This is one of several important vernacular houses in Gardi. This example appears to have originated as a single-pen form, with an added small wing. The wing has the unusual convenience of its own door opening to the porch.
I’ve noticed this neat handmade sign many times driving between Jesup and Brunswick over the years, but until recently had never seen the associated church. Thanks to Pastor Evelyn Jackson, the first woman to lead the congregation, for making me aware of this interesting place and for sharing its history.
Pastor Jackson writes: “The Smith Grove Baptist Church was…organized in…1923 and named after its founder, the Rev. Squire Q. Smith and his wife Hattie Smith. He served as Pastor from 1923-1928. He passed away in 1928. The church was originally a wood structure.“
“The [present] church building was constructed by two former Pastors who are now deceased. I became the first female pastor in May of 2003. Renovations have been done in the sanctuary and kitchen area since I became the Pastor. The church membership is small and the members are the descendants of Rev. Squire Q. Smith.”
“Additionally, there is a history of well-known singers who originated with this family. There was first The West Sisters. They were the granddaughters of Rev. Smith. Then The West Singers, which were a combination of the original sisters and nieces. They no longer sing together.”
“The Mighty Fives originated with the sons of the West Sisters. They started as youth singing all over the area. They are now in their fifties and still singing occasionally.”
The church has services on Second Sundays at 11AM.
This little building was home to a ceramics studio known as the Nancy Fore Ceramics Cottage. Nancy Fore (1911-1994) was the wife of beekeeper Troy Fore, Sr. (1907-1976) who owned the Altamaha Apiaries and the iconic “Fancy Honey” building around the corner.
This was the home of the Fore family who owned the beloved “Fancy Honey” building next door.
The core of this house is an outstanding example of what I believe to be a late-19th-century hall-and-parlor cottage. It has been expanded and modified as have other examples of vernacular houses in Gardi, but the original house is a representative example. It also includes a preacher room that appears to have been turned into a sleeping porch at some point.
This was a new discovery for me yesterday. It’s obviously a general store, judging by the form, and has long been closed. The middle of the building is sagging so badly that my initial though was that it won’t be around much longer, but it has likely looked like this for a long time. They don’t build them like this anymore.
This expanded central hallway cottage features a vernacular Craftsman portico and shed garages on both sides.
I photographed this structure circa 2012 and I believe it was on Georgia Highway 23 near McKinnon. My best guess is that it was either an African-American schoolhouse or a voting precinct.
I’ve been updating my Wayne County photographs and discovered this 2012 photo of a cabin near the entrance to Paradise Park, on the Altamaha River. It’s probably the oldest structure still standing at the site.
This barn is a landmark near the Reedy Creek Restaurant, west of Jesup. I think it has recently been painted red and I’ll try to get an updated photograph.
I photographed this shotgun house on Georgia Highway 169 in 2012. It was still standing a few years ago.