According to Ken Krakow in Georgia Place-Names, Coolidge was established as a rail stop on the Tifton, Thomasville & Gulf Railroad, and was named for its president.
This structure was home to Willis Mercantile. The mural advertises two local businesses, Woodhaven Limousin Cattle and MacTavish Furniture Industries.
Vanishing Georgia: Photographs by Brian Brown 
I wish I knew more information and history about Coolidge gerogia even though I’ve learned there since 8 years old and still live here. My family is Ansley all lived here for generations. I’ve heated stories and even about the talking black crow which I knew what happen to him. I heard stories about J.T Lightfoot who owned the famous store in Coolidge if you lived here during the 50s. The old doctor office is still here and standing strong but I’ve never been inside. The companies Hurst boilers and Merrin is million dollar company that thrive along with three little stories and a dollar general that was built here more then five years ago. The little business buildings are falling apart and one is a Christian place. I keep searching and wanting to know more about Coolidge and how it came about even though it’s a small town. 319 highway road splits little Coolidge in the middle. I have no clue why Coolidge was named Coolidge or how it came about with its business. My Ansley family lived here for generations passed down to me which my family is orinally from north Georgia (my granddaddys parents). I heard stories of wagons and mules was used before the 50s and old classic cars we see today was used. Where 25 cent bought. Moonpie and coke and you get back two dimes. I was told my granddaddy worked all week and hea pay check was a dollar. My grandma was raised in what you called a shotgun house. The Ansley brothers all lived in Coolidge and the family lives here as well. We are all here except we are little spread out some in thomasville ga to Greenville fl.
Jessica, there are 2 small papers about the history of Coolidge. City hall office has copies of them. I am sure they would make you a copy of them. I learned a lot from reading them. My uncle was JT Lightfoot and my daddy ran the Coolidge Freezer Locker for years.
Does anyone know what was across the street from the old Willis Mercantile Building? It is now a gas station built in 1982. Was it always a gas station?
Tara, that was where the grocery store owned by my uncle, J. T. Lightfoot was located.
This was a favorite place to go when visiting the area on vacation… This was Willis’ Mercantile Store. With the old wood floors… Penny candy & gum and a Miner Bird, a black bird that had a black birdcage that would talk… As a young child visiting from the bigger city… This was awesome to me.
The Willis Merchantile store was owned by my grandfather, Olin Stewart Willis, who passed in 1980 (husband to Mary Sue Huggins-Willis). “The Store” as our family referred to it simply, was then and still is a significant fixture in our minds. The cold drink box always had Yoo-hoo chocolate drinks, 10-2-4 Dr Pepper, Royal Crown Cola, Sun Kist, Orange Crush…you name the nostalgic sodas and it was stocked! When we needed batteries for Christmas toys, candies and fruits for Christmas stockings, shotgun shells for bird hunting, access to frozen cream corn in the chest freezer, dry goods, a yummy bag of peanuts, moon pies, a replacement light bulb, chicken feed, a hoe handle, or just a place to catch up with the locals and farmers in town for the day, we would visit “Gandaddy’s store” for all of those occasions. Gandaddy’s minah bird was named Sam (yes, he could say ” what’s up Sam” as well as any human!)
Scott, just ran across you comment. Would love to correspond with you about Coolidge. my Daddy owned the Coolidge Freezer Locker. I loved your Granddaddy’s store.
My grandfather was the station agent for the ACL railroad,in Coolidge just after the turn of the century,and my father was born in Coolidge in 1912,their house is still there and in very good condition.I remember Coolidge in the ’50’s and there were still a lot of small stores and business.
Stan, it has been a long while since you posted this but hoping you will see this and reply. I would love to learn more about your grandfather and father during their time in Coolidge and also know where the house you referred to is. Trying to put historical information together about Coolidge.
Great catch. I really get a kick out of finding ghost signs and murals like this.
my cousin is the mayor of this small town that is part of thomas county with thomasville as the county seat.
we actually lived outside this small town after my dad retired from the navy. i was born shortly thereafter. you can see what is left of the house by trasversing through underbrush. my mother stated she cleaned the floors with lye soap to keep them clean.