Soon after I photographed this church, it was torn down. A newer church was built.
Mount Zion Baptist Church, Twiggs County
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Category Archives: –TWIGGS COUNTY GA–
Richland Baptist Church, 1845, Twiggs County
The Georgia Historical Commission marker reads: Richland Baptist Church was constituted October 5, 1811, with 4 male and 8 female members. The first pastor was Rev. Micajah Fulghum. In June 1861 the ladies of this church made and presented a Confederate flag to the Twiggs Guard. Mrs. Isolene Minter Wimberley made the presentation to Sgt. Warren, color bearer of Co. I, 6th Georgia Regiment. During the war the ladies gathered in the church to prepare first aid kits. Doors of the church closed for regular services in 1911. The Richland Restoration League, Inc., was formed in 1928 to preserve this “Landmark of Christianity”.
Historic Richland Church is truly a landmark, both in terms of Christianity in Georgia and as an architectural gem, built between 1843-45. It’s one of only a few churches in the Piedmont containing a slave gallery that I have documented.
Except for the slave gallery, it’s very similar in style to Mount Zion Presbyterian Church in Hancock County. Apparently, its builder also constructed some of Twiggs County’s historic plantation houses, a few of which are still standing today. Luckily, the Richland Restoration League, which oversees the site today, is very active and keeps a watchful eye over the place. Vandalism in recent years has led to more diligence, including regular law enforcement patrols, but that is unfortunately a problem for many such historic places. I’ve never been able to understand why anyone would disturb a place of worship.
Part of the historic cemetery is located in the churchyard and the remaining gravesites are located across the road. Many pioneer families of the area are represented within its boundaries.
I’d like to thank Billy Humphries, a trustee of the church, for allowing me to publish these images. He has a real passion for its history and has been very helpful. The church is not open to the public though it is still used by descendants for homecoming and other services. For more information, please visit Historic Richland Church.
National Register of Historic Places
Dame’s Hardware, Danville
Jane Davidson Kirksey states that this was once Edgar Maxwell’s general store, but apparently, it’s better remembered as Grady Dame’s hardware store.
Wimberly’s Store, Danville
Thanks to John Holliday for the identification.
Shannon Building, 1920, + WPA Gymnasium, 1935, Jeffersonville
Better known as the home of J. E. Beck & Son Hardware (established 1945), the building was built by a Mr. Shannon in 1920. In the distance is the old WPA-built city gymnasium. According to Billy Humphries, it will soon be restored and used as a a theater/opry house. Jean Clements also notes that for a time after the Jeffersonville school building burned in the late 1940s, it was used as the temporary grammar school.
Railroad Street, Jeffersonville
Running parallel to Georgia Highway 80, Railroad Street is the “main drag” in Jeffersonville.
Confederate Monument, 1911, Jeffersonville
This monument’s location away from the courthouse was long a source of controversy. When I photographed it, it was still located on Georgia Highway 80 across from the courthouse. Russ Huffman and Tommy Fountain, with the help of the Lt. James T. Woodard SCV Camp 1399 worked for at least a decade to have it moved to the courthouse lawn. Billy Humphries writes: The Confederate statue has now been moved and prominently placed on courthouse square, thanks to efforts by the SCV (Son’s of Confederate Veterans) who raised funds to move numerous confederate statues and monuments to more secure and more appropriate locations. Regarding Peggy Anderson’s comments…… the disagreement over placement of the monument was reportedly over a disagreement between families who lost sons to the war and a family or families who did not send their son’s but supported the war effort with supplies and money. Both were important, of course, but the argument of a spilled blood sacrifice prevailed over a sacrifice of money to support the war…. So, the courthouse lost a statue at the turn of the century…. 100 years later the statue now has a more respectable resting place. At least this is the local legend. It is fact, not legend, that the names on the statue are all those of white soldiers.
The text of the monument, located on all four sides, is thus: To the Twiggs County Soldiers and Those who Sacrificed All to Establish the Independence of the South 1861 – 1865; Twiggs Volunteers – Capt. Jas. Folsom – 4th Ga. Reg.; Twiggs Guards – Capt. Jas. Barclay – 6th Ga. Reg.; Faulk Invincibles – Capt. E. S. Griffin – 26th Ga. Reg.; Slappey Guards – Capt. U. A. Rice – 48th Ga. Reg.
Gay Wood Company, Jeffersonville
Macon, Dublin & Savannah Railroad Depot, 1904, Jeffersonville
This is now restored and used as the city hall and police department. The Macon & Dublin Railroad was chartered in 1885 and withing a few years Savannah was added to the name to attract investors. Since the Central of Georgia already ran to Savannah, albeit via a more northerly route, the main attraction of the MD&S was a more direct route to Savannah, passing through Vidalia. This distinction earned the shortline the nickname “The Vidalia Route”. And Vidalia was the end of the line for the railroad, as it never made it to Savannah. The Atlantic Coast Line took over the MD&S in 1904. Luckily, Jeffersonville was historic-minded enough to save this rare relic.
Family & Children Service Mural, Jeffersonville
This cheerful and optimistic mural is an unlikely landmark, but it’s definitely become one in Jeffersonville