Category Archives: Mershon GA

Mershon Elementary School, Circa 1955, Pierce County

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A sign above the door identifies this structure as the Mershon School. More specifically, it served as an elementary school before consolidation did away with the need for the rural schools that served crossroads communities for much of the state’s history. The architecture is very utilitarian, with the Spanish Mission-inspired [I presume] entryway being the only thing faintly decorative about the building. Most likely, it only served the community for 10-15 years. I’d love to hear from anyone who attended and who knows more about the history.

It’s used as the Mershon Social Club today and the last time I drove by there was a sign for the Volunteer Fire Department on the side of the building. They likely use it for meetings. At least its still serving the community.

Peacock’s Grocery & Garage, Mershon

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I ran into a local gentleman while photographing in Mershon and he said that sixty years ago this was a busy place, where turpentine workers who lived nearby ran accounts. He also said his father remembered working on Model-T Fords in the garage at the rear of the store.

General Store, Mershon

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Sequana Thompson Beale writes: A gentleman named “Hershel” owned this store back in the 1960’s & 70’s. I spent a couple of summers working in the store. I got the job as a twelve year old because I knew how to make change in my head. The only number on the cash register that worked was the 5 to open it. I also sliced the bologna for customers during rush hour “dinner time” for the Tobacco field workers. Fond memories!

Cheryl Sebastian adds: Used to go there for bread and a few slices of bologna sliced off the log with a knife! Those were the days, my friend!

Tenant Farmhouse, Mershon

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Custom Hydraulic Manufacturing, Mershon

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Jonell Williams Harrison shared some wonderful memories of Mershon: …actually it was never what you would call a thriving town..certainly not by our standards today. In the 50s we got a small new brick elementary school..later years it became a community center. There was Peacock’s Grocery & Service Station..[yes SERVICE]. There was a small grocery at the intersection/crossroads, a turpentine still by the railroad track, the post office. And over the years the farmhouses , many along the main road, were always with time being improved and/or enlarged as the farmer became more prosperous. In later years the children who moved away never came back to claim their rural south Georgia heritage. That’s why you see [or don’t see] crumbling, falling down barns and farmhouses. This is a story [with pictures] that has been repeated all across America . When these younger families get a little older they will be longing to go back to their roots..too late. The only ones to hold onto any part of our heritage are the ones who never left. Did I mention that when my generation [circa 1941] was grade school age, we walked to town to see movies..boards resting on concrete blocks in the post office!