Category Archives: –BRANTLEY COUNTY GA–

Smyrna Primitive Baptist Church, 1890, Lulaton

Smyrna Primitive Baptist is among the oldest congregations in the area, having been constituted at a nearby location in 1824. The present church is the third and final location of Smyrna, which disbanded around 1990.

The lack of paint and other modern conveniences was an aesthetic of the Alabaha/Crawfordite congregations most prevalent in Brantley County.

This primitive design is even more evident inside, with exposed roof beams, bare walls, shuttered windows, and a haphazard floor plan. There is no piano, as “hardshell” folk don’t believe in musical accompaniment. It’s interesting, as well, that the pulpit is located on the side of the church, and not in the rear, as is the custom in most churches. There’s also no form of insulation or electricity. A good history of Smyrna Primitive Baptist Church is presently available online.

In the cemetery at Smyrna Primitive Baptist Church are many of the pioneer settlers of Brantley County, including a large number of Confederate veterans.

 

Old Lulaton Baptist Church, Brantley County

Though now replaced by a larger, more modern chapel, the old Lulaton Baptist Church was saved by its congregation for use as a social hall.

 

New Hope Primitive Baptist Church, Hickox

This historic congregation dates to the 19th century. Many pioneers of Brantley County are buried here.

Queen Anne Cottage, Nahunta

Fatlighter For Sale, Bachlott

Our good friend, Jesse Bookhardt writes: Fat-lighter is still in demand as a good fire starter. The stuff was prized in history and when growing-up, I loved to smell it when collecting and splitting wood for the cook stove and fireplace. It burns with a black smoke and creates lots of creosote which can be dangerous in large amounts in stove pipes and fire stacks. We made corner fence post of it. It didn’t rot but wouldn’t always hold a nail well. Longleaf and Slash pines were chipped for turpentine boxes and the scared resinous wood surface was called a Cat Faces. When the tar dripped the face turned to lighter-wood. There are may names for the wood. In Northeast Alabama, the old timers call fat-lighter “rich wood.” Back in the 1950’s and perhaps earlier, chemical companies collected the old “Cat Faces” along with pine stumps that were basically fatwood. Their factories turned the stuff into a variety of products including explosives. Long live the culture and history of South Georgia.