We Need Your Vote!Help Us Rank the Century's Most Important EventsThe Heritage Committee of Countdown 2000 has a new project: identifying the events which most impacted our lives in Troup County in the 20th Century. Please cast your vote. We'll report on the Top Ten Events at the Downtown Countdown Party on Dec. 31, 1999 at LaFayette Square.TO VOTE:Contact the Troup County Archives by phoning 706/884-1828, WTRP Radio Station at 884-8611 or online at www.wtrp.com, or vote on the Millenium page on the LaGrange Daily News website at www.lagrangenews.comHere are some suggestions, listed in no particular order:1996 Olympic Games Training - More than 500 athletes from countries around the world trained here between 1992 and 1996. Athletes of all races were welcomed and LaGrange made the national spotlight on several occasions.Construction of Local Government Buildings - from City Hall in 1926 to City Pool in 1935 to Courthouse in 1939 to new county jail in the 1990s. Creation of West Point Dam and West Point Lake - Completed 1975, this project meant the elimination of floods in West Point.
Development of a Modern News Media and Communications System - In 1900, we had two weekly newspapers, now we have a daily paper, plus modern radio and television stations. Plus we have fiber-optic links, etc. Establishment of Mansour's Racket Shop - In 1917, the store was founded and continues to impact the economic health of downtown. Fires - Burning of the Courthouse; Live Oak Fire; Dobbs Hall at LaGrange College; LaGrange High School; Old Bank Building; Tastee Coffee Shoppe & Old Colonial Store on Bull Street; Boat Factory at Whitesville & Industrial Drive. Hurricane Opal - The so-called 'storm of the century' hit town the first week of October 1995, with high winds and torrential rain, leaving behind substantial damage, power and water outages. Industrial Development - Opening of textile mills, such as Unity, Kex, Elm City, Hillside, Dunson & others (Dixie opened in 1895) in the early part of the century and the development of the Industrial Park in the latter third of the century. Interstate Construction, Development of I-85 and I-185 - During the 1960s and 1970s and development of modern highway systems, including paving of last segment of US 27 and opening of new part of Vernon Road. Modern Health Services - Starting with Dunson Hospital, City-County Hospital and its expansion into West Georgia Medical Center, Clark-Holder Clinic, and the clinics, such as the Cancer Clinic and the Heart Clinic. World War II - The impact of the War on local families, as so many of our men left town & women went to work. Other Suggestions1918 Flu Epidemic 1996 Olympic Torch Run, July 1996 Consolidation of Public Schools Creation of Callaway Foundation and Fuller E. Callaway Foundation Development of sports programs in schools and recreation department Establishment and growth of LaGrange-Callaway Airport Integration of Schools John F. Kennedy's Campaign Visit to LaGrange Sale of Callaway Mills to Milliken in 1968
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