Milledgeville, The Most interesting small town in Georgia

In this video we’ll explore the most interesting small town in Georgia. It’s a college town bursting with youth and historical buildings and houses. We’ll visit the house of a renowned and internationally known writer. However, behind the luxurious Old Governor’s mansion and the Greek revival-style antebellum houses, there is a dark history that you don’t want to miss.

[@dresqueda]

Flannery O'Connor's home, Andalusia, was originally a huge plantation, owned by some of my relatives, and worked by up to 100 slaves. The owner, Nathan Hawkins, was the mayor of Milledgeville, and served as one of the state representatives who voted for secession of Georgia in 1861.

[@VisorVisions]

Thank you for sharing this interesting information. Do you have any pictures from the 1800s of people who lived and worked there? I'm planning another visit to Milledgeville and would like to learn more.

[@robbieg416]

Thank you very much for the video. And thank you to the wonderful tour guides!

[@VisorVisions]

You are welcome. Glad you've enjoyed it.

[@andythompson6874]

The reason you did not get a response from Mr. Fish when you knocked on his tomb door, was because you knocked FOUR times, not the required THREE!!! You should go back and try again. When my mother was born in 1927 she suffered from epilepsy, during an era when medical science did not know what caused epilepsy, much less how to treat it. When she turned 5 and was ready to begin school, the State required her to be evaluated by a pediatric psychiatrist in Augusta, who said my mother was not capable of attending public school, and that her parents should instead commit her to the State mental hospital in Milledgeville, to save the rest of her family from the tribulation of trying to raise her. My mother's parents refused, and instead enrolled her in school. Mother went on to graduate high school as a salutatorian of her class, and earned a triple major in college. She was a successful businesswoman for over 60 years and was also a concert organist. Though she had no animosity toward the doctor who thought she should be committed, she often wondered how many other parents took the doctor's advice and committed their children in that horrible place in Milledgeville.

[@VisorVisions]

Thank you for sharing your mom's story... I was wondering how many people ended up in that hospital because of lack of love, care and acceptance in their own families. I would've loved to meet your mom. Today, more than ever, people need to hear positive and inspiring stories like that.

[@teesonice]

I live here now been moveing from her to Atlanta back to here. My two kids was born here but i raised them in Atlanta and they are grown now, so me and my daughter moved back here because the cost of living is more reasonable. Its a beautiful place and yes you can still see a lot of the back in the days history here. There is not much to do here but hunt, go fishing, or go out to eat. Its really country living. You will see more ppl cooking out at home or hanging in the downtiwn area. This is a college town. Where most of the housing around here is for the college students. You have plenty of restaurants also. One thing i have always said is that if a person wanted to open a Restaurant this would be a great place for it. Ppl here love places to eat. The culture is more for white ppl because only history you would find for blk ppl is old slave houses. But surprisingly you will find that a lot of black ppl who do own houses own their own land. That is a great part about the blk history of Milledgeville. It really is a beautiful place. The land that is. The countryside and the peace of mind when traveling here. It really is the county life. Yes it use to be the capital of Ga over a 100 years ago. It is also the home of the central State hospital. Yes it use to be an insane asylum. The hustory is very disturbing but yet so intreasring. Even though its not much of an hospital anymore some parts is still open for vets and for some older ppl or please who is recovering like physical therapy. Its not much used for the "insane minds". I live not to. Far from the hospital. A lot of the buildings is runed down and its just old with history secrets buried within its walls. Milledgeville a very big city with lots of history and also hidden secreats but yet so beautiful.

[@VisorVisions]

You are blessed to live in such a beautiful town. :)

[@teesonice]

@@VisorVisions yes it is very beautiful here and the ppl of this town is also good ppl. I have lived in other places and I have seen and experienced a lot from other ppl and I must say, the ppl here is beautiful as well. Thank You.

[@MissCC]

What time was it when you heard the tower clock ringing? Asking for a friend that lives close by that can see if it’s still rings..

[@VisorVisions]

Sorry, I don't remember exactly. It was in the afternoon, between 2 to 5 p.m., I think.

[@beverlywright7763]

All of my Dads family born and raised in Milledgeville. My Grandmother work at the mental hospital.

[@VisorVisions]

I bet you know many stories from the old days?

[@weytogoman]

​@@VisorVisionsif she doesn't I sure do ! I was raised about 100 yards from the hospital property on the west side and moved to the east side about as far away.

[@VisorVisions]

@@weytogoman It's unfortunate we couldn't connect sooner, before the EP2. I would love to hear the stories, but I did everything I could for Milledgeville. Other small tows deserve some attention too. 🙂

[@weytogoman]

@@VisorVisions great video... Chuckle, in the late 60's the held "wrasslin" matches in the auditorium on Tuesday nights. There was a patient that was ironically named John, 6'6", 300+# and his favorite guy got beat. He turned the place out ... Sent several wrestlers and cops to the hospital. Then this little 105# nurse (ended up my mother in law) walks up grabs his finger and walks him back to his ward. Eazy peesy ... Damnedest thing I ever saw ...

[@VisorVisions]

@@weytogoman These are the kinds of stories that should be recorded. I'm loving it. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@keith6872]

My brother was locked up at Hardwick prison. It is an early release hard work prison...I think.

[@VisorVisions]

Thank you for sharing that.

[@DazaisCrustyHair]

As a person that lives in milledgeville, it's not that interesting, the most interesting thing that happens is car crashes, which occurs a lot.

[@VisorVisions]

I didn't see much traffic there.

[@Chris_Bonner]

Come back now that school and college has started back. You'll be surprised

[@VisorVisions]

I'm planning to. Thanks!

[@Mr_Mgun]

went to college there.

[@VisorVisions]

It's a nice college town.

[@robertagreenbank7613]

This young girl has very good info, but her voice is a bit hard to hear and needs to sloe down her speech. I jad a hard time undetstandong every thing she said. Very gorgeous mansion, and did not know this city was the capitol of Georgia until after the civil war.

[@VisorVisions]

She did talk a little fast. You can turn on closed captioning. Thank you for the feedback.

[@gertrudelautenbach6874]

Just to make sure that you know that I am referring to Maggie

[@VisorVisions]

Yes, she did talk a little too fast. But I'm still grateful she let me record it.

[@jamesleyda365]

The girl was fine

[@VisorVisions]

I agree!

[@sandraleigh4023]

I have no idea what that guy was talking about when he said Jeffrey Dahmer and "Helter Skelter" was there. Maybe that those types of people were there? Dahmer was in Wisconsin, and of course Helter Skelter refers to Charles Manson. If he was saying that they literally resided there, he's incorrect.

[@VisorVisions]

Not sure. It makes me wonder about the other stuff? However, I did feel an eerie energy around that place.

[@sandraleigh4023]

@@VisorVisions Well, what I know is that the place is certainly haunted!! When you see a ghost, there is no doubt about it!! Not sure about what? You can google Dahmer and Manson, who was born in Ohio. Neither of them were in that facility.

[@democrat102]

Correct. Those individuals were NOT housed at Central State Hospital, but CSH did house the "criminally insane," as they were called, and mental health patients of yesteryear who suffered from the same maladies as those men. Perhaps that is indeed what he was trying to relay, but I am just not sure. Many of the buildings at CSH are owned by the State of Georgia and will be demolished in coming years, but there are large tracts of real estate on that campus that are owned by the Central State Hospital Redevelopment Authority and are slated for occupancy by industry and offices. The building that houses apartments for nurses has been bought and will be turned into lofts and apartments. That is pretty exciting. We are trying to bring the campus back. Georgia Military College bought the gymnasium and partially renovated it for events, including the Main Campus graduation ceremonies. The Old Capital Heritage Museum at the Depot has purchased the old train depot and is renovating it for its new home and event center. I hope the entire campus, minus the state-owned buildings that are beyond repair, makes a booming comeback. Also, the Groves Event Center and Chapel of All Faiths, which you see as this gentleman enters the grounds, is in use and can be rented out for events.

[@sandraleigh4023]

@@democrat102 Better plan on saging the place and hiring someone to purge the spirits that are hanging around!!!

[@thelmaguaetta1109]

What is referred to as the "clock tower" sounding is the chimes of a nearby church that is NOT located on CSH grounds, but nearby.

[@gertrudelautenbach6874]

It would be helpful if this young woman would not talk so fast. She could enunciate better too

[@VisorVisions]

Please try to turn on closed capture. It should help.

[@DazaisCrustyHair]

You should've talked about gmc, it's the coolest place in milledgeville

[@VisorVisions]

I didn't know if I could go inside.

[@AnnOreo]

GMC actually doesn’t mind you being there, we only allow after school hours though, a GMC kid would show you around

[@VisorVisions]

Would love to come back to explore GMC.

[@democrat102]

@@VisorVisions Please do. The Old Capital Building and Legislative chambers are both amazing to explore. The portraits of all governors who were in office while that building was the capital building for the state hang on the walls there. You can also tour the legislative chamber and see the portraits of General Oglethorpe, the founder of Georgia, and Lafayette. There are some original chairs and desks from when the building was the legislative seat of Georgia still in that chamber. Please do come back. I would also encourage a visit to the Brown-Stetson-Sanford House, the Old Courthouse, Red Hill State Prison Farm Cemetery, Lockerly Arboretum, and Rose Hill Mansion.

[@VisorVisions]

@democrat102 Thank you for these suggestions. This will be another fun and full day of exploring the most interesting small town in GA. Please stay tuned for Part 2.