Law Office Of William F Underwood - December 2019

100 YEARS LATER How Was Georgia Preparing to Enter the 1920s?

... CONTINUED FROM COVER One hundred years ago, the world was preparing to say goodbye to the bloody, turbulent decade that was 1910–1920, and the U.S. was on the cusp of experiencing an economic boom and discovering jazz legends. Today, who knows what awaits you in 2020, but as you look back on the decade that was 2010–2020, consider what Albany, Georgia, and the rest of our state experienced just one century ago. Defiance Turns to Patriotism In the years leading up to World War I, Georgians and the Georgia media were steadfast in their opposition of joining the conflict overseas. In fact, after U.S. citizens aboard the ship Lusitania were killed by forces in the war effort, one Georgia senator claimed there was no need for conflict over a few “rich Americans.” But when the U.S. declared war on Germany on April 5, 1917, support blossomed. In fact, Georgia had the highest number of training camps and bases of any state in the U.S., and today, that military support is stronger than ever. Georgia is home to more than a dozen military bases, including the Marine Corps logistics base in Albany. A Dry Georgia For more than a century leading up to nationwide prohibition in 1920, Georgia had leaders in the temperance and prohibition movements. The state government gave counties the right to my own relationships, and the practice continued to grow from there. I hired my first employee not long after that, and today, I have a handful of people who help this practice serve the community each day. So much has changed since I was thrust into this position 10 years ago. Glenda couldn’t even use email at the beginning, and now we’re on the verge of going paperless. Everyone in our office communicates via email and has a scanner at their desks. My dad’s office didn’t even have a case management system. Today, we thrive off of it. As we prepare for another decade, no one can know what the future will hold. For now, I’m grateful the practice remains busy and things are good. Thank you to everyone who has supported us for the past 10 years. Here’s to a new decade!

become “dry counties,” and by 1908, the state enacted a ban on alcohol with a few minor exceptions. These included the sale of low alcohol content beer and drinks at sporting clubs. Despite its history of supporting dry causes, many Georgians still used their ingenuity to create homemade moonshine. Georgia didn’t repeal its statewide prohibition until 1935, two years after the nation’s alcohol “drought” ended.

A Population Boom Between 1910 to 1920, the U.S. population swelled from 90 million to 100 million residents, and Albany, Georgia, was no stranger to that boom. In 1910, the population of Albany hovered just above 8,000 people. By 1920, that number jumped to just over 11,500. Today, more than 75,000 people call Albany home, and as the city continues to grow, who knows how many more will filter in. We Value You! At the Law Offices of William F. Underwood, III, P.C., the trust we build with our clients is our most valuable asset. To show our appreciation, we would like to thank the following clients who have referred others to us since our November newsletter: Your recommendation is greatly treasured by everyone at our office. Clients can also leave their comments on our services through Google reviews ! These statements give us critical feedback and help other clients facing stressful life situations find dependable lawyers. Previous and current clients can also receive free notary services at our office. Learn more about this service by giving us a call at 229-888-0888. Jerry Harrison, James Wise, Geraldine Butler, and Destiny Jackson

Thank you for trusting us to serve you!

-William F. “Trey” Underwood, III

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