Category Archives: –DECATUR COUNTY GA–

Brinson Consolidated School, Circa 1923

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Even though hard economic times were already foreshadowing the Great Depression in Southwest Georgia, Brinson was still a thriving farm community in the early 1920s, when this typical Colonial Revival schoolhouse was built. It has been identified as the Brinson Consolidated School, and was probably an elementary school. Consolidation was not a concept static to just one decade, and counties often saw the value and thrift of consolidating small rural schools into a central location.

According to a 1998 Georgia Historic Preservation Division resource survey, the school was once a much larger H-form structure and apparently this wing was all that survived a fire [date undocumented]. The form also noted that Gordon Bower was the superintendent of Decatur County schools at the time. In 1969, the Brinson school was sold to a group of parents for the establishment of a private school and was home for many years to Oaks Academy.

Graves-McCoy House, 1886, Bainbridge

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According to a “Heritage Tour of Historic Homes” brochure: This Victorian-era home was built by James Ralph Graves. Mr. Graves was a Bainbridge alderman and deacon of First Presbyterian Church. The Bainbridge Democrat reported on March 6, 1884, that “James R. Graves is improving his new lot preparatory to building a house.” The house originally sat on four acres, contained 3,800 square feet, and had a detached kitchen. It cost $1500 and took five years to build.

The home’s Queen Anne and Carpenter Gothic elements blend nicely to make one of the most interesting Victorians in Bainbridge. It was for sale when I photographed and first published it in 2010. I hope it found a new owner and that it retains its wonderful appearance.

Bainbridge Residential Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Donalson-Rollins House, 1898, Bainbridge

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Local lumber baron John Ernest Donalson (1846-1920), for whom nearby Donalsonville, Georgia, was named, built this house in 1898. In addition to his vast holdings with the Donalson Lumber Company, he was a Confederate veteran, well-known Georgia entrepreneur, lawyer, and judge. Bainbridge was the center of his business operations.

The Queen Anne home, possibly a George Barber design, originally featured Tiffany stained-glass windows, but they were removed by a later owner and sold. The house is also said to have been the first in Bainbridge to feature wire window screens, quite an innovation at the time.

Bainbridge Residential Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

First Baptist Church, 1920, Bainbridge

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I haven’t been able to locate much information about this congregation, but it’s certainly among the oldest in Bainbridge. Considering the early establishment date of the town (1824), there was a probably a Baptist presence in that decade. The earliest known history at this time suggests that local congregants first met in the old “Log House” of the Methodists and built their first permanent home in 1852. It was sold in 1892 and a larger sanctuary was built on the same site. Considering that it was moved, it was likely a small frame structure, typical of the time. Construction on the present structure began in 1916 but was not completed until 1920, due to delays brought on by World War I. Wayne Carter writes that James E. Green was the architect. Green practiced in Birmingham, and designed several churches there.

Bainbridge Residential Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Note: This updates and replaces a post originally published on 8 September 2010.

Temple Beth El, 1916, Bainbridge

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Abraham Ehrlich, born in Gehause, Germany in 1841, was one of the first Jewish settlers in Bainbridge, moving to the community from Valdosta in 1869. A peddler by trade, he served in the Georgia infantry in the Civil War, and was wounded at Chickamauga. His brothers, Henry and Lewis, migrated from Germany after the war. Abraham and Henry established a dry goods business in Bainbridge and Lewis had a butcher shop. Abraham died from an infection in the wound he received at Chickamauga. Lewis and Henry became the leaders of the local Jewish community, which soon included the Kwilecki and Nussbaum families.

The Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish Communities notes that by 1878, an estimated 53 Jews lived in Bainbridge. Most of the male breadwinners worked in retail trade. This growing number of Jews began to meet together. In 1900, Rosalie Kwilecki began a Sunday School to teach the tenets of Judaism to her community, and remained its leader for over 50 years. The Reform congregation was established in 1902 and met in members’ homes until the dedication of this synagogue in 1916. The Jewish community in Bainbridge peaked in 1927 with over 220 members. By 1937, the American Jewish Year Book counted just 42 Jews in Bainbridge, largely due to the effects of the Great Depression.

Beth El’s membership continued to dwindle over the decades but remained an active small community. In 2018, the decision was made to dissolve the congregation and sell the synagogue. It’s presently a short-term rental property.

Bainbridge Residential Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Allen Mercantile Company, 1903, Climax

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This building, and another one separated by an empty lot, are the oldest remaining commercial storefronts in Climax. Other than the removal of a shed roof on the front of the building and the addition of a restroom in the rear, it’s virtually unchanged from its original appearance.

Ira Albert Allen (1869-1924) and Walter Samuel Allen (1873-1931) established the Allen Mercantile Company in 1903 and operated the business until they went bankrupt in 1916. Typical of merchants of the day, the Allen Mercantile Company sold groceries, hardware, dry goods, and farm supplies, probably even caskets. The store was also home to the Climax post office from 1905 until the 1930s .The store also housed the Climax post office from 1905 until the 1930s. John P. Herring bought the store from the bank after the Allen brothers went bankrupt. Ira’s daughter, Inez Allen, reopened the store in the 1930s and operated it until the 1960s.

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 notes: I am the Climax news paper correspondent for the Bainbridge Post Searchlight…There were several other stores on Main Street before being torn down for the building of Parker Park. Grover’s store, which later became Gowan’s, and then B&B or Bishop and Betts.

National Register of Historic Places

Note: This replaces and updates a post originally published on 26 October 2009. It was my very first post from Decatur County.

Central Hallway Farmhouse, Decatur County

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The central hallway form is one of the most common house types in rural Georgia; this is a particularly fine example, with a shed room at the rear. It’s located just outside Brinson.

Neoclassical Revival House, Circa 1914, Decatur County

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This is as fine a country house of the Neoclassical Revival style as I’ve seen anywhere. It is surrounded by well-landscaped grounds and is beautifully maintained.

Cyrene, Georgia

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The Cyrene Commissary, built in 1904, served farm workers and railroad traffic in this rural community near Bainbridge, named for the ancient Greek city of Cyrenaica. It was located along the Atlantic Coast Line railroad. A post office at Cyrene was open from 1894-1938.

Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Cyrene

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This historic African-American church dates to the early 20th century. I’m unsure when the congregation was established.