Athens in Athens-Clarke County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

A Railroad is Born

Camak and the 1st Georgia Rail Road

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, September 23, 2022

1. A Railroad is Born Marker

Inscription. Athenian James Camak was the driving force behind the founding of the Georgia Rail Road Company, the first successful railroad in the state.

The Georgia Rail Road Company was created to give Athens manufacturers a reliable transportation connection to Augusta and the Savannah River. The Charleston and Hamburg Railroad in South Carolina terminated just across the Savannah River from Augusa, giving Athens potential access to the Charleston seaport. It was incorporated in 1833 and in March 1834, several prominent Ahens community leaders met in James Camak's Meigs Street home to organize the Georgia Rail Road. Camas was elected as the railroad's first president. The first cars were drawn by mules over the branch line from Union Point to Athens in 1841, and steam engines replaced the mules in 1847.

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The Camak House, located on the block surrounded by Hancock, Newton, Meigs and Finley Streets, was one of the first houses constructed in the Prince Avenue area of Athens. It was built in the early 1830s and was the site of the organizational meeting of the Georgia Rail Road. Including President James Camak, those

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selected as the first directors of the Georgia Rail Road read like a who's who of early Georgia & railroad history.
Above photo courtesy of Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, UGA Libraries.

1839 map of the Georgia Railroad and connecting lines.

Construction of the Georgia Rail Road began in Augusta in 1835 and reached Athens in 1841. In 1836, he name was changed to Georgia Rail Road and Banking Company. Shown above is an Athens 1842 stock certificate signed by James Camak.

1842 Georgia Rail Road six wheel connected locomotive by Baldwin Locomotive Works.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars.

Location. 33° 57.398′ N, 83° 22.004′ W. Marker is in Athens, Georgia, in Athens-Clarke County. It can be reached from East Broad Street west of Mulberrry Street, on the left when traveling west. Located in Dudley Park along the Athens-North Oconee River Greenway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Athens GA 30601, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Classic City Area

and

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, September 23, 2022

2. A Railroad is Born Marker

in the Piedmont.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: William Bartram (here, next to this marker); Athens Gets Connected (within shouting distance of this marker); Railroad Heritage (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Railroad Heritage (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Railroad Heritage (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Railroad Heritage (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Railroad Heritage (within shouting distance of this marker); Chapters in Athens Heritage (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Athens.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 12, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 6, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 588 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 11, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.