Editing Rome, Georgia (section)

=== Reconstruction era and 19th century===
[[File:Rome,Ga.jpg|thumb|right|Along the [[Oostanaula River]] are the historic [[Floyd County, Georgia|Floyd County]] [[Courthouse]] and spire (left) and the [[Clock Tower (Rome, Georgia)|Clock Tower]] (right) on Neely Hill]]

In 1871, Rome constructed a water tank on Neely Hill, which overlooks the downtown district. This later was adapted as a [[clock tower]] visible from many points in the city. It has served as the town's iconic landmark ever since, and is featured in the city's crest and local business logos. As a result, Neely Hill is also referred to as Tower or Clock Tower Hill.

During Reconstruction, the state legislature authorized public schools in 1868 for the first time, and designated some funding to support them. The city established its first public schools. Schools were [[racial segregation in the United States|racially segregated]] and tended to have short sessions, because of limited funding. In addition, many families depended on their children to work in agriculture and other basic survival work. Freedmen had been granted the franchise and tended to join the Republican Party of President Abraham Lincoln, who had freed them. The abolition of slavery required new labor arrangements to arrange for paid labor.

Due to its riverside location, Rome has occasionally suffered serious flooding. The flood of 1886 inundated the city to such depth that a steamboat traveled down Broad Street.<ref name=Roadside/> In 1891, upon recommendation of the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers]], the Georgia State Legislature amended Rome's charter to create a commission to oversee the construction of river [[levee]]s to protect the town against future floods.<ref>''Acts Passed by the General Assembly of Georgia,'' Volume II. Atlanta, Georgia: Geo. W. Harrison, State Printer (Franklin Publishing House) 1892: Creating Levee Commission for Rome, Etc. No. 625 (pp. 585–590).</ref> In the late 1890s, additional [[flood control]] measures were instituted, including raising the height of Broad Street by about {{convert|15|ft}}. As a result, the original entrances and ground-level floors of many of Rome's historic buildings became covered over and had to serve as basements.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.romegeorgia.com/historicdistrict.html |title=Between the Rivers Historic District|work= Guide to Rome Georgia |publisher=RomeGeorgia.com |access-date=March 8, 2011}}</ref>