Colonization movements were very popular in that last decade of the 19th century, bringing large numbers of people with shared values together to create a world of their own vision. Ruskin was an example of such a place, named for John Ruskin who came from England with the hopes of establishing an agrarian utopia. Founded in 1898, the colony survived for just three years before individuals decided to go their own way. Some reports suggest that Ruskin was a large and thriving community, though much of this seems apocryphal, considering the community was attempting to attract settlers. [I’d like to thank Sharman Southall, historian for the Georgia Department of Transportation, for bringing much of this history to my attention]. The church predates the Ruskin experiment by a few years. It’s thought to have been built by a Methodist congregation serving the nearby lost community of Duke but will likely be known forever as the Old Ruskin Church. It has recently been restored and is well-maintained to this day. Its survival of historic wildfires a few years ago is nothing short of miraculous and is quite inspiring.
This is excellent information and very inspiring—thank you♥️
My grandfather Charles Walter Smith was part of that socialist experiment. He was the leader of the Ruskin brass band, but moved to Tifton after losing his wife and several children to cholera. As I understand it Ruskin had a sawmill where many of the colonist worked, however they didn’t have a source of readily available clean water.
I am trying to find out who we can contact about possibly renting this church for a wedding I’m getting married and would love to rent this church for my wedding is someone please could give me some kind of information on it or who I could get in touch with. My email address is frootloopnlachney@gmail.com
Can you please send me the information as well so I can get in contact with the pastor or whoever owns this church I’m getting married and would love to rent it out or possibly use it thanks in advance God bless.
To: Melissa Reyes – yes there would have been a fireplace in a tobacco barn. It was kept at a constant temperature in order to cure and dry the tobacco. Someone usually spent the night to watch over and maintain the fire.
I am very interested in this for a wedding. But how can I get in contact with this Church?
I was wondering if you ever got any information on this church I’m getting married and would also love to rent it for a wedding. frootloopnlachney@gmail.com thanks in advance
Does anyone have a contact for this place? I am looking to get in touch with who owns or uses it.
Hi Amanda, please email me at ssouthall@dot.ga.gov and I will give you contact info for the pastor of the church. Thanks you.
Can you please send me the information as well so I can get in contact with the pastor or whoever owns this church I’m getting married and would love to rent it out or possibly use it thanks in advance God bless.
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I would love to get married here if at all possible!!! Does anyone know contact info for this church?!
I am doing research on the history of this church for the congregation. If anyone has any information, old photos of the church, or just great memories, please contact me.
my great grandfather, Cornilus Broughton, I was told, owned the town of Ruskin. He lived down the dirt road to the right next to the property of the church. Go all the way back and you’ll pass a house with pecan trees all over the yard. (My kinfolk use to live on that property). Then you’ll come to railroad tracks. On the tracks beside the fence my grandfather lived wi8th family (my grandmother). They walked to that church. She told me the men and women to not sit beside each other but opposite sides.. They would have church picnics on the grounds. They had to leave the area when the depression hit. I took my grandmother back there a couple of times. I have great pictures and memories of her and especially about the little town of Ruskin.
Lynn,
I would love to talk to you about your connection. Please email me at ssouthall@dot.ga.gov or call me at 404-631-1057 at your convenience.
A few years ago after the swamp fires I went shooting photos in this area. This church was surrounded by blackened on all sides. Someone really loves this little church because they worked really hard to save it. It is a gem. If traveling toward Valdosta you can see it from the road on the left.
Is this church off an dirt road? I am from waycross, now living in Atlanta and I believe that this is the church that my aunt and uncle married at when I was a child.
It is, Melissa, right off Highway 84, going from Waycross to Homerville, and near the little town of Manor…
That is what I thought. Amazing:) If you keep heading down 84 toward homerville, not to far up the road, to the right there is a pecan orchard. My papa griffin, 96 years old owns this land and lives behind it. There is or was an old building that stands in this orchard. As a child I went in but never was able to explore because we were always warned of snakes. I remember there being a fireplace in this building which I found to be odd. They use to tell me it was a tobacco barn but I have always wondered if that was the true history behind that building.
I really love all the photos. How amazing!
Thanks, Melissa! Would love to know more about the place on your Papa’s land…
Wow! This looks like a road-trip worthy sight to me! Absolutely beautiful church!
I just spent a few days on the back roads of central and southeast GA. The azaleas, dogwoods, cherry, and Japanese magnolia (to name a few) were in full bloom.
How I love the colors of springtime in the deep South.
Beautiful. Love the azaleas.
What a beautiful church . The azaleas are perfection.
Thank you for these wonderful photos.
Glad everyone has enjoyed this shot. It’s tough to shoot at anytime, due to the altar of pines around it, but the azaleas were just too irresistible.
This old church building is beautiful. Look at all the wonderful details. I’m afraid this type of workmanship and pride, in their work, is a thing of the past.
This is a magnificent photo and such a beautiful old church!
thanks and thanks again
Wow! Not only is that a gorgeous building, those azaleas are intense! How I long for the ground to be littered with flower petals in northern Ohio…
Great job, B!