Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-26
sYLVANIA THE BEAUTIFUL.
Some Points About One of the Charm
ing Towns of Georgia.


ing Towns of Georgia.
SYLvANIA, May PA have been so
agreeably surprised by the pleasures OF my
visit to Sylvania that | am tempted 10
give you the benefit of my experience.
Taking the train at Savannah we were
landed at No. station on the Central
Railroad, and after quite romantic drive
by starlight reach Sylvania 2 O'Clock at
night. and by a thorough search for va
cant room my genial guide, T. 4. Kemp,
ESQ.,, fortunately discovered one empty
bed In Mrs. Browns Hotel, where was
snugly ensconced till morning.
After disposing of my cases in the
court, l had the good fortune to meet
some charming young ladies, who enllght-
ened me as to the great virtues Of raO-
bits feet and screech owls toes, etc.
Under the escort Of this feminine guard
of honor. / was shown the town. They
have an elegant academy building, beau
tifully furnished and filled with a large
number of interesting pupils. The
Methodist Church is quite handsome
editice, surmounted with tall and grace
full steeple. Altogether | found unex-
pected evidence of thrift and culture,
making Sylvania a really very pleasant
interior town.
Jacksonboro was originally the county
site of Scriven. 1t was made political
question by the people of the county, and
it was decided by vote to move the county
site to the centre of the county. An Off
cial survey was made and the place Sc
lected for the court house at this point,
five miles south of Jacksonboro. This
new site was named by Col. j. l.. Singleton
"SylYania, y from the Latin word "sylYa,"
meaning the woods, as the new town was
literally in the wild woods, without
house to mark the spot. 1t was for some
time afterwards loosely called "Circum-
stance,'' from the name of the famous
old horse owned and ridden by
the late Hon. Curtis Humphreys,
County Surveyor at that time, and who
located the town. This was about 1S35-40.
Sherman's army burnt the first court
house that was built here, and for several
years court was held by Judge Schley in
a small building now used by DR.. Geo. B.
Douglas as an office. Shortly after the
war the building of the present court
house was let to the lowest bidder, and
has cost first and last about $4,000. The
lumber with which it was built had
to be transported all the way
from Savannah, such were the difficulties
of obtaining it in those trOublOus times of
reconstruction. The building careened
so badly that Judge Herschel V. johnson
refused to hold court in it and adjourned
the same to the Methodist Church near
by. AS reconstruction was the order of
the times the building was RACED to the
ground and rebuilt in its present form. 1t
is now a commodious neat structure
newly painted and provided with all the
conveniences necessary for the court and
the county officers.
With no preconceived ideas favorable
to the place. l must confess my surprise
in finding so nice village. The Superior
Court is now in session here under the
able administration of Judge r. w. Cars
well. Hon. p. W. Meldrim, Gen. A. r.
Lawton, A. II. LawtOn, Jr., Wash Roach
Savannah bar, have been in attendance.
Solicitor General R. L. Gamble and Gus
WoOten, Esq, of Louisville, I. H. Potter,
ESQ.,, of StatesbOrO, and Messrs. Hook and
Montgomery, of Augusta, and Col. John
NJ. Stubs, of Dublin, are also here.
The familiar faces of Maj. s.
NJ. Colding and Mr.. Orlando Luffburrow,
of your city, are to be seen amongst the
large crowd of visitors to the court.
The great sensation of the place is the
building of the new railroad to connect
Sylvania with the Central Railroad at
Rocky Ford No. ca, about fourteen
miles distant. | am told tibet eight miles
OF the road have already been graded and
the iron is fast being laid, seven miles
having already received the iron. What
a glorious thing for US visiting lawyers to
contemplate the pleasure of an all rail
trip from Savannah to this beautiful viii
lage, filed as it is with so many charming
young ladies and people Of refine
ment and culture. How joyfully
the wearied beasts of burden will
surrender their heavy wagons of freight
and passengers to the new steam-horse,
with its untiring puff, putt, puff" as it
glides like streak of creased lightning
over these ironed miles of pine woods
drawing after it long trains of lumber
naval stores, guanO, merchandise and
passengers, like the emblaZOned tail of
shOOting-star.
l find the Episcopalians here, who are
quite numerous for so small town, are
on the eve of erecting a neat church edi-
fee, in which they hope to have regular
services once month.
l was glad to notice how fat and well
the mules and horses that are to be seen
here are looking. showing the thrift and
prosperity of the farmers of this county.
The people attending court bring their
own horse feed from home; it was notice
able that it consisted of the fodder and
oats of their own home product, and not
Of the Northern bought hay. The crops
are looking remarkably well, and every
thing is bright for the future Of Sylvania
and Scriven county. NOTE BENE.