I made these photographs in 2010. These structures all date to circa 1911. Charing, which was only incorporated as a town from 1912-1915, was originally known as Flem, for Flem Garrett, the son of Will Garrett, an early resident. The Flem post office was open from 1896-1909 but when the railroad line was run through this location, three miles west of Flem, the business of the town relocated here and was required by the Post Office Department to change its name. The railroad chose Charing, after the London location, Charing Cross. The Charing post office remained open until 1975.
The structure pictured above appears to have been a warehouse of some kind.
This store was owned by Lewis Watson and also housed the Charing post office. I believe it was one of three [one no longer extant] originally owned by the Rogers brothers.
As of late 2020, these structures are gone.
My GGrandmother died in Charing 11/11/1918 from the flu epidemic. Her oldest son, 5 yo when she died, remembered taking food, putting it on a neighbor’s porch, knocking on the door, then leaving. When they were a ways down the road, the people would pick up the food. Trying to not spread germs.
Just found this website. My parents bought the former Ernst farm, basically across from the Trinity Freewill Baptist church in 1967. I believe the farm used to be owned by the Amy Gill family. We used to go to the Charing store, run by Mr. Jake Bell, at the time and would get the best sausage I have ever had. I always thought Mr. Bell owned the store but I was quite 5 y/o at the time. There was a gasoline pump out front. The Post Office (zip code 31010) was nearby. My wife and I own the farm now. Good memories of Charing. Thanks!
Those two structures are still there as of August 11, 2017.
buildings are still standing, though very dilapidated!
Thanks for sharing, visited those places long ago,but now I miss them with the new road. Yes there are several other little communities, one on US Highway 19 South, named Rupert. And it still has a Post Office, but they are of the main road.
Charing was my home until i was 15. My grandparents were Roscoe Gorman Duke and Sara Early Brooks Duke; Robert Lester Garrett and Janie Terry Garrett. His Mother, Georgia Virginia Woodall Garrett, my great grand mother is the person who ran the ‘hotel’ I believe you are referring to.
My grandmother (Amy Gill) on my fathers side lived about half way between Charing and Mauk. My grandmother and grandfather (Geoge and Jewell Watson)always lived in or very close to Charing. All the cousins lived in Butler. Some of the best memories I have are times in Taylor County, specially with Mama Jewel, Daddy George and Mama Gill. Uncle Lewis Watson owned the store in Charing when we could buy a Coke for 5 cents. Everybody had a fit when the price of a Coke went to 6 cents!! Wow, the memories from those times. Would love to visit the Hotel in Charing one more time. Bubba (Hugh Watson) lived there when I was in 5th to 7th grade. Spent many nights there. Could keep going but ……..
Larry Gill
I grew up in butler and had friends in Charing.I used to buy candy and cokes at the store.I took a photograph there that was published in Photographers Forum,”Best of 2001″,book.The store was next to a Farmers and Merchants bank.In Mauk there was a WPA schoolhouse.
my Great Grandfather was one of the owners of the store and the house. My dad, William L. Rogers would go and visit with them when he was a child. I grew up with the stories of Charing. My name is Lisa Rogers. Last of the Rogers line.
I am interested in photos of Charing and stories of what went on there in the early nineteen 1900s. There is 101 year old boarding house there which is a private home now that is in excellent condition. I would like to know of other buildings and stories about the town and also pictures. My father lived in Tazewell which is west of Charing. Where did the town come from?
The house was or is owned bw the Hobbs family.There are some people that live near Mauk that have a photograph of the charing storeffont.I am sorry.I know where they live but do not remember their name.I have photos fron inside the Mauk school as I attended there in 1970.Joe Adams in butler may be able to give you morre info.
Wonderful photos.
What a delightful blog! I am searching for buildings in Taylor County (Reynolds, Potterville, Butler) because I desperately want to do a painting for my dad, who grew up there. Potterville Pond, the old mill, Sikes Country Store, Windham Five and Dime, Goddard Funeral Home, that kind of stuff. It looks like you are taking photos of buildins as they currently exists. Thank you for preserving history from a simpler time! You have towns on here that I have never heard of …WOW!
Thanks so much, Judi! I plan on getting to Taylor County again soon…I’ve been through Charing and Mauk, but not those other great towns you mentioned…Soon, though!
Try the LL Minor bldg next to the old RR terminal.It is owned by Ward Edwards and is a political museum that he leaves (or used to) unlocked.Look for the chicken next to the gas pump.