Pebble Hill – JackHadleyBlackHistoryMuseum

This photo represents the Pebble Hill Plantation baseball team in 1928 through 1929. Standing left to right by number: 1. Joshua Walden, 2. Joe Reid, 3. Lloyd Austin, 4. Davie Mitchell, 9. Lloyd Hadley (Manager), 10. High Pocket. Several of the players have yet to be identified, but they have been stated as Thomasville Residents.

Mr. Joshus Walden Sr. was the first African American appointed superintendent on any Plantation in the Southwest Georgia area. He was appointed Superintendent on the Mayhall Plantation, which was part of the larger Pebble Hill Plantation. In this photo he is standing with his family prior to playing in a Pebble Hill Baseball game in the mid-1930s.

This photo represents a student Baseball team in 1923 at the Pebble Hill Plantation.

Charlie B. Lundy was a Thomasville Native and grew up on the Greenwood Plantation. He and his brothers made up the Greenwood Plantation “Eagles” baseball team, with their father Fred Lundy as coach. The Greenwood eagles were one of the best plantation baseball teams in the Thomas County area and played against other plantations around the county. In the 1950’s Charlie B. Lundy became the first African American from Thomasville to be drafted by the Baltimore Oriole Minor Cub Baseball League.

Each Plantation in the Thomas County area had its own baseball team, including Pebble Hill Plantation, Sinkola Plantation, Spring Wood Plantation, Greenwood Plantation, and Chinquapin Plantation. All these teams would compete against each other and the local town team of Allen Normal School.

This photo is of the Camilla Baseball team from the 1930s or 1940s. This team played their games on the Ichaway Plantation located in Baker County, in Newton Georgia.

This photo shows the Sinkola Plantation Baseball team from 1923. The game between Pebble Hill and Sinkola was considered a big deal and the game was played on the 4th of July. Ice Cold Watermelons, ice cream, barbecue and Brunswick stew was made available for everyone.

Pebble hill Plantation Baseball player swinging at bat, this photo was taken around 1924.

All the Plantations from the surrounding Thomas County area played baseball against each other, in this photo Pebble Hill Plantation is playing against Greenwood Plantation around 1907.

Sometimes at the Plantation Baseball games, there would be a band playing drums. This photo is from 1918 and games with drums was considered very exciting for the players and spectators.

After the Civil War and Reconstruction, Many of the Plantations in the surrounding region of Thomas County became Hunting Loges. In this photo Secretary of Treasurer, George Humphrey and President Dwight D. Eisenhower are with Dog Handler, Mr. Rufus Davis before the group heads out for a Quail hunt at Milestone Plantation in Thomasville Georgia.

This photo is taken at the Greenwood Plantation in the 1950s when President Dwight D. Eisenhower visited Thomasville and went Quail Hunting.

This photo is of Mr. Fred Lundy who worked on the Greenwood Plantation for 80 years. During the Hunting season Mr. Lundy drove the Hunting buggy for guests during their stay

Dennis Hadley worked on the Pebble Hill Plantation for over 51 years and served on many different occupations. In this photo he is holding a dead bob cat, and is surrounded by some of the Pebble Hill Plantation Hunting Dogs.

This photo is from Pebble Hill Plantation and shows two gentlemen after a successful hunt.

In this photo is Dr. Walton, the first black dentist in Thomasville, and his quartet performing at the Pebble Hill Plantation Easter Celebration in 1932.

Easter Celebration Sack Race at Pebble Hill Plantation, games like this were part of the festivities during the Easter Holiday from 1900 through 1940.

Another game for the Workers at Pebble Hill Plantation during the Easter Celebration. This photo was taken sometime between 1900 through 1940.

John Austin riding a bike with no hands for the crowd during the 1933 Easter Celebration at Pebble Hill Plantation.

Wheel Barrow race in the Pebble Hill Plantation Easter Celebration in 1939. Many different games and activities were part of the entertainment during the holiday festival.

Josh Walden and his friend riding in a wheel barrow for the crowd at the yearly Easter celebrations at Pebble Hill Plantation

One of the activities for children during the yearly Easter Celebrations from 1900 to the late 1940’s at Pebble hill Plantation was the Goat Wagon.

This photo shows all the Easter Baskets were transported from the kitchen to the many different Picnic tables. Children and Adults would form a train and pass the baskets all the way down the line so all tables would quickly be filled with food straight from the Kitchen. The Easter Lunch Baskets contained Sandwiches, fruit, little cakes, and two cans of sardines.

At Easter, Once the food was at the tables, each family had a table and the head of the family could invite all of their friends and kindred to eat with them during the Easter Lunch.

This photo shows some of the Children at the Pebble Hill Plantation eating their Easter Lunch sometime between the 1900’s and 1940’s.

Easter Celebration Lunch picnic tables set up for the workers and residents of Pebble Hill Plantation from the 1900’s to the 1940’s.

This Photo was taken at James “Jack” Hadley’s childhood home at Pebble Hill Plantation, with his parents and 4 of his siblings. His Father, King Dennis Hadley, worked at Pebble Hill Plantation for over 50 years and fathered 12 of his 15 children at Pebble Hill.

King Dennis Hadley, pictured left, is the Father of James “Jack” Hadley, and worked as a chauffeur at Pebble Hill Plantation. Dennis Hadley owned his own vehicle, a 1925 T-Model Ford, and worked on the plantation for over 53 years and fathered 15 children.

Allen C. Cromartie worked at Sinkola Plantation where he was employed as a Animal-Caretaker, Dog Trainer, and he performed Maintenance upkeep duties around the plantation.

This photo is of the School house located at Pebble Hill Plantation. This school house, was for the children of the residents and workers of the plantation and was offered for free. James “Jack” Hadley attended this school while growing up on the Plantation.

This group photo is of the students at the Greenwood Plantation School house at the end of the year around the 1930s. Many plantations in this region had their own school houses located on Plantation grounds.

African American students living in rural locations and attending one room country schools did not have the privilege of public libraries. So, Thomas County had a mobile truck that was a library on wheels and would visit these rural schools to give students the opportunity to check out books.

Sharecropper on Pebble Hill Plantation, Agriculture was the way of life for rural communities this time period. A mule farmer had to pay $50 dollars a year to rent land, while a two mule farmer had to pay $100.

Gentleman pictured with his push lawn cutter, upkeep of Pebble Hill Plantation out of season consisted of many different jobs such as cutting grass.

Three woman pictured at Pebble Hill Plantation in their maid outfits, which they wore when working at the “big House,” this photo was taken around 1902.

With Pebble Hill Plantation being a hunting resort, Dog Handling and training was a major job. Puppies were trained from a young age, and trained hunting dogs accompanied guest on their hunting trips.

Weddings took place for the residents and workers. Weddings were special occasions at Pebble Hill and this one took place in 1904.

Holidays were celebrated at Pebble Hill Plantation; in this photo from 1940 Mr. Lloyd Hadley played Santa Claus for the kids and gave out presents on Christmas day.

Christmas was a big celebration at Pebble Hill Plantation, Toys and clothes were given to all Family members, this photo from 1906 shows some of the children playing with their new toys.