Abstract:
This document provides a comprehensive history of Quitman and Pavo, Georgia, highlighting their development from early settlements to thriving communities. It includes photographs, essays, newspaper clippings, and oral histories, covering key topics such as local industries like turpentine production, significant businesses like the Orange Squeeze Bottling Works, and landmarks such as the Hotel Pavo and Quitman's West End Cemetery. The influence of the Savannah, Albany, and Gulf Railroad on Quitman’s growth is explored alongside vivid accounts of Screven Street, local commerce, and cultural events at the Quitman Opera House. Pavo's history is detailed from its beginnings on the Swain plantation to its incorporation in 1898, with rich descriptions of its schools, churches, and the unique story behind its name, derived from the Latin word for peacock. Personal anecdotes, such as Bishop Green Brister’s recollections of early Quitman, and the challenges faced by these communities over time, make this document both an engaging and valuable historical record.
