This Greek-Revival Georgian home was the center of large plantation owned by Josephus Hillman (c.1827-1880), who was one of the wealthiest men in what would eventually become McDuffie County. Though 1860 is generally accepted as the date of construction, there is no official documentation of this date. Typical of his time, Hillman was an enslaver, and the success of his agricultural operations was dependent on this fact. He became a Baptist minister during the Civil War and served as pastor of Thomson First Baptist Church in 1870-1871. Though his fortunes were greatly reduced by the end of the Civil War, he was able to continue his operation with tenant farmers and sharecroppers, including 11 of his former slaves. Failing health led Hillman to sell his plantation to Methodist minister Felix P. Brown in 1879.
Brown sold the farm to the Pylant brothers in 1897 and the property again changed hands in 1905, when it was purchased by William K. Miller as an investment. Paul Akers Bowden (1876-1968) ) bought the farm in 1916. Bowden, nor its next owner, Lucille Bowden Johnson (1903-1994), never lived full-time in the house, but Lucille undertook major renovations in the 1950s. After Lucille’s death, it was owned for a time by the Wrightsboro Quaker Community Foundation, but I believe it is once again a private residence.
This vernacular Craftsman farmhouse is a favorite among this style that I’ve photographed. The colorful shingles in the front gable are quite distinctive. I believe this was the center of an historic farm.
According to an architectural survey, Arrington Mill was built circa 1920, but a mill may have been operational here prior to that date. I’ve not been able to locate any history related to the site so far, other than the fact that it was also known as Fort Creek Mill, for the creek it’s located upon. It’s a very picturesque place but is on private property and can only be viewed from the roadside.
This house is located near the abandoned house documented in the previous post and is nearly identical in layout. It supports my assertion that this was the most popular house type in late 19th century Georgia and was so practical that many, including this one, are still in use today.
This old house, located on Happy Valley Road, appears to date to the late 19th century. Sidelights are barely visible around the front door. My tentative identification of this home site as a farmhouse is based on the fact that in their rural context it’s likely that at the very least the owners were involved in subsistence agriculture on some scale.
Jones Grove Baptist Church is an historic African-American congregation, located south of Thomson. It was established on 7 May 1887. Its adjacent cemetery is the final resting place of Blues legend Blind Willie McTell.
Like many of his fellow Piedmont Blues legends, Blind Willie McTell was an enigmatic character to whom fame and notoriety were elusive in his lifetime. McTell is now considered one of the great bluesmen of the 1920s and 1930s but that recognition was a long time coming. He had many fans among serious musicians but was largely unknown to the general public until covers of his song “Statesboro Blues” by Taj Mahal and the Allman Brothers Band brought new attention to his life and work.
His headstone, placed in tribute by author David Fulmer in 1992, records his birthdate as 1901, but further scholarship suggests he was actually born in 1898. Additionally, some sources list his birth name as William, but the memorial stone in Jones Grove Baptist Church Cemetery identifies him as Willie.
Born Willie Samuel McTier in Thomson on 5 May 1898 to Minnie McTier, he was blind at birth. The family moved to Statesboro when Willie was about six years old and Minnie taught him to play the guitar. When Minnie died, Willie left Statesboro and performed at carnivals and shows, including the John Roberts Plantation Show. The patronage of Brooke Simmons and Dr. A. J. Kennedy of Statesboro allowed him to attend schools for the blind in Georgia and New York. I believe he was around 17 or 18 at the time.
Blind Willie McTell, place and date unknown, Public Domain, no known restrictions.
He made his first recordings for Victor in Atlanta in 1927. He never had a hit record in his lifetime, but had a relatively prolific output, thanks to his ability to cover many genres of music, and his use of multiple pseudonyms with each genre. His most successful tune was perhaps “Come On Around to My House Mama”, recorded as Blind Sammie for Columbia in 1929. He recorded as “Barrelhouse Sammy” for Atlantic, “Blind Sammie” for Columbia, “Blind Willie” for Vocalion, “Georgia Bill” for OKeh, “Pig n’ Whistle Red” for Regal, and “Red Hot Willie Glaze” for Bluebird. He was also recorded by John and Alan Lomax for the Library of Congress. Since he reaped no financial windfall from his recordings, he spent much time playing for tips in busy areas of larger cities, especially Atlanta. Diabetes and a penchant for alcohol caused his health to decline by the 1950s.
According to Kate, he quit playing the blues altogether around 1957 and became a preacher. He played spiritual and gospel music for the remainder of his life. On 19 August 1959, he died of a stroke at the Milledgeville State Hospital.
Blind Willie McTell remains an enduring Georgia legend. Thomson holds the Blind Willie Music Festival every year and Statesboro has a Blind Willie McTell Trail. I think he’d be happy with all the recognition.
I’ve found numerous prominent homes in scattered Georgia towns which are examples of architectural evolution, or put simply, houses that grew over time. The Usry House may be one of the best examples of this practical phenomenon, having originated as a one or two room cottage and expanded throughout the years to its present appearance. The suspended balcony is said to be one of the largest in Georgia.
Long before McDuffie County or Thomson existed, the land on which this house was built was part of Warren County. William Usry’s family moved to Georgia from Virginia and first appear in the Warren County Tax Digest in 1805. Per Jonathon Davila: [The house, now called The Usry-Davila House, was built in 1795. My husband and I are the current owners. The roof, walls and floor of the original 2 room cottage are still here, the large house was built around the original cottage. Even though my husband is a very distant relation to the Usrys, we are the first family to live in the house that wasn’t directly Usry. Hence, the name change]. Usry was a successful plantation owner and like all plantations of the time, its success was dependent on the labor of enslaved men, women, and children. After the war, the Usry family wisely looked beyond agriculture for income and created the Goodrich-Usry Railroad to move timber from their vast holdings along Little Briar Creek to nearby markets. They were successful entrepreneurs in various pursuits.
Members of the Usry family lived here and maintained its historical character for well over two centuries.
