Amy Hogan’s “Abandoned Houses”

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In early November I received a nice message from California musician Amy Hogan: I found your images on the web a few years ago…(Victorian Farmhouse, Bethlehem Road) stayed in my mind and being a song writer I express a lot through my music.  I recently won an award for a song I wrote titled “Abandoned Houses” and thought you might like to hear what your art inspired. Not long after I heard from Amy, I was rambling around Wayne County one foggy morning and rephotographed the house that inspired the song. Not long after I initially posted this I heard from Glenn M. Bray, whose grandparents, Harry A. & Blanche Burns lived here from 1953 until very recently. I had been trying to identify it for about three years.

Please listen to Amy’s beautiful song. I think you’ll like it as much as I did.

Update: As of 2016, this house has been razed.

22 thoughts on “Amy Hogan’s “Abandoned Houses””

  1. amy hogan's avataramy hogan

    So sad to read that this house has been razed. I understood it was being restored and planned on making a visit in honor of the song it inspired. I guess I’ll have to write a new one. thank you for your beautiful work Brian!

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    1. Richard Burns's avatarRichard Burns

      Sad to say but I had to sell the house and property in August, 2015. The new owner has torn the house down as it was going to be too costly to restore and modernize. The old barn is still standing but might not survive the owners plans for the property. I still ride by everyday and reminisce about old times there not forgotten. Just this morning some friends of mine had a deep conversation about the farm.

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  3. Harry Richard Burns, III's avatarHarry Richard Burns, III

    Very beautiful and moving song about my family’s old farm located at 2880 Bethlehem Rd. Jesup, Ga. The house was built in the late 1800s and includes 98 acres. My wife and I along with twin sons lived in the house in the late 70’s and early 80’s. I now live adjacent to the property and most days I drive by and remember happy family times. The farm is still owned by my family but is under lease and being restored. I have many many memories as do my son, my daughter in law, and my grand children who also lived in the house 2004-2011. Thanks for the love expressed in your song. Sincerely, Richard Burns

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  12. Laura Violet Collins Marrow's avatarLaura Violet Collins Marrow

    Brian, I grew up in Wayne County, and am now living in the Washington, DC metro area in Maryland and follow your website. If this is the house I think it is in Screven, my family (Hershel & Minnie Collins) owned this place and lived in this house for a while back in circa 50’s. I wasn’t born until 1963, and by the time I became familiar with what was always referred to as “The Burton Place”, we were using the house to store cured tobacco until it was ready to be ‘taken off the stick’, sheeted up and taken to market in Blackshear. Even as a small child I felt sad that the house was being used for such a purpose. There’s a summer kitchen off the back of the house I always loved. I have often thought about The Burton Place and fantasized about restoring it to it’s glory. There’s a funny story about my Mother trying to teach one of my aunts how to sew when they lived at The Burton Place. I’ve always said that if I won the lottery I’d acquire this house and the house I grew up in and restore them. I could probably get a little more history on the place from my older siblings if you’d like.
    Laura Violet Collins Marrow

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    1. Barbara's avatarBarbara

      The house is not in Screven. It’s on Bethlehem Rd. in Jesup. I have always heard it referred to as the “Burns” house.

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