Category Archives: –CRAWFORD COUNTY GA–

Southern Railway Caboose, Roberta

3 Replies

A marker at the caboose is dedicated to the memory of Clarence Moseley “Ribs” Peel (8 November 1897-8 October 1955) and his wife Jessie Blackwell Peel (5 May 1907-18 October 2001).  Mr. Peel, who was a trainman with the Southern Railway for 38  years, died in a railroad accident near Hazlehurst. After receiving information (which later proved to be incorrect) that another train was fast approaching his, he made the supreme sacrifice of staying with his train so that his co-workers could disembark and be safe. Mrs. Peel considered this spot hallowed ground as her husband spent so much of his career here. The moving memorial was placed by their children, Bettie Jane Rigdon, Claudine Peel, Juanita Goodson, Carlise Moncrief, and Claire Mattox, in 2010.

Roberta Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Old Musella Methodist Church, Roberta

5 Replies

Presently known as the Lindsey Building and is used as the Roberta-Crawford Civic Center, this building was originally located in Musella and served as the Methodist church there. Thanks to Beth Paul and Frank Spearman for the identification. Mr. Spearman writes that Reverend Jim Hamlin notes it was de-commissioned years ago. Maurice Lindsey’s family were the last surviving members. Maurice, a rural mail carrier, died years ago and his wife, Betty, died about three weeks ago.

Roberta Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Benjamin Hawkins Monument, 1931, Roberta

9 Replies

The text on this monument gives a good overview of Colonel Hawkins’ life. [Some of the language would hopefully not be used today, such as referring to Native Americans as ‘savages’. I don’t think it’s “politically correct” to find that offensive]. Erected in 1931 by the United States government to commemorate the life and public service of Colonel Benjamin Hawkins, who was born in Warren County, N. C.  August 15, 1754 and died at the Creek Indian Agency on the Flint River, June 6, 1816. He was a student at Princeton and shortly after the beginning of the Revolution became a member of General Washington’s staff with the rank of Colonel, serving with distinction throughout the war. He was one of the first senators from North Carolina and was conspicuous for his interest in Indian affairs. Colonel Hawkins was asked by General Washington to assume jurisdiction over all the Indian tribes south of the Ohio River. At the height of his career he came to Georgia and established his home among the Creek Indians on the banks of the Flint River in Crawford County. He built the fort which was named in his honor on the Ocmulgee River at Macon and lived there while the fort was being erected, but his permanent home was at the Creek Agency. His body lies on a bluff overlooking the Flint River where he lived among the savage tribes for 16 years, a man of letters, a mediator of peace and faithful unto death.

Colonel Benjamin Hawkins – Public Domain Image via Wikipedia

Roberta Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

 

C. F. Hays & Son General Store, Musella

24 Replies

I first photographed this store in February 2010 and am just as fascinated by it today as I was then. It was established circa 1900 by Robert L. “Mr. Bob” Dickey, of Dickey Farms Peaches fame. C. F. Hays, the grandfather of Cary Hays, the current owner, began running the store for Dickey in 1934 and soon purchased the business from him. Cary, whose full time job is with the postal service, still opens the store on weekends from April-August each year but the hours aren’t set in stone. His father, C. F. “Buddy Hays III, revived the operation around 1969-1970 and both men have a real passion for the family business and its place in the history of the peach packing town of Musella.

So many times I see modern “country stores” that aren’t worth their salt, but this one is authentic, as the photos below illustrate.

Cary painstakingly stocks the store with staples and various sundries and country store memorabilia authentic to the store’s history.

Some would call it a hobby but I see it as an important link to the past. It’s a miracle places like this still exist. Please take the time to stop by if you find yourself anywhere near Musella. Buy an ice cold Nu-Grape or Coca-Cola in a bottle, or have some ice cream from the chest freezer.

Cary Hayes has updated the outside signage but it still looks great. I’ll add those photos soon.

 

Musella Gin & Cotton Company

Leave a reply

This is a classic Cadillac, perhaps a 1949 model.

Peach Workers, Musella

Leave a reply

Peach harvesting and processing remains a labor intensive form of agriculture and hundreds of Hispanic workers are employed by Dickey Farms, an iconic local producer of Georgia’s official state fruit.

Musella Baptist Church, 1908, Crawford County

2 Replies

This congregation dates to 1884.

Nakomis, Georgia

2 Replies

Raymond Clark writes: HORNE STORE. Georgia Hwy 96 (Fall Line Freeway) near Peach/Crawford County line. There were two Horne Stores.The one pictured here was the former liquor store and where the white truck and pecan trees are on the right of photo is the former store/former owner’s home which was demolished by fire. From the 1960s to 1980s the store did a lot of business with good ole Mr Horne’s bbq, potato salad and home cooking. People from businessmen to students at Ft Valley State University to folks done from picking peaches for the day from Lanes and Pearson Farms bought beer and liquor here.

 

Georgia Post Building, 1928, Knoxville

Leave a reply

The Georgia Post served as the newspaper of record for Knoxville and Roberta, as well as all of Crawford County. Crawford B. H. Moncrief (1889-1950) published the first issue from his home on 1 January 1922 and continued to publish it from there until the construction of this office in 1928. The paper has changed ownership over the years but is still in production (from a different location). It’s an excellent intact example of a small-town newspaper office.

National Register of Historic Places

 

Crawford County Courthouse, 1852, Knoxville

6 Replies

Built in 1852, likely by Henry Crews, this vernacular courthouse is among the oldest in Georgia. It replaced an earlier structure on the same location which was destroyed by fire in 1829. After extensive renovations and remodels during the 19th and 20th centuries, it was no longer deemed practical and  a new courthouse was opened across the street in 2002. Thanks to Mona Lowe for the updated historical information.

Also significant to the history of Knoxville is the story of Joanna Troutman. In 1835, she designed a flag featuring a blue star on a white field with the words “Liberty or Death” and presented it to the Georgia Batallion of volunteers who left Knoxville to aid in the fight for Texas independence. This first “Lone Star” flag would feature significantly in later Texas iconography and because it was raised after the Texas Declaration of Independence, is considered the first flag to fly over an independent Texas. Troutman, who was born in  Milledgeville, married S. L. Pope in 1839 and moved to Elmwood, his plantation at Knoxville.  Upon Pope’s death in 1872, Joanna married W. G. Vinson, a Georgia legislator. She died at Elmwood in 1879 and was buried at the plantation, but upon a special request by Texas governor Oscar Colquitt in 1913, her remains were re-interred at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, and a statue was erected to her memory.

National Register of Historic Places