The congregation of Mt. Ararat Methodist Church was organized in 1824. The sign on the church notes that the church was built in 1824, but a marker at the entrance to the cemetery notes that the church was destroyed by Sherman’s army in the winter of 1864. It’s possible that elements of the old structure were incorporated into the present structure.
The vernacular Greek Revival form was very common in 19th century Georgia.
This utilitarian dwelling has an unusual form. Though it appears to have originally been a double-pen house, expanded by the addition of a large shed room, it may have been built this way. It may have been associated with Perkins cotton plantation, but that’s only a guess.
This landmark general store is thought to have been built in the early 1900s. It served the lost village of Nona, which was dependent on the Perkins cotton operations, and may have even been a commissary. It’s located near another lost village, known alternatively as Dennis Station and Dennis, and I initially identified it as being in that community.
A post office known as Nona was open from 1885-1923.
Located near the Willard community, Reid’s Chapel Baptist Church is an historic Black congregation. No history is readily available, but the earliest burials I located in the small adjacent cemetery date to circa 1920.
This impressive house is the center of a large historic farm property, still active today.
Though it has been modernized with new windows, porch, and wings, it still retains elements of its early appearance and likely dates to the late 1810s or early 1820s.
The bricks on the two original chimneys appear to be slave-made. The porch and unfinished timber posts are likely later additions. A circa 1920s commissary is also present.
This was beloved author Alice Walker‘s home during much of her childhood. Her parents worked the farm and she drew inspiration from all around.
These ruins in downtown Eatonton were recently brought to my attention by Dutch Henderson, who notes that they may soon be demolished. Dutch is quite knowledgeable about obscure historical locations in the area and has shared some fascinating places with me over the years.
Henderson notes that the owner, who is a preservationist/historian, believes the structure dates to circa 1818. He has actively sought a preservation solution for the ruins, but they are very compromised by long-term neglect and rapid urbanization and there may be very few options.
The structure was dated circa 1853 and identified as “Brick warehouse” when nominated for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. This date may have been related to an advertisement for the business in the 23 May 1854 edition of the Eatonton Independent Press. It’s also believed that 1853 was the year the Marshall family purchased the factory, which was already an established business. David Kaminsky’s 1975 photograph for the nomination form shows that the roof was still in place at that time, and that at least two modern businesses, one known as Bailey’s Garage, were located in the building at some point.
The advertisement, shared by Mr. Henderson, identifies the business as “Marshall, McKavitt & Co., Manufacturers of Carriages, Rockaways, Bugies (sic), Two-Horse Wagons, &c.” [The National Register form misidentifies McKavitt as McKavilland, and includes an extra partner in the business, by the name of Rice].
The bricks were probably made on-site or nearby. Their dependence on the rich red clay dominant in the area is obvious.
There are but a scarce few surviving antebellum industrial structures in Georgia, so I was grateful to be able to document this one. I will update with more information as it becomes available.
Eatonton Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Since a fire destroyed the General Putnam Motel in 2018, the restaurant is all that remains, and it probably won’t be around much longer. This was a popular location for tourists on US 441 in the pre-interstate days and beyond, but is best known as one of the set locations for the movie My Cousin Vinny. It’s just north of Eatonton, but I believe a recent expansion of the municipal boundary places it within the city limits today. It likely dates to the late 1940s or early 1950s.
This iconic Putnam County home, built circa 1856, was recently restored. It remains in the family and the owners have done a wonderful job. Thanks to Anna O’Neal for the identification.
Margaret Gorley Ehrlich writes: The house was built for Allen Beall’s family. He was a large property owner and farmer. There was originally a Barn, a Hay barn, a Blacksmith Shop, Chicken Pen, a garage, and several other buildings on the property that were destroyed by tornadoes in the area. Many trees were also lost such as a pear tree, walnut tree, pecan trees, and apple trees. Allen Beall died in 1861 leaving his widow Caroline with eight children and a plantation to run. Less than a mile from the house are the remains of a grist mill that is marked with a Georgia Historical Society marker (Mrs. Beall’s Mill).
Anne Chamlee writes: This may have been the house of Richmond Terrell, built before 1820… She also notes that she was unable to get a better photograph as there were renters in the house at the time and she didn’t feel it was safe to spend more time there. Anne was particularly interested in this house as her mother was a Terrell, from a branch of the family that first came to Wilkes County in 1784 and spread out over the state afterward. I’ve assigned it a date of the 1810s, but it may be earlier. Its present status is unknown.