Depot-Campaign            Carter Home                    Main Street             Plains High School
Headquarters

Plains Depot

On November 30, 1892 private stockholders bought the A.P.S. (Americus, Preston and Lumpkin) railroad and renamed it Savannah-Americus, Montgomery (S.A.M.) on July 27, 1985. Going into bankruptcy this railroad was taken over by the Seaboard Air Line (S.A.L.) July 1, 1900 with franchise bought February 20, 1902.

The Depot Station dates from 1888 with Milton Leander Hudson as first agent. At one time there were four day and two night passenger trains but in 1951 this service was discontinued.

On April 18, 1975 the station was reopened to serve as the Carter-Mondale Campaign Headquarters for the Democratic election for Presidency of the United States of America.

Carter Home

The home of President and Mrs. Jimmy Carter was built in 1961 on a large wooded lot located on Woodland Drive. The garage has now been converted into a woodworking shop. Many dignitaries and world leaders have visited with the Carters in their Plains home.

Main Street - circa: 1900

The business section of Plains began in 1885 with three small wooden store buildings on the south side of the railroad tracks. The builders were R.E. Webb, Jesse Clark and Captain B.R. Mayes. This was to become Main Street, which was completed in 1910. In the West end of the street a well was dug to furnish water for the traders who came to the one mile square settlement with their teams of horses.

Plains was incorporated with the first charter dated December 17, 1896.

Plain School

In the years before the war between the States, education in western Sumter County centered around Magnolia Springs where Colonel G.M. Patterson led the local academy.

In 1885, when the railroad was run three miles south of Magnolia Springs, many of the people moved south to be close to rail transportation. in 1891, a public school was started in the newly chartered town of Plains which was composed of the surrounding communities of Botsford, Lebanon, magnolia Springs and the Plains of Dura.

The school progressed and by the early 20th century was known in the area for its academic, literary and athletic leadership. Two educators who stand preeminent in this success were Miss Julia Coleman and Y.T. Sheffield.