Historic West Point & the Chattahoochee Valley

Historic West Point & the Chattahoochee Valley We hope to honor West Point's history by highlighting historic structures, people, and events!

Historic West Point Georgia is a collaborative effort of Jerry Ledbetter & Eddie Lanier. Our goal is to share the story of West Point and the Greater Chattahoochee Valley area, for those who have called this area home for generations, and those who are making West Point home today. Photos and stories of West Point area history may be submitted to the administrators for possible posting on the page.

Here is a picture I copied today at the Bradshaw Library/Cobb Memorial Archives current exhibit on the Valley area’s exp...
06/11/2026

Here is a picture I copied today at the Bradshaw Library/Cobb Memorial Archives current exhibit on the Valley area’s experience during World War II. Robin Watson and the library staff have done an outstanding job of presenting this amazing story of local patriotism. Don’t miss a chance to see it! This Saturday would be a great chance as the library celebrates its 50th Anniversary with a birthday party from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM. There will be free commemorative t-shirts,other library swag, and, of course, cake and ice cream.

The picture is taken in front of the General Tyler Hotel (the current location of SouthState Bank), looking into downtown West Point. The building next door originally housed the Langley Manufacturing Company (which made lap robes during the horse and buggy days) and part of West Point Wholesale Grocery.

Although sustainability and recycling have only become fashionable in the past 20 years, West Point Manufacturing Co. re...
06/10/2026

Although sustainability and recycling have only become fashionable in the past 20 years, West Point Manufacturing Co. recognized the value of recycling over 100 years ago. Soon after the start of towel manufacturing in Fairfax, George Lanier realized that a great deal of fiber was being wasted in the towel yarn manufacturing process. In 1916, he had the company establish West Point Utilization Company and its first location was behind Fairfax Mill in the building pictured below. In its first years of production, the plant processed 10 to 15 million pounds of waste fiber per year. As the operation expanded to process waste fiber from other mills, the operation was moved to a new mill on River Road in 1942. By then, production had increased to 40-45 millio0n pounds per year. Reclaimed fibers, usually too short for fine yarn, are used for a variety of purposes including mop yarn, insulation, padding, etc.

During World War II, people were encouraged to plant Victory Gardens to help with the war effort. West Point Manufacturi...
06/09/2026

During World War II, people were encouraged to plant Victory Gardens to help with the war effort. West Point Manufacturing Company set up the Langdale canning plant to enable residents to can their surplus garden products. The canning plant was located at Langdale Mill in a separate building that still stands today. The high school in Eclectic where I grew up had a similar canning plant.

One thing that made the Shawmut unique in the Valley was the Shawmut Cafeteria. In addition to feeding the public, it wa...
06/06/2026

One thing that made the Shawmut unique in the Valley was the Shawmut Cafeteria. In addition to feeding the public, it was also the home of Community Service, the Company group that provided food to all of the workers in the Valley mills. It also served as the location for Company functions like the 50 Year Club dinners and other meetings. When the cafeteria closed, Community Service moved to a new building on the Fairfax ByPass, and the building became the home of the WPP Engineering Department. After the Farley takeover of the Company, the building for many years served as the home of the Circle of Care. The last manager of Community Service while it was in this building was Fob James Sr., the father of former Alabama governor Fob James Jr. The name plate was still above his office door when I started working in the Engineering Department in 1976.

This is the Junior Class at West Point High School in 1900. Lots of familiar names in that group.
06/05/2026

This is the Junior Class at West Point High School in 1900. Lots of familiar names in that group.

Here are some interesting facts about the Chattahoochee Manufacturing Company. In 1866/67, they built the Chattahoochee ...
06/05/2026

Here are some interesting facts about the Chattahoochee Manufacturing Company. In 1866/67, they built the Chattahoochee Mill which later became Langdale Mill after it was purchased by West Point Manufacturing Company in 1880.

120 and counting! Congratulations to one of the most historic companies in our area!
05/24/2026

120 and counting! Congratulations to one of the most historic companies in our area!

An early 20th Century image of Gilmer Street (modern day Third Avenue) looking south towards Lanett Mill. The photo was ...
05/17/2026

An early 20th Century image of Gilmer Street (modern day Third Avenue) looking south towards Lanett Mill. The photo was taken after 1907 (the year the Bank of West Point building was completed) and before 1917 (the year the street was first paved using vitrified brick).
The second image is colorized giving us an idea as to what downtown actually looked like nearly 120 years ago.

Coca-Cola operated a facility in West Point for 114 years. The operation began in 1909 and transitioned through three bu...
05/14/2026

Coca-Cola operated a facility in West Point for 114 years. The operation began in 1909 and transitioned through three buildings. The photos below are of the first of the three, located at the southeast corner of Third Avenue and West 9th Street. The closing of the West Point facility in 2023 brought an end to one of the longest serving establishments in the city’s history.
The building still stands, and today it’s the home of the Harris Gray Company.

The downtown “triangle” area of Lanett from circa 1940. The first image is a grainy newspaper clipping. The second is a ...
05/12/2026

The downtown “triangle” area of Lanett from circa 1940. The first image is a grainy newspaper clipping. The second is a computer created color reimagining.
Yes, a service station once stood in the middle of the triangle!

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1002 5th Avenue
West Point, GA
31833

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