HISTORIC

By the 1850s, Thunderbolt as a village was on the rise. On 3 March 1856 the village was incorporated by an act of the General Assembly of the State of Georgia as the Town of Warsaw. The legislation outlined the following:

That from and after this passage of this act, all of that bluff, or parcel of land situated, lying and being in the county of Chatham, and on the Warsaw river, extending from marsh to marsh, at either terminus, the same being about half of a mile in distance on the Warsaw river, and extending back from said river half a mile from either terminus, which was originally called O’Bryansville, but more recently Thunderbolt, shall hereafter be called, known and designated as the town of Warsaw.

The reference to O’Bryansville is rare, however for a brief period Thunderbolt was called O’Bryansville after a William O’Bryan who owned property along the river.

The new name was taken from the Warsaw River along which the town was located. Warsaw refers to the Indian name of Wassaw, as in Wassaw Sound and Wassaw Island. The new name did not catch on and residents of the area continued to refer to the community as Thunderbolt. However, the river was consistently called the Warsaw River throughout the 19^th century.

š Thunderbolt's First Government ›

The first government of Thunderbolt was a commission format comprising five men, one of whom served also as chairman of the commission. The first commission, consisting of Maxine Devergus, chairman, William Fennel, clerk, Henry Ambos, William Grey, and Randolf Paff, was elected on 16 March 1886 at the home of Edward Bannon. The first meeting of the commission was held at Henry Ambos’ house in Thunderbolt. The commission government oversaw the affairs of the town from 1886 until 1902.

At the same time the commission was organized, Thunderbolt’s first jail was erected on a lot of Henry Ambos’ at a cost of $161.83. The annual rental for the lot was $10.00. The first prisoner of the town was Richard Nichols, who given the choice of a $20.00 fine or thirty days in jail, chose the jail sentence. Mr. William Black served as the first town marshal in 1886, and worked only on Saturdays.

š Officially Thunderbolt, 1921 ›

The beginning of the 20^th century brought a period of growth and improvement to the community of Thunderbolt. Supported by the still popular Casino and opened up by the streetcar lines to Savannah, the population steadily grew. On 16 June 1921, a special resolution was passed officially changing the town name from Warsaw back to Thunderbolt.

On 1 January 1902, Thunderbolt held its first mayoral election, ending the commission government in place since 1886. William W. Aimar served as the first mayor until 1920. When the town was incorporated as Thunderbolt, Judge David S. Atkinson, town attorney, drew up a new town charter. The new government comprised a mayor and four aldermen supported by a town clerk, all elected on two-year terms. Open town meetings were held each month to discuss town business.

Notable events in Thunderbolt’s government include the election of Mrs. Laura E. Howe in 1945 as town clerk. Howe was the first woman elected to public office in Thunderbolt and held the position until her death in February of 1952. On 15 April 1949, Fred Rotureau presented his design for Thunderbolt’s first official town flag at the Club Royal. The flag depicts an anchor and a thunderbolt representing the defining moments in Thunderbolt’s history. The anchor and the blue background reflect the importance of water throughout Thunderbolt’s past.

š Old Town Hall ›

Thunderbolt began construction of the old Town Hall in 1912 on land along the bluff on River Drive sold to the town by the Wilharm family for $6,000. The two-story building was finished in 1914 and shows classical influences in its design (see above). The first floor, made out of concrete, housed the town jail with four cells, a tool room, and a storeroom. Entrance to the jail was via a door on the southern side of the building, down the slope of the bluff. During high tide, prisoners had to be brought upstairs so that they would not drown as the waters rose.

The second floor was actually on street level and the main entrance, with double doors and a transom, faced River Drive. Housing the court room, Mayor’s office, committee room and bathroom, the frame building, though small, exhibited elements of Classical architecture giving it an air of importance. The front gabled building had a full pediment supported by an entablature with decorated frieze and large white wooden columns. The Classical design of the building stressed its governmental powers, like those in the U. S. Capitol, though on a much smaller scale.

On 22 February 1932, Washington Day was held to observe the bicentennial of George Washington's birthday and a marble tablet and tree were planted by the children of Thunderbolt in front of the Town Hall on River Drive.

Washington's Bicentennial, Thuunderbolt

Cordray-Foltz Collection VM 1360 PH, Box 17, Folder 4, Item 2

Georgia Historical Society, Savannah, Georgia

Improvements in the town included the installation of twenty-five street lamps on 8 June 1929 and the installation of a new water system in 1936. On 8 November 1935, the town voted on a $25,000 bond issue to expand the municipal water works. The issue was approved 127 to 7, allowing the town to accept $19,000 in Public Works Administration funds. This was the first bonded indebtedness in the town’s history. The Works Progress Administration project involved the erection of a 100,000-gallon storage tank. The one-hundred foot tall tank provided good water pressure to the community for the first time.

š Thunderbolt's Centennial, 1956 ›

In 1956, Thunderbolt celebrated the centennial of the incorporation of the town as Warsaw in 1856. The festivities were introduced through the induction of The Thunderbolt, a local newspaper dedicated to announcing current local events, as well as providing a historical retrospective of the town.

The Centennial Program, led by general chairman Paul Wilkin, included a Coronation Ball, Street Dance, Midway Carnival, Parade, Boat Races, Church Pageant, and a Prize Drawing. The Coronation Ball was held on the first day of the ceremonies, March 1^st, at the General Oglethorpe Hotel on Wilmington Island. Tickets for the ball were $1.00 a person. Sylvia Ann Wood and Marion “Pat” Howard were crowned Centennial Queen and King. The Carnival was set up on a Midway with booths by Mr. Smith, the Carnival Man, and lasted all weekend.

On 3 March 1956, the Centennial Parade, led by Louis G. Ambos, parade marshal, formed at Daffin Park on Victory Drive. After marching into Thunderbolt on Victory Drive, the floats took Mechanics Avenue to Bannon Drive all the way to the yacht basin before marching down River Drive to the old Town Hall. The boat races were open to racing teams from the southeast area and emphasized the river’s continuing connection to Thunderbolt.

Prince Preston, U.S. Congressman from Georgia’s First District, in which Thunderbolt is located, was the principal speaker on Saturday and on Sunday the “Pageant of the Churches” was held, depicting Thunderbolt’s religious history from 1732 through 1956.

š Thunderbolt's New Town Hall ›

The new Town Hall, constructed in 2000-2001 on River Drive, houses all of Thunderbolt’s government including administration, the court room, the Police Department, the Department of Public Works and the Finance Department. The new building was paid for by a 1998 bond issue and cost $1.1 million. The 10,000 square foot building was designed by Rick Gilpin of G. B. Designs in Savannah and constructed by R. L. Construction of Thunderbolt. The front portico and columns recall the old Town Hall’s Classical elements. The old Town Hall was located on the opposite side of River Drive but was moved in 1988. The old town jail was demolished and the site was filled in and sold. By moving the new Town Hall back to River Drive, the town has recaptured the importance of the bluff as the heart of Thunderbolt's business and government.

"Thunderbolt Flag!"

Behold! Our Flag, a symbol

Of "Things Done" and not "Things Said,"

May it ever hold us steadfast

On the pathway we must tread

Like the anchor on it's bosom,

Set in purest, solid Gold,

May it ever be Symbolic

Of the Pride our duties hold.

May it fly throughout the Ages

And inspire men to their best,

May they gaze with joy upon it

And rise up to meet each Test."

-Mayor Paul E. Wilkin

š Partial List of Former Thunderbolt Mayors›

William W. Aimar 1902-1920, Thunderbolt’s First Mayor

elected 1 January 1902

E.O. Bryan 1920-1932 (died 27 July 1932)

Samuel L. Byrd 1932-1947 (resigned January 1947)

Herbert Lee Wood 1946-1950 (resigned 1950)

Paul Wilkin 1950-1954 (filled Wood’s unexpired term, died

1954)

A.D. Gallagher 1954-1955 (filled Wilkin’s unexpired term)

Frank T. Wall 1955

Bill Mullis, Jr. 1961-1962

Arthur Gilreath 1964-1969

Bill Mullis, Jr. 1967-68

Arthur Gilreath 1972-1973

Michael J. Cesaroni 1978-1981

James A. Petrea 1996