Category Archives: –PIERCE COUNTY GA–

Rosenwald School & Marian Anderson Library, 1926, Blackshear

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The Blackshear Rosenwald School was built between 1925-1926 to provide a good education for African-American children.

When the school moved into a more modern facility [red building visible at left], the building became the Marian Anderson Library and served the community for many years. It is presently in stable condition, but restoration as a community center or museum would be the best way to insure its future.

The class of 1948 placed two brick gateposts in front of the school. This one contains a marble plaque identifying the graduates: J. B. Twyne; H. J. Lofton; C. S. Britton; T. F. Gibson; A. Fulmore; L. M. Harris; D. A. Deal; and L. Sellers. V. R. McClain was the advisor and S. D. Tarver was the principal.

Carter’s Fried Chicken, 1968, Patterson

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Porter House, Circa 1900, Blackshear

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Featuring elaborate fretwork on the front porches, this Plantation Plain takes on an unusually Victorian appearance.

Old Pierce County Courthouse, 1875, Blackshear

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This building served as the Pierce County courthouse from 1875-1902. It is best known today as the Belvin House, for owner Robert Belvin. Other owners over the years included Charlie Davis and Gene Baker. The Blackshear Times references Pierce County historian Dean Broome in validating the courthouse identify. The GeorgiaInfo page on Pierce County states that the courthouse was torn down in 1902, but that is incorrect.

Robert Barnhill confirms: Definitely YES it was the Pierce County Courthouse many years ago. I have been inside this building back when the Davises lived there and the glass transom windows above the downstairs rooms still have the names of the elected offices that used to be therein painted on the glass. The downstairs layout is easily recognizable as a County Courthouse and offices, a central hallway and offices on he sides and large stairwell. The last time I went upstairs, about 25-30 years ago, they had built one [1] bedroom in the corner [ new 2×4 construction with insulation and sheet rock, but the remainder of the upstairs [ about 3/4ths of it ] was still a single huge room, set up as the old County Courtroom. I worked with Ms Davis and she took me on a tour to show me it was the old Courthouse.

Atlantic Coast Line Depot, 1917, Blackshear

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Built to replace the Savannah, Florida & Western depot which burned in 1917, this structure was used by the Atlantic Coast Line and Seaboard Coast Line for passenger and freight service and handled freight as late as the 1970s. It now houses the Pierce County Heritage Museum.

National Register of Historic Places

Pierce County Jail, 1894, Blackshear

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This served as the county jail until 1926, when another facility was constructed near the courthouse. This facility served as the city jail until 1976, as well as police headquarters. It has been empty for many years and will hopefully be restored in the near future.

National Register of Historic Places