Category Archives: –HARRIS COUNTY GA–

Whitesville United Methodist Church, 1854 & 1900, Harris County

The Whitesville Methodist Episcopal Church, South, as it was originally known, traces its origins to circuit riders and meetings at the nearby home of Reuben R. Mobley in 1828. A congregation was formally established in the 1830s and by 1837 a church building was erected for services. This was the same year the town of Whitesville was incorporated; it was a thriving community at the time, bolstered by its status as a main stagecoach stop on the Columbus-to-Rome route. Many early members were slave owners and the slaves attended afternoon services until the Civil War. [Evidence continues to suggest that most homes that survive from the antebellum were built by enslaved people and I’m doing my  best to label them as such as I publish them across my websites. It is also presumed that churches and other public buildings were their handiwork, as well].

Use of the original structure was discontinued in 1854 when the present structure was completed. The church was significantly remodeled in 1900, with the addition of the larger steeple and the incorporation of Victorian details, including shingle siding on the steeple.

National Register of Historic Places

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Whitesville Grocery, Harris County

Central Hallway Cottage, Harris County

This nice surviving central hallway cottage has a chimney made of local stone, something common in the earlier houses of this area.

Waverly Hall, Georgia

The historic core of Waverly Hall remains, though most of the remaining structures are abandoned.

Shimmy Burt House, Waverly Hall

From a visitor named Lynn: A black man Called Shimmy aka Mr. Burt lived here. He lived here alone & his family lived about 2 miles away. He was my dad’s best friend. They both served in the Korean War together. My dad lived at 7038 GA Highway 208, two houses down from here. I spent a lot of my childhood in the front room by the wood heater. In the late 90s Mr Burt accidentally fell on the heater, burning his legs so bad they had to be removed. He moved into The Nursing Home in Waverly Hall. My dad passed away in 1997 & Mr Burt passed away 2000. They were lifelong friends!

Queen Anne House, 1900, Waverly Hall

Abandoned Georgian Cottage, Harris County

Shady Grove Baptist Church, 1907, Harris County

Founded by Harris County pioneer settlers in 1832, the congregation of Shady Grove has survived for nearly two centuries. After loss of members and years of inactivity, the church has been given new life with a new membership and regular services. The present structure replaced an earlier church building that burned in 1907.

General Elias Beall House, 1847, Hamilton

This Greek Revival landmark was originally the home of General Elias H. Beall, who established a trading post at what is now Columbus for Governor John Forsyth. After the Civil War, the house was purchased by James Monroe Mobley. It is also known as the Beall-Mobley-Williams House.

Curiously, a portion of the house is used today as a Subway restaurant. An architect was used to do the modification and I presume he was sensitive to preserving the historical importance of the house.

Hudson Cotton Warehouse, 1877, Hamilton

I believe my identification of this building to be correct, but if not, I’ll update. It most recently served as an optometrist’s office, but was originally the cotton warehouse of William I. Hudson (1822-1877). Hudson was a county commissioner, state representative, and state senator.