This is a convenience store in Indian Springs, and the name is typical of tourist-driven locales with a history of Indian presence. For better or worse, Native American icons and symbols have been appropriated by myriad enterprises since the earliest days of European settlement in North America. They are also a prominent source for place names.
This served for many years as the gathering place for the people of the Iron Springs community. The area is rich in history, as a historical marker placed by the Georgia Historical Commission in 1957 notes: On the night of Nov. 17, 1864, the Right Wing (15th and 17th Corps) of General Sherman’s army, which had marched south from Atlanta on Nov 15th on its destructive March to the sea, reached Jackson and camped in and around the town, Hq. Right Wing. Maj. Gen. O.O. Howard, USA, and the headquarters of both corps were established in Jackson. Elements of the 17th Corps (Blair) moved forward to iron springs and camped here on the road to Planter’s Factory (Ocmulgee Mills) at Seven Islands (5 miles SE), the point which had been selected for the passage of the Right Wing, camped near Worthville (7 miles NW). That night the 29th Missouri Mounted Infantry seized the ferry at Seven Islands and secured both banks of the river for the passage. Next morning, the 1st Missouri Engineers passed through Iron Springs with the pontoons and, by 1:00 P.M., two bridges were ready and crossing operations had begun. Late that night, the 17th Corps having cleared Iron Springs, the Artillery Brigade arrived and went into camp. Although both bridges were in use day and night, heavy rains had made the roads so difficult that the passage was not completed until the afternoon of the 20th.
Like so many other rural congregations, England Chapel Methodist began meeting in a brush arbor in 1885 until the construction of a permanent home. The property upon which this church was built was given by D. N. Carmichael in 1887 and a local mill operator, J. B. Settle, offered to prepare the timber for the construction. Members from the surrounding community cut trees on their property and donated it to the church, which they also helped build. It still serves members today.
Heard Street, running parallel to the railroad tracks, is Flovilla’s historic commercial center.
Much of the space is now occupied by the Victory Tabernacl. When I was photographing, mid-day on a Friday, the church was meeting and I could hear gospel music coming from inside, just as the sign promised.
The Indian Springs F & AM Lodge at Flovilla is definitely one of the most unique I’ve seen in Georgia.
Vanishing Georgia: Photographs by Brian Brown 