Today marks 15 years since I officially began publishing Vanishing Georgia. It was known as Vanishing South Georgia in those days, and for those of you who have followed and supported me since the beginning, I cannot thank you enough. It has been an amazing experience getting to know this diverse state I call home. I’ve learned so much just by documenting the built environment. In the process, I’ve found most of the formal architectural landmarks that have always interested me, but significantly, I’ve realized that the most important landmarks are the ones that most people take for granted, or worse, never even notice.
The crossroads villages that once anchored the scattered farming communities of Georgia are mostly gone now, but evidence of their better days often survives if you know how to find it. I haven’t been everywhere in the state, but I’ve visited all 159 counties. I have no clear statistics on how far I’ve traveled, but I’d put it somewhere north of half-a-million miles. For those who have actually gone out into the field with me, you have made this the trip of a lifetime. Your friendship means the world to me.
As historians and researchers, we all have access to more resources than ever before, but it can still be hard to extract the minutiae of local history. The fact that so many of you have reached out, identified places that were important to you, and shared so many locations with me for all these years, does my heart good. The technological challenges evolve and always need attention, but the human element, the people who live in all these places and care enough to help me do this work, is what inspires me the most. When asked how much longer I plan on doing this, I’m reminded of one of my grandmother’s favorite sayings: “Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, I’ll be there”.
your work means so much to me …it is like time travel..back to the roads and sights of my childhood.. thank you so much
I enjoy your posts so much! They bring many memories, and it allows me to visit places I wouldn’t have seen otherwise!
About your Grandma’s quote, “If the Lord’s willing & the creeks ( a.k.a. Creeks ) don’t rise.”
I read not long ago that this quote is attributed to a person in the Revolutionary period who sent this in a dispatch to the President. He was referring tothe Creek Indians!
I never knew this — interesting! I always thought the water in the creeks!
My Belief is that, when families traveled “God willing and the creeks don’t rise”. Many creeks would overflow and they could not get to their destinations. My Aunt used to, “say this because”, they lived where the creeks flowed across the dirt roads when the rains continued, with do drainage.
I first discovered your site when I moved to Washington County from Atlanta. Your site answered so many questions I had about houses I would come across. It is always sad when you see history disappearing in front of your eyes while Dollar Generals grow like Kudzu. Congratulations on 15 years of providing a valuable resource.
Thanks for all you do. I’m from S. GA, my family is from the coast and I live in N. GA. I started with you S. GA blog years ago and have followed since. I can’t seem to quit you! 🙂
Your site has for years been a lifeline for me. I was born and grew up in South Georgia but for 33 years have lived in North Carolina. Not a day goes by that I don’t miss Georgia’s country roads and small towns and when unable to go in person I can visit through Vanishing Georgia. My wife and I use your site in planning trips, often visiting locations you feather. Your photographs are excellent as is the history that you often include.
Your site has been a lifeline to me. I was born and grew up in South Georgia but for 33 years have lived in North Carolina. Not a day goes by when I don’t miss Georgia’s country roads and small towns and when unable to go in person I can visit through your site. Your photographs are always excellent.
Hi Brian,
I am also a Pittsburgh transplant to Georgia . Currently living in Augusta. I have not seen your articles before but would like to read them. I belong to a motorcycle riding club that that takes day trips looking for neat historical places to visit. Then we find an interesting place to eat and go back home. We could probably use your articles to find new places. How do I access these?
Thank you!
Thanks, Dale. Any place you’re looking into riding, just look on the list for the county or the community if you know the name. They’re alphabetized and it’s a long list LOL. There are so many great rural towns and crossroads all over the state, it’s hard to pick sometimes.
Many thanks to you, and to other dedicated regional historians across the nation who follow similar paths. Brian Butko in western Pennsylvania comes to mind (I’m a Blairsville transplant, born in Pittsburgh). The University of Pittsburgh maintains a vast and comprehensive archive of negatives (glass plates as well as film) and prints that have been donated over the years. They are scanning them, and make them available on request to researchers and publishers. Several fine books in the Arcadia local history series have been compiled using Pitt’s images.
Brian, does UGA have anything similar? And if they don’t, could you plant the seed down there in Athens?
“Oh, no,” I thought after reading the headline of 15 years. It sounded like the start of a good-bye letter. I’m glad it’s not! I so totally enjoy your pictures and history about places around Georgia. Please keep up the hard work.
Brain,
So many people love and appreciate what you do to show us parts of Georgia we would never be able to see had you not traveled and photographed. Also, for the forum to talk to others about the places you show. Your commitment to do this is very meaningful to all of us. Thank you sir!
My ancestors on my dad’s side settled in Dooly County and it’s been eye-opening to read your posts. I’ve learned a lot — and even visited some of the sites you highlighted. Thank you!
Mine too. What was their name?
I have enjoyed each and every one of your photos, and even recognize a lot of them from travels in Georgia. Thank you so much!!!! I wish somehow your work could be sold at a profit to you to the state, to preserve your precious photos for the future. What if we had photos from the 1700’s now?
Lord willing, and the creek don’t rise, I’ll be right there with you!
So glad I happened across your (Vanishing South GA) blog a couple of years ago, when I went looking for info on an old hardware store in Rochelle, GA! I have kept up with you ever since, and thoroughly enjoyed your many posts from across the state — including the one where I now live, off Limerick Road in eastern Liberty County.
As an earlier poster responded, “May the Lord (still) be willing (for you to continue), and the creek not rise!”
As far as I know, there is no one else doing what you are doing, so you are performing a valuable service to the citizens of this state, and historians of all kinds, amateur and professional. Keep it up!
Brian I love your posts. You have brought me beloved memories and taught me a lot th
Congratulations, Brian! I’m a transplant to Georgia, but find your photos and accompanying history fascinating. I understand you were a well loved school teacher before taking up photography full time. Amazing legacy!
Sure do enjoy your posts! Thanks!
As Bob Hope said,”THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES.” I have passed on pictures you have posted to my son and daughter, Because of those thaey have an intreest in their ancesters in Georgia. Bless you sir.
Thank you, for making me re-vitalized by my ancestors. Especially love Georgia. I was born there. I am currently living in Neptune Beach, Florida ( 48 years, I now have sand in my shoes). A lot of my descendants lived in, or near Highway 117 between Lumber City and Jacksonville, Georgia. As you know, this is not far from your hometown of Fitzgerald, Georgia. I will always follow you through Georgia.
Thanks for taking the time & having the energy & resources to photograph and write about all these places, too many of which are and/or may soon be gone, forgotten & paved/built over with homes or ugly modern buildings/structures. You are preserving what’s left of the character of old Georgia which is interesting & much appreciated 🥰
Thanks for preserving history that otherwise would have been lost. Glad to hear you plan to continue. I’m hoping the Lord is willing and creek doesn’t rise.
Great job Brian! Thanks for keeping the past alive when it might otherwise simply disappear as anything more than a fading memory.
Thank you for all that you do to document vanishing Georgia. Your work is important!
I am a new follower of a few months now. Vanishing Georgia is my favorite e-mail of the day! Thank you for your hard work and devotion.
Thank you Brian. This information is great. Now we all need to do something with it!
Thanks for all you do. You are an inspiration.
I have been following you daily since you began…at least when I bumped into your site. I have greatly enjoyed it and glad you have carved out so many interested folks in your endeavor!!! Thank you~~~
Thank you, Brian Brown, for the 15 years of loving work you have done. I very much appreciate your efforts. I’m a 7th generation native and I particularly enjoyed seeing the areas where my ancestors lived. I had a state job during which I traveling all over the state, seeing many of the places you mention and eating at BBQ and country kitchen restaurants. In your hometown of Fitzgerald, I visited the lumber mill and the plywood mill. I knew Milton “Buddy” Hopkins (I have his book), seen the chickens, and I have some Copeland ‘critters’. I look forward to reading more of your columns.
I never miss a post.. Thanks for the entertainment and for the memories..
Brian…you are appreciated. The photos and stories you tell are a true expression of love for (South) Georgia. Here’s to many more years of safe travels and new discoveries. All my best from Minnesota!
Thanks for documenting our past and sharing it with us!
Thank you so much for continuing to enlighten and educate us. We so appreciate your time, talent and insight.
Congratulations on the well deserved coverage in the June issue of Georgia Magazine, which was sent to me by a friend in Lexington.
Paul Hicks
We will forever be in your debt. Thank you for all you have done and will do in the future!