Category Archives: Haddock GA

Holt Chapel + Holt School & Sunlight Brothers and Sisters Society Lodge, 1930s, Jones County

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Holt Chapel was an historic Black congregation located north of Haddock. Its establishment dates to the late 19th century. Though no longer active, a foundation maintains the property to some extent.

The church building, which replaced an earlier wood frame structure, is typical of second generation structures for rural Black congregations.

Of much greater architectural significance is the Holt School building, adjacent to the church. It is of a common style once found throughout this section of Middle Georgia of which few survive. [I have personally documented examples in Hancock, Baldwin, and Jones Counties]. Upon its construction in the 1930s it served a dual purpose. The first floor was an elementary school for children of the church and surrounding community while the second floor was home to the Sunlight Brothers and Sisters Society, a church-based benevolent society.

Thanks to the Holt School Foundation and Jones County History and Heritage, Inc., it was saved about 20 years ago and appears to be well-maintained.

Ammons Memorials, Jones County

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A wooden schoolhouse served the Black community that remained in the Blountsville community, near Haddock, long after the village disappeared in the wake of the Civil War. The school was first known as Stewart Place, and later, Damascus. Damascus was also the name of the church. It is now known as New Damascus Baptist Church and is a large congregation. The large cemetery beside the church is the final resting place of numerous freedmen and their descendants. There are some fieldstone markers scattered about, and otherwise typical gravestones, but the memorials of Isaac R. and Clara Reid Ammons are of particular interest as vernacular landmarks. Isaac and Clara were born in the first generation after slavery at a time when Blountsville had all but disappeared. They lived well into the 20th century.

Clara Reid Ammons (1877-1950)

Clara’s grave was damaged at some point, as can be seen here, but luckily, someone has repaired it as best they could.

Isaac R. Ammons (1872-1961)

Considering their similarity, it’s likely that the two headstones were created by the same maker.

Ellis Chapel Baptist Church + Lodge & Schoolhouse, Circa 1900, Jones County

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Ellis Chapel Baptist Church was established by freedmen in 1883. It is variously identified as being in both Ethridge and Haddock, so I’ll just say it’s in Jones County for simplicity’s sake. I don’t have a date for the present brick-clad structure, but would guess 1930s-1950s for the building and a bit later for the commercial brick siding.

Front

Of particular interest and concern is the collapsing structure across the road. It has been identified in resource surveys as a lodge and former schoolhouse, and was still in good condition as recently as 1988.

Side

The cornerstone of the church notes a Prince Hall affiliation. While most Prince Hall lodges I’ve documented have been in towns and cities, it’s not unusual to find them in rural locales, as well. It’s also possible that the Prince Hall affiliation is more recent and the lodge was a church benevolent society lodge.

Jordan Chapel School & Lodge, Haddock

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I’m honored to be able to share this photograph by Anne Chamlee; it will be one of several I plan on publishing here and on Vanishing Georgia. Earlier this year, Anne reached out to let me know that she appreciated the work I was doing documenting Georgia’s rural architecture and that she had some photographs of her own that I might enjoy seeing. After several back-and-forth emails and some phone conversations, I’m so glad we were able to make a connection. She’s just as intrigued by the architecture of rural Georgia as I am and by the late 1980s was wandering around the backroads of Middle Georgia, photographing the endangered examples that sparked her interest. She’s also a delightful conversationalist, which is a bit of vanishing thing itself these days.

A Sooner by birth, Anne came South with her family just as the Dust Bowl was coming to an end. They wound up in Florida and she eventually met and married a man with roots in Hancock County, Tilmon Chamlee. Tilmon was a rising architect who had a very successful career in the commercial sector. After many years in Florida and then Macon, Anne and Tilmon eventually settled at Lake Sinclair in Baldwin County, where he continued his practice and indulged in his love for flying. He was also a commercial and instrument-rated pilot. Tilmon passed away in 2015 but Anne remains active in the community. After talking with her on the phone a few times, I still cannot believe she’s 85.

Regarding the structure: This was the school and lodge associated with Jordan Chapel AME Church. It was located near Haddock and is no longer extant. The photo dates to July 1988.