Did you know?
Did you know that a lightning strike in 1913 was so powerful that it melted a wire cable for one of the weights in the Monroe County Courthouse clock?
When the cable broke, the largest of the weights, about 800 pounds according to the local newspaper the Advertiser, went “crashing towards the ground. Through ceiling, plaster and floors” it fell, knocking bricks off the clock tower. The weight landed just outside the second-story grand jury room, cracking the ceiling and flooring there.
When the courthouse was constructed in 1896, the county commissioners installed a Seth Thomas clock. As there was no electricity in the building, the clock had to be wound, thus the weights.
Today the clock operates on electricity–with a battery backup.
Did you know that in 1897 the Forsyth City Council sought approval through a referendum to purchase land for a city hall and engine house?
Voters (all male, of course) cast their votes on Saturday, August 21, 1897 from two until six p. m. The voters brought their own ballots from home when they came to the council chamber that Saturday. “For Purchase ” or “Against Purchase” was either written or printed on them.
The referendum must have been successful. The building for a permanent city hall was finished in 1898 on a lot bordering Adams and Lee Streets.
200 Years of HerStory Guide & Tour flipbook:
https://issuu.com/accentcreativegroup/docs/womenshistory-brocure_final-new_brand?fr=xKAE9_zU1NQ
200 Years of HerStory Guide & Tour contains short biographies, a timeline, and historical site notes intended to be a starting point for exploring 200 years of women's history in Forsyth and Monroe County. These are the legacies of women who have inspired us by breaking the rules, raising their voices, and changing the way we think about ourselves, about women and the role they’ve played in shaping our world.
Drop by the Monroe County History Museum (126 E. Johnston St.) or by the Welcome Center on the Square (20 N. Jackson St.) and get your free copy!