Local author and hometown boy, Joe W. Rowland, published his first book, When I was a Boy, in 2002. It is a compilation of remembrances and memoirs of growing up in Wrightsville during the Depression. Originally published in a local newspaper, Joe Rowland’s collection of stories about growing up in Wrightsville during the 1930’s and 1940’s, is sure to captivate and entertain you.

His second book, a novel, was published in 2009.  Timidity, spins a spell-binding tale of murder, intrigue and retribution in rural Georgia.

Joe Rowland’s books may be purchased from the author. The price is $18 each, which includes sales tax and shipping. Please contact the author at:

P.O. Box 227
Wrightsville, GA 31096

The coordinator for the Johnson County Gen Web Project is looking for photos of John B. Wright. Please get in touch with Better Hometown at 478-864-0048 or hometown@wrightsville-johnsoncounty.com/ if you know of anyone who might have his photograph. Below is a photo of his wife, Mourning Smith Wright, circa 1870.

The Johnson County Historical Society has finished its roof project. A new roof, with 30 year architectural shingles was put in place by David Horton Construction of Eatonton. The work was paid for with a matching grant from the Historic Preservation Division.  Many thanks to all the businesses, elected officials and individuals who contributed to the completion of phase one of the Grice House Restoration Project. We ask for your continued support as we enter phase two of the project which is to repaint the exterior and replace the window shutters that have long since disappeared. There are many ways you can help. Become a member, make a tax deductible donation, or buy merchandise. Memberships: Individual, $10; Family, $25; Corporate, $50; Pictorial History of Johnson County, $20.13; Searching For Our Ancestors cemetery book, $45; 1860 census, $10; 1880 census, $15; William Henry Heath Family, $10; The George Smith Family, $45; Johnson County Church Histories, $12; Cookbook, $10; Car Tags, $8; 1979 Johnson County Football State Championship Game DVD, $20; 1958 Johnson County Centennial DVD, $20; Veterans service board names, $5. The DVDs may be purchased at Kreative Kreations. The other merchandise is available for purchase at Sumner Pharmacy, the Johnson Journal or Harlie Fulford Memorial Library. We are also accepting anything of historic significance for our museum. If you have something you think we might be interested in, please contact Donald Smith, 478-232-5913 or email  the historical society at  historicalsociety@wrightsville-johnsoncounty.com/  
Donations may be mailed to Post Office Box 87, Wrightsville, GA 31096.  

Johnson County Board of Commissioners commissioners@johnsonco.org
Web Site: http://johnsonco.org
   Guy Singletary, County Administrator - gsingletary@johnsonco.org
   James L. McAfee, Jr., Commission Chair, (District II)
   Jack Foskey, Vice Chairman, (District V)
   Felice Pullen, Board Member, (District I)
   Donald Smith, Board Member, (District IV)
   Jerronney (Ron) Darrisaw, Board Member, (District III)
   Johnson County Courthouse, 2557 East Elm Street
   P.O. Box 269
   Wrightsville, GA 31096
   478-864-3388, Phone
   478-864-9441, Fax
Johnson County Board of Education:  
Web Site:  http://www.johnson.k12.ga.us/system/index.htm 
    Dr. Hayward Cordy, Superintendent of Schools
    hayward_cordy@johnson.k12.ga.us 
    150 Lee Street
    P.O. Box 110
    Wrightsville, GA 31096    
    478-864-3302, Phone
    478-864-4053, Fax
Johnson County Board of Elections
boardofelections@johnson-county.net 
    Debbie Killingsworth, Election Supervisor 
    6816 East College Street
    P.O. Box 269
    Wrightsville, GA 31096
    478-864-4019, Phone
    478-864-2019, Fax
Johnson County Convenience Center
    478-864-0590, Phone
Johnson County Department of Children & Family Services
    Genell Akins, Director
    478-864-4210, Phone
Johnson County Development Authority: (Call County Commission)  
Johnson County EMS
    Emergency Number: 478-864-0800
Johnson County Extension Service
    Brent Allen, County Extension Coordinator
    brenta@uga.edu
    Sondra Fortner, County Extension Agent, 4-H/FACS
    sfortner@uga.edu 
    239 Trojan Way
    P.O. Box 31
    Wrightsville, GA 31096
    478-864-3373, Phone
    478-864-4004, Fax
Johnson County Health Department 
    Amy Tanner, Head Nurse, antanner@dhr.state.ga.us
    82 Hilton Holton Street
    P.O. Box 28
    Wrightsville, GA 31096
    478-864-3542,  Phone
    478-864-1777, Fax
Johnson County Historical Society
historicalsociety@wrightsville-johnsoncounty.com 
     Lisa Keyton, President       
    478-864-2590, Phone
Johnson County Probate Office
    Mary Jo Buxton, Probate Judge
    Johnson County Courthouse, 2557 East Elm Street
    P.O. Box 269
    Wrightsville, GA 31096
    478-864-3316, Phone
    478-864-0745, Fax
Johnson County Property Records:  http://qpublic.net/ga/johnson 
Johnson County Recreation Department: jcrd@nlamerica.com  
    Daniel Tanner, Director
    478-864-3901, Phone
Johnson County Road Department
    Homer Garnto, Supt.
    478-864-3822, Phone
Johnson County Superior Court  
    Patricia Glover, Superior Court Clerk
    Johnson County Courthouse, 2557 East Elm Street
    P.O. Box 321
    478-864-3484, Phone
    478 864-1343, Fax
Johnson County Supports & Services
http://www.csbmg.us
    Kathy Moses, Director,  rtaylor2@csbmg.com
    605 West Elm Street
    P.O. Box 332
    Wrightsville, GA 31096
Johnson County Senior Citizens’ Center
    Vicki Roberts, Director, vicki@wrightsvilleseniorcenter.org
    108 Hilton Holton Street
    Wrightsville, GA 31096
    478-864-3255, Phone
    478-864-2251, Fax
Johnson County Sheriff’s Department 
http://www.johnsonso.com    
    Rusty Oxford, Sheriff
    230 Donovan-Harrison Road
    Wrightsville, GA 31096
    478-864-3941, Phone
    478-864-2944, Fax
Johnson County Tax Assessor 
http://qpublic.net/ga/johnson
    Donna McCoy, Chief Appraiser - dmccoy@jcboa.org
    478-864-3325, Phone 
    478-864-1529, Fax
    8679 North Marcus Street
    P.O. Box 269
    Wrightsville, GA 31096
Johnson County Tax Commissioner
jctaxcomm@yahoo.com
    Sherry Vickers, Tax Commissioner
    Johnson County Courthouse, 2557 East Elm Street
    P.O. Box 269
    Wrightsville, GA 31096
    478-864-2565, Phone
    478-864-7240, Fax
U.S. Post Office, Wrightsville 
    Keith Lamb, Postmaster
    478-864-8136, Phone
Wrightsville-Johnson County Chamber of Commerce
    Web Site, http://www.wrightsville-johnsoncounty.com 
    Lynn Lamb, Executive Secretary
    commerce@wrightsville-johnsoncounty.com 
    6745 East College Street
    P.O. Box 94
    Wrightsville, GA 31096
    478-864-7200, Phone

Thanks to the diligence of Better Hometown and the Chamber of Commerce donations have been secured  to insure the inclusion of Wrightsville on the Georgia Civil War Heritage Trail. Georgia Civil War Heritage Trails divides the state into six regions, each designating an area or major event from Georgia’s “Civil War era.”  The “Atlanta Campaign” and “March to the Sea” were Georgia’s two most significant Civil War “events.”  Thus these two “historic driving routes” or “trails” are being created first.  Next to be developed will be the route Confederate President Jefferson Davis rode in his attempt to evade Federal capture in May 1865. Yet many more topics are interpreted along each route, including the roles of women, African-Americans, hospitals, churches, and railroads. Each interpretive marker is “linked” by a route to national & state parks, museums, and other Civil War heritage attractions. Wrightsville will be located on the Jefferson Davis leg of the trail. For more information see http://www.gcwht.org/    

One of Better Hometown’s early projects consisted of putting together a partnership of twenty-two counties to publish the Classic Courthouses Brochure. The brochure, updated in 2009, is now in Georgia Welcome Centers and the brochure’s web page has been revised thanks to Suzana Rowland of Clickfire.com/  (Funded in part by the Georgia      Department of Economic Development) 
                                                  

To view the Classic Courthouse brochure, please click the following link: Classic Courthouse Tour of East Central Georgia

Better Hometown continues to sponsor historic-styled lampposts ($1000), benches ($500), trees ($250) and engraved pavers ($30) for the just completed streetscape project. All sponsorship donations are tax de-deductible under the law. Applications are available at the BHT Office, City Hall and on this site as well as photos of Lamppost plaques. This is a great way to keep alive the names of family members or a business!

The historic W & T Train Depot in Wrightsville is now available to the community to rent for parties, family reunions and meetings. Please call Better Hometown at 478-864-0048 for more information and an application.  

The Johnson County Recreation Department is now taking teams for Adult Softball, with two more leagues this year: Women¹s League and Co-Ed 40 and over, as well as Co-Ed and Men¹s Leagues. Team Rosters will be accepted with a limit of 20 on each team. Fees for Men and Women Leagues are $400.00. Fees for Co-Ed and Co-Ed 40 and over are $200.00

Fees and rosters will be taken through the month of June and part of July. No deadline has been set. For more information, call the Johnson County Recreation Department at 864-3901 and leave a message. “We are excited about adding two more leagues this year, said Director Daniel Tanner. It is a great opportunity for people to get involved in healthy games, have fun and be a part of something in the community. It also shows our youth the importance of staying healthy and fit.”