County’s municipalities, towns have illustrious histories By TOM SPIGOLON
C
tspigolon@covnews.com
ities in Newton County other than Covington also have rich histories. Some became known as educational centers or commercial or transportation hubs during their beginnings in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Mansfield In eastern Newton County, Mansfield has flourished in agriculture and trade from about 1896. The Middle Georgia & Atlantic Railroad from Gordon to Covington was completed in the 1890s. A group of businessmen subsequently organized the Carmel Land Improvement Co., which began purchasing land for the township later to be known as Mansfield, according to the book “History of Newton County, Georgia.” “Legend has it that the businessmen pledged to name the town after whoever among the company was still sober after the celebration and barbecue following the sale of lots,” according to the 1988 book published by the Newton County Historical Society. “Apparently little else is known of Mr. Mansfield other than he was there and he exercised temperance.” Mansfield was incorporated as a city in 1903 and Moden Duke was the first mayor, according to the Historical Society. The Georgia General Assembly also approved a public school system for the town in 1907. The Bank of Mansfield was established in 1904; and the town received its first electricity
10 BICENTENNIAL EDITION
Pictured is Newborn High School, circa 1912. A brick school house replaced the building in 1923. Special Photo
in 1914. Some corporations on the books in 1918 included the Flemister Potts mercantile company, Mansfield Lumber and Construction Co., Mansfield Trading Co., and Newton County Gin Co. But Mansfield’s economic fortunes took major hits in the 1920s when the boll weevil destroyed much of the area’s cotton crop and a fire caused $50,000 in damage in the town. Still, Georgia Hwy. 11 was paved through Mansfield in 1936. The town’s main industry now is Beaver Manufacturing Co. Inc. which was founded in early 1971
to supply chemically treated industrial yarns to the hose industry. It now offers numerous types of industrial fiber. Mansfield also is home to several small commercial enterprises and Mansfield Elementary School. “Numerous early 20th Century homes still stand and are beginning to attract newcomers to the area who appreciate the quiet, historic, small town life and are investing in renovations.” Its 2020 population was 442, according to the federal census. Newborn Newborn, in easternmost Newton County was first known THE COVINGTON NEWS
