In an historic African-American cemetery characterized by many sunken graves and damaged markers, the headstone of Rev. J. W. Irwin stands out as a vernacular masterpiece. It’s one of the most unique handmade memorials I’ve encountered anywhere. The poured concrete stone is pierced by four holes, roughly representing the shape of a cross. Rev. Irwin’s name and date of death are handwritten on the surface. I hope to learn more about Rev. Irwin.
This has been a landmark of Tennille for well over a century, and in its present derelict state, has been a source of intrigue for many visitors and photographers over the years. The roof has been gone for a long time but the building appears to be relatively stable. I hope it isn’t left too much longer to the elements. It’s a great resource.
Other marble- or granite-front banks that I’ve photographed have generally dated to circa 1900-1920. I believe this example is granite and dates to the early 1900s; it may have only existed as a bank for a few years, as panics and mismanagement spelled doom for many Georgia financial institutions in the years before the Great Depression.
The two main streets that run through Tennille are separated by, and run parallel to, the railroad tracks. The historic storefronts on the north side, known as North Central Avenue, are pictured above. Just know if you visit Tennille, and you should, that there’s an underpass that will get you around the often-stalled trains of the busy Sandersville Railroad, aka the Kaolin Road. Tax records suggest these structures date to circa 1920, but I wonder if they could be a little older than that.
The old filling stations and garages that helped define America’s evolution into an automobile-centered culture, built from the 1920s-1950s, are getting quite scarce, though many have been repurposed in recent years. This one, with Mission Revival style details, is located right in the middle of downtown Tennille. There’s another historic station adjacent to it, but I was unable to get a photograph. I’m not sure if this was affiliated with a national franchise or just a local business.
Beech* Grove is an historic African-American church near the Irwins Crossroads community of Washington County. I haven’t located any congregational history, but it’s likely a Freedmen church. It was probably built in the early 1900s. A small adjacent cemetery indicates that the Cannida family were its most active members. The oldest member, using this method of identification, was Willie Lee Cannida (1865-1961). The church was active until at least 2011, as I found a church bulletin for a homecoming from that year.
This unusual outbuilding stands near the rear of the church, and was possibly an office or Sunday school room. I first thought it might be a privy, but I don’t think a privy would have windows. A tin-sided privy was actually located beyond this structure. It’s a neat little building, whatever its purpose.
*-Many maps and online sources spell the church “Beach” Grove, but the program I discovered inside used the “Beech” spelling, as in the tree, so I’m going with that.
Georgia is famous for its red dirt roads, and some of the reddest are to be found in counties along the Fall Line. Of course, their beauty hides the danger of traveling upon them after heavy rains. Those who have traveled them in these conditions will understand what I’m talking about. I’m reminded of a time in my early 20s when a bunch of buddies and me were out riding dirt roads and got stuck in the middle of a downpour, miles from town. The first truck that tried to pull us out of the ditch got stuck, and then a tow truck got stuck. The rollback that finally freed us had to be chained to a pine tree to finish the job.
This road, near Bay Springs Methodist Church, looks a lot different since I made this photo in 2018. The pine trees have been cut out. But Deer Hunter still seems an appropriate name.
This is located near Harrison Springs Church and lodge. It may be connected to those properties.
This is a nice example of the saddlebag form, with a slightly taller chimney than most I’ve documented. It also features board-and-batten siding, another common feature of many utilitarian dwellings.
This tenant house was probably one of several on what was once a larger farm, later converted to a pine plantation. The photo dates to 2011 but the house was still standing about a year ago. Housing like this was very common in rural counties, well into the 20th century.
As I continue to edit many of my older posts on Vanishing Georgia, I keep finding surprises in my archive. This was a window shot of a barber shop in Tennille, one of my favorite towns to photograph once I learned I didn’t have to wait for the train all day. This was made in 2010 so I’m not sure the barber shop is still there but I’m sure it’s a well-remembered local landmark.
Sue Burnham writes: Mr Bennie cut my boy’s hair for years. He was even known to walk up the block to our house to get them. He would say he knew those boys needed a haircut. You sure can’t find them like that nowadays. L. Vick remembers: Mr. Bennie Horton cut my hair in that shop for years. It was a one-of-a-kind place that I never left without a smile on my face.