A 1994 article by Gordon Sargent in North Georgia Journal notes that “as long as most people can remember, this northwest Georgia community has enjoyed a rich reputation for high crimes and high times. Such has been the reputation for the little state line community in northwest Georgia’s Polk County for decades, an image fostered by a long record of illicit activities such as moonshining, gambling, and even darker crimes like murder. And surprisingly, it seemed the stronger the criminal element became in the township, the less visible was law enforcement. Despite its infamy, Esom Hill, according to many residents, is a friendly community with caring neighbors and a bad name circulated by “outsiders”. Just like many situations, the truth lies somewhere in between.“
A post office was established in the community, which was associated with the Shiloh Baptist Church, in 1850. It’s only about a mile from the Alabama state line. The origins of the name are unclear. In its heyday, Easom Hill had five general stores, three churches, a school, and a saloon. Two gins and a sawmill were also present.
Joseph Proctor Screven Brewster, who built this store after his first mercantile burned in 1901, was one of the pioneers of Esom Hill. It was one of the first businesses in the county to have electric power, provided by an early Delco System generator. It also served as the post office, with Brewster serving as postmaster.
My grandparents lived in Esom Hill, and I visited many summers. I gave my son the middle name Esom. And I recently wrote a poem about Esom Hill that mentions this store. Here’s that passage:
Look yonder across the tall grass and granite
past that cast iron Southern cross. Out down to
Culp Lake Road and know it was dirt each time I
walked to Brewster’s trading post on Shiloh.
A three-legged dog followed me along the
edge of her owner’s property. At the store
I spent my sweaty-gripped five dollars from
grandmother on a candy bar and a cold
glass, color-of-a-blowfly, bottle of Sprite.
My Great Uncle JP Beck use to live in Easom Hill, GA on Potash Rd. My father and I would deer hunt on his property up until he passed in 1986. Remnants of an old moonshine still was still on his property and I remember my dad telling me the stories of how the locals use to make there own booze back in his young days in the 1940’s & 1950’s. My father attended the Brewster school in Easom Hill in the late 1930’s & 1940’s. All of those properties have long been sold but the memories will always remain.
Who ownes this store now?