Category Archives: –SCREVEN COUNTY GA–

Wesleyanna Memorial Methodist Church, 1870, Screven County

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This quaint historic church is a testament to a congregation’s desire to preserve a place of worship, long after its last regular services were held. Most of the people in this community weren’t even born when the church was still active but according to Cheryl Bazemore, whose grandparents were among the builders of the church, a homecoming is held by descendants of the congregation each year. This explains the ceiling fans.

It’s a simple, utilitarian design, with board-and batten exterior walls, and very plain pews and pulpit, yet it really exemplifies the beauty of the country church.

A historic marker placed on the grounds in 1963 states: Organized 1868 under bush arbor on Stephen D. Lewis farm by Elder Theo. A. Pharr, John Hardy Bolton, Julia Wells Bolton, Stephen D. Lewis, Martha Howard Lewis, Paul Jenkins, Temperance Jenkins, Fulton L. Oglesby, Mary Bolton Oglesby and others on land given by Alexander James Wells and Isaac Thomas Bazemore. Original Trustees: John W. Boston, James Allen Bazemore, Green Berry Waters, Alexander James Wells and Abisha Humphrey Bazemore. Among early preachers: John Jenkins, W.D. Smith, Abisha Humphrey Bazemore, A.F. Ellington, Emory F. Dean, Jacob Perry Bazemore, David Matthews Bazemore, A.M. Johnson and John W. Roach.

June, 1957: church and cemetery set aside as perpetual memorial to founders by deed from Methodist Conference to Trustees, all of whom are descendants: Dora Bazemore Brooker, E. Lampkin Bazemore, I. Thomas Sanders, James Eugene Bazemore, Charles Thurman Hopkins, Sr., Lilla Sanders Smith, John W. Gross, Palmer A. Bazemore and Bertha Hoffman.

A sign over the entrance to the church yard dates the building to 1870.

 

Double Pyramidal Roof Farmhouse, Screven County

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This appears to be two small houses set side by side. It’s a most unusual form.

 

Abandoned Farmhouse, Screven County

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I often run across old farmhouses like this one, exposed after a pine plantation has been clear-cut.

Millhaven Plantation, Screven County

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Millhaven dates to 1769. According to an historical marker placed in 1953: The earliest trade center and industrial development in interior Georgia was established here before the Revolutionary War by Francis Paris, Senior. A rick dam was constructed across the creek, of which it is said that the 400 horse power developed for the feed and saw mills was by far the greatest in the colony. The rock foundations of the old dam are still embedded in the creek about 300 yards above the present bridge. Paris sold the land, mills, and appurtenances to Seaborn Jones, of Augusta, on February 8th, 1796.

It’s grown over the past two centuries into a mixed-purpose property that still includes active farming operations, timber holdings and hunting reservations.

This is part of the modern farming operation. I’m not sure what the round building was/is used for.

Today, it’s owned by William S. Morris III of the Morris Communications Company, who has received awards for its conservation and management.

That’s no small accomplishment considering it’s the largest farm operating as a single unit east of the Mississippi.

A few old houses remain around the property.

They were likely employee-related structures from the early to mid-20th century.

They are very diverse in their architectural styles.

 

Bonnell-Lovett House, Circa 1820s, Screven County

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There is little information publicly available on this landmark, owned by the Lovett family of northern Screven County. Some have suggested that the Marquis de Lafayette visited here on his tour of Georgia in 1823 or 1824 but his itinerary doesn’t support this claim. He did, however, pass through the area en route from Augusta to Milledgeville; if he did stop here, the house can be dated to 1823 at the latest. Some have suggested that it is as early as 1803, but until I have better information, I can’t say for sure.  I believe it was built by Anthony Bonnell. Some of this information may be obscured as the Bonnells and the Lovetts were involved in a contentious land feud in the early days.

When viewed from the front, this home has a Plantation Plain appearance, but as can be seen in the top photograph, it has a half-story above the first two and that wasn’t so common to the style. It could be a later modification of a Federal house, or it could be a simple interpretation of the Georgian style.

Thanks to Joe Jeselnik for suggesting this great old house and to Kenneth Dillon Dixon for some of the background information.

General Store, Screven County

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This is located across the road from the Lovett Cemetery. I’m not certain that it was a store.

Seaborn Goodall House, 1815, Jacksonboro

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This iconic home (also known as the Dell-Goodall House) was built by Seaborn Goodall in what was then the Screven County seat of Jacksonboro. Jacksonboro had a reputation as a wild frontier town in those early days, purportedly having more saloons than houses. During what would come to be known as “The Troubles” or “The Jacksonboro Curse”, well-known itinerant Methodist minister Lorenzo Dow came to town in 1821 to bring revival and to preach salvation to the unruly citizens. After having his service suspended by clamorous townsfolk who had spilled out of the saloons with that purpose in mind, he charged into one of the establishments and began to smash whiskey barrels. At that point he was nearly killed by the angry mob but was rescued by Seaborn Goodall who took him to the safety of his house and put him up for the night. As he was leaving town the next day, a mob approached him again but he was allowed to go. As he crossed the bridge over Beaver Dam Creek, he asked God to bring vengeance upon Jacksonboro, with the exception of Mr. Goodall’s home and family. Within a few years, every structure in the once-thriving town was gone except this one.

The house is protected by fencing today and was restored and is owned by the Brier Creek  Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, Sylvania. The information here comes from a brochure they distribute, with a history by C. D. Hollingsworth, Sr. Many thanks to Kenneth Dillon Dixon for making me aware of this wonderful place.

National Register of Historic Places

Saddlebag Farmhouse, Jacksonboro

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This is located near the Seaborn Goodall House. Though I locate it as the Jacksonboro community, it isn’t contemporary to that settlement. Nonetheless, it’s an amazing example of the form.

Nellie Hill House, Sylvania

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Thanks to Tricia Self for the identification. She wrote, in part, that the house was moved in the early 1900s from another site about 500 yards away. It was done with the chimneys still attached and rolled on log rollers guided by a man driving mules. Nothing was packed up, and the plan was to replace anything they needed to, but they say not a thing was broken! Stuart Bragg also relayed the same story, so it must be a well-known local legend.