Wiggle and Twist Fall Festival

History

One may wonder just how the Wrightsville-Johnson County Chamber of Commerce chose to name their upcoming festival "The Wiggle and Twist".

Well, the story of the Wiggle & Twist Railroad is an old and historic one and a large part of the history of Wrightsville, Georgia.

The Wrightsville &Tennille Railroad was chartered in Wrightsville on November 7, 1883, to build a short line from Wrightsville to Sun Hill (in Washington County) and to be known as the Wrightsville and Sun Hill Railroad.

Shortly thereafter the corporate charter was changed to connect with the Central of Georgia Railway inTennille, Georgia, and the name was changed to the Wrightsville &Tennille Railroad.

The 17 mile line from Tennille to Wrightsville was completed in 1885. Six years later the W&T merged with the newly completed 19-mile line that crossed the Oconee River known as the Dublin and Wrightsville Railroad.

TheTennille to Dublin consolidation created a 36-mile line for the W &T and eventually was expanded to Hawkinsville and Eastman forming a 103 mile line.

They say the line was so full of bends and curves, that it became known as the "Wiggle & Twist Railroad/9 Though theW &T's original route is no longer in operation, the nickname, "Wiggle & Twist", is known far and wide and will be remembered as an important and relevant part of Wrightsvilie's bygone days.