Features
Related Photos
-
U-R file photo
Discussion
Bill Miner’s ghost still haunts Milledgeville history
Bill Miner is among the more colorful figures buried in Memory Hill Cemetery off of Franklin Street.
Described as a “notorious wild west outlaw” by the Milledgeville-Baldwin County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Miner was a stagecoach and train-robber as late as 1911, according to outlawbillminer.com, a Web site devoted to the exploits of the wild western wanderer.
Born in Jackson, Ky., in 1847, Miner eventually ran away to California to, in his words, “become a cowboy.”
He succeeded — but not in the usual way. A drifter lifestyle led him to work at a variety of jobs, including cowpuncher, bullwhacker, postal messenger — and thief.
Though his first stagecoach robbery in 1869 led him to the infamous San Quentin prison, Miner was soon released and found himself on the road again as a stereotypical desperado bad guy, robbing trains and stagecoaches when the opportunity presented itself.
Everything came to an end in February of 1911 after a robbery of the Southern Railroad Express led to the formation of a posse, the death of two of his gang members and Miner’s arrest.
Convicted of train robbery, Miner was sentenced to life in the Georgia State Penitentiary in Milledgeville, where he went through a series of escapes and recaptures.
In 1913, he died in prison at the age of 66 — still adamantly denying many of the robberies he had been accused of in his younger years.
Miner is buried in Memory Hill Cemetery on the east side, Section J, Lot 7, Person 1, according to findagrave.com.
Miner is one of several “ghosts” that awakens each year to appear on the CVB’s Haunted Trolley Tour.
Even in death, the man later known as “The Gentleman Robber” still claims his innocence.
- Features
-
-
Girl Scouts seeking members for personal growth
The Baldwin County service unit of the national Girl Scout program is hoping to recruit more than 200 kindergarten through high school age girls to instill courage, confidence and character in each and every member as they continue through the program.
-
Allied Arts fall theater classes engage local youth
Ruby Wertz, a volunteer for Allied Arts, has been teaching children for more than 30 years and directing acting classes for children and teens for the past 10 years.
-
Clothing store teaming with ARF for fundraiser
Jack & Darcy is a new downtown Milledgeville clothing store, and its pet-friendly policy is about to get a little friendlier.
-
GIVE Center connects students to local nonprofits
A Georgia College & State University organization has been connecting students to volunteer service in the Baldwin County community for more than 10 years now.
-
Nonprofit provides security, love through blankets
A nonprofit organization has been wrapping seriously ill and traumatized children with warmth, love and comfort with handmade blankets, giving away more than 5,000 quilted, knitted, crocheted and embellished blankets and afghans for the past decade throughout the community.
-
Box Office Books and U-R team form book club
Readers in Milledgeville and the surrounding area are fortunate to have a book store in downtown Milledgeville to be able to purchase the latest Jodi Piccoult or Stephen King novel, but in addition to purchasing bestsellers and magazines, the community can now take part in a book club to discuss a wide variety of books and authors.
-
Fire Rescue selling tickets for barbecue plates
Baldwin County Fire Rescue will hold a barbecue chicken plate sale Thursday with proceeds going toward the purchase of firehouse equipment.
-
Spending the lazy days of summer touring local sights
“Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer, Those days of soda and pretzels and beer.
-
Never-ending fundraising and why it’s necessary
Lots of things are going on at Animal Rescue Foundation.
-
American Legion annual car show, blood drive Saturday
The Morris-Little Post 6 American Legion will hold its annual Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show, Blood Drive and Chicken Dinner Plate Sale Saturday.
- More Features Headlines
-
