Two Way Traffic

Greenville Street, Downtown

It has been a while since two-way traffic was allowed on Greenville Street in downtown Newnan. This photograph appeared in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Magazine October 8, 1950, with the article "Newnan ... Home-Owned Industries Produce." The photo was taken from the roof of the Post Office, looking north up Greenville Street. Lee-King Drug Company in the building at left occupies the spot now housing Fabric Outlet. The Coweta County Courthouse stands in the distance. Along the streets are the old light poles, with the old street lights still attached. The poles - replaced in recent years when wiring was placed undergound downtown - were made by R.D. Cole Manufacturing Company. Founded in the mid 1800s, the Cole company became one of Georgia's first steel-fabricating plants and made elevated water tanks and huge steam boilers. It was later purchase and became Brown Steel. The article discusses such home-grown industries as Beavers Packing Co., which produced a variety of meat products; Royal Manufacturing Co., one of the country's largest manufacturers of toilet seats; and such textile mills as the Arnall Mills and Newnan Cotton Mills. Arnall Mills made blankets sold nationally by various companies including Sears Roebuck. The home-grown industries, largely responsible for Newnan's fine homes and most of its smaller dwellings, once prompted Newnan to call itself the third richest town per capita in America.

Newnan Times-Herald

c. 1950

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CCR 1985.08.06

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