Time capsule

As reported 37 years ago in The Columbia News, Nov. 17, 1966:

Election uproar

Nov. 8th, 1966 will be remembered for a long time to come as far as Georgia politics are concerned. Not only is the state scene in an uproar, local politics here in Columbia County have come in for its part of confusion and accusations from different parts of the county.

As usual the paper received letters from persons who were sore because this candidate or that one did not win, but this year we received some unusual letters from Harlem that merit an answer.

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All of the letters concerned the fact that William Schweitzer, candidate for the Georgia House of Representatives, did not receive a single vote in the Harlem precinct, according to figures released from the Ordinary's Office and printed in The Columbia News last week.

This is the way County Ordinary Katherine Morris explained the situation: "We were told by the election managers in the Harlem precinct that Mr. Schweitzer received 12 votes, but when they turned in their tallies, no vote was given for Schweitzer through an oversight on the part of the managers."

Clock winner

Mrs. William E. Kennedy of 204 Crest View Drive, Martinez, is the winner of a grandfather clock, given away in a contest held recently by the Martinez Pharmacy. Persons entering the contest were asked to guess the number of vitamins displayed in a container at the store.

New Marvin sanctuary

Marvin United Methodist Church will hold a special dedication service of its sanctuary Nov. 20, 1966. The Rev. C.H. Wheelis, a former pastor of Marvin and presently serving as pastor of Darien First Methodist Church, Darien, Ga., will be guest preacher.

Mr. Wheelis was responsible for procuring the granite used in the sanctuary's building, and was also invited to preach the first sermon in the completed sanctuary on Easter morning, 1955.

Landmark saved

A famous Columbia County landmark has been saved, thanks to the insistence of a physician and the State Highway Department.

The department has nearly finished work on Washington Road, but for a while in Martinez it was nip and tuck.

Hold-up was Quaker Springs, lately called Jennings Springs, after an area physician who died about four years ago. Up until about 30-odd years ago, the Springs was the source of the community's water supply.

When the state highway department laid out plans for widening and paving Washington Road, which runs through Martinez, the original route ran across the Springs. Dr. Will Jennings, who owned them, refused access across the spring which lies across from the community clubhouse.

So the Springs survives, protected by a U-shaped culvert and fenced around with wire, where it will remain as a landmark and memorial.

Go-kart race set

The Appling Jaycees have completed plans for the biggest go-kart race in the brief history of their new track, located behind the Little League baseball field.

The event, a big 100-lap race, will feature some of the fastest karts and many leading drivers in the area all competing for cash prizes and trophies.