Paved Roads
Before World War II the only paved road
in Fayette County was Highway 54 between Jonesboro and
Shakerag Hill located just beyond Walt Banks Road in
Peachtree City. It was paved during Governor Ed Rivers’
administration probably to try and swing Fayette County
away from its traditional political support for Eugene
Talmadge. In paving Highway 54, a relatively new process
was employed using multiple layers of gravel and tar.
People made fun of Highway 54, calling it “Rivers’ greased
road” because of its shiny appearance created by the tar
base.
The paving of Highway 85 was not completed through
Fayetteville until after World War II. The streets around
the Court House Square were paved in the late 1940’s and
slowly, road by road, most of Fayette County’s main roads
were paved.
Colonel Culpepper, a distinguished citizen, represented
Fayette County in the Georgia Legislature for many years
and was very influential in state politics. He was
instrumental in the revision of the Georgia Constitution
in the early 1940’s.
Colonel Culpepper practiced law and when he was engaged in
speaking for a client in the Fayette County Courthouse, his
booming voice could be heard all over town. Since he was
hard of hearing, he always spoke with a very loud voice;
apparently not aware that others had no hearing problem.
On one occasion a group of Fayette County citizens went to
him asking him to use his influence to get Highway 92
paved.
One of the citizens spoke for the group, ”Colonel
Culpepper, we’d like to see if you could help us in getting
Highway 92 paved between Fayetteville and Fairburn.”
Colonel Culpepper, hearing only part of the request, loudly
responded, “What was that about paving a road?”
The citizen repeated in a raised voice, “We’d like to get
the road to Fairburn paved.”
Colonel Culpepper raised his eyebrows, considered the
request for only a moment and then replied in his usual
loud voice, “Who in the hell wants to go to
Fairburn?”