Origin of the railroad through maysville

 Northeastern Railroad

Compiled by Todd Dorsey

    In the year 1873, there was a portal place to wagoneers and travelers on the line of Jackson and Banks Counties, GA, known as the Brick Store, the only mercantile house at this point, in which Hugh Atkins sold goods. Hugh’s father, Abraham, affectionately known as “Uncle Abe,” was one of the first merchants and built the brick store building in the 1850s.  It became well known from Athens to the mountains of North Carolina as the “Brick Store of North Georgia.”

   The Northeastern Railroad Company (NERR) wanted to extend its line from Athens to Lula, a distance of 39 miles.  The course of the railroad was located along the stagecoach line between Athens and Clarkesville—a post office had been established here for many years, known at different times as “Wall Street,” “Brick Store,” and “Maysville,” the latter deriving its name from a family by the name of Mays living nearby.

   This location, being about midway between the two places mentioned above, had been a trading point for a few settlers living in this section.

   Railroad officials visited landowners and asked for donations of land to build the railroad on.  Most landowners were willing to do this because a railroad meant growth, prosperity and a lifeline to other communities.

   The selection of this particular site for a town on the part of the railroad company was due primarily to the business tact of Uncle Abe Atkins, aided by a donation of a few acres from Uncle Jack Hogan and the Sherman Sims estate.  In addition to the above, Uncle Abe agreed to build a depot.  This may have answered the immediate demands, but one can form some idea of its beauty, architecture and dimensions when the entire expense did not exceed $50.00.

   For the sake of future posterity perhaps some tact could have been displayed on the part of those owning property about a half-mile north.  Here an ideal town site could have been secured had not a serious obstacle intervened.  Most of this property was owned by Mr. Hosea Diddeon, who had passed his “three score and ten,” possessing very strong traits of character, having once formed an opinion he was as immovable as the Rock of Gibraltar; belonging to ante-bellum school who saw no good following the wake of a railroad.  Hence instead of offering inducements to secure benefits, it was more in harmony with his wishes to stay its progress.  Who can deny but what a beautiful flower was blighted that might have bloomed into the “gem of the foothills.”

   Those granting land to the NERR included: Dr. WBJ Hardman, LH Shankle, JN Wood, Daniel Ridling, JP Wood, Whitson Jarrett, AP Butler, JP Hudson, Jack Croly, Dr. MP Alexander, Walton Harris, Mary A. Short, James Smith, J Marlow, Amanda Jane Sims, James Carr, CM Wood, Bolin Daniel Wallace, MP Wood, James Ellison, John Hogan, WC Farabee, Elviya Johnson, Thomas Bennett, SM Shankle, A Walker and William Thurmond.

   By early October of 1875, the entire distance had been graded but only nine miles of iron had been laid.  The crossties had been provided for the whole distance.   Some $240,000.00 had already been spent at this point, and it was estimated that another $200,000.00 would be needed to equip and furnish the road.

   NERR was now out of debt as it had sold mortgage bonds to raise capital.  The bonds were limited to $9.000.00 of graded road per mile, a first-class security.  The Board of Directors of NERR decided to borrow the remaining money needed to complete the road rather than sacrifice their stocks.  It was expected that the railroad would be completed during the coming winter.

   By the end of October of 1875, the railroad directors were waiting for word from the “North” before proceeding but indicated that only $20,000.00 more needed to be secured to complete the road.

   The railroad was completed by 1876 and the growth of Maysville as a town began. The survey of the town was made by J.M. Edwards, A.C.E., connected with the railroad.  Unfortunately this survey extended only to that part in which the county was interested, leaving the greater portion of the town not platted—resulting afterwards in may irregularities in the streets and lots by not conforming to the original survey.

   The railroad meant business for Maysville.  With it came businessmen looking for a place to open a business house.  The railroad also provided the means of transportation for the businesses to receive their stock of goods.

   Maysville’s population grew enormously.  Whereas before the coming of the railroad, the adult males could have been numbered on the digits of a single hand, by 1880 there were dozens.

Page last updated 10/27/2011

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