RENTZ PIECES
Rentz was named for Edward Pierce “E.P.” Rentz. Rentz was a highly successful builder of railroads and bank president in Laurens County before relocating to Florida, where he was known as Florida’s most successful lumberman.
The Bank of Rentz became a highly successful small depot town bank within five years of the town’s creation. On February 2, 1911, the officers and board of directors of the bank met and announced an twelve percent cash dividend for the stockholders. The handsome of $3000.00 was transferred to undivided profits. The stockholders were extremely satisfied with their investments, but were disappointed with the loss of Cashier and Vice President F.M. Kirkpatrick, who left for a similar position with the East Atlanta Bank.
H.D. Barron, B.P Wynne, W.E. Bedingfield P.C. Coleman, B.A. Moye, M.R. Mackey, L.S. Knight, and T.J. Taylor chartered the bank of on February 9, 1909. T.J. Taylor (President,) John D. Walker (financial agent,) John F. Graham, W.A. Bedingfield, John T. Mercer, R.C. Coleman, W.E. Bedingfield, and B.O. Rogers rounded out as the Board of Directors in 1911.
In the first two years of the bank’s operation, the stockholders received a 20 percent return on their investments.
Four years later, Cashier W.O. Armstrong was charged with wrecking the bank. At the end of a celebrated trial, the jury found Amstrong not guilty. The case stemmed from the bank’s failure early in 1914. After the failure, Dublin physician and financier Dr. J.M. Page came in early May 1914 to the rescue of the people in Rentz. Dr. Page infused enough capital, to reopen the bank on a stronger financial basis. Page appointed himself as the bank president He was assisted by W.E. Bedingfield and J. D. Barron. The bank suffered through the hard times and triumphed in the good times, until the stockholders sold the bank to Citizens & Southern Bank in 1974.
Rentz’s early success led to calls from locals to establish a railroad running southeast Alamo, then in Montgomery County.
Early in the morning of April 2, 1906, the people and t he merchants of Rentz were struck once again by a devastating fire. The newly established Rentz Trading Company, Davidson & Grinstead, and the Rentz Pharmacy were completely destroyed. It had only been several weeks before, when the Devil lit a fire which destroyed other newly built business houses. A third devastating fire came in November. J.B. Outler’s department store. After a third conflagration in one year, authorities were certain that they were the result of a pyromaniac. Jim Wilkinson, a black man, was arrested and charged with arson.
In more happy times, the Rentz Girl’s basketball team captured the Sixth Congressional District Championship on Februay 19, 1950. In those early days the girls captured the near equivalent of a state championship. The teams were aligned in districts no matter what the student population was. The starting Rentz quintet, Butler, Grinstead, Taylor, Cook, Knight, and Rouch were backed up by reserves: McClung, Price, and Green. After leading by three at the half, Rentz held on to a nail biting one-point victory over Wadley. The boys won their 4th straight county championship in 1930 under Coach J.B. Rountree, who led the team to a 26 and 4 season. The Rents boys destroyed Cadwell with a 24-4 score, a 35-3 over Cross Roads High School, and a 59-9 annihilation of Condor.
When spring came along in 1938, the boys of Rentz decided to form their very own Boy Scout troop. Troop 81 was sponsored by the Men’s Bible Class of Rentz Baptist Church. Educator L.H. Cook volunteered to become the Scout Mather. C.H. Grant took on the role of Assistant Scoutmaster. F.C. Taylor, J.M. Chambless, W.W. Forehand, H.A. Register, and Baron Smith served as volunteer staffers. The initial group of scouts included William Buie, C. Fordham, William D. Goodman, Lynn N. Mullis, Tendell J. McMillan, Ralph F. Register, and Earl J. Woodard.
During the Christmas season of 1913, the citizens of the Rentz community were filled with joy after the issuance of $6000.00 in bonds to begin the construction of a permanent schoolhouse.
Rentz School, 1953
Comments