History of Meldrim, Georgia

The Parcel of land known as Meldrim, Ga. was purchased by Judge Peter W. Meldrim, March 26, 1878 for $340. They started surveying for home sites in 1890 and finished in 1898. Judge Meldrim was a Superior Court Judge of the Savannah District.

Miss Caroline Meldrim, daughter of Judge Meldrim, relates that her father used to go to the area of Meldrim Hunting and being a friend of the then President of The Central of Georgia Railway, Mr. Eagan, the train would stop in the morning and let Judge Meldrim off and pick him up in the afternoon. There was at this time one or two homes scattered through out the area, but no name had been given to the area.

This was the camping area for the famous Georgia Hussars. There are still some of the Earthen Breastworks noticeable behind the Oak Hill Cemetery from the Hussars Training Grounds.

Miss Meldrim tells that the Judge arrived to get off the train on one occasion and saw a sign at the stop "Meldrim, Ga." This is how the town received its name.

Judge Meldrim built himself a home in what was known as the Old Barber Field. After the land was surveyed the lots sold from $25 to $50, the most expensive were the ones next to the railroad, which became the shopping and business district.

In the early 1900’s there were six stores. Where the Scout building now stands was a 2 story building, residents on the second floor and a store on the first floor, run by Marion Cox. Next to the Cox store, were a store and a Post Office run by Mrs. Sally Harvey and her daughter Miss Ruth Harvey. Between the Harvey’s and the Stone store was a store owned by John Tillman. Filmore Williams built the Stone store and it is the only one still standing. All of these stores faced the railroads, the Central of Georgia, which was the oldest railroad in Georgia, and the Seaboard. Behind these stores on the main road going through Meldrim was another store and Cargill’s Printing Shop that published a weekly Paper called "The Guidon." Mr. Cargill later moved his paper to Savannah.

Between the two railroads there were several businesses. There was a Plaining Mill and Saw Mill run by the Cochran’s. T.P. Eberhardt and Bob Phillips also ran a Plaining Mill in about 1918. There was a Turpentine Still at the second rail crossing run by Charlie Phillips.

The Mikell Roof and Shingle Factory was located where the Elton Powell home now stands. On the corner where the Post Office now stands was a large 2 story Store run by the Hayman’s and McGarrity’s.

At the Main Rail Crossing in Meldrim, there was a large depot and warehouse and across from that was a park with a fishpond. There were rose bushes and shrubbery that the two railways kept up; later on the pond was turned over to the town for a swimming area.

At one time Meldrim had four churches, Christian, Methodist, Baptist and Episcopal. The Nazarene’s used the Episcopal Church for a while, now it’s a private dwelling.

The Meldrim Christian Church was organized August 1896 by state Evangelist E.L. Shellnut. The first church home was built shortly after on land given by Judge P.W. Meldrim. The first members were Mr. and Mrs. Frank and Sarah Tillman, Mr. and Mrs. J. Mattox and Mr. and Mrs. Newton Peavy. The churches first Pastor was Albert T. Fitts. Following him was Bolt White, H.C. Bowen, W.R. Roland, V.P. Bowers, A.J. Edmonds, J.R. Cleveland, E.W. Stairs, E.C. Bragg and J.L. Green. In 1915 V.P. Bowers began a pastorate that continued until June 1956.

The church building was remodeled in 1921 and 1922; other improvements have been made through the years.

John G. McGarrity served as Sunday School Superintendent for 27 years, beginning in 1922 and ending in 1949.

The Meldrim Methodist Church was unofficially organized Sept. 25, 1896. It was officially organized in 1897 in the home of Mr. and Mrs. H.C. Morgan with ten members. Rev. Thomas H. Thompson was appointed as the first Pastor, the church having been placed in the Bloomingdale Circuit Charge. The first church was erected in 1897. In the year 1912 the church building was hit by lightning and destroyed by fire. The church was rebuilt in 1913. When the first service was held in the new building, Voluntary Subscription had paid for the entire cost of construction. In 1919 the church was ceiled and a New Belfry and porch added, all paid by contributions. The church bought the old Railway Depot and Warehouse and moved it behind the church on the property known as the Sylvester Edwards Place and turned it into the Parsonage in the year 1961.

The Meldrim Baptist Church was organized April 23, 1911 in the Meldrim Methodist Church by Rev. D. S. Ededfield, assisted by the Rev. J.N. Lee. The Baptist worship services continued to be held in the Methodist Church until it burned in 1912. After that services were held in the Christian Church until the Baptist Church was erected. In 1912 Judge P.W. Meldrim gave a lot to the Baptist people for a church building. Worship services were held in the new church for the first time on March 22, 1914. The entire cost was paid by contributions. Dr. Arch C. Cree of Atlanta held the dedication service January 23, 1916. Five Sunday school rooms were added to the Church in 1921. In 1951 the Union Camp Corp. of Savannah gave additional land and some building material for new Sunday school rooms and a social hall.

Joe Schuman Sr. ran a cotton gin about where Schumans Store now stands. He also had a cane mill and syrup factory. He cooked the syrup with steam. Further down the road on the Horace Schuman Place there was a cattle dip, parts of it are sill visible.

The two story homes in Meldrim are among the oldest homes still standing.

John Carter was the overseer for Meldrim. He planted the oak trees that line the streets and at their beginning he had little boxes painted white around them.

When the Central of Georgia and Seaboard Railroads had passenger trains running through Meldrim, there were station agents on duty around the clock.

Meldrim had a large two-story school on the corner across from the Clough home. There were two large classrooms and a small one down stairs and the auditorium was upstairs. The Mason’s also used the auditorium for their meeting place. The schools were consolidated about 1935 and the children from Meldrim went to Marlow Elementary, which was also a high school. The Meldrim School eventually was sold and torn down to make a home close to Marlow School.

The Union Camp Corp. on Jan 25, 1936 bought all property and timberland surrounding the town that Judge Meldrim owned.

Judge Meldrim gave the property for the old part of Oak Hill Cemetery. The oldest graves are Mary Hutchins Oct. 30, 189?, Lilly Mae Page 1911 and Ruby Miller 1912. The Union Camp Corp deeded the new section Feb. 27, 1955.

Mrs. John McGarrity opened a store in the early 1930’s on the corner where the Clough Home now stands. She and her sister Mrs. Julia Rogers ran the store for years.

On June 28, 1959, A Sunday afternoon, on the Seaboard Trestle crossing the Ogeechee River, two butane tank cars on a freight train blew up. People that were swimming, sitting in boats, on the riverbank and in cars lost their lives. Twenty-three lives were lost as a result of the fire, nine from Meldrim.

In 1975, the Union Camp Corp. opened a chip, saw and plaining mill in Meldrim. The logs are brought in by trucks. The finished lumber, chips and bark goes out by trucks and train.

At the present time the new paved road connecting Effingham County North and South is connected to GA Route 204 also I-95 and Abercorn Extension. In the very near future the Meldrim Community and surrounding areas will have an inlet and outlet to I-16.

History of Effingham County 1733-1976 by the Bicentennial Committee