Cuthbert’s Mid-Century Modern City Hall was a project of the WPA, near the tail-end of funding for the New Deal agency. It’s a quiet landmark of governmental architecture and utilitarian design. The bell seen in the first image lists the names of the committee members who oversaw its construction.
Cuthbert Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Thought to be antebellum, these three shotgun-style vernacular law offices are among the most important architectural resources in Cuthbert. Though the Hood Law office is the only that has a formal Greek Revival appearance, I believe a vernacular interpretation of the style was the intention of each. Such structures were commonly built around town squares in the 19th-century but only a few remain in Georgia.
Thanks to Rebecca Bowen, whose family once had an insurance business in this structure [above], I know that it was contemporary to the law office of Arthur Hood, who came to Cuthbert in 1853. I suspect the other buildings have similar origins.
Cuthbert Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Built for $12,000, on a site donated by the local women’s club, Cuthbert’s Colonial Revival Carnegie Library is now home to the Randolph County Chamber of Commerce. It is the only Carnegie Library designed by Georgia architect Peter Dennis (1854-1929).
Cuthbert Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Cuthbert Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Julianna’s is a unique shop in the old Bank of Randolph building [above, right] in downtown Cuthbert. Besides antiques and gifts, they have a tea parlor on site.
I’m inspired by people make innovative use of landmark buildings, and Anna Paul and her daughter, Julie Melton have been doing just that since they opened their doors in 2001. They closed in 2015.
There’s a “Savannah Garden” in the courtyard out back, with statuary, fountains, ivy, and of course, tea olives.
The building has retained much of its original charm with a healthy dose of Victorian decorative touches. Julianna’s offers a light or full afternoon tea with menu items including scones, clotted cream and lemon curd, finger sandwiches, fresh fruits, breads, quiches, and more.
Cuthbert Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Now used as the town hall, this was originally the medical office of Dr. Harper. James Palmer notes: I went there as a child and am now in my 60’s. He mixed his own medicine in this office to treat patients.
James Palmer notes that this was originally the Bank of Coleman, which closed during the Great Depression. It served as the post office for many years thereafter.
He also notes: Where this Catalpa tree grows was once the location of the J.J. Rogers General Store and another store building. They were torn down in the 1970’s.
Located beside the Coleman calaboose. I first thought it to be a precinct house or office, but William Casey writes that it was the town’s library.
Calaboose is a rarely seen term today that implies a temporary local jail, often in unincorporated areas. This has to be one of the smallest jails in Georgia. Thanks to James Palmer and Rick Ezell for the identification.