Rising near Buena Vista, Kinchafoonee Creek flows southeasterly for nearly 92 miles before joining the Flint River at Albany. According to Ken Krakow, the name is Creek for Bone Mortar or Mortar Nutshells, which referred to a device for cracking nuts. The creek [longer than many rivers] was such an important artery in the early settlement of the area that it gave its name to Kinchafoonee County, which was later changed to Webster County.
I made this photo about ten years ago. The barn was a bit of a landmark traveling west on Georgia Highway 32 past Leesburg. I’m not sure if it’s still standing.
It’s nice to share a restoration success story from time to time and Leesburg’s historic Central of Georgia Depot fits the bill. There were plans to restore the structure as early as 2002 but storm damage in 2006 and budget issues delayed the project to the point that many believed it would never happen. See it before restoration here. Thanks to the efforts of concerned locals who never gave up on the project, it was beautifully restored and reopened to the public in 2018. It now serves as the Chamber of Commerce and visitor center for the community. It was a recipient of a 2019 Excellence in Rehabilitation Award from the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation.
National Register of Historic Places
Roger Mosley writes: This old house actually belonged my late great uncle. It sits on farm land that is still owned by my family.
Smithville was incorporated in 1863, and a post office established in 1871. According to Ken Krakow’s Georgia Place Names, it was named for a family of Smiths who moved to the area from Atlanta. It was originally known as Renwick.
A few landmark structures survive in this small community, including the block seen above, which has been nicely restored. The block pictured below appears to be largely abandoned.
This depot was badly damaged by a tornado in the spring of 1974 and repaired soon thereafter.
This historic high school was constructed by Ivey P. Crutchfield, who later went on to become a noted architect in South Georgia and North Florida. The Macon firm of Dennis & Dennis were the architects.
National Register of Historic Places
Leesburg Presbyterian Church was founded in 1869, and this church built around 1906. Donna King notes that it closed in 2009 after the congregation worked very hard to keep it open. It was purchased by Leesburg First Baptist Church around 2011. Steve Robinson writes: …this church was moved in July 2016 to Moultrie. It is now a wedding Chapel at Sundown Farms Plantation.
After the depot was decommissioned by the railroad, it served as both Leesburg City Hall and the library for a time. It was badly damaged by a storm in 2006.
After numerous delays beginning in 2002, the depot was finally restored and reopened as the visitor center and Chamber of Commerce in 2018.
National Register of Historic Places