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About
History
The City of Quitman, aka "Camellia City", is the county seat in Brooks County, Georgia, United States. Quitman was founded in 1858 as seat of the newly formed Brooks County and became known as a city in 1904. The community was named for John A. Quitman, a hero of the Mexican–American War. It is also known as the "Camellia City" due to an abundance of Camelia trees growing around Quitman.
Many of the historic buildings are still in use today even though most of the businesses have changed names. One building in particular was built as an opera house in 1887 and later housed Quitman City Hall. Other city offices that were located there was: a courtroom, Police Department, and behind the building was the Fire Department. Later on the building housed many other businesses such as Avera Drug Store, the Post Office, Merigold Café and even a radio shop. Currently one of the businesses that occupy that building is Brooks County Development Authority.
In the early days of fire protection, around 1870 for the City of Quitman, they were depending on volunteers and water-buckets to combat fires. In this period the fire service depended on the formation of volunteer fire companies and these “Fire Companies” became the object of great local interest and pride. The first fire company in Quitman was known as the “Stonewall Fire Company." They were organized in 1873 and even had their first election of officers in January of the same year. The members of these “Fire Companies” would give themselves annual drills, exhibitions, and would even compete with other companies from the surrounding towns and cities such as Thomasville and Valdosta. Later programs were arranged to include oratory, parades, suppers, band music, and balls with the mayor and council as honor guest as well as athletic contests. The idea of "Fire Companies" spread to the colored population and was then known as "Quitman Hook and ladder Company." Four years later in 1880 the second colored fire company was organized with 24 local members. These two colored fire companies were credited by the Quitman newspaper on many occasions for preventing the spread of fires through their heroic efforts.
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