Butts County Clerk's Office

Given recent events in our county and across the world, we take a look at life in Butts County during the fall of 1918, the last time our world was impacted severely by a pandemic. The Spanish Influenza pandemic of 1918 was not uneventful in Butts County, as noted in the pages of the Progress Argus. The newspaper for several weeks listed the names of many citizens afflicted with the Spanish Flu or those who had come here to stay with others and weather the storm out. Apparen...tly the Courthouse and School System had a run of it as well, because in the October 18, 1918 issue, it mentioned that Judge S.J. Foster, County Clerk William Wilson, School Superintendent Hugh Mallet and others were at home with it. The Pepperton schools also closed that week due to an "epidemic of Spanish flu". The October 25, 1918 issue noted that the entire staff of the Progress Argus had all come down with the flu and asked people to forgive the shortcomings of that week’s paper. Some deaths covered in obituaries included: Mr. Harold Thompson, Age 26 (Camp Gordon) Mrs. S.F. Thurston Mrs. Lennie Washington (and noted other family members, including her husband, were seriously ill) The child of Mr. & Mrs. R.E. Duke, age 4 Mr. Hubert Johnson of Worthville, age 27. World War I ended on November 11, 1918, and it was noted on December 13th that by this point the Spanish Flu had killed more people than the World War had. In the United States alone, between September 15th and December 13th, 350,000 deaths of Spanish Influenza had occurred among the civilian population of the US. Approximately 20,000 soldiers had died in military camps and bases throughout the US, never having been sent to fight in the War. Schools returning after Thanksgiving in November of 1918 noted that pupils and teachers would wear masks when school resumed. The method had been tried in other schools and that in many cases, the disease was stamped out in just a few days. This "will make the closing of schools unnecessary". It was also noted that there were a good many cases of influenza in the town and county and that quite a few children were out sick with it. It was reported that that there now appeared to be two strains of the flu. The earlier, more predominant flu was considerably less lethal; the second strain was noted to be much more lethal. The Jackson Mayor and Council shut down schools for ten days in the city and enacted a "keep moving" rule to prohibit people from stopping and talking to each other on the street. Most telling was an op ed written late in 1918 by the Jackson Progress Argus, pointing out the many ways the response nationwide could have been handled differently and which strangely echos much of what has been said during the present events in 2020.

This was brought by my office today and we are trying to identify the school and class. The teacher is Miss Ossie Lucile Arnold and the students are as follows: Nell Millen Opal Vickers Arnie Reed Maddox... Annie Kate Lynch Falma Funderburk Annice Barnes Georgie Watkins Marilue Terrell Beatrice Maddox Inez Smith Troy Howard Vickers Lois Allen Virginia White Essie Gilmon Lucile Maxley The photograph and names are all we have so if you have any information, please post! Thanks

Important Called Meeting Monday at 8:30 AM

Check out the Central Georgia EMC meeting of 1957!

Today is the day, rain or shine, for the Annual Butts County Chamber of Commerce Fall Festival, located on the Courthouse Square in Downtown Jackson! Festivities begin at 10:00 AM and go until 4PM with over 75 vendors, kids activities, food and fun! Come out and join us for the 108th Annual Butts County Fall Festival!

Who remembers the Tastee Freez? From August 1, 1963 original opening and October 4, 1973 after the restaurant was enlarged. Mandarin Garden currently occupies the building.

Rendering of the New York Store in downtown Jackson from 1910 when they remodeled and added the second floor to the building. For many years, into the 1970’s, this was the finest store in Jackson and it is still the most beautiful store building on the square. #ButtsCounty

The next chapter begins soon!

Here are two old picture of the Hawkes Library building prior to the construction of the Butts County Public Library in 1992. The building, designed by Atlanta Architect J. Neel Reid and completed in 1925, is currently undergoing a restoration by the Hawkes Rehabilitation Committee. This photograph shows the original round Doric columns that support the porch roof and balustrade above.

Article from the September 9, 1898 Jackson Progress, covering the completion of the Historic Courthouse in just six months. Over 50 workers labored from sunup to sundown six days a week to complete the largest building in Jackson at the time of its construction.

History of the Courthouse from the Jackson Argus of March 4, 1898

Indian Springs, 1913, including part of the Wigwam Hotel, the walk to where the stone pavilion stands today and the spring itself.

Private Jesse L. Caston, US Army, born April 20, 1893 was killed in action in France on October 22, 1918 just three weeks before the Armistice was signed ending World War I. Private Caston is buried in the Jackson City Cemetery under the following inscription: "Son of Mr. & Mrs. J.W. Caston. He was in the World War in Co. G, 148th Infantry. He gave his life for his country in France. Faithful to his country even unto death". Private Caston was the oldest son of Joseph and Elizabeth Caston, and one of eleven children born to them between 1891 and 1911. As part of our observance this month of the centenary of the end of World War I, we remember those Butts County Citizens who gave their lives in the "Great War".