This is one of several important vernacular houses in Gardi. This example appears to have originated as a single-pen form, with an added small wing. The wing has the unusual convenience of its own door opening to the porch.
I’ve noticed this neat handmade sign many times driving between Jesup and Brunswick over the years, but until recently had never seen the associated church. Thanks to Pastor Evelyn Jackson, the first woman to lead the congregation, for making me aware of this interesting place and for sharing its history.
Pastor Jackson writes: “The Smith Grove Baptist Church was…organized in…1923 and named after its founder, the Rev. Squire Q. Smith and his wife Hattie Smith. He served as Pastor from 1923-1928. He passed away in 1928. The church was originally a wood structure.“
“The [present] church building was constructed by two former Pastors who are now deceased. I became the first female pastor in May of 2003. Renovations have been done in the sanctuary and kitchen area since I became the Pastor. The church membership is small and the members are the descendants of Rev. Squire Q. Smith.”
“Additionally, there is a history of well-known singers who originated with this family. There was first The West Sisters. They were the granddaughters of Rev. Smith. Then The West Singers, which were a combination of the original sisters and nieces. They no longer sing together.”
“The Mighty Fives originated with the sons of the West Sisters. They started as youth singing all over the area. They are now in their fifties and still singing occasionally.”
The church has services on Second Sundays at 11AM.
This little building was home to a ceramics studio known as the Nancy Fore Ceramics Cottage. Nancy Fore (1911-1994) was the wife of beekeeper Troy Fore, Sr. (1907-1976) who owned the Altamaha Apiaries and the iconic “Fancy Honey” building around the corner.
This was the home of the Fore family who owned the beloved “Fancy Honey” building next door.
The core of this house is an outstanding example of what I believe to be a late-19th-century hall-and-parlor cottage. It has been expanded and modified as have other examples of vernacular houses in Gardi, but the original house is a representative example. It also includes a preacher room that appears to have been turned into a sleeping porch at some point.
This was a new discovery for me yesterday. It’s obviously a general store, judging by the form, and has long been closed. The middle of the building is sagging so badly that my initial though was that it won’t be around much longer, but it has likely looked like this for a long time. They don’t build them like this anymore.
This expanded central hallway cottage features a vernacular Craftsman portico and shed garages on both sides.
This is one of Wayne County’s best-known landmarks. It originally served as a general store and post office; the Fancy Honey sign was added later, probably in the 1940s.
Mary Grove Missionary Baptist is one of the oldest Black congregations in Wayne County, though I have been unable to track down a history. The church is also one of the most important, in terms of architecture, in the county.
Robert A. Richardson writes: Thank you for your interest and the picture of this beautiful old one room church where I grew up in the Summer going to the Richardson family reunions and I regret this tradition has died out due to the death of so many Richardson ancestors. My great-great grandfather David Carter Richardson and my Richardson ancestors are buried in the cemetery behind the church. Before the church was organized there was a community of homes (1830-1860) across the street from the from where the church stands. This community referred to as the Gardi – branch of the Altamaha predates the American Revolution and of course the Civil War. This location for the cemetery was chosen by an original pioneer family and their name was Street and allegedly their 14 year old son died while visiting Darien and later Mr. Street died following a fishing trip to the Altamaha and at that time Mrs. Street designated the part of their property as the cemetery due to it the high ground and to avoid flooding of cemetery from the Altamaha. The original “paling” that enclosed the original cemetery still stand and I am trying to figure out some way to preserve them without removing them from the cemetery. Later the church was formed but had met unofficially for sometime initially in homes then under the oak trees. My great grandfather Aaron Riley Richardson graduated from Mercer University in 1880’s receiving his degree in divinity and became an ordained Baptist Minister. He was one of the pastors at the opening of the church. There is also another church Jones Creek Baptist which still stands and my grandfather rode horseback to preach there for over 30 years. They lived on a farm near Gardi and closer to what was known as the Pendarvis train stop. My great aunt Ester used to tell me about stories of buying things from wagons and buses that would come to sell things and how exciting that was and also would tell about horseback artists that would come from Savannah to do portraits which were partially assembled prior to the sitting. These portraits remain in my family and are treasured. Thanks again for sharing your pictures and thereby preserving the history of places that are dear to many. I have also seen your pictures of Boston where my great-great grandfather (A R Richardson) moved and preached at the Primitive Baptist church (this sect of Baptist church did not believe in missionaries at the time other Baptist churches were building their missionary programs and the group of Baptists that disagreed formed the Primitive Baptist churches in Ga. I had always wondered what the Baptist Female Academy in Boston looked liked. I thought it had burned to the ground. My great aunt Esther said that her parents always told her that the school gave its metal roof to the Confederacy during the war to make ammunitions. This is also documented a book about the History of Baptists in GA printed in the 40’s or 50’s.
