Thomasville History Series - The Bottom
The Bottom, circa 1958
This geocache is at Thomasville’s new “Ritz Amphitheater” located in the West Jackson Street Business District that is affectionately known as “The Bottom.” The Sandy Bottom District, more commonly referred to as The Bottom, was a booming area of town for African American, Jewish, and Greek businesses in the early 20th Century. The cache is just off the sidewalk and shouldn't be very hard. There is public parking nearby on at Trinity Anglican Church and along Jackson Street. Please do not block the one-way portion of Stevens Street. Please excercise stealth when hunting this geocache. There are new public restrooms on the property of the amphitheater.
Jack Hadley, curator of the local Black History Museum, says The Bottom “was the heart of the black community.” He says “There were black doctors’ offices, eateries, pharmacies, taxi cab companies, life insurance companies, clothing stores, pool halls and juke joints.” One of the most prominent businesses of the area was the Ritz Theater, located near where Trinity Anglican Church stands today, which served as a hub of entertainment for Thomasville’s black community. The Amphitheater was named after this historic black owned business and hosts many concerts and events each year. The most popular is Due South, a festival featuring regional and national acts that benefits children's philanthropic efforts in Thomasville.
Due South at The Ritz Amphitheater
The City of Thomasville’s recent effort to revitalize the district provided an opportunity to honor some of the significant history of this area. The city has begun to install plaques around The Bottom to remember the businesses that once called West Jackson Street home. A marker will also remember Reverend Dr. Earl Williams, the first black mayor of Thomasville.
The historic train depot, built in 1885, is located just west of this cache on Jackson Street. The site has served as a depot for almost 160 years and was the source of much of the traffic in The Bottom. Today the depot is home to one of Thomasville’s favorite restaurants.
The Historic Train Depot
Integration brought the heyday of The Bottom to a close as the black community began to frequent the previous whites-only establishments in Thomasville. The area fell into disrepair and many storefronts were left vacant for decades. Today, nearly every storefront is occupied with thriving businesses. A bagel shop, a bar, an outdoor supply store, and a yarn shop are just a few of the many recently opened businesses in The Bottom.
Another significant black history site is the Imperial Hotel, located at 738 W Jackson Street. The Imperial Hotel was listed in the Green Book, a guide to hotels where black travelers would be welcomed. The Green Book was the focus of a 2018 film. Jack Hadley and other community members are currently leading efforts to restore the building.
The Imperial Hotel Building, The Green Book lists the Imperial Hotel, The Restored Imperial Hotel Sign
For those interested in more of the storied history of Thomasville’s black citizens, The Jack Hadley Black History Museum is located at 214 Alexander Street.
An exhibit in the Jack Hadley Black History Musuem
Jack Hadley's copy of the Green Book