The Making of Milledgeville: The Pictorial History of Baldwin County

By James Finney

The Making of Milledgeville is a book of history that chronicles the rapidly changing social climate that I and others in my community experienced growing up.This book also contains information that I shared and gathered from influential AfricanAmericans in the community, past and present. The photographs used of locals and the people of Baldwin County represents a now and then comparison. These photographs illustrate aspects of opportunity and change resulting from a reluctant but welcome transition in America.
The photographs convey the hopes and dreams of our people; as they embarked on a new era where dignity for
all men and women would be recognized equally, no matter their differences.
I sincerely hope that after you have read this book and add it to your collection, you will feel that my goals of educating the young as well as reliving cherished memories shared by the great citizens in our community were accomplished.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 27, 2010
• ISBN: 9781462807215

Book preview

Copyright © 2010 by James Finney.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

69789

Contents

DEDICATION

INFLUENTIAL

AFRICAN-AMERICAN

PUBLIC SERVANTS

OF MILLEDGEVILLE/

BALDWIN COUNTY

HARRISBURG COMMUNITY ROUTE #1 MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA

BLACKS AMERICANS

HISTORY

The Union-Recorder

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to my parents, Mrs. Alma Finney and Mr. James Finney Sr., and to the many people who shared their photographs and stories that helped make this book possible to help us understand the past.

INFLUENTIAL

AFRICAN-AMERICAN

PUBLIC SERVANTS

OF MILLEDGEVILLE/

BALDWIN COUNTY

African-Americans have continued to play a vital role and contributed greatly to the history of the United States. They have worked diligently to build strong families and communities across this great county. During the late 1800s, Milledgeville’s population increased tremendously due to its cotton industries and slave trade. Flatboats delivered cargo by coming up the Oconee River from Darien and docking at the first riverfront at the foot of Washington Street. Black masons, carpenters, and laborers constructed most of the antebellum structures that you see around town, some of them dating back to 1817. Black history is an integral part of Milledgeville and Baldwin County’s past. The African-American men and women devoted themselves to local efforts, and while they endeavored to overcome second class citizenship, protested against bondage and segregation, and fought to secure their rights and liberties, they were the first to work toward making Milledgeville the land of the free. This book is an attempt to build a solid base of information for future historians, and every effort has been made to ensure that the enclosed information is accurate.

missing image file

Floyd L. Griffin Jr.

First African-American mayor of Milledgeville, Georgia, (term: from January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2005) and served two terms as senator for the twenty-fifth senatorial district in Georgia

missing image file

Collins P. Lee (deceased)

First African-American councilman mayor pro tem (term: from October 7, 1977 to 1985) and public safety director for the city of Milledgeville.

missing image file

Denette Jackson

First African-American female councilman/mayor pro tem (from October 19, 1994 to December 31, 2005) under Grant