When Effingham County selected the City of
Springfield as its permanent county seat in 1799, it found more than
just a central location. Railroad and
sawmill industries thrived in
the county, and in the coming years Springfield became home to local
commerce, entertainment, public service, churches and hundreds of
homeowners. Springfield emerged as a dynamic city among its sister
cities in the County.
Present day structures have blended into
Springfield’s historical buildings preserving our town’s feeling of
yesteryear. Amid gracious Folk Victorian homes you’ll find thriving
businesses and a strong sense of community. No matter what change
has brought to our city over the years, Springfield has remained
“The Heart of Effingham.”
Our History
The City of Springfield found its early
roots amidst a state-appointed commission’s designation of a
centrally located county seat and Courthouse
square in 1799.
Effingham County had claimed three different county seats before the
turn of the century, but with the new establishment of Springfield
as the county’s hub, Effingham had finally found its “heart.”
A Town with a Plan
Following the traditional “square town plan”
of many towns throughout the South, Springfield spread its branches
from the Courthouse square and grew into a town filled with houses,
community establishments and other public buildings. The arrival of
the railroad and the George M. Brinson Sawmill in the early 1900s
brought thriving business to Springfield along with almost a 500
percent increase in population. The rich architecture and history of
our town suffered greatly as the result of a series of fires during
the late 1800s through the 1960s. While Springfield’s heritage
remained strong, we lost many of our city’s architectural treasures
to the ravages of these fires.
One of the “jewels” that survived is the
site of our original Courthouse and the Old Jail. Following Greek
Classical design, the Courthouse was built and designed by Savannah
architect Hyman W. Witcover. As our county grew, this original
building also grew to house the many public and government services
needed to accommodate our county’s changing needs.
A Sense of Style
Along with that growth emerged a change in
home styles. As numerous new homes were constructed in 1910, the
Bungalow or Folk Victorian style of building became prevalent in
Springfield. These homes were fashioned for comfort of living in
Springfield’s warm coastal environment. Raised foundations reduced
rising heat from the ground and provided ventilation. Floor plans
made the most of cool evening breezes, and roof lines minimized the
unrelenting rays of the hot Georgia sun. Spacious porches added to
the comfortable style of living enjoyed by Springfield residents and
served as perfect locations for relaxing afternoons and neighborly
visits.
Growing and Building
A growing population meant a growing need
for community services including an armory, churches and various
businesses. Although Springfield currently serves as home to seven churches, two church buildings served the community in the
early 1900s. The Baptist Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church
met in their original sanctuaries until fires and growth demanded
that they build new structures. The Lutheran Church, Springfield’s
third oldest congregation, came along in 1909 and still meets in its
original sanctuary.
Getting Down to Business
Business began booming in Springfield’s
earliest days. What started with one retail store operated by B. E.
Mingledorff in 1900 grew into multiple businesses to fill the needs
of Springfield’s rapidly growing population. J. B. Simmons Sale and
Retail Groceries, a drug store, a meat market, the Exchange Bank of
Springfield, and Mingledorff and Bird Hat and Clothing Store all
opened their
doors to local patrons offering a variety of materials
and services.
Family-owned businesses have served as a
long-standing tradition of Springfield’s close-knit business
community. Later Springfield business landmarks included the Mars
Theatre, Kight Ford Dealership, barbershops, an old-fashioned drug
store complete with soda fountain, and Snooks IGA, which has served
as Springfield’s friendly, family-owned grocery since 1948. Although our business community has evolved over the years in
response to the City’s needs and our county’s growth, it has
remained an integral part of life in Springfield.
A Season of Change
Over the years, Springfield has weathered
many seasons of change. Recently designated as a participant in
Georgia’s “Better Hometown” program,
Springfield strives to
effectively and creatively blend its past with its future. With the
construction of the Highway 21 Bypass, what was once a main county
thoroughfare through the streets of Springfield diverted thousands
of travelers from its Main Street. The City of Springfield
capitalized on this new development by focusing our efforts on
rejuvenating the hometown feel of our businesses, homes and
services. The result has been a renewed interest in the reason so
many of us are proud to call Springfield home – a feeling of family,
a long history of traditions and a strong sense of hometown pride.
