History of Camak, Georgia

​The Georgia Railroad Company was chartered December 21, 1883, to build a line of railroad from Augusta to Athens with branches to Madison and Eatonton. The charter was accepted March 10, 1834, in Athens, Georgia at the home of James Camak, for whom the town is named.  Construction began early in 1835, from Augusta and was under the supervision of John Edgar Thomson, a young civil engineer from Philadelphia.

The charter was amended in 1835, to permit the company to go into the Banking Business. Under the amendment, the company became The Georgia Railroad & Banking Company.  The road was opened to Thomson in 1837, and was completed to Crawfordville in June, 1838. Upon the opening of the road through Warren County, stations were established west of Thomson at Camak.  By further amendment to the Charter, a branch from Camak to Warrenton was authorized. This line was completed and opened for business in 1839. The first passenger service on this branch was provided by a small car pulled by a horse.

In 1861, some of the leading citizens of Warrenton, Sparta, and Milledgeville, obtained a  charter to form The Milledgeville Railroad Company and build a line from Warrenton to Milledgeville. The Georgia Railroad & Banking Company made a large investment in this project. The Milledgeville Railroad reached Mayfield in 1864, and there the project came to halt because of the War Between the States.  The Georgia Railroad played an important part in the period covering the War Between the States. It transported without charge over 100,000 veterans of this war as they returned to their families and homes at the end of the war.

​It was on December 22, 1898, that the Town of Camak was incorporated under the name of Camak, by the General Assembly, State of Georgia, with the corporate powers being invested in A. W. Mershon, Mayor, for a term of one year.  The charter was signed by John D. Little, Speaker of the House; Wm. A. Dodson, President of the Senate; and it was approved by Hon. A.D. Candler, Governor.   Most of the land was owned by William Mayes, Sr., and his brothers.

As property could be obtained, homes were built on both sides of the railroad tracks, so that workers could walk to work. This resulted in the small town being laid out with the railroad in the center. Stores were also built along the side of the track, across from the depot. The present Camak Depot, was open for business in 1898. The cost for the depot was $1,785.60. A Western Union Office was also added upstairs in the depot. This resulted in a larger force of operators and clerks.

Camak House: Landmark in Georgia Railroading

Year Erected: 1963
Marker Text: On March 10, 1834, a group of Athens men met in this house, then the home of Mr. James Camak, to accept the charter of the Georgia Railroad Company and to organize the corporation. At this meeting Mr. Camak was elected its president, and he soon began a tour of the State building up interest in the railroad and explaining its purpose. Camak served as president for two years and played an important part in blazing the way for the future success of the company. 

The Georgia Railroad Company was incorporated by an act of the legislature in 1833 and empowered “to construct a Rail or Turnpike Road” from Augusta to Eatonton, Madison, and Athens. It was during Camak’s administration, in 1835, that the charter was amended to change the name to Georgia Railroad and Banking Company and to authorize the company to conduct a banking business. The Georgia [Railroad] is the oldest railroad in the State operating under its original charter.
By 1847 the main line from Augusta to Atlanta, as well as a branch line to Athens, had been completed. The company continued its banking activities until 1892, at which time a subsidiary, Georgia Railroad Bank, now Georgia Railroad Bank & Trust Company, was formed to conduct the banking business.

​Tips for Finding This Marker: At the intersection of Meigs and Findley Streets in Athens.