Don King notes: I was the Police Chief in Leary from 1989 until 2000. The small white block building by the railroad track pictured above was the City Hall and Police Station when I started there. It was originally a service depot.
Leary, Georgia
Vanishing Georgia: Photographs by Brian Brown
Since 2008. A visual survey of Georgia's historic architecture and culture. 8,000 locations. 27,000 images.
Vanishing Georgia: Photographs by Brian Brown 
In doing research on Leary I came across your page. My Great Great Grandfather, Eli Breedlove, supposedly owned over 125 acres in Leary Georgia before it was taken from him. I’m in the process of trying to figure out the details of what happened, but these photos are a beautiful reminder of what life was back then. Your work is greatly appreciated.
In doing research on Leary I came across your page. My Great Great Grandfather, Eli Breedlove, supposedly owned over 125 acres in Leary Georgia before it was taken from him. I’m in the process of trying to figure out the details of what happened, but these photos are a beautiful reminder of what life was back then. Your work is greatly appreciated.
I was born in Leary in 1945 an lived in Leary until 1953
Leary is the first name of both my Grand Mother and my Daughter. ❤
James “Jim” Thornton (b. 1859 in Terrell Co.), my great grandfather, built and operated the Thornton Hotel of Leary, which was around 1898/1900. He died in 1903 when on the hotel’s roof making repairs. His wife, Martha “Mattie”, was a school teacher and taught their daughter, Rosa, in a one room schoolhouse. My great grandmother, Mattie Mansfield Thornton (b. 1863 in Morgan, GA, d. 1919) is buried in the Leary City Cemetery, which is located nearby the railroad tracks.
I’ve been told there were 4 hotels in Leary in the early 1900s. Now I know how Hotel Street in Leary got its name.
I am so appreciative that Brian is working “Against Oblivion” as the Calhoun County local historians declared in a history book of its people written 25 or so years ago. THANKS!–Brian.
Leary holds a special place in my heart.
Joy Fussell Cavin
Thank YOU, Joy, for caring about your local history!
I was the Police Chief in Leary, Ga. from 1989 until 2000. The small white block building by the railroad track pictured above was the City Hall and Police Station when I started there. I convinced the school board to let us use the old school on Mercer street for a City hall and Police Station. The people of Leary are great caring people. After the Death of my wife Ann in 2007 I married the Methodist Preacher in Leary in 2009 Beverly McFadden (now Beverly King) and she was transferred to Baxley and we moved away in 2010. We now reside in Broxton, Ga. where she is the Pastor at the Broxton Charge in Coffee county she has 3 churches here. I miss the good times in Leary but I love my new life very much also.
Thanks for sharing this, Don. I love Leary, but being from Fitzgerald I’m familiar with Broxton, too. Great little town. As is Baxley…so much of Georgia, so little time!
Leary was a busy and productive quiet town for decades. What you see today is a shell of what it once was. The town is in dire need of infrastructure. Hopefully it will return to its glory years one day.
We can hope!