Category Archives: –BAKER COUNTY GA–

Abandoned Storefront, Newton

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This appears to be the oldest structure among those that survived the Flood of ’94. It may already have been abandoned when the Flint River covered the town.

Tonya Mathis writes: This was my great grandfather’s store, if it’s the one across the street from courthouse. The house beside it on Water St still stands. My grandmother who grew up in that house died two months before the flood and left the house to my uncle who got a grant to have the house restored for historical significance. The store was torn down a few years ago. There is a playground there now. On the other side of the house was another small brick structure where Grandma ran a thrift type shop called Emily’s Attic Shop. Before that, it was a dance hall. It’s been torn down too

Abandoned Storefront, Newton

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E. Craig Player writes: I am not sure what this building was built for prior to the 1960’s, but I remember it being used as the US Department of Agriculture office up until the downtown moved due to frequent floods along the Flint River.

Candi Bush adds: That particular building once held a small Sewing Plant. Unfortunately, that building has been torn down.

Winged Gable Farmhouse, Elmodel

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Notchauway C. M E. Church, Baker County

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The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church traces its origins to a group of freed slaves in Jackson, Tennessee, in 1870. They had been members, with their masters, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

Central Hallway Farmhouse, Baker County

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This appears to have been built as a double-pen house with a later rear addition.

Dub’s Place Disco, Hawkinstown

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This is a pool hall and disco (juke joint), in the middle of the pinelands of Baker County.

McRainey House, 1909, Elmodel

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Nearly six years have passed since I first made a trip to Baker County to photograph this house. I had been warned about not entering the property, which I wouldn’t have done to begin with, but I was intent on seeing it and, if I got lucky, getting a good shot or two. This is one of those images, from 29 March 2010. Much time has passed, but the popularity of my original photograph hasn’t subsided. The house is owned by “Mrs. Effie”, widow of one of builder Archibald McRainey’s sons, Malcom Angus McRainey. In recent years, Mrs. Effie has become a hero to many (including me) for her refusal to allow looters and vandals to further harm the property. Some have complained that she should have done more to save it, but let’s face it, not many could afford the repairs necessary to bring this back to its original appearance. But it’s still important to Mrs. Effie. She lives next door,  and if you have any notion of trespassing here, don’t be surprised if you’re met with a hail of gunfire. If you just have to see it, drive by and get a photo from your car window.

For more background from a local perspective, see Jessica McDaniel’s post.