This was identified as the “Old Homer Baptist Church” in the nomination forms for designation of the Homer Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. It has subsequently served other congregations, the Alliance Church being the most recent I could find.
Homer Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
Though expanded and moved a short distance, this structure dates to the early settlement of Homer. It may have been a lawyer’s office, considering its proximity to the courthouse. Typical of the era, it was built in the shotgun style and featured a vernacular interpretation of the Greek Revival, which has been lost with its expansion. It’s located in the yard of the Jolly House and could have also been Dr. Jolly’s office at some point.
Homer Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Also known as the Candler-Hill House, this is best known today as the Hill Hotel, which was in operation until 1952. Originally built as a Plantation Plain with Greek Revival details, it was expanded by T. F. Hill for use as a boarding house and hotel. It was recently on the verge of demolition, but Scott Reed will be doing an architecturally sensitive remodel, and he believes the core of the house dates to circa 1835.
The 1873 date generally associated with the house is likely when the property was expanded to its present appearance.
Homer Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
The cylindrical chimney is a rare feature on a house of this type.
Homer Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Homer Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Homer Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
I’m not sure of the date or corporate affiliation of this service station, but it was opened by Oscar Garrison in the 1930s.
Homer Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Beginning in the 1930s, this was operated as a post office by Oscar Garrison. Its construction, though, would suggest other historical uses. Another remaining structure (Mason’s Store), not pictured here, also served as the post office for a time.
Homer Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
I believe this house was built by William Benjamin Mason (1852-1913), a dry goods merchant in Homer, who came to Banks County from Pickens County, South Carolina, as a young man. I’ve seen it referred to as the Moss Mason House, as well; this could be due to the fact that a son of William Benjamin Mason, Dick Moss Mason (1878-1964) was a longtime resident here. The Plantation Plain architecture, popular in rural Georgia in the antebellum era, was also common in the decade after the Civil War and would suggest a likely construction date in the 1870s.
This house seems to be in danger of being lost without stabilization. I originally thought the outbuilding pictured below to be a dovecote, but now I am not sure what purpose it served.
Homer Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Vanishing Georgia: Photographs by Brian Brown 