This Day in Georgia History

Compiled by

Ed Jackson and Charles Pou

The University of Georgia

December 31

1730 James Oglethorpe was elected to the board of governors of the Royal African Company, which was responsible for overseeing Britain's slave trade.

 

1832 Politician and lawyer Robert A. Alston was born in Macon, Georgia. Alston moved his family to DeKalb County during the Civil War  in which he fought with noted bravery and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. After the war he resumed a law and farming career, though he remained interested in and involved in public affairs. In 1872, he purchased one-third of the Atlanta Herald, and convinced a young, but well-respected, Henry Grady to join in the venture with him. Alston was elected to the General Assembly in 1878. Here, he left his lasting mark by fighting the horrendous conditions in Georgia prisons, particularly the convict-lease system  but alienating powerful members of his Democratic party in the process. Alston believed in justice over political expediency, and he was unwilling to change his stance against the convict system.

Tragically, it was convict lease system that would indirectly cause Alston's death. U.S. Senator John B. Gordon had a financial interest in Penitentiary Company No. 2. Wishing to sell this interest, he gave Alston (who was a close friend) power of attorney to sell the interest. The sale, however, would affect Edward Cox, who subleased 60 of Gordon's convicts for use on his farm. Cox became outraged at Alston's decision as to who would buy Gordon's lease. On Mar. 11, 1879, Cox ran into Alston in a barber shop and began demanding that Alston cancel the sale of Gordon's lease. When Alston told Cox that he couldn't, Cox became enraged and told Alston to go arm himself. Alston did, and that afternoon they met at the state capitol in the office of the state treasurer, who unsuccessfully tried to moderate the dispute. The argument continued, and apparently both men drew their revolvers at the same time and opened fire. Alston received a fatal wound to his head. Following his death, Alston was buried in the Decatur City Cemetery in Decatur, Georgia. Cox was later tried and convicted for murder. He served some time, but was pardoned and became a dairy farmer.

1881 The International Cotton Exposition -- the first of three major expositions held in Atlanta to promote the city, state, and region -- closed. Opened on Oct. 5, 1881, the exposition was held in Oglethorpe Park, which was located on the W & A Railroad three miles northwest of downtown Atlanta.. Of the 1,113 exhibits on display, 301 were from Georgia and 7 from foreign countries. Almost 300,000 people attended the three-month exposition, and the show was judged a success on all counts.

More importantly, the International Cotton Exposition brought cotton farmers, mill owners, and plant managers together to better understand the textile industry -- from cotton seed to finished thread -- and to view new technology and machinery. Cotton planters also were shown the opportunities for and advantages of diversification into other areas of agriculture. The International Cotton Exposition was also important for highlighting Atlanta's growing importance as a transportation and manufacturing center.

1895 After its 105-day run, the Cotton States and International Exposition closed. By most standards, the 1895 exposition was an outstanding success. However, the show's final price tag was almost $3 million -- far more than organizers had estimated -- and by November it had appeared that the exposition was on the verge of bankruptcy. However, the generosity of the exposition's directors -- particularly Samuel Inman -- allowed the show to close without any debt.

Eventually, all the buildings on the fairgrounds were removed. Today, except for a historical marker, little evidence remains of the world's fair held in Piedmont Park in 1895.

1946 Well over a year after fighting had ended, President Harry Truman officially proclaimed the end of World War II. During the war, a significant military presence had been established in Georgia, thanks in large part to the influence in Washington, D.C. of Congressman Carl Vinson and Senator Richard Russell. The end of the war would mean a significant downsizing of the U.S. armed forces and civilian staff support at the numerous military bases across the state.

1965 Georgia Tech beat Texas Tech 31-21 in the Gator Bowl.

1966 The Atlanta Braves traded veteran third baseman Eddie Mathews, pitcher Arnie Umbach and infielder Sandy Alomar to the Houston Astros for pitcher Bob Bruce and outfielder Dave Nicholson.

1971 Georgia beat North Carolina 7-3 in the Gator Bowl.

1977 Lockheed-Georgia ended the year with only 8,400 employees, the lowest year-end figure in company history.

The downsizing resulted not only from the end of the Vietnam War, but also from losses of some $500 million on a series of government contracts in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and the financial collapse of Rolls-Royce, the British supplier of engines for the L-1011 TriStar jumbo jet. Faced with bankruptcy, Lockheed asked in May 1971 for a government guarantee of $250 million in bank credits. In August 1971, by a one vote margin, the U.S. Senate passed a bill to provide the bank credits, which allowed Lockheed to receive the private financing necessary to stay in business. The deal worked to the benefit both of Lockheed and the government. The government never had to pay anything, because the company was able to pay off its own debts. With the company staying afloat, it eventually paid the government a $31 million fee for the arrangement. [Contributed by Dr. Tom Scott, Kennesaw State University]

1978 Stanford beat Georgia 25-22 in the Bluebonnet Bowl.

1985 Georgia Tech beat Michigan State 17-14 in the All American Bowl.

1995 The Atlanta Falcons lost to the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the National Football League playoffs.

1998 Witnessed by a record attendance for the Peach Bowl and the Georgia Dome, the Georgia Bulldogs beat the Virginia Cavaliers 35-33. After trailing 21-0 at halftime, Georgia came back in the second half. In one of the closest finishes possible, Virginia barely missed a 48-yard field goal with 20 seconds left in the game. Georgia's win redeemed a last-minute loss to Virginia in the 1995 Peach Bowl. [Click here for a summary of the game.]

2002 Playing in the third Silicon Valley Classic Bowl in San Jose, California, Georgia Tech lost to the Fresno State Bulldogs 30-21. [Click here for a summary of the game.]

2007 Georgia Tech lost to Fresno State, 40-28, in the Humanitarian Bowl in Boise, Idaho.

2010 At the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, TN, the Georgia Bulldogs lost to Central Florida 10-6, ending their first losing season since 1996 and their streak of four consecutive bowl victories.

2011 Georgia Tech lost a close game to Utah in overtime, 30-27, at the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.

 

In Their Own Words on This Day . . .

1864 Maj. Fredrick Winkler of the 26th Wisconsin Volunteers wrote in his diary:

"Savannah, New Year's Eve. We started out this morning to go across the river. We crossed the South Branch, which took us to Hutchinson's Island. The broader stream is on the other side of it; this was not bridged, and the South Carolina shore was defended by some rebel cavalry. We crossed some men in boats, but they could not get to a good landing, the ground was so marshy. It was attempted to lay a pontoon bridge, but the wind was so furious and agitated the water so much that it was exceedingly difficult, besides we had not nearly pontoons enough. It was very chilly and rained all day, and we lay there in the mud on the island until night, when all but one brigade was sent back to their old camps. That brigade is to be crossed by means of a steam tug and Sat boats, and I suppose we will start out again tomorrow morning to cross the same way, and then we can easily put a bridge across. Most of our camps had been occupied by other troops when we came back; ours had not been broken up and carried off, but was in the possession of a Quarter Master, who was quickly turned out, so Major L., Captain F. and I have our old room again, which is more comfortable than on that cold swampy island. We have had no mail yet; it is said that one is expected today. I trust we will get it before we leave, as we have orders to be ready to march at any moment. The weather seems to have been rough on the ocean of late, three-mast steamers came in yesterday with top masts gone. They have had a meeting in the city and passed resolutions of submission to the United States, but I think they do not represent the general sentiments of the city; all the educated classes are intensely secesh, still necessity may make them good citizens. Savannah is a very handsome city; private residences are very fine and luxuriously furnished. The Pulaski Monument is the boast of the city; there are several squares with monuments. A large park has lately been much neglected. A large number of streets are inhabited exclusively by negroes. I have seen but little of the city or its citizens. A New York Tribune correspondent publishes a daily paper at ten cents a copy, containing absolutely nothing of interest."

Source: Civil War Letters of Major Fredrick C. Winkler, in 26th Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers Home Page

For more, see This Week in Georgia Civil War History.

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