This was one of the first public buildings constructed in Finn Town (as McKinnon was popularly known) after it was settled in 1921. It was registered as a church to avoid taxation but was never used as a church. Instead, it was a gathering place for the Finnish community. For a fascinating bit of Georgia history, with great vintage photographs, visit Ernest Larson’s website.
I have lived in Mckinnon Ga since I was a young girl and I am now 58 years old. I moved away for a brief few years but my Mom and Dad was always here so I moved back permanently after my Mom passed away in 2001. I love the peace and quite Mckinnon offers. Its very soothing. My sister Louise Westberry who is the pastor of the church here in Mckinnon which was founded by my dad and mom, Rev and Mrs Billy Keller Sr. still lives here as well as my sister Diane Keller who was married to Mr Matt Kallio a Finnish man who I believe ran the Post Office in Mckinnon when it was up and running. We love Mckinnon which is where my mom and dad chose to raise our lovely family.
So we’re about the same age I think I’m a little younger but my family spent many hours there as they grew up there and then and then we all ended up between
I grew up in Finn town, remember boarding house dances, saunas, great sister friends, great memories. My mother was first generation in Usa.
Brian, can you give us a little more info on the ”Finnish” settlement. Was McKinnon actually founded or populated by folks originally from Finland or does the name Finntown have another more localize origin?
Brian I just decided to look back to see if you had any earlier pictures of McKinnon and found your 2009 posts that explained the 1921 influx of folks from Finland to found the community…who would have ever thunk it? Talk about culture shock!!
Definitely Finns. My Mom and her family grew up there. I am adopted and the Finnish experience is something else especially if you are a jew. Not a damn thing in common but arguing about different shat.
Love learning about South Georgia. I am from Vidalia and all these comments and pictures are awesome. Thanks!
Thanks, Barbara. That means a lot to me.
My mom is 95 and just talked about her living in Mckinnon when she was a small child. She recalls lots of things about this small place in Ga history, we plan to visit there soon, hopefully mom will be with us, thanks for preserving the rich history of Georgia