will be built during the first week of June.
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