Originally built as the Arlington Hotel in the 1880s, The Anthony Wayne Hotel reopened after an extensive remodel in 1925. It has served as a landmark of downtown Waynesboro ever since, and today houses various businesses.
Waynesboro Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
This is one of the nicest works of commercial architecture in Waynesboro, in my opinion.
Waynesboro Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Burke County freedmen organized Haven Academy in 1868 and after operating the school and church in a more utilitarian structure for 20 years, laid the cornerstone for this structure in 1888.
The church was completed and held its first services in 1891. It was originally known as Haven Memorial. Reverend James Jackson was the pastor at the time and Reverend John Watts and A. H. Williams were instrumental in getting the church built. It’s an important example of early formal architecture in the Georgia African-American community.
Despite the positive attention brought to it by a National Register designation in 1996, it remains highly endangered.
UPDATE: At 2:00 yesterday (16 September 2017) Sarah Barber sent me a message that this church was on fire. Rob White confirms: This Waynesboro icon burned and was completely destroyed on September 16, 2017. There are now only 2 sites in Waynesboro on the National Historic Register. I was very concerned about the future of this structure the last time I saw it and now the worst possible end has come to it. The Augusta Chronicle reports that it was a case of arson.
Waynesboro Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
This wholesale grocery building, a contributing structure to the historic district, is in real danger of being lost if not stabilized.
Waynesboro Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
There may not be much left from its former heyday but the crossroads town of Vidette still shows signs of life with this busy little country store. The sign lists many available items, including: Grocery, Ice, Cold Drinks, Cig., Snack Bar, Bait, Fishing Stuff, Health, Beauty Aids, Belts, Hoses, Tires, Hardware, and Plastic & Galvanized Fittings. It seems like a lot of stuff for a little store but it’s the kind of independent business that typifies American enterprise, even in the fast-paced world of today. I’m always excited to find places like this.
Even better are these memories from Ouida McBride Malon, who writes: I was born about 4 miles from Vidette and moved into Vidette when I was eleven. I graduated from Vidette High School. I am Ouida McBride Malon and I would say I am the oldest surviving person that ever lived in Vidette. I will be 94 years old this year. My relative Sally Peel told me that Vidette was named after a Mr. Videtta. There were 2 grocery stores owned by Mr. Russell Smith, Mr, Shivers. The barber shop, which once was a bank, was operated by Oliver Daniels. A couple of the stores were empty from as long as I could remember. The last one was owned and operated by John Railey and then there was a little blue wooden post office. The postmistress was Miss Johnnie Causey and was a relative of mine. Martha Peel who was a Home-Ec teacher in Vidette, who married Gilbert Peel had electric lights installed so we could play tennis at night. Our home was the green house across the railroad. I graduated in 1942. I know the names of every teacher that taught in Vidette . The town doesn’t have a single house in town that was not there when I lived there. The filling stationed that still stands was owned by Pap Burke but later Roland Dunn and Mary Susan owned it. Roland Dunn was a brother of my sister-in-law Elizabeth Dunn McBride. If any one wants to know any thing about Vidette you can answer. It was such a great small town to be raised in. I only know Frank Agerton and one of the Peels that owns the home I was raised in.
These two businesses are long gone, but their names survive. E. A. Burke is located on the left; Shivers & Kelley is on the right.
The two-story building houses the local Masonic lodge and other businesses. JEP writes: The bottom floor of this building, the corner was at one time the Bank of Sardis. Now it is the Sardis office for Shepperd Gas Company. The vault is still in the building and functions as storage. The far end of this building, first floor once served as a grocery store, a women’s clothing shop, and even a tire company. Now it’s home to a salon & flea market. Sadly, during mandated renovation/ city beautification the front steps to this old building were removed and destroyed. Replaced by a ramp. These are the steps many teens hung out on on weekend nights for nearly a century. They are missed.
This view shows more of the storefronts along Charles Perry Avenue.
This sign was located beside the Cotton Gin Food Mart. I’m guessing there was a cotton gin here at one time, and a bar or pool hall back in the 1960s, judging by the age of the Coca-Cola sign.
As one commenter pointed out, many of these old stations survive only because the cost of removing the underground fuel tanks is expensive and the owners aren’t in any rush to do so. In the smallest towns well into the later part of the 20th century, these were important gathering places, especially for the men of the community.