This is part of a complex of several small buildings that are all attached to one another, painted in different bright colors. I’m not sure if it’s part of a thrift-type store or someone’s personal property.
Sign Barn, Cochran
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Category Archives: Cochran GA
Cochran Bonded Warehouse
Every town of a good size once boasted a bonded cotton warehouse or two. Most sold fertilizers, seeds, and chemicals to area farmers and came to prominence with the rise of industrial agriculture. This one is especially nice because its old sign is still intact. I believe it’s still in business.
Old Bleckley County Jail, Cochran
I haven’t been able to locate a history of this structure yet, but it was likely built around 1900-1915. Citadel-style jails like this were popular at that time. I know it was in use as the county building inspector’s office as late as 2008.
Ronald Scarborough recalled: It was also the Sheriff’s residence. Too bad the old City Jail has been torn down. It had two cells with steel doors on the front. It had old fashioned steel bars on the windows. The jail also had no furniture, no heat and no plumbing.
Cedar Hall, 1910, Cochran
John Joseph Taylor (1855-1917) was for many years the leading businessman in Cochran. He started with a general store and later became president of the Cochran Banking Company and a cotton mill; he also built Cochran’s opera house. Taylor, who lived in the house next door, built Hillcrest [later known as Cedar Hall] as a present for his daughter Alice when she married John Augustus Walker on 12 January 1910. Walker was also involved in the Cochran Banking Company and served as Postmaster from 1933-1941. The house remained in the family until 1965. Dr. Virlon Griner, pastor of Cochran First Baptist Church, purchased it in 1970 and began a restoration that returned it to a single family dwelling, which it remains today.
The National Register nomination form calls the house “Hillcrest” but also notes it was known as Cedar Hall. After hearing from one of the Taylor granddaughters, Lady N. Hodges, I’m going with Cedar Hall, since that is what the house was known as for most of its history. Apparently, “Hillcrest” was a later name. She also clarifies other facts about the house, in her comments following the post.
National Register of Historic Places
Folk Victorian Cottage, Cochran
Like many of the Folk Victorians in the area, this features shingled dormers and is strongly influenced by the Queen Anne style. Julie Hardaway writes: My father was born in this house in 1926 by C-section!
H. F. Bullard House + Rutland Apartments, 1912, Cochran
This eclectic Craftsman cottage was built by the local postmaster and housed a kindergarten at one time. Throughout most of its history, it has been known as the Rutland Apartments.
Russell Davidson writes: This house was used for apartments, for many years. There were four apartments, I believe. I had several friends that lived there, over time. It has been vacant for quite a while. Pam Allen adds: Actually 5 apartments. Small one 1 bedroom on the side bottom floor. 3 on the bottom floor, 2 on the top floor. I wish someone could remodel it before it is completely destroyed. And Neil Tomlinson: My girlfriend (now lovely wife), lived in the left side outside apartment there. Good times there were had by all. Its a shame to see it going down.
Update: This Cochran landmark was lost to arson on 12 June 2020.
Folk Victorian Cottage, Cochran
This is the style of Folk Victorian I like the most, what is more specifically a “Folk Queen Anne”. There are a few good examples of this style scattered around the state.
The real estate listings I saw for the house date it to 1920. I think it’s at least 30 or 40 years older than that.
Single-Pen Tenant Farmhouse, Bleckley County
This landmark is located just outside Cochran and appears to have originally been a single-pen tenant-type house, expanded by a rear shed room and a side addition.
Queen Anne Farmhouse, Cochran
This old farmhouse appears to be undergoing renovation. I believe it was originally more Queen Anne in appearance but the present porch configuration hides some of those elements. It’s also one of the things I really like about Cochran: there are old farmhouses and farmhouses right at the edge of town.
Phillips Farmhouse, Bleckley County
This Queen Anne Georgian Cottage is one of my favorite houses in the Cochran vicinity. Russell Davidson writes: This is the “home place” of John & Leo Phillips, two of Cochran’s most successful businessmen and lawyers. They have let some of their farm operations take over the house.
Vanishing Georgia: Photographs by Brian Brown 