Located just outside Collins, this Folk Victorian house is the centerpiece of what was obviously a busy working farm at one time. Kathryn Braswell Hochman writes: “This is my father’s homeplace, known locally as the Joe Cowart Homeplace, and is where we visited my Grandmother Braswell every summer until she died in 1966. It has been rented to tenants ever since. Joseph Lumpkin Cowart (born 1849; died at that house on Christmas Eve 1938 and was buried the next day in a coffin he had made himself) had the house built in 1904 for approx. $80. It was built on the site of a log house (moved off of the property) in which the family had lived. Across the house is indeed a tenant house, and if you were to go behind it you would find a crumbling log tobacco barn. Perhaps you can tell me which is the pack house and which was used for hay. It was not a working farm by the time I came along in the 1950s.. Or rather, only the land was farmed, and by others. I should tell you that this house and the outbuildings and the land are the stuff of my happiest childhood memories. My parents are buried in the Collins Baptist Church Cemetery, and I will always have a reason to go there.“
There are a few outbuildings, including this one, which was a tenant house.
Barns with utilitarian purposes stand in a row across the highway from the main house.
I can’t be sure of all their specific uses, but a hay barn and pack house are among them.
Small, intact working farms of this type are rarer than ever. The Cowart property is a great example.
My great grandparents were Christopher Columbus “Lum” Cowart & Polly Sapp.They are buried in the Collins Baptist Church cemetery, along with many of their children. My father was Caleb Cowart Jr., he was born out of wedlock to Caleb Cowart & Bernice Driggers. My grandfather, Caleb, was one of Lum and Polly’s 13 children. I live in Florida, but one day I may come visit Collins when I’m passing by.
Hello cousin! Nice to meet you. Polly Sapp was the sister of my 2nd great grandfather, Mathew Sapp. I descend from Mathew’s son, Simeon. I also live in Florida.
Do you know where Joe Cowart was born? I have some Cowart in my ancestry from Burke and Tattnall Counties. My 3x great grandmother was Nancy Cowart who married Wiley Sapp in the 1820s. It would be awesome to discover that this house was built by a cousin of mine.
Steve, Joseph Lumpkin Coward was born somewhere near the banks of Pendleton Creek (where his mother washed clothes, one of his early memories) in Tattnall County on November 20, 1849, the youngest child of Alsey Bowen Coward and James Coward. He was married in Tattnall Co. on May 23, 1872, to Milbary Godbee. He died on December 24, 1938 and was buried in Collins Cemetery, Collins, GA.
This is wonderful. Kathryn , Thank you for sharing the information. Perhaps you could do a memoir of your childhood visits and family history. With photographs it would make a lovely book. (Hint: VSG.)
I was wondering when you would discover this. It is my father’s homeplace, known locally as the Joe Cowart Homeplace, and is where we visited my Grandmother Braswell every summer until she died in 1966. It has been rented to tenants every since. [The name on the mailbox makes no sense to me, by the way. I was there in December and don’t remember seeing it].Joseph Lumpkin Cowart (born 1849; died at that house on Christmas Eve 1938 and was buried the next day in a coffin he had made himself) had the house built in 1904 for approx. $80. It was built on the site of a log house (moved off of the property) in which the family had lived. Across the house is indeed a tenant house, and if you were to go behind it you would find a crumbling log tobacco barn. Perhaps you can tell me which is the pack house and which was used for hay. It was not a working farm by the time I came along in the 1950s.. Or rather, only the land was farmed, and by others. I should tell you that this house and the outbuildings and the land are the stuff of my happiest childhood memories. My parents are buried in the Collins Baptist Church Cemetery, and I will always have a reason to go there. You can message me privately if you like.
Of course I know which is the pack house and which is the hay barn. I’m just tired!
Is the property accessible for noncommercial photographing? I have a very close friend who does strictly landscape photography and he is doing a “Taste of Georgia” theme in his den with photos and I would love to give him a panoramic view print of the out buildings for Christmas!!!!
Kim, I appreciate your asking permission. We would be glad for you to photograph the outbuildings, but do ask that you do so from the road. As I mentioned, the property is rented. If you would email me a picture of the result, I would surely enjoy having it. Best wishes, Kathryn
Stunning
Sent from my iPhone
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