As the date plate indicates, this gymnasium was built by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression. Numerous structures of this type were constructed by the New Deal agency to not only provide jobs but to improve the cultural and recreational opportunities for communities all over the nation. In small towns like Buena Vista, such facilities often served a broader purpose, hosting musical acts, dances, dramatic endeavors, and charity events. Basketball was the central focus, however, and it was more popular than football in most communities until at least the 1960s.
The building is in a state of serious disrepair and has likely been unused for many years.
This building is part of a larger complex that served for many years as Marion Middle School. I believe it was originally part of the Buena Vista High School complex [I’m not sure if it was Buena Vista or Marion High School] and was likely built by the Works Progress Administration in the late 1930s or 1940s. If not a classroom building, it may have served as an office or other auxiliary purpose. I think it is still being used for adult education or a similar function.
Recent clearing of this property has revealed more of this structure than has been visible for years. I’ve been admiring and curious about it for years. I once wondered if it weren’t an old Plantation Plain house that had been converted into something else. A Georgia Historic Resources Survey dates it to circa 1874 and confirms its history as a mill. It is believed to have been moved to this site in 1930. Some of the bricks appear to be handmade, so I wonder if they weren’t recycled and added to the mill once it was moved. I haven’t been able to determine anything about the early history after consulting numerous sources. It’s probably just a case of the lore of the present obfuscating the history of the past. The mill, in its present form, was operational until the early 1960s.
Somewhere near this property, which is known as the Murray Estate, there was a campground and store, where for a few weeks each winter, Romanichal people made their home and traded with local citizens. The Romanichal were a Romani subgroup, generically known as gypsies. The term “gypsy” has always been somewhat derogatory and is now considered by many Romani an insult. Its use here is derived from its historical context in this community.
The property has been a landmark of Buena Vista for nearly a century, so it’s nice to see it looking better than it has in many years. I don’t know if there are any plans for its future, but I’m sure it could be put to good use as a community resource.
Marion County is likely unique in that it has two antebellum courthouses still standing, this one and the one at Tazewell. The brick for this courthouse was fired locally. A remodel in the 1890s transformed it from a plain vernacular appearance to its present Neoclassical style. It was modernized in the 1960s.
This is one of the most beautiful buildings in Buena Vista. I’m hoping some of these great old commercial buildings will someday be placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The building on the left served for many years as Marion Drugs. The Charles M. Clements building is on the right. It served as a hardware and furniture store as well as the local undertaker.
Downtown Buena Vista is a nice little town with generally well-preserved early 20th century commercial storefronts, dominated by one of Georgia’s older courthouses in the center of the square.
Organized at Tazewell in 1844, this congregation had moved to Buena Vista by 1854. Strong on temperance revivals, the church was credited in 1854 with the closure of three saloons. has often, through its history, enjoyed dynamic preaching as illustrated by this account from 1854. A new church was built in 1858. It was moved to this location from near the cemetery in 1908. Brick was added in 1924.
Vanishing Georgia: Photographs by Brian Brown 