THC: Our Story Timeline

1952

THC's 50 Years as a Museum Celebration

The Model T makes a trip Downtown

2017

1990

Our Story: Thomasville History Center

Volunteer Lou Hopkins at the Joiner-Callaway House

1972

1951

Curator Tom Hill shows off the LaFrance Fire Engine in the Roberts' Garage.

The Thomas County Historical Society opened the museum at the Flowers-Roberts House on Dawson Street. Board members brought on C. Tom Hill as curator, the first full-time employee for the Society. Thomas County's restored Civil War flags, the 1916 American LaFrance Fire Engine, and Miss Fanny's Model T all arrive at the museum for display.

1972

A watercolor rendering of the Flowers-Roberts House.

The Thomas County Historical Society celebrated its 65th anniversary. After a re-branding process, the organization became known as the Thomasville History Center.

2017

Thomasville, Georgia: A Place Apart, 1985.

1985

Thomas County Historical Society published A Place Apart , a pictorial history of Thomas County.

Incoporation document for the Thomas County Historical Society, Inc., June 7, 1952.

On January 17, 1952, interested citizens gathered at the Courthouse to plan for a new historical society. Under the guidance of Mary Lindsey "Bob" Watt, the group formed to assist Bessie Hopkins with the task of collecting information about Thomas County's history. W.W. "Bill" Alexander was elected as the Society's first president, and on June 7, the organization was made official.

1952

Volunteers, Board Members, and World War II Veterans involved in the creation of the program pose in front of the exhibit, 2000.

2000

The Thomas County Historical Society, in partnership with Thomas University, commemorated the service of Thomas County veterans of World War II with an exhibit and programs series entitled Answering the Call. Staff members compiled the recollections of local veterans into a collection of essays published under the same title. The Society entered the digital age by launching its first website.

Bessie saved. And collected. Born in the heart of Reconstruction in 1872 into a powerful family (her father was a judge, mayor, real estate developer and state representative), "Miss Bessie" dedicated herself to collecting historic materials. The Bryn Mawr College graduate's first love was Thomasville and Thomas County, but her collection included materials ranging from the Civil War to modern fashions and controversies. She was also a voracious, if not eccentric, note taker, scribbling her thoughts and data upon any scrap of paper that crossed her desk, including a popsicle stick smothered in her distinctive handwriting. The enormous collection she amassed in the first half of the twentieth century represents the foundation upon which the Thomas County Historical Society was built. The Historical Society was conceived in the late 1940s by members of the local chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution as a means to write a history of Thomas County. Miss Bessie was the logical choice to contract the job out to, and in 1952 the Historical Society was formed and the work of writing Thomas County's history began. Elizabeth Hopkins never married and she never had children. Hobbled by a broken hip in 1955, her health declined and she passed away on December 16th, 1957 at the age of 85, never having seen her work published or collection exhibited. Yet, the notes she produced blossomed into the four-volume series on Thomas County history produced by Florida State University professor Dr. William Warren Rogers; her genealogies serve as the basis of the Genealogy Library's collection; her father's real estate records are the basis of Landmark lnc.'s architectural history of Thomas County, and her archival and material collection represent the largest and most important document collection in the Historical Society's holdings. Like the mighty Big Oak, Miss Bessie's legacy lives on in every Thomas County historical organization. A true daughter of the South and America, her unusual and eccentric life encompassed many pursuits: throwing things away was not one of them.

Bessie Hopkins

Founding Mother of Collections

The Smith Family Log House is loaded onto beams to be transported to its new home on Dawson Street.

1974

The Society moved the c. 1870 Cecilia & Rufus Smith Log House from its original location in Coolidge to the grounds of the Thomas County Historical Society.

The Metcalfe Courthouse at its original site in Metcalfe, 2004.

2004

Board and staff members held the first fall fundraising dinner, initiating a tradition that provides a portion of the organization's annual operating budget per year. The 1923 Cox Model T was donated to the Historical Society. The Metcalfe Courthouse was moved onto the grounds from its original location in Metcalfe. The interior of the Flowers-Roberts House was renovated.

Tom Hill poses in an exhibit on Greenwood Plantation, 1998.

1981

The Society published the inaugural edition of The Hourglass and mailed the newsletter to members. The quarterly newsletter featured updates on ongoing activities of the Society. The first "Slides of March" spring lecture series debuted with twice daily lectures offered by Tom Hill on topics of local history.

Bessie saved. And collected. Born in the heart of Reconstruction in 1872 into a powerful family (her father was a judge, mayor, real estate developer and state representative), "Miss Bessie" dedicated herself to collecting historic materials. The Bryn Mawr College graduate's first love was Thomasville and Thomas County, but her collection included materials ranging from the Civil War to modern fashions and controversies. She was also a voracious, if not eccentric, note taker, scribbling her thoughts and data upon any scrap of paper that crossed her desk, including a popsicle stick smothered in her distinctive handwriting. The enormous collection she amassed in the first half of the twentieth century represents the foundation upon which the Thomas County Historical Society was built. The Historical Society was conceived in the late 1940s by members of the local chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution as a means to write a history of Thomas County. Miss Bessie was the logical choice to contract the job out to, and in 1952 the Historical Society was formed and the work of writing Thomas County's history began. Elizabeth Hopkins never married and she never had children. Hobbled by a broken hip in 1955, her health declined and she passed away on December 16th, 1957 at the age of 85, never having seen her work published or collection exhibited. Yet, the notes she produced blossomed into the four-volume series on Thomas County history produced by Florida State University professor Dr. William Warren Rogers; her genealogies serve as the basis of the Genealogy Library's collection; her father's real estate records are the basis of Landmark lnc.'s architectural history of Thomas County, and her archival and material collection represent the largest and most important document collection in the Historical Society's holdings. Like the mighty Big Oak, Miss Bessie's legacy lives on in every Thomas County historical organization. A true daughter of the South and America, her unusual and eccentric life encompassed many pursuits: throwing things away was not one of them.

Bessie Hopkins

Founding Mother of Collections

Bessie saved. And collected. Born in the heart of Reconstruction in 1872 into a powerful family (her father was a judge, mayor, real estate developer and state representative), "Miss Bessie" dedicated herself to collecting historic materials. The Bryn Mawr College graduate's first love was Thomasville and Thomas County, but her collection included materials ranging from the Civil War to modern fashions and controversies. She was also a voracious, if not eccentric, note taker, scribbling her thoughts and data upon any scrap of paper that crossed her desk, including a popsicle stick smothered in her distinctive handwriting. The enormous collection she amassed in the first half of the twentieth century represents the foundation upon which the Thomas County Historical Society was built. The Historical Society was conceived in the late 1940s by members of the local chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution as a means to write a history of Thomas County. Miss Bessie was the logical choice to contract the job out to, and in 1952 the Historical Society was formed and the work of writing Thomas County's history began. Elizabeth Hopkins never married and she never had children. Hobbled by a broken hip in 1955, her health declined and she passed away on December 16th, 1957 at the age of 85, never having seen her work published or collection exhibited. Yet, the notes she produced blossomed into the four-volume series on Thomas County history produced by Florida State University professor Dr. William Warren Rogers; her genealogies serve as the basis of the Genealogy Library's collection; her father's real estate records are the basis of Landmark lnc.'s architectural history of Thomas County, and her archival and material collection represent the largest and most important document collection in the Historical Society's holdings. Like the mighty Big Oak, Miss Bessie's legacy lives on in every Thomas County historical organization. A true daughter of the South and America, her unusual and eccentric life encompassed many pursuits: throwing things away was not one of them.

Bessie Hopkins

Founding Mother of Collections

The Flowers-Roberts House at 725 North Dawson Street.

1969

The Thomas County Historical Society purchased 725 North Dawson Street (Flowers-Roberts House) for use as an archive and museum. The property included the Roberts Family Garage, the Ewart Family Bowling Alley, and the Joiner-Callaway House.

Bessie Hopkins and Mitch Davenport pose in front of the newly installed historical plaque at the Courthouse, 1954.

1954

Mitchell Davenport was elected President of the Society. The Society funded the installation of a historical plaque at the Courthouse. Elizabeth Hopkins continued her work on compiling the history of Thomas County.

Celia Lockereman demonstrates hearth cooking in the Smith Log House to a Time Travelers camper, 1998.

1998

The Thomas County Historical Society hosted its first summer camp, funded by the Thomasville Antiques Show Foundation. "Time Travelers Club Camp" introduced local students to history through crafts, demonstrations, and games.

Rogers' Transition to the Twentieth Century: Thomas County, Georgia, 1900 - 1920.

2002

William Warren Rogers' published his fourth volume of Thomas County history, Transition to the Twentieth Century: Thomas County, 1900-1920.

Dr. William Warren Rogers, Antebellum Thomas County: 1825 - 1861, 1963.

1963

The Thomas County Historical Society published its first book, Antebellum Thomas County: 1825 - 1861 by Dr. William Warren Rogers. This marked the partial completion of the mission set forth by the Society and Bessie Hopkins more than a decade earlier.

Members of the Center participated in a '70's themed fundraiser to mark the occassion of the Museum's 50 years since opening, May 2022.

2022

The Thomasville History Center celebrated its 70th anniversary in operation and 50th anniversary of the museum opening. The History Center purchased a home on Young Street adjoining the Lapham-Patterson House lot for future growth.

"Historical Society," Thomasville Times-Enterprise, October, 1953.

The Thomasville Times-Enterprise ran an Editorial about the Society: "The Thomas County Historical Society is an active group that boasts a most interesting and capable president in Leb Dekle who recently reported to the Society membership on the work of the past few months and on the plans for future growth and development. As its primary goal, the Society has settled upon the compilation and publication of a Thomas County history. This task has fallen largely to Miss Elizabeth Hopkins, a most able historian and researcher..."

1953

Architect John Hand and the donor inspect the Log House before removal to the Museum grounds.

1995

A member of the Smith-Kennedy family donated a log house from a family farm to the Society. It was removed to the museum property and interpreted as the kitchen addition to the Smith Log House.

The Flowers Playhouse in its current location on Museum grounds.

2006

The Flowers Playhouse was moved onto the Historical Society grounds. It was originally built for the children of the Flowers family when they lived in the house next door to the Museum.

The Lapham-Patterson House shortly after coming under the management of the Society, 2010.

2010

The Historical Society entered into an agreement with the State of Georgia Department of Natural Resources to assume the operations of the Lapham-Patterson House, a historic winter cottage in the Dawson Street Historic District that had been operated as a house museum since entering state possession in the 1970s.

"Historical Data of Thomas County Will Be Preserved." Thomasville Times-Enterprise, 1957.

1957

The Thomas County Commissioners agreed to provide storage space for the Society's growing collection of documents and images relating to the history of Thomas County and Bessie Hopkins' continued research. Later that year, Bessie Hopkins passed away. Her work on a book of Thomas County's history remained incomplete for many years.

Members of the Society taste test sides for an early Pilau Dinner Fundraiser.

1993

Society Board Members and Volunteers held the first Pilau dinner in the backyard of the museum to raise funds for the renovation of the Smith Log House. Board Members also began restoration on the fountain located to the side of the museum. Three years later, they dedicated the fountain in memory of Ethel Neel-Williams.

Members of the Thomas County Historical Society Board of Directors present a silver bowl to Bob Watt upon her retirement.

1973

The Society published Dr. William Warren Rogers's third book, Thomas County, 1865-1900. Bob Watt stepped down as President of the Historical Society after many years of service.

The Bowling Alley prior to renovation.

1987

The Society commenced renovations on the 1896 Ewart Bowling Alley. The kitchen and bathroom constructed by the Flowers' during the main house's reconstruction were removed, and the pale pink paint added by the Roberts was stripped. The Society moved the Yeoman shed from Greenwood Plantation to the museum grounds.

Board Members use an antique push plow to break ground on the Davis Wing, 1989.

After completing a successful capital campaign in 1989, the Thomas County Historical Society broke ground on an expansion to the museum's exhibit and meeting space. The Davis Wing, named for benefactors Marthalene and Jasper Davis, became the site of many future public programs and long-term exhibits.

1989-1990

William R. Mitchell Jr., Thomasville: History, Homes, and Southern Hospitality, 2014.

2014

The Historical Society partnered with Thomasville Landmarks to publish Thomasville: History, Homes, and Southern Hospitality, a collection of Thomas County's historic homes and their history.

Thomas County Historical Society Award for Affiliate of the Year from the Georgia Historical Society, April 19, 2007.

2007

The Thomas County Historical Society won the "Affiliate of the Year" Award from the Georgia Historical Society.

The Thomas County Historical Society and Museum of History Facebook page, c. 2010.

2009

Thomas County Historical Society launched its first social media account on Facebook.

Blue prints for the Picnic Pavillion

1997

The Thomas County Historical Society built the "Picnic Pavillion," now known as the "Pilau Shed," as a covered, outdoor meeting place on the Museum grounds.

Photograph of the reception tent for the Member's Banquet during the 10th Anniversary Celebrations, October 21, 1982.

1982

The Society celebrated the tenth anniversary of the museum's opening by holding a banquet for members and a history festival for local students.

Photograph of Bob Watt and her husband Will Watt Sr., c. 1960.

1966

Board members elected Bob Watt as President of the Society.

Pansy Poe and Dr. Rogers look at a copy of Antebellum Thomas County at the book signing, 1963.

1964

The Thomas County Historical Society published its second book, Thomas County During the Civil War by Dr. William Warren Rogers.

Photograph of Dr. William Warren Rogers, c. 1970.

1960

Dr. William Warren Rogers signed a contract with the Thomas County Historical Society to write the history of Thomas County from its founding through the Civil War. His work completed the original goal set by the society and the work done by Bessie Hopkins before her death.

The Hopkins Collection at the Thomasville History Center.

1958

The Thomas County Historical Society purchased the "Hopkins Collection" from the heirs of Bessie Hopkins. The collection includes over a thousand items pertaining to the history of Thomas County.

Photograph of Bessie Hopkins attending a dedication ceremony, c. 1950.

The Thomas County Commissioners hired local historian Elizabeth "Bessie" Hopkins to write a history of Thomas County. Bessie was paid a salary of $200 a month for her work.

1951