Workers uncovering history of downtown street
Published 5:50 pm Wednesday, June 29, 2016
- Heavy equipment removes asphalt from South Broad Street to expose the brick street laid more than a century ago.
THOMASVILLE — The blocked-off street and blue-gray haze in downtown Thomasville is the result of more bricks being exposed on Broad Street.
Workers are scraping asphalt from South Broad Street — between Smith and Remington avenues — and piling the rubble in a stack as heavy equipment gets closer and closer to revealing the brick street surface laid in the early 1900s.
Trending
The first phase of construction is expected to be completed by Friday.
According to a Times-Enterprise story provided by the Thomas County Museum of History, the first “verified” brick was put down by Mrs. J.A. Epply at the intersection of North Broad and Jefferson streets.
Another Times-Enterprise story says 5,649,049 pounds of crushed and broken granite, along with sand, cement, brick and curbing, went into the new pavement. Some 19,552 square yards of bricks were laid.
The story says 899,392 bricks were put down on Broad and Jackson streets by Georgia Engineering Co. of Augusta.
The foundation for the bricks — made of crushed stone, sand and cement — “will be about as enduring as the everlasting hills,” S.W. Strickland, the person in charge of the $90,000 project, said.
“Our downtown thrives on the wonderful selection of local fare, as well as the historic charm that’s seen throughout the 19-block downtown commercial district,” Karen Smith, Main Street and Tourism executive director, said. “Being able to extend the brick pavers to Smith Avenue will enhance our existing efforts to create a sense of continuity between the entire downtown area, as well as enhance the character that makes Thomasville so special.”
Trending
The brick-exposure project also includes restriping parking spaces, enhancing and repairing curbs and sidewalk access, and performing spot repairs to existing brick roadways.
“Improving our downtown by uncovering these historic pavers was identified as a priority within our five-year strategic plan,” said Assistant City Engineer Wayne Newsome said. “This project brings cohesiveness as you travel from one section of our downtown to another.”
The project is funded by 2012 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, supplemented by funds from a Local Maintenance Improvement Grant from the Georgia Department of Transportation.
The downtown area project, estimated to cost about $296,564, consists of improvements to South Broad between Remington and Smith. Other improvements are planned for Remington between Madison and Broad street and on West Jackson Street between Oak and Madison streets.
Work on Remington will consist of pouring new sidewalks on a portion of the south side of the street and adding angled parking like the north side of the block. On West Jackson, work will be limited to repairing the brick street.
“This project will enhance the character of downtown by extending the historic theme that currently exists to yet another block of Broad Street,” Newsome said. “Additionally, ADA accessibility is being improved by adding mid-block handicap parking and ramps on both sides of Broad Street between Remington and Smith avenues.”
Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820.