Season 5 Episode 11- Thomasville Turns 200

Two centuries of stories, one city ready to celebrate. We’re kicking off Thomasville’s bicentennial with guest April Norton, exploring how a birthday becomes a living, year-long collaboration that blends history, community action, and a whole lot of local pride. From a free, family-friendly opening celebration with live music and partner booths to a citywide “200 Initiative,” we share some ideas and practical steps that will make this milestone matter.

Want to take part? The 200 Initiative invites you to do “200” acts that fit your mission—plant roses, read to kids, organize service hours—and maybe earn a custom challenge coin. You can also grab bicentennial merch at the visitor center and follow updates at Thomasville.org. Join the celebration, share your “200,” and help shape the next chapter of Thomasville’s story!

Transcript

New Year Banter And Setup

SPEAKER_01 0:17

Welcome to Thomasville Insights with the City of Thomasville. On the podcast, we'll talk to experts on everything from Thomasville history and events to daily operations and city business, all while having some fun in the process.

SPEAKER_02 0:34

Welcome to Thomasville Insights with the city of Thomasville. I'm Christy Owens and happy to be here helping to host our first podcast of the new year with Ricky Zambrano. I'm filling in for Austin Reims today, who's normally one of the familiar voices that's here hosting our podcast. Austin's actually assisting behind the scenes today with editing and sound duties today. So, Ricky, like I said, I'm I'm glad to be here with you hosting today with this first podcast of the new year.

SPEAKER_01 1:05

Christy, is there any truth to the rumor that you pushed Austin out?

SPEAKER_02 1:09

I did. I pushed him out on purpose today. I've I've missed being with you and and hosting today. So I'm I'm glad to be back with my voice on the air again.

SPEAKER_01 1:18

I I have to say I'm happy. I'm very happy.

SPEAKER_02 1:21

You're glad to get rid of Austin. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:23

I just wish you would kind of pushed him a little bit more. I need to push a little bit more sometimes. Just on the other side of the wall isn't isn't far enough. It's and now like I've got my back to him right now. Yeah. So I don't even know what he's doing behind my back.

SPEAKER_02 1:34

He's making faces. You just can't see him.

SPEAKER_01 1:36

He's probably cutting my mic. I might not be even talking, I might just be talking and it doesn't even get recorded. But happy new year. And uh obviously, hopeful, hopefully, everybody out there has has survived the holiday season. But here's my big question to you, because you know, I mean, I've got a gripe about this. I argue with people about when to put up the tree and and all that and when the holiday season starts. But here's my question to you When do you take down your Christmas tree?

SPEAKER_02 2:04

Well, we have a live tree at our house.

SPEAKER_01 2:07

So it's got a timeline, fair enough.

SPEAKER_02 2:09

We we kind of have to have a timeline with a live tree. So we put ours up right after Thanksgiving. So in order for it not to turn into like a Charlie Brown tree, we take it up, you know, a couple of days after Christmas. I would love to leave it up a lot longer because I love having a live Christmas tree, but like I said, it starts to lose its little needles after a while, so we kind of have to take it up shortly after Christmas.

Thomasville’s Bicentennial Announced

SPEAKER_01 2:33

A couple of days, hey, that's acceptable, you know. What gets at me is like the people that rush, rush, rush to get everything up, and it's like up October 15th, and then you you're driving down the street, and on December 26th, at like eight o'clock in the morning when you when you're driving to work, it's a little plug for me coming to work on December 26th. Uh but they're taking down the decorations, and it's like it's like, come on, come on, can we get to the 27th? Can we get to the 28th? Trees, live trees, whole different story. We can't have one at our house. My wife's allergic to them. So um, you know, the kids are always bouncing off, can we get a live tree, live tree? And it's like, sorry, it's mom's fault, you know, she's allergic to it. So, but but anyhow, you know, we we made it through 2025 and and on we are to 2026.

Meet Guest: April Norton

SPEAKER_02 3:21

Yeah, and uh 2026 is going to be a big year for Thomasville, and so that's one reason we're excited about this podcast today, because um one of the reasons it is a big year for Thomasville is because it is Thomasville's 200th birthday. So that is the topic of our podcast today, because it is Thomasville's bicentennial. We have a great guest with us today. So, Ricky, why don't you do the honors of introducing our guest for us today?

SPEAKER_01 3:49

Absolutely, and and we'll we'll preface that with you know, Christy and I being under the gun here. We're interviewing our boss, so um, but it is a pleasure to have April Norton, our managing director of marketing communications, here with us to to discuss this great topic. And um there's also no truth to the rumor that April runs around saying that it's my birthday party and I'll cry if I want to. So um it's it's it's a community celebration, and um she's been doing a great job on the committee that's that's leading the way, leading the charge for this, and let's talk a little bit about it.

SPEAKER_02 4:24

So, yeah, so April tell us um, I guess we'll just jump right in and and just tell us a little bit about who maybe a lot of people don't know about Thomasville and and who founded Thomasville, and maybe give us a little backstory about that.

How Thomasville Began

SPEAKER_00 4:39

Absolutely. Well, Thomasville was named the seat of Thomas County on December 22nd, 1826. And it is named for Major General Jet Thomas, and what is so fun about that is that actually uh he was a patriot of the War of 1812 and a builder of the old state capitol in Milledgeville, and also Franklin College in Athens, which later became the University of Georgia. Go Dogs. Yeah, go Dogs.

Year-Long Celebration Vision

SPEAKER_01 5:12

Yeah, that that that those are interesting facts to to to hear about. A lot of stuff I didn't I never knew about. So uh again, it goes to show you how connected we are to history uh statewide. We often come to find that out. So always a great nod to uh the history of Thomasville. But uh moving forward a little bit, obviously, you know, this this this year-long birthday party, tell tell us what what this looks like.

SPEAKER_00 5:37

Yes, so throughout 2026, Thomasville will celebrate our places and people and honor the generations who came before us, really inspiring a vibrant future for all of us who live, work, and visit our community of Thomasville.

Community Partners And Committee

SPEAKER_02 5:53

And I know other than the city of Thomasville, which I guess the city is sort of leading this charge for the bicentennial celebration, but there are a lot of other organizations in Thomasville that are involved in this. So give us a little uh bit or tell us a little bit about some of the organizations that are on this bicentennial committee that are also involved in the celebration this year.

SPEAKER_00 6:14

Yes, we definitely encourage and need all of the support. Um, and with it being a large community event, involving our community and partners was certainly a primary goal for that. So for over a year now, we have been partnering with organizations across the county and really dedicating to the planning of such an honorable year to be celebrated. And so our committee partners have been Pebble Hill, Jack Cadley Black History Museum, Landmarks, um, Thomasville, and Thomas County History Center, um, also the County Commissioner, uh Thomasville Center for the Arts, our Thomas County Schools, our city schools, the Thomas County Public Library, uh, Discover Thomasville, Imagine Thomasville, hands-on Thomas County. There's a lot of Thomas and Thomas Hills involved in there. Um the Times Enterprise and and several citizens who have just really truly been dedicated to celebrating this 200-year celebration and community partners across the city.

SPEAKER_02 7:25

Yeah, there's definitely a lot of people that have wanted to be involved and and celebrate um this exciting, you know, this wonderful, you know, birthday party for Thomasville.

SPEAKER_01 7:35

And when you talk about citizens, you know, it's the same thing we we we talk about oftentimes, you know, the importance of, you know, citizen engagement and being involved, coming to public meetings, being, you know, being on committees such as this. So it goes to show you the, you know, we're not here as an organization to do it by ourselves. Uh nothing, nothing in here is going to be done as best as possible if we just do it by ourselves.

SPEAKER_00 7:57

It won't be a party of one.

SPEAKER_01 7:59

That's not, that certainly is it. So so let's talk about festivities. You know, uh, there's a rumor out there that as part of these various festivities, there is an Austin Day. Is that any truth to that?

SPEAKER_00 8:10

No Austin Day. All right. Sorry, Austin. I'll have to work on that plan. Tried to plug that one through. Sorry, Austin.

Opening Celebration Details

SPEAKER_01 8:15

But Austin, you're out. Uh but the celebration kicks off on January 24th with the bicentennial opening celebration. What can you tell us about it?

SPEAKER_00 8:23

Well, who doesn't love a good birthday party? So the City of Thomasville in partnership with uh all of our community organizations that we've mentioned really invites our residents and visitors to celebrate. Uh it is a free, family-friendly, bicentennial celebration, uh, really commemorating and celebrating Thomasville's 200th birthday. So the celebration itself on January 24th will feature live musical entertainment. We'll have the Emerald Empire Band along with a variety of food trucks. We will have all of our partnered organizations with booths out there really engaging our citizens with children's activities. There will be interactive photo opportunities, and we really just want it to be a fun, lively day to really celebrate Thomasville's birthday.

Lot 39 Marker Project

SPEAKER_02 9:15

Yeah, I think you said this, but pretty much everything is free for the community to come out and enjoy. Spell that one out. F-R-E. F-R-E-E. Free. It's always a great word. Yeah. So other than this event, I know there are there are many other things that are going to be taking place throughout the year, but um one of the things that's sort of interesting that that I've heard about is um the lot 39 marker. Um, and that's pretty interesting that um one of the things that's been discovered is as part of this committee and the people serving on the committee is as you've you've been we've been able to identify, I guess, the the actual lot number for Thomasville. So tell us a little bit about that, and and you know, part of the celebration is actually possibly us being able to identify that location and actually installing some type of marker in that exact location in Thomasville.

SPEAKER_00 10:11

Yes. And it was so interesting to hear Ephraim at the History Center speak to this, and immediately we were thinking branding and merch with lot 39 on it. Uh, but our committee of partners identified three project initiatives that we really wanted to focus on through the bicentennial that would be long lasting, you know, not to just be for this one year, but that's something we could really honor and look at for years to come. And one of those of which was the historical compass uh medallion marker that we are looking to place at the exact location or or nearby if it's in the middle of a roadway, um, to really honor lot 39 where Thomasville was officially designated. And so if you think of a circle and there were four corners to that, lot 39 was Thomasville, lot 40 was Fletcherville, which we hear about um in many of our community activities, and then lot 53 was Smith's Place, and then lot 54 was Love Place and Taquaton. And so Thomasville ended up being designated as the city of Thomasville and encompassing um all four of those lots.

SPEAKER_02 11:30

And have we have has the committee I I know a lot um has gone into Ephraim, like you said, has has really been able to help identify where that actual location is. Has has that actual location been pretty much determined where that that lot 39 is?

The 200 Initiative Challenge

SPEAKER_00 11:45

We are working with um our city engineering team to really designate that um specific location. However, um with the history that we have, it's looking like it is around Smith Avenue, right there by the Plaza parking lot. So um we're kind of looking into that area, and throughout this year, we'll be able to identify it and have a marker placed into that space.

SPEAKER_01 12:10

And by the way, lot 55 is the Zembrano Hustle.

SPEAKER_00 12:14

Thanks for letting us know that.

SPEAKER_01 12:17

He stated that he and he lived down the block from me for a while, so so there's a lot of truth to that. But but um in all seriousness, one of the other great initiatives that uh is the bicentennial um the 200 initiative. Tell us more about that.

SPEAKER_00 12:32

Yes, well, we want everyone to play a part in this year, and so we are challenging our community to really get involved, and um, it's a town-wide celebration, so why not involve everyone? And this initiative really encourages individuals, families, businesses, um, organizations, and churches to be a part of this 200-year celebration and be thinking about um what your organization or group or family's mission and purpose is and do 200 things that really honor that. So whether it's planting 200 rose bushes or reading 200 books to children or walking 200 dogs, we really want to focus on um finding that movement, but also sharing the story of and maybe something that you're already doing 200 of annually, but we want to honor it and really share what you're doing.

Sponsorships And Legacy Projects

SPEAKER_02 13:30

Yeah, I know we have um on our website, Thomasville.org, we have a form there that you can go and you can fill out. So if there's something that your organization is working on or thinking about doing, you can go and you can fill out that form and um share that information with us and let us know because we want to keep up with that and track that information and and something else that we're doing, and you can um explain a little more about that as other ways that the community can get involved and tell us a little bit about we've been talking about the little challenge coins if your community gets involved and and something that we can possibly um provide to your organization if they decide to get involved in in this um 200 initiative um process.

SPEAKER_00 14:11

Yes, so um we have um with our marketing team designed a bicentennial challenge coin, and so the first 200 organizations, groups or families, or just individuals to complete their 200 challenge will receive a challenge coin.

SPEAKER_01 14:29

So at the January 24th celebration, Christy, if you dance to the band 200 times, that means I can get a coin. So bring your dancing shoes. Bring your dancing shoes. Does that also include like eating 200 pieces of cake?

SPEAKER_00 14:45

Well, tell me how that would benefit our community.

SPEAKER_01 14:48

I don't know, but it wouldn't benefit my waistline. But but uh as we as we talk about, you know, obviously this great initiative and uh the committee and the organizations that are already involved, are there other ways for community organizations to get involved?

History Video Series

SPEAKER_00 15:06

Well, we do also have um different levels of sponsorship opportunities, and so we've had several organizations or nonprofits throughout our city really want to play a part in this 200 celebration. And so if your organization is interested in becoming a sponsor, um we do have, we mentioned the one project with the medallion marker, but we do have two other projects that we're raising money for. And one of those is a bicentennial themed activity and coloring book, and this coloring book will be for all of our city and county pre-K through fifth grade students, and it's a really good educational piece, but also just a fun activity and then something to hold on to for years to come. And then our third project is a public art piece honoring uh Lieutenant Henry Flipper, and that will be placed in Flipper Park, and so a little something additionally that would be long-lasting past 2026.

SPEAKER_02 16:12

Yeah, we also do have some um videos um that talk about the history of Thomasville. I know we mentioned earlier in this podcast, we talked a little bit about who founded Thomasville, and we have a a video that you can watch that kind of coincides with that, and we have some other videos too that have been created. Do you want to tell us a little bit about some of those videos that we've been working on about the history of Thomasville?

SPEAKER_00 16:37

Well, speaking to the man behind the wall, uh, our amazing Austin, we won't tell him he's amazing, um, is working with our committee and um in the History Center to throughout the year really share our created videos to honor our history, telling our story, and educating all on the founding of our great city. And so online and then through our city's um YouTube channel, we've already gotten two that have been posted out there, one of them speaking to um General Jet Thomas, and then also the pine scented air. So we've got some stories already out there, and there'll be many more to come throughout the year.

SPEAKER_01 17:19

Will there be a video about the honey bun scent in the air?

SPEAKER_00 17:24

We do love the honey bun scent.

SPEAKER_01 17:26

Yeah, well, a lot of people do, and there's a rumor that businesses uh get attracted to that as well.

SPEAKER_00 17:31

So it is a selling point for comic song.

Bicentennial Merchandise

SPEAKER_01 17:35

Well, I mean, uh everything with a birthday party and with a year-long celebration has to be commemorated in various ways. Um, you know, merchandise uh is one of those. So do we have merchandise that is going to commemorate the bicentennial?

SPEAKER_00 17:50

We've got the merch. So um there's apparel designs with t-shirts, pullovers, hats. We've had Christmas ornaments through the holiday season, uh stickers, coffee mugs. We are working on a design for a pendant necklace. And um all of those are available in our visitor center, which is located downtown at the Municipal Auditorium Building. So you can come and get your merch from the visitor center.

Where To Learn More

SPEAKER_02 18:19

Yeah, and so there, like April, so there is a lot of merchandise to choose from. It's it's a lot of great stuff. Like we talked about earlier with the with the lot 39 marker. There's some great t-shirts that have the lot 39 um emblem on them. That it's it's just really great stuff if you're interested in in um history and you want to sort of commemorate and have have something like that to share. And it's just a great way to celebrate Thomasville and the bicentennial and to have that little memory if you want to come up and check out the merchandise and and just commemorate, you know, this wonderful celebration of Thomasville's Bicentennial. So there's a lot to be thankful for here in Thomasville, a lot to celebrate the 200 year celebration. So, April, we certainly appreciate you being on the show today. And if anyone is interested in learning more about the bicentennial, you can certainly go to our website, which is Thomasville.org, and look for our bicentennial page and learn more about the celebration. And we'll certainly be adding more to that page throughout the year so you can find out everything else that will be taking place.

SPEAKER_01 19:17

And the lot 55 t-shirts are on sale at the Zabrano Household as well.

SPEAKER_00 19:21

At the Zabrano Household, yeah.

Did You Know: Spanish Trail History

SPEAKER_01 19:24

Find us on Twitter or X or whatever, you know. You know, all the all the uh one followers. So uh yeah, and I'll and I'll echo that. Uh, you know, obviously it's gonna be great, a great year, but uh, you know, in in honor of the Bicentennial, uh, our 2026 podcast will include a Thomasville History Did You Know segment. Uh so here we are with our first one, and uh this this information has been uh graciously provided to us by the Thomasville History Center. So here we go. Did you know that in the 1700s, the land that would become Thomas County? At that time is owned by Spain. And you know, at during that time, uh, it would be the Spanish Trail, part of the Spanish Trail, or Camino Real, that connects a series of Catholic missions searching, uh, stretching from St. Augustine to Pensacola. So interesting, did you know fact? And uh, you know, it it's so interesting to see where we are now, where we came from, and and how it all connects. And yeah, you know, talking about the Spanish Trail and some of these Catholic missions, you can still see some of them uh throughout that stretch. I believe there's one obviously down in Tallahassee, and uh and then there's others along that same um that same pipeline.

SPEAKER_02 20:42

Yeah, interesting, interesting fact there that you provided for us, um Ricky. So again, we want to invite everyone to come to our bicentennial um kickoff celebration, opening celebration that will be on January 24th from 10 to 1 p.m. at the Ritz Amphitheater.

Kickoff Invite And Closing

SPEAKER_01 20:59

And I'll close it out with uh uh once again a big thank you to all of our listeners. And um, you know, we we appreciate everybody joining us. Uh, you know, we remind everyone to subscribe to the podcast on your favorite listening app, or as Austin likes to say it, on your least favorite listening app as well.

SPEAKER_02 21:17

You've been listening to Thomasville Insights with the City of Thomasville. The show is produced by the City of Thomasville Marketing Department. The show's music is by pond5.com. To learn more about the City of Thomasville, visit Thomasville.org or follow us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on your favorite listening app so you don't miss an episode. Thanks for listening.