I first published this photograph on 15 June 2010 under the title “Wisenbaker’s Grocery & Market”, but I’m replacing it with a new post to update what I’ve learned, and to share a little about Dasher, thanks to an excellent brief history of the community by Faye Cook Wisenbaker. I believe this sign came from another building and was saved for its local importance.
Faye writes that all of the area south of Valdosta in present-day Lowndes County has connections to the Dasher and Wisenbaker families, who had their Georgia origins with the Ebenezer Salzburgers of Effingham County. James Wisenbaker and Christian Herman Dasher are the earliest known members of their families to have arrived in this frontier area of the Wiregrass Region. Dasher is believed to have arrived circa 1832. James Wisenbaker was his son-in-law and they had left the Lutheran faith in 1819 and began having services in their homes.
The area around Dasher was first settled circa 1842. Richard Herman Wisenbaker was also living in the area around this time, as he established “a congregation of New Testament Christianity” which would eventually be known as the Corinth Church of Christ, and today, Corinth Baptist Church. Faye notes that sometime before 1861, Wisenbaker “constructed a home using slave labor”.
The town was formally established as a station of the Georgia Southern & Florida Railway in 1889 at the residence of Virgil Franklin Dasher. By 1916, thanks to the timber and turpentine business, and the presence of the railroad, Dasher was a thriving place. The Dasher Bible School was established during that year and met in the Church of Christ until building a larger campus in 1928.
My great grandfather Dexter wisenbaker and Lelia Wisenbaker live in the big 2 story house at the end of the lane. He had a trailer park during the 50’s. There was a pond on the edge of the property. They had 3 daughters. Elizabeth Wisenbaker, Irene Wisenbaker, Mary Catherine Wisenbaker.
And someone even named on of Santa’s reindeer after the town!
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Mr Brown,
Thank You for the repost, “Wisenbaker Grocery & Mkt”Sign. It truly is an old sign & is in its original placement. The city of Dasher purchased the property that now contains the Dasher park. The block building now houses the Dasher Museum.
The building has in the past been Moulton garage, Then shared with Mr Gus Wisenbaker Grocery & Mkt. later it was a glove factory, then office machine repair business. A boat building company.
A log cabin was moved next door a few years ago, it sat approximately 1 mile south on Old US 41s. In the 1940’s it became a store. In the cabin there are pictures that verify it’s use.
The Dasher Museum normally opens on the 3rd Saturday 1000hrs. The museum can be opened by special request for visitors.
Jubie Copeland 229-559-6509, leave message.
Thank you, Jubie. I’ll add this information to the post as soon as possible.
Another angle: There was the Dasher Bible School, and it had a high school that played in the GIAA (Georgia interscholastic athletic association). They were conservative in dress, and the boys team played in long white pants, I remember from seeing them at the Macon Auditorium years ago. And they were pretty good players, making it to the state tournament at least twice.
On Mon, Mar 25, 2024 at 12:00 PM Vanishing Georgia: Photographs by Brian
Interesting, Elliot. Thanks for sharing. Hope you’re doing well.