Category Archives: Tifton GA

Branch’s Market, 1948, Tifton

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Here’s yet another South Georgia landmark about to be lost to “progress”. Streamline Moderne architecture, characterized by curving forms and long horizontal lines, is akin to Art Deco and has been disappearing nearly as fast as our tobacco barns and country stores. [Thanks to Lew Oliver for correctly identifying this form for me]. Since it doesn’t have the same aesthetic, it’s harder to drum up widespread preservation support, or even interest for that matter. But it’s a highly endangered form in our area. A preservationist friend recently made me aware that the razing of this structure was imminent; even though it was a hard fought battle, the local preservation group relented and has allowed the tear-down to move forward.

Buddy Bryan, who first identified this for me in 2010, wrote: “This old market on the corner of Central Avenue and Second Street was originally owned by Buster Branch during the late ’40s and 50′s and known as Branch’s Market.” It wasn’t the first supermarket in Tifton, though, as I had originally thought. Matt Brown writes: The first super market in Tifton was the A & P Super Market… The A & P was located on 3rd Street across from Lang Printing. The building was completed and the A & P opened in the summer on 1947. Branch’s Market opened in 1948. I know these facts because my father, uncle and grandfather were the contractor’s that built the A & P food store…W P Brown & Sons. The building is still in use today and through the 70’s, 80’s and early 90’s was home to the Goodyear Tire & Service Center.

This view shows the Second Street side of the building, as well as the old South Georgia Ice Company. I think the ice company took over the market building at one point, as well.

Update: Branch’s Market was razed in 2014.

 

South Georgia Ice Company, Tifton

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Though it was attached to the old Branch’s Market building and most Tiftonites called this whole corner “the ice plant”, the two were actually separate businesses at one time. The historic Ice Company building was razed along with Branch’s Market. Christian Rogers noted in a comment in 2010, “It was used as an ice plant for years. (As late as mid-90s.) You could drive up and put a dollar in the machine and it would deliver a block of ice on a conveyor belt.”

Georgia Museum of Agriculture, Tifton

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Abba Masonic Lodge No. 550 F. & A. M. [Original Location: Abba, Irwin County]

Formerly known as the Agrirama, the Georgia Museum of Agriculture has been given a renewed sense of purpose by the folks at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC). If you’ve never been, or if you just haven’t been in a while, please stop by when you’re in Tifton. It’s definitely time well spent.

Abba Lodge No. 550 F. & A. M. [Original Location: Abba, Irwin County]

This was the lodge room of Abba Lodge No. 550, F. & A. M.

Henry Harding Tift House, 1887

The Tift-Willingham House, originally located in Tifton proper, was the home of the city’s founder and namesake, Connecticut native Henry Harding Tift (1841-1922).

Henry Harding Tift House, 1887

This was the dining room of the Tift House.

Montezuma AB &A Depot, 1905 [Original Location: Montezuma, Macon County]

This old Atlanta Birmingham & Atlantic depot was moved from Montezuma and rebuilt here.

Vulcan Iron Works Steam Locomotive

This is the only regularly operated steam engine in Georgia, though it usually only runs on weekends.

Sandhill School, Circa 1895 [Original Location: Near Ty Ty, Georgia]

The Sandhill School is a bit larger than many rural schoolhouses but still a good representative example.

Wesley Chapel, 1882 [Original Location: Acree, Dougherty County]

As you’ve likely observed if you’re a regular follower of this website, this is a very typical form for rural churches in late-19th-century South Georgia.

Benjamin Cravey House, 1877, Child’s bedroom. [Original Location: Inaha, Turner County]

If you love the story of life in the rural South as much as I do, you’ll love the Georgia Museum of Agriculture. Professionals and volunteers at this venerable living history museum do a wonderful job of interpreting the era so fundamental to the development of South Georgia as we know it today. Just make sure you visit their website for rates and schedules. The train generally runs on weekends and is always a favorite with young visitors, and the young at heart.

 

Town Terrace Motel, Tifton

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Built in the 1940s, this was originally known as Van Gundy’s Motor Court (sometimes called the Pink Motel). It was owned and operated by Violet Van Gundy and her brother Jack. Mrs. Van Gundy, who died in 2010, played “Baby Violet” on some of the Our Gang (Little Rascals) shows. According to comments, their mother Virginia, also lived with them and there was another sibling, Mildred. The pool which everyone so fondly recalls has been filled in, but otherwise the property remains largely unchanged.

Carlton McDonald writes: I lived seven years with Vi and Jack, managed the motel. We would go out to eat just about every night as Vi loved to eat. Vi was the most tantalizing person I’ve ever known, her smile would light up any room. She was a very Christian lady, always helping someone-I was very fortunate to have known her.

Tim Cooper: I often went swimming there and got to know Vi and her brother well.. Very nice people. She told me about living in Hollywood and how it wasn’t the same now as it was back then.. it was peaceful there and I always enjoyed the music.

Steve: Swam there often in the summer and often would cover the office checking in guests so they could go out and eat! They always were “snappy” dressers and always happy.

Kimberley Stewart: As a teenager, I would also watch over the office while they ate, ran errands, in return they let me use the pool. broke my heart when pool was filled in. Great memories.

Sharlene: We lived there in 1981 for a week while our pipes were being fixed. They were both very nice people. I was a waitress in my early 20’s and late teens, they always came into the Golden Coral, sat at the same place. Always smiling and friendly. I loved to chat with them. The motel is now apartments. Great memories.

In 2019, there were plans to demolish the property to make way for apartments but that plan fell through when citizens opposed the zoning request.

In 2019, the Pink Motel was transformed into the Kentucky Star Motel and used as a set location for the film, The Tiger Rising. It was released to generally lackluster reviews and earnings in 2022. The production was also plagued with charges of crew not being paid during or after filming.

Tifton Residential Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Elias Branch Farmhouse, Tift County

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Thanks to Harriett Lawrence for the identification. Harriet’s grandfather, Jehu Branch, was the brother of the home’s owner. The family still owns and farms the land today.

Over time, the elements have exposed the original shake shingles.

Update: As of late 2016, this house is gone.

 

Tift Theatre, 1937, Tifton

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The multi-colored Carrara-glass facade make the Tift Theatre one of the most recognizable buildings in Tifton and its restoration is a real success story. It’s style is technically Art Moderne, a late variant of Art Deco. The venue is a centerpiece for the Tifton arts community and schedules for shows and events can be found here.

Tifton Commercial Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

 

Lockeby Building, 1937, Tifton

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This was home to Loel’s Dime Store for a time. Someone also recalled that it was the G. C. Murphy Store. Regardless of its tenants over the years, it’s one of the most outstanding Art Deco landmarks in South Georgia.

Tifton Commercial Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Tifton Coca-Cola Bottling Works, Circa 1936

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Elberton, Swainsboro, and Brunswick all have Coca-Cola buildings very similar to Tifton’s (likely designed by the same architect), which now houses a doctor’s office.

Tifton Commercial Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Cotton Mill Girls, Tifton, 1909

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Photograph by Lewis Hine; Courtesy of the Library of Congress. Public Domain

Lewis W. Hine‘s  (1874 – 1940) photographs are credited with bringing to the national consciousness the plight of child laborers in early twentieth century America. Social historians consider these images a major influence on much-needed child labor reform.

Lake Say Hi!, Circa 1947, Tifton

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It’s hard for some to imagine what an icon of Tift County that this sign is, but if you’re from the area, you understand. Traveling from Tifton to Moultrie on US 319, you just expect to see this sign. According to Don Dorminey: The bottom was an old gas station sign and my Dad got someone to cut out a horse from a pattern he had, the same horse design that was used by riding establishments in Highlands, NC, and Savannah from which the name of the lake was based. The sign was erected on site approximately 1948.

Mark Holloway recalled something that many from the area will relate to: I am from Moultrie, Ga. and as a boy, I remember every single trip to Tifton to see my Aunt Betty and Uncle Vernon Ray. We would always have the window on that side down so we could stick our arms out, wave and “say hi”! We always knew we were getting close when we saw the sign! I’m 48 years old now and still go to Tifton on the same road as then., I still wave and “say hi” when I go by! What wonderful, sweet memories the old sign brings every time I go past!

The sign is repainted about every two  years and was recently removed while road work was being done, but it’s there otherwise. I think it’s wonderful that the Dorminey family has kept this landmark alive over all these years.