The Carnegie area was settled circa 1828. It was first known as Grubbs, presumably for Andrew Jackson Grubbs, but the name was changed to Carnegie in 1903 in an effort to get a contribution or building from Andrew Carnegie. The store on the right was owned by Homer and Barney Nichols in the 1940s and 1950s. Later, Lamar and Gerald Lumpkin had a trailer-building business in the structure on the left.
This precinct house is no longer in use, but served Carnegie for many years. It may be referred to as the Carnegie Courthouse, as that’s a common identification for precinct houses in this area.
The interior is virtually unchanged from the last time it was used for voting.
I’m grateful to Robert Andrews, a cane syrup maker, for sharing its history with me on a cold and bitter day, and for sending me a bottle of his excellent syrup.
