Communities played major role in Newton County’s development By TOM SPIGOLON
ist and Almon Baptist churches. Three general stores, includome unincorporated coming the Rock Store owned by munities may have had W.S. Marbut, Capes Grocery unclear boundaries but they and Crowell’s Grocery operated also have plenty of history and there. have been major contributors to Grady Crowell operated a cabNewton County’s development. inet shop. The Dobbs and Berry • Almon in northwest Newton families operated dairy farms. A is notable for being an early cen- grist mill, brick factory and cotter of commerce and for the fami- ton gin also were there, as well lies whose names now adorn as a train depot that shipped out major roads in the area and oper- all the products of the communiate longtime businesses, such as ty. Berry’s Tree Farm. Harold Dobbs established The earliest recorded instituthe first water system, making tions were churches, including running water available in 1954, the first home of Springfield according to the History of NewBaptist Church (now a Conyers ton County. megachurch) and Shiloh MethodBy 1959, a drag racing track
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tspigolon@covnews.com
14 BICENTENNIAL EDITION
called the Yellow River Drag Strip was operating off U.S. Hwy. 278 (now Access Road) next to the Yellow River in Almon. It hosted numerous races featuring some of the sport’s brightest stars, such as “Big Daddy” Don Garlits. However, it halted operations in 1969 after an accident in which one racing car flipped into the stands near the track — killing 11 spectators and injuring 50. The March 2, 1969, incident was the country’s worst racing disaster. The old speedway is now part of Riverside Estates Mobile Home Park. • Brick Store in eastern Newton is the site of one of the oldest
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