James Simon Shingler (1859-1943), a native of Holly Hill, South Carolina, was one of the leading businessmen of Turner County during his lifetime, and owned a great deal of real estate in Ashburn, Sycamore, and rural Turner County, as well. Ed Cane, the owner of the building which features this medallion, notes that it was the design of the famed Georgia architect Peter E. Dennis.
Ashburn Commercial Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
My family’s wholesale hardware business in Savannah had a long-time territory salesman named Jimmy Shingler, who serviced the south GA territory SW of Macon. I met him once, when he was in town for a salesmen’s meeting, one summer when I was in either high school or college, and had a summer job there. But I never knew him, i just knew who he was. He had retired by the time I came into the business full-time, after college, in the mid-1970’s. But I am guessing he had to have been part of this family.
You are speaking of my father, Jimmy Shingler, who worked for Semmes Hardware in Savannah as a salesman for years! Sorry you didn’t get to know my father.
He was a great guy, loved by all that knew him…
This medallion has the initials of dad’s grandfather, James Simon Shingler, a prominent citizen and one of the founding fathers of Ashburn, Ga.
That is actually a picture of the initials on my building. Built in 1904. J.S. Shingler had it built an architect by the name of Denis, designed it and a few other buildings along with the courthouse. I also have a house down the street that was built the same year. Both buildings are being restored (slowly but surely).