"Brick Store" -- Maysville's earlier name

I have known for many years that Maysville was once known as "Wall Street" and "Brick Store." I learned this from a 1906 newspaper article written about Maysville's history. I have never been able to find the source of the name "Wall Street" but suspect it may have been in old postal records which I have yet to research.

As for "Brick Store," Abraham Atkins, Maysville's first merchant, can be credited with that name. In the early 1850's, Atkins built two brick structures--his home and his store -- which were the first brick buildings north of Athens in this area. The store was known from Athens to the mountains of North Carolina as the "Brick Store of North Georgia." Soon the village took on the name "Brick Store" and is even mentioned as such on 1870 census records.

It is believed that Atkins' brick store once stood where Maysville City Hall is presently located. It was apparently destroyed by fire and replaced with new brick store buildings which still stand today as 4, 6, and 8 Homer Street (currently Maysville City Hall and the former Maysville Fish House). Abraham Atkins' son, Hugh Atkins, continued the mercantile business and eventually opened Atkins National Bank at 4 Homer Street. Much of the original bank design has been kept in Maysville City Hall offices.

The Northeastern Railroad came through the village in 1876, following an old stagecoach route from Athens to Clarkesville. According to the late Mrs. Daisy Shubert, the house she lived in at 41 Bacon Street, in Maysville, served as the stagecoach stop for the village. The foundation of the house is made of logs.

Maysville would soon have a depot, although not as large as the one built at Harmony Grove (later Commerce). It would later be replaced with a larger, and nicer, depot, which burned in the 1950's. It was located behind the 1920's-era filling station which now sits at 2 Homer Street. The Stephens Hotel, still standing at 5 South Main, was directly behind the depot, and quite convenient for traveling businessmen and visitors to town.

When railroad mapping was updated, "Brick Store" was changed to Maysville, named for the Mayes family who came to the area from Hebron Church in Franklin County.

Athens historic newspapers added to Digital Library of Georgia

I was excited to find an article entitled "Old news now in modern format" in the Athens newspaper this morning. (see http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/012911/new_777772143.shtml )

The University of Georgia's Georgia Newspaper Project and UGA's Digital Library of Georgia have teamed up to provide historic Athens newspapers in a searchable format online.

Being someone who has spent many hours searching through old newspapers on microfilm, this tool is a great time-saver and research aid. Now I no longer have to visit the basement of the UGA Main Library during business hours to load microfilm to scroll through page after page hunting for Maysville mentions. From the comfort of my own home, I can now type in a keyword and have the database return results that would normally have taken me months, and even years, to find.

I wasted no time this morning trying out the database, and already I have found information which I'll be sharing with you in future blogs!

You can view the Athens newspapers search page in the Digital Library of Georgia at:
http://athnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/athnewspapers/search

Remembering Aaron Hill's Grocery

With the recent passing of Mrs. Mozelle Hill, we take time to reflect on Aaron Hill's Grocery. Aaron and Mozelle Hill's store operated at 6 Homer Street in downtown Maysville for many years. It is my hope that readers will share their memories of the store on this blog.

I have my own memories of the store, albeit from the perspective of a youngster under 13. I was but a boy when I rode my bicycle to town from Comer Street to pick up milk and bread at Aaron Hill's. A rotating light in the window let customers know the store was open.

Once inside, my attention went straight to the penny candy case in the center of the store. Chocolate footballs and fireballs were my mission. Mrs. Hill would give me a tiny, paper bag to fill with my selections.

The wooden shelves were lined with rows of goods and prices were posted with thumbtacks. I remember the bushel baskets of produce near the checkout.

Most townspeople were able to buy "on account" and pay once a month.

Although I'm not sure when the store opened or exactly when it closed, I do think the opening of the Maysville Golden Pantry played a part in the demise of Aaron Hill Grocery.

In later years, I enjoyed seeing Mozelle at the Maysville Fish House, which operated out of the same store building. Mozelle's cole slaw was so delicious, and I looked forward to having a bowl. She was always so nice to me and I loved to talk with her. I am proud to have known her and thankful that she had a long life on this earth.