Savannah Avenue Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
English Vernacular Revival Cottage, 1935, Statesboro
Leave a reply
Category Archives: Statesboro GA
Crackerhurst, 1887, Statesboro
Greene S. Johnston was a prominent attorney and mayor of Statesboro. A marker on the home notes a construction date of 1887, but the Neoclassical appearance it exhibits today dates to 1914. My assumption is that the original house was simply modified by the addition of the porch and portico. The Johnston family lived here until 1960 and it was used as a funeral home for many years thereafter. It is now a law office.
Dr. Madison Monroe Holland House, 1888, Statesboro
This was built as a one-story house but was expanded by Dr. Madison Monroe Holland (1860-1914) Holland in 1908 to accommodate his medical practice. Statesboro didn’t have a hospital at the time and the house served that purpose. Holland was one of Statesboro’s first doctors and briefly owned the Statesboro Drug Store, as well.
National Register of Historic Places
Jaeckel Hotel, 1905, Statesboro
Opened by German immigrant Gustave Jaeckel, this hotel was a showplace in early 20th century Statesboro, hosting celebrities like Henry Ford, William Jennings Bryan and Cornelius Vanderbilt. After closing in the late 1960s, it was acquired by the city of Statesboro in the 1990s and renovated for use as City Hall.
Blind Willie McTell played here when he lived in Statesboro. The Thomson native and iconic bluesman wrote many blues standards but is best known for his “Statesboro Blues” (famously covered by the Allman Brothers Band).
The beautiful AAA hotel neon was restored in 2012 by the Bulloch County Historical Society and the Jack N. & Addie D. Averitt Foundation.
East Main Commercial Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Preetorius Building, 1910, Statesboro
This structure is next door to the Emma Kelly Theater. It is said to have been built by Hall Preetorius (1893-1948), but he would have only been seventeen years old at the time. Perhaps it was built by his father, William Stevens Preetorius, Sr. (1863-1939).
East Main Commercial Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Emma Kelly Theater, 1936, Statesboro
Originally known as the Georgia Theater, this Art Deco landmark is now part of the Averitt Center for the Arts and was renamed in honor of musical icon Emma Kelly, the “Lady of 6,000 Songs”. The late Mrs. Kelly is known to wider audiences for her cameo role in the movie Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, based on John Berendt’s best-selling book of the same name. See schedules here.
East Main Commercial Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Bank of Statesboro Building, 1911
One of the city’s most recognizable icons, the old Bank of Statesboro building is now home to the David H. “Hal” Averitt Center for the Arts. Mr. Averitt was a longtime member of the Statesboro City Council and later served as Mayor. His family’s foundations are actively involved in promoting the arts and history in Bulloch County and have marked and preserved many sites that would otherwise have been forgotten.
The curved shape of the building will get your attention, but even more extraordinary to me is the monumental arch which serves as the main entrance.
East Main Commercial Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Mathews Building, 1920, Statesboro
East Main Commercial Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Commercial Block, Statesboro
Though I haven’t identified it yet, I would guess this structure dates to the late 19th or early 20th century. Like much of Statesboro’s historic downtown, it has been renovated for modern use.
East Main Commercial Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Blitch Building, Statesboro
Directly across North Main Street from the courthouse is the wonderful Blitch Building. Like its neighbor to the immediate south (left) it features fanlights.
North Main Commercial Historic District, National Register of Historic Places