The First Laws

The following is a list of ordinances and laws which were inacted by the first city administrators to deal with problems in their city:

*Cattle, hogs, chickens, goats and horses could not run unattended down Main Street.

* "Bawdy Houses" were prohibited.

*Coal wagons, football and baseball were not allowed at the courthouse or depot.

*Pack peddlers were charged $5.00 per week.

*Cigarette smoking was prohibited to anyone under 18 years of age.

*Swinging on trains was prohibited.

*The council ruled against gambling and fornication.

*The council forbade bathing in the Cumberland River from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

*Carrying a deadly wapon was prohibited.

*Rolling hoops on sidewalks were unlawful.

*It was against city ordinance to barber on Sunday.

*Ordinance 42 prohibited riding or driving across the bridge "faster than one could walk."

*Ordinance 60 ordered all dogs muzzled and prohibited the breaking of the Sabbath, loitering around the railroad station, and the sale of cigarettes to anyone under 18 years of age.

Fire and Water

1931-The Whitley County Courthouse is destroyed by a fire.

1933-A fire and explosion destroyed all of the store buildings from South Fourth and Main Street to South Third and Main.

1945-A fire on the Moss Block destroyed buildings from the Bank of Williamsburg up to the Old First National Bank Building.

1958-The Main Street Baptist Church is destroyed by fire.

1968-The First Christian Church is razed by fire.

1969-The Moss Block is again the victim of fire and loses half of its block.

Past Mayors of Williamsburg

W. H. Parker (1886-1888)
S. V. D. Stout (1888-1889)
J. M. Blakely (1889-1892)
C. H. Keeton (1892-1894)
W. F. Watkins (1894-1896)
J. M. Blakely (1896-1902)
Lee Thomas (1902-1906)
John W. Siler (1906-1908)
J. B. White (1908-1914)
C. G. Ellison (1914-1918)
J. B. White (1918-1921)
L. P. Lay (1921-1922)
P. Weesner (1922-1927)
Zeb Ward (1927-1930)
C. G. Ellison (1920-1934)
E. E. Nelson (1934-1942)
H. R. White (1942-1954)
Virgil Bailey (1954-1958)
Johnny Reynolds (1958-1962)
Greer Burnett (1962-1970)
Foster Lane (1970-1978)
Paul Estes (1978-1985)
Barbara Neubert (interim 1985-1985)
Donnie Witt (1986-1989)
Marcella Mountjoy (1990-1993)
Bill Nighbert (1994-2004)
Paul Estes (interim 2004-2004)
Roddy Harrison (2004- present)

Floods

Population Census

August 11, 1843