As readers have suggested, I believe this may have originated as a log house, a dogtrot perhaps.
Double-Pen Farmhouse, Lands Crossing
5 Replies
Category Archives: –IRWIN COUNTY GA–
Roadside Wildflowers, Lands Crossing
In early spring, broomsedge (Andropogon virginicus) and coreopsis are widespread and a colorful sign of life in roadside ditches throughout South Georgia.
Pyramidal Tenant Farmhouse, Irwin County
Kim Taylor writes: …my mom, Patsy Collins (Collins is her maiden name) said that this use to be our Uncle Hamp Darley’s house. She remembers playing there many times when she was a little girl. It had only a kitchen and one bedroom.
I have photographed this house on Frank Road several times over the years. It’s an exceptional utilitarian form.
Update: As of 2020, this structure is no longer standing.
Tobacco Barn, Irwin County
This tobacco barn was located on Five Bridge Road. I went to re-photograph in 2013 and it had recently collapsed.
Henderson Chapel Primitive Baptist Church, 1906, Holt
Henderson Chapel is one of the oldest congregations in this part of Irwin County.
Winged-Gable Farmhouse, Mystic
I’ve photographed this old farmhouse many times over the years and it’s one of my favorites. As of 2016, it doesn’t look like it will be around much longer.
Merry Christmas from Vanishing South Georgia!
Mount Isaac Baptist Church, Circa 1910, Arp
Before it was known as Arp, this community on the Irwin-Ben Hill County line was known as Isaac. The name was changed sometime between 1910 and 1915, and judging by the burial dates in the adjoining cemetery, I would estimate that this church dates to about 1910.
Since there was already an Isaac Baptist Church, the small African-American community here named their church Mount Isaac, to distinguish it from the the white church. And though Arp is located in Irwin County, the church and cemetery are just over the county line in Ben Hill.
The adjacent cemetery has several vernacular headstones and many of the hand-stenciled variety.
This hand-drawn bird is likely a dove. It’s a particularly nice example.
Many thanks to Laura Wiggins Norris for bringing it to my attention, and to Dale Bledsoe for the history.
Texas Longhorn Cattle, Arp
My friends Roger & Laura Wiggins Norris raise these wonderful cows at their farm in Arp. They once had the largest herd in Georgia and though they’ve reduced their stock, it’s still an impressive bunch.
Texas Longhorns are a low-maintenance, high-yield variety; they’re one of the few Spanish varieties brought to North America in the pre-Colonial era to have survived. To learn more, visit the Texas Longhorn Breeders Association of America.
Many thanks to Laura & Roger for allowing me to share these images.
Origins of Vanishing South Georgia
Pioneer Cabin in Winter, Tulip Road, Ben Hill County, 2002 – © Brian Brown
In preparation for an upcoming documentary, I’ve been reviewing my archive of over 2,000 photographs made on various film cameras before I made the switch to digital in 2007. I’m sharing some of them here and hope they are of interest. Amazingly, most of these structures are gone now and remind me why I do what I do. The image above, of a wintry landscape adorned with a crude pioneer cabin with a fieldstone chimney, was among my first favorites. I had 8x10s printed and looked at them with a sense of awe at the loss that was accelerating around me. As with many of the places I shoot, I’ve wished many times that I’d returned to this quaint little cabin for more photographs. I’m not quite sure when it was demolished but it was gone before 2010. Such stories of loss motivate me to photograph nearly everything I can that I believe to be of cultural or historical value and I hope my work inspires others to pick up their cameras and do the same in their neck of the woods.
Hunter’s Bar-B-Que, Irwin County, 2002 – © Brian Brown
Hunter’s was a local favorite and welcome stop for travelers along Highway 32 for years. They even had parking for semi-trucks. Their goat sandwich, with chips & Coca-Cola was my favorite. Though Hunter’s closed not too long after this photo was made, it’s legendary barbeque sauce has been resurrected by the Hutto family, who now operate the location as Hutto’s Barbeque. It’s just as good!
Craftsman Farmhouse, Irwin County, 2001 – © Brian Brown
This house was demolished by 2010.
Pigs in Winter, Starling Road, Ben Hill County, 2001 – © Brian Brown
Loony Layton’s Store, Waterloo, Irwin County, 2002 – © Brian Brown
I can’t count how many times I passed this store traveling between Fitzgerald and Tifton over the years, though I honestly don’t remember it ever being open. It was razed in early 2012. (I’m not sure of the spelling of the owner’s name, but thanks to Dale Bledsoe for the information.)
Thompson Road Farmhouse, Irwin County, 2002 – © Brian Brown
This house was also an early favorite of mine. It was razed in 2007.
Griffin House, Irwin County, 2003 – © Brian Brown
This Folk Victorian, long a landmark in the area, was demolished before 2007. Thanks to a recent (2016) message from Daphne Griffin, I now know a bit more about the place: My father grew up in that house beginning around 1941. His name is Charlie Jesse Griffin, known as C.J. He grew up there with his mother, Osteen Roberts Griffin, his grandfather, Charlie Roberts, and his three brothers, Denzil, Herman, and Therman Griffin. My grandmother Osteen lived there until around 1960. The house was owned by Otto Griner at the time they lived there.
Player Cemetery Road Tobacco Barn, Ben Hill County, 2002 – © Brian Brown
This barn was razed in 2009.
Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Ben Hill County, 2003 – © Brian Brown
Union Baptist Church, Ben Hill County, 2002 – © Brian Brown
The two churches pictured above are among Ben Hill County’s most historic African-American congregations.
Snow Shower, Dogwood Lane, Fitzgerald, 1989 – © Brian Brown
Wooden Shingle Farmhouse, Ben Hill County, 2001 – © Brian Brown
Burning Beaver Dam, Irwin County, 2002 – © Brian Brown