This may be one of the oldest houses in Climax but I cannot confirm at this time. The information I’ve found in architectural surveys gives a wide variety of dates, from 1860-1935. The sidelights lead me to believe it probably dates to the late 19th century, at the latest. One survey notes that the windows were originally taller, another indication of an earlier date.
This is a nice example of the Colonial Revival style, quite formal for a town the size of Climax.
Built as a residence by a Mr. Allen, this house was located along the railroad tracks when this section of Southwest Georgia was experiencing its first major agribusiness and timber boom. It was sold to Mary Lizzie Harrell [Mrs. T. J. Harrell] in the 1920s and would have been the de facto hotel in Climax. Women, who were limited in employment opportunities at the time, often operated such establishments, as was the case with this property.
It was also identified as the Harrell House and the Wingback Hotel. Mrs. Harrell was known for her home-cooked meals, much appreciated by the railroaders passing through Climax. Most of the structure is original, but the front porch is a replacement.
Allen Ware writes: My Dad and wife (Gene Ware and Flecia Ware) opened the store on Labor Day 1978. All they had to sell was Lance crackers and Coca-Cola drinks. His first day he sold 100.00 worth of merchandise. From that point on everything he made was invested back into the store and it was affectionately know as Waremart by alot of people. We sold groceries, hardware, work boots, lawnmowers, chain saws and wood heaters. It was quite an operation. He sold it in 2000 and it still operates today. There were a lot of good memories made in that place and we made a lot of good, very special friends. Billy Brown notes that before it was Ware & Son it was known as Byrds, for his great-grandfather, Alton Byrd, who operated a general store here for many years.
Thanks to Jean Ouzts for the identification. She notes that this was Bill Sloan’s store.
Bernice Doyle notes that this was originally the Climax post office. It was more recently known as the Cudzu Cottage.
Bernice Doyle writes: This store was known as Miss Inez’ s Mercantile Store. My mother worked for her for many years. It is sad to see it is falling in. Climax looks nothing like it did when I was growing up there. Jean Ouzts writes: I am the Climax news paper correspondent for the Bainbridge Post Searchlight. In my research of the history of Climax, I found that this is the remains of Miss Inez Allen’s store…There were several other stores on Main Street before being torn down for the building of Parker Park.
National Register of Historic Places
Vanishing Georgia: Photographs by Brian Brown 