Farmhouse Ruins, Laurens County
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Category Archives: –LAURENS COUNTY GA–
Single-Pen Tenant Farmhouse, Laurens County
This is an iconic house type in rural Georgia, sometimes referred to as Cracker Style.
It has that association as it was often the typical housing of white sharecroppers and small farmers, but it’s actually just a single-pen (one-room) house.
This example, like many I’ve encountered, has a preacher’s room on the front, which in the case of most of these utilitarian structures didn’t house a preacher but rather accommodated the needs of a growing family. It also has a shed room at the back. So, the traditional single-pen often grew as the family grew…from one room to three, in this case.
American Small House, Laurens County
The term American Small House has been assigned in recent years to a type of structure that proliferated from the mid-1930s to the mid-1950s. A movement began during the Depression, dictated by changing economic realities, to promote the construction of small homes, often prefabricated, to make home ownership more broadly available to the masses. Previous terms for this type included Depression Cottage, Victory Cottage, and FHA House. This abandoned example well illustrates the general layout of the American Small House.
Carter’s Chapel United Methodist Church, 1901, Laurens County
Carter’s Chapel was established in 1885 and named for Mrs. Edith Calhoun Carter, one of its earliest members. The original building was located across the road. I believe the present structure dates to circa 1901.
Stock Barn, Orianna
Brantley House, Circa 1880, Brewton
Brewton, originally spelled Bruton, was established around 1888 and was the busiest settlement in eastern Laurens County well into the early 20th century. I’ve yet to locate any history of this house, which has been abandoned for many years. It’s likely among the oldest structures remaining in the settlement. Brenda C. Lumley notes that the house is known locally as the Brantley House.
William Brantley writes: I am the grandson of the builder/owner of this house in Brewton, Georgia. It was completed around 1880. The owner was Freeman Hill Brantley.
Single-Pen Tenant Farmhouse, Laurens County
I photographed this structure from a distance so I’m unsure as to all the architectural details, but my initial identification is that it was a tenant house, perhaps dating to the late 19th century. It appears to be well-preserved.
Warehouse, Circa 1910, Lovett
This was an old warehouse. I don’t know if it was a separate business or related to the adjacent general store.
General Store, Lovett
This appears to be the newest of the three commercial structures in Lovett but I have no idea as to its age. It was likely the last store open in the community.
General Store, Circa 1907, Lovett
This is one of three commercial buildings still standing along the highway at Lovett. This may be the oldest of the three and was a general store.