Built in 1904, this structure was home to Jersey’s only bank until the Great Depression brought on its failure in 1931. It was organized by Josiah Blasingame, Sr., a prominent landowner and merchant who served as the first postmaster and first mayor of Jersey. It was used for storage until the early 1980s and was later used as a dental office.
National Register of Historic Places
Though it is now used as the Jersey Community Building, I believe this stone-veneer storefront was originally a general store. Besides the Bank of Jersey, it is the only surviving commercial structure from the early days of Jersey. It has been nicely preserved and its continued use speaks to the quality of its construction. It likely dates to the first decade of the 20th century.
An historical survey in 1992 dated this structure to 1919 but I believe that to be incorrect. The canopy on the front porch and the exposed roof beams, Craftsman features, were likely added to the building in 1919, when this style was very popular. But the overall massing, and the high windows along the side and front [barely visible under the edge of the canopy] would indicate a date earlier than 1919. Since it has been used as a post office, and the post office in Gratis was only open from 1893-1902, that’s also a hint that it was likely built in the 1890s.
Just outside Good Hope is a row of three or four tenant houses standing in the woods beside a country road, likely part of a large farming operation at one time, though I can’t confirm. One has been sided with plywood and painted in bright colors.
They all seem beyond saving at this point
I believe this Georgia granite-sided building was once a store. The sign on the side leaves no doubt as to where you are. By the way, there isn’t really as much of a difference in the color of the stones as these two photos would indicate. The sun was really bright on the front of the store as was fairly late in the day when I was passing through Good Hope.
This is located at the center of the Good Hope community, across the road from the Good Hope General Store. I will update when I can identify it.
This old schoolhouse is a wonderful survivor of the Good Hope community.
With a twin in Sparta, the Walton County Courthouse is one of my favorites. Designed by the firm of Bruce & Morgan, it originally featured a more ornate clock tower, which was lost during a storm and replaced in 1910.
National Register of Historic Places
Monroe Commercial Historic District, National Register of Historic Places