history_lula.htm

Lula, Georgia

The history of Lula revolves around two items, the railroad and Bellton. In the 1700’s members of the Cherokee Indian Nation trudged through the Carolinas into Georgia and the Blue Ridge looking for a land uncontaminated by the white man. A few of these people settled near the banks of the Chattahoochee River in an area that later became known as Bellton. Bellton was named for Major John Bell, a prominent land speculator of the early 1800’s. Major Bell was also involved with farming and mining. His family home was Glade Farm. The Glade Farm is located on Glade Farm Road in Northeast Hall County. At one time the Bell household numbered in the twenties, including his wife, ten children and numerous slaves. Major Bell and Dr. Richard Banks(for whom Banks County was named) purchased a thousand acre tract of land on Flat Creek which was called the “Glade Mines.” In 1849 Bell purchased Banks interest in the mine. According to STATISTICS OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA (1849) Bell and Banks had some measurable degree of success. “A great variety of minerals exists (in northeastern Hall County). The first diamond was found in Hall County. Dr. Daniels owns the diamond found about two miles from Winn’s Ferry. Those owned by Dr. Banks and Major Bell were found among the old gold diggings in the gold region of the county. One of the diamonds found here brought $200.00. The county is also famous for gold.” Early land speculation and mining activities attracted financial investors to the Bellton area. The building of the Richmond and Danville Railroad in 1873 caused Bellton to be a booming town. Bellton was chartered in 1874. In 1880 the population was about 500. Bellton had two churches and two schools and a weekly newspaper called “ THE NORTH GEORGIAN.” A variety of new business establishments attracted many people to the area. General stores, blacksmiths,flour and grist mills,millinery shops and saloons, were plentiful. Several hotels sprang up to serve the needs of the railroad and wealthy families from the flatlands trying to escape the Georgia heat. In 1879 a new charter under the name “Town of Bellton” was handed down. It is not known why a new charter was granted but it had a major difference in the corporate limits. In 1874 the charter limits was one mile in every direction from the depot. The new charter set the limits to one half mile circle of the depot. The town of Bellton was first named Bellevue until it was noted another town in Georgia had the same name. The town of Bellton was a major shipper of cotton in the late 1800’s. The Airline Railroad was finished in the late 1800’s. People would come for miles to stay overnight if needed to pickup or ship their wares.Water was pumped from a nearby branch and boy’s of the town could make twenty-five cents a day cording wood. The town of Lula was officially established about 1876. Like Bellton, one mile north of Lula, the economy was based on mining and agriculture. The existence as a town separate from Bellton was a direct result of the railroad expansion and economic competition in the early 1870’s. Joseph H and Dunstan E Banks(sons of Dr. Richard Banks) played a prominent role in the creation of Lula. In 1872 Athens was seeking a route to connect it with the Atlanta- Richmond- Airline Railroad in Northeast Hall County. The Banks brothers deeded a generous amount of land for the railroad provided that “the main and principal depot at the junction be located on land donated by them and the town of Lula be laid out at this junction.” The competition between Bellton and Lula is most obvious in the following occurrence: At the time of the building of the Athens Connector, Georgia Law required that a minimum of 40 miles of track be laid at a stretch before a railroad company could get a State charter. From Athens to Lula is 39 miles. Athens to Bellton is 40 miles, rather than run the track to Bellton one mile was carried into the hills and never used. When the railroad was finished in 1876 a group of prominent citizens had an elaborate dinner in the diner of the train. Among the young ladies attending was a Miss Lula Phenizy. At that time the town was christened Lula. Lula Phenizy was to later become the mother of a prominent Doctor of our area. Doctor Ferdinand Phenizy Calhoun,Sr. Lula’s first charter was created in the late 1870’s and another entitled “The new Lula Charter” in 1905 and showing the corporate limits being one-half mile from the Southern Railroad depot except in the direction of Bellton in which the limits shall be the corporate line of Bellton. The “Lula New Charter” stayed in effect until the merger of the two towns in 1956. In 1955 the two towns voted overwhelmingly to consolidate. The schools had been consolidated for more than 40 years and water was more economically feasible for Lula to extend it’s existing system to include Bellton. Since 1956 the former towns of Lula and Bellton ,operating as Lula have seen many changes. The area has about 1400 people living inside the city limits. It will continue to grow and prosper .

Sources, “THE ANNALS OF LULA” , April 22, 1976, compiled by Mrs. Roy A. Terrell

Written by Vicky Chambers

This page was last updated Thursday, 10-Apr-2008 22:07:04 CDT.