Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-03-16
MOTHER ENTERPRISE"
"a Tribute by Mrs. E. J. Dorminey)

Among the points of interest to- the
newcomer Fitzgerald the Drinking
Fountain" in the centre of town ex-
cites his curiosity probably more than
any other. Nothing unusual about the
fountain itself to- excite the curiosity
save possibly the absence of water to
drink-but the inscription on the fount
provokes many question marks-"Mo-
Their Enterprise"-just who? or what
If for a persona very unusual name
they say. Possibly it is a memorial
to the spirit of Enterprise that has
characterized the planting and mary
elous growth Of this miracle of wire
grass-Vthe city of Fitzgerald
This very ignorance betrays the en-
quirer as a newcomer. Certainly no
colony citizen can look upon this
fountain without a vivid memory picl
ture of the kindly faced, bright-eyed
alert, little woman in whose memory
it was erected
Others there may be who knew
Mother Enterprise" Mrs. Nettie c.
C. Hall, more intimately than the wri-
ter, and it is sincerely to be hoped
some one who does remember her the
facts about her life among us may
write sketch of her life that will do
justice to her memory. Among our
City Fathers" she left an impress
for good that will be lasting as a
"City Mother"
In early Colony days there was
something new under the sun for al
most every day "a never-ceasing
round of exciting incidents.
When a newspaper woman appear
ed on the streets gathering news items
she was a curiosity, but when it de-
veloped thaht she was public speak
er and a good one too, Mrs. Nettie {.
Hall was person of note whom ev-
cry one was curious to see and hear.
A few weeks after her arrival l was
privileged to hear her make temper
ance address in the First Methodist
Church, located then near the present
A. B. & A. Depot site. She took some
ones place on the program, and in a
very happy introduction of her subject
spoke of herself as 'chink'-just to
fill up awkard space. She filled it &C
ceptably on this occasion as she al
ways did when occasion demanded.
In reviewing the building of our
city, poor workman ship was evidenc-
ed in its wall of protection against sin
and vice. There was so much selfish
ness and greed and catering to the
baser passions of man with little con-
Germ for the wreck and ruin of human
lives that the dear, brave, CHEEKY little
woman threw herself in the breech as
"chink" trying to ste mthe tide Of
vice and perchance rescue some of the
Wreckage.
During the twelve years she lived
and worked among US, she was always
found fighting on the side of righteous.
ness and unselfish service for others
An ardent temperance worker, she was
the life and inspiration of the w. c. T
u.
She bought and successfully editet
the Enterprise for a number of years
and until her death was connected
with this newspaper, hence her by.
name is Mother Enterprise. HI
work brought her in touch with every
phase of life. She loved people, knew
them as individuals and had lively
interest in human affairs. The crown
ing work of her last days was among
the R. R. Boys of the A. B. & A. A
great many of the recent employee:
remember her sweet ministries anC
her sympathetic interest in them a:
individuals. She came to know then
by name as she greeted them with {
white flower and a CHEEKY chow dc
you dor" every time their train pulleC
in.
In the midst of her activities, "Mo
Their Enterprise" was suddenly callet
away on a Sunday morning in Jun'
1910, Age 90.
The funeral service, floral offerings
and other tributes to her life bore ev
idence of the love and esteem in which
she was held by everyone.
The drinking fount was erectet
shortly after her death largely through
the efforts of Mr.. and Mrs. L. o. Tis
del sponsored by the w. c. T. U. anC
| the Rail Road Men.
At the unwilling Of the fount, Mrs
I. Gelders made the presentation
speech and Col. D. B. Jay, at the in
vitation of Mayor Drew w. Paulk