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The fire department was quick to respond to the alarm from its shed on Market Street, but the hoses had become rotten and could not hold pressure. Thirty-three businesses and several downtown residences were destroyed by the fire. At their height, the Stafford Shoe Company made and shipped 5, pairs of shoes out of Barnesville via rail freight.

The shoes were manufactured in the rear of the building that today houses Rose Nails and other merchants. The site of the ribbed underwear manufacturing plant was later used as the freight depot and today is used as a fertilizer warehouse for Akins Feed and Seed.

It is standing today just behind Summers, warehouse along the railroad tracks. The Summers' cotton warehouse stands today and is used by the City of Barnesville Electrical Department. The site of another underwear mill stands today along the railroad tracks at the northern edge of the district, across from the depot.

As a result of the fire, the town's configuration was changed. Originally, the town was essentially a triangle that had as its wide base the stock yards around the depot. The point of the triangle was in front of the present day Carter's Drug Store.

The city fathers decided to re-design the "Square" into a rectangular pattern. The focal point of the business district would still be the depot, but access into and out of the depot area would be greater.

The three main roads would still radiate from the center point. The only portion of the old section left was on the south side of Forsyth and Market Streets. The business district was totally rebuilt in the months just after the fire.

The first building to be rebuilt was the William R. Murphey building. It was stated in the local News-Gazette that the building was begun on the "glowing embers of the fire. It was the most desirable parcel of commercial property in the business district because it fronted the depot. The building housed law offices, restaurants, meat markets, grocery stores, harness repair shops, the first "reading room" library , the "Blues" drill room, live stock stables, and the New South Savings Bank which would open in Today it is known as the Armory Building, it remains well used today.

The growth in the business district brought the need for some guidelines for growth. The fire had demonstrated the lack of construction control. The city council wrote the first building codes; all storerooms, storehouses and dwellings had to be made of brick.

The city limits would be a circle with a radius of one-and-one half miles extending from a point in the middle of the intersection in front of Stafford's Store. Stafford's Store stands today at the corner of Market and Main Streets. The fire brought new growth in terms of buildings, labors and businesses.

A brick factory worked night and day to supply the bricks for rebuilding. In spite of their efforts, hundreds of carloads of Chattahoochee brick were brought into town by rail. Many hired hands moved to town to work for contractors who had arrived by train. Building supplies firms were started up and temporary housing for the hired hands was in demand. Another result of the fire was the erection of a firehouse.

This new building would house the city council upstairs, the firehouse on the ground floor and a calaboose jail in the rear of the building on Jackson Street. This building faced the old hotel and was located near the center of town at the corner of Forsyth and Jackson Streets. Today this same building houses City Hall. The fire department is now located in new facilities built in next door. The city clock that kept the business district on time was moved from atop the old hotel in to the bell tower of city hall.

The city built a water works and a new reservoir and erected an electrical plant. A new fire engine was purchased and the town swelled with pride. The Presbyterian Church erected a beautiful house of worship at the corner of Main and Taylor Streets in The New South Savings Bank was chartered in and business was booming until There was a "general economic depression". The entire southern region was in economic turmoil. Not only did most local businesses collapse; the local banks closed their doors.

The banks were reopened under government orders that put them under receiverships. During this period the streets downtown were maintained by a street crew. The sidewalks were made with diagonal boards and underlaid with charcoal for sanitary conditions. The area around the depot was made into a park to beautify the arrival area of the train.

The Barnesville Blues re-organized during this period and became an active militia unit again. They trained for the Spanish-American War in drills at the armory that was part of Gordon Institute's campus.

This campus at that time was on the original site between Thomaston Street and Greenwood Streets. Most of the town's dwellings were erected during this time period.

After the fire, residential construction was as rapid as was commercial construction. Many of the business proprietors were rebuilding downtown and at the same time building residences.

A great demand for building supplies was created by the fire. Also construction hands, contractors and a planing mill were in demand. The number of jobs created by the fire brought new residents to town to fill those jobs.

Many of those new workers stayed on. Local bricks were manufactured at the Parker place at the end of Elm Street, but the demand was too great. Hundreds of loads were brought in on rail from the Chattahoochee Brick Company of Atlanta. After the bank failures and "general depression" of , the local economy struggled to survive. In , the banks reopened and found few opportunities to invest their assets. Many of the local businesses, including the cotton mills, closed, never to reopen.

Some did re-organize and slowly began to recover. The most successful of these was the Barnesville Manufacturing Co. By , the population of Barnesville was 3, This figure remained the same throughout the 's.

In , the city aldermen were successful in obtaining a grant from the Carnegie Foundation for the erection of a public library. This facility operated at the site until a new library was opened across the street at Thomaston and Holmes in In the downtown streets were paved and a new post office was built on Forsyth Street. This building is still being used today as the post office. Barnesville's population in the years after the turn of the century was about 3, This was a factor in the decision of the state legislature to grant the new Sixth Congressional District A and M School to Barnesville.

Several of the towns in the district lobbied the legislature for the granting of a school, but Barnesville offered a central location, a great deal of free land, and a main line of the railroad. The Sixth District A and M School was part of a statewide school system introduced to teach mechanical and agricultural skills to high school students in rural areas. The main building was completed in Barnesville in The cornerstone was laid by the Pinta Lodge The main building, although renovated, is used today as the administration building of Gordon College.

This campus of nearly acres was sold to the State of Georgia in At that point, Gordon became part of the University System of Georgia. Today, it boasts an enrollment of nearly 3, students annually.

World War I brought a sense of unity through the Barnesville Blues. Once again the unit was called into service. Hardly a family in town was untouched by the demand for troops. At this time many long established businesses closed and few new firms were started.

Times were changing and so was transportation. The auto was gaining favor with the public and the horse and buggy along with the train was going out of vogue. The local economy had been largely dependent on the buggy industry and its related businesses. The two largest buggy manufacturers decided that it was no longer profitable to make buggies, wagons, and carriages. Summers Buggy Company dissolved due to the advanced age of Mr. The Smith Buggy Company decided to convert to furniture manufacturing.

The new firm would be known as Smith Incorporated. After several attempts to secure a new county, the city fathers were successful in bringing the issue before the State Legislature. In August of , the representatives of Barnesville went by train to Atlanta to await the vote.

The monies had been paid and the vote was taken. It was defeated narrowly. The men came back to Barnesville that evening on the down train and held a town meeting. After "passing the hat," the men returned to Atlanta the next morning. Another meeting took place with the "Committee" and the issue was called to a vote again.

This time the bill passed creating the new County of Lamar. The county seat was to be Barnesville. The eastern portion of Pike County and the western portion of Monroe County were to make up the new county. The historic vote was held locally on August 17, The new county would begin operating as a legal entity on January 1, The M. Smith building across from the depot housed the county offices and court was held in the third floor ballroom. The area was leased from the Pinta Lodge Business was conducted here until the courthouse was completed in The courthouse was designed by Eugene C.

Wachendorff of Atlanta, architect, and built by the Barnesville Planing Mill. The cornerstone was laid in by the Pinta Lodge The Pinta Masonic Lodge 88 is the oldest continuously operating organization in Barnesville.

It was chartered in and has continued to be an active and positive force in promoting and supporting the community. It has had meeting space in several historic buildings within the district. The Great Depression was difficult for all communities including Barnesville.

Many people were out of work and as businessmen drew near retirement age, many firms dissolved. The New Deal Era brought many government programs to help the people and the city. One of these, the WPA brought work to many local men. A golf course was laid out, bridges were built, and streets were paved in town. In August of , President Franklin D. Roosevelt came to town via train to literally "throw the switch" to begin the electrification of rural America.

Thousands of people came to town to see and hear the President. The ceremony took place on a specially constructed, raised platform at Summers Field. The switch pulled in Barnesville sent electricity over the wires into rural homes in four counties. This local unit began at the time of secession In times of peace, it would de-activate and in times of war would become active-and begin to train again.

The "Blues" always served with honor and distinction. The last commanding officer, Brigadier General Homer Sappington, had the honor of having the present National Guard unit in Barnesville named after him. After completion of the home, they would be given a deed to the lot.

Not a member yet? Sign-up now, it's easy! Featured Events In The Area. Mustard Service. The Masquerade Atlanta, GA Free Throw. Chloe Moriondo. Shannen Moser. Featured Attractions In The Area.

Cotton Pickin' Fairgrounds. Gay, GA Airport Road Park. We are seeing a very high level of community transmission in Lamar County. I am worried about a super spreader event. We have got to get the pressure off our hospitals. Local physician Dr. People will die. Those are the percentages. BPD chief Craig Cooper said his department would support the festival if the decision was made to go forward.

It will put people in danger. Acting city manager Tim Turner said the city would provide services as it always has whatever the ultimate decision was. Upson Regional is full.

If people go down during the festival, will we have enough EMTs to treat them? Well, we are now days into 15 days to flatten the curve.