This is a nice example of the Colonial Revival style, quite formal for a town the size of Climax.
Colonial Revival House, 1935, Climax
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Mary Lizzie Harrell Boarding House, 1914, Climax
Built as a residence by a Mr. Allen, this house was located along the railroad tracks when this section of Southwest Georgia was experiencing its first major agribusiness and timber boom. It was sold to Mary Lizzie Harrell [Mrs. T. J. Harrell] in the 1920s and would have been the de facto hotel in Climax. Women, who were limited in employment opportunities at the time, often operated such establishments, as was the case with this property.
It was also identified as the Harrell House and the Wingback Hotel. Mrs. Harrell was known for her home-cooked meals, much appreciated by the railroaders passing through Climax. Most of the structure is original, but the front porch is a replacement.
Eclectic Victorian House, 1886, Cairo
This house is a bit difficult to identify as to one style or another. The high-pitched gables are reminiscent of the Gothic Revival but the overall massing of the house doesn’t really fit into that style. I had a nice talk with the owner, who noted the house had been enlarged earlier in its history.
English Vernacular Revival Cottage, Cairo
Prairie Style House, Cairo
This house is located beside First Baptist Church on North Broad Street. It’s a hybrid of the Prairie Style [popular between circa 1900-1920 and popularized by Frank Lloyd Wright] and American Foursquare, known as “Prairie Box”.
Eclectic Victorian Cottage, 1913, Cairo
A good example of the pervasiveness of the Victorian aesthetic well beyond the era itself, this is one of the nicest historic homes remaining on North Broad Street and has been renovated in recent years.
Old Post Office, Circa 1935, Cairo
The old post office in Cairo was built during the New Deal and has the characteristic architecture of the era. While some post offices of the time were built in the Neoclassical Revival style, this one is Stripped Classical, meaning, essentially, a “flatter” interpretation of Neoclassical.
An Art Deco patriotic shield is located above the entryway.
A mural by Paul L. Gill, entitled “Products of Grady County” was originally located in the post office but is now in the Grady County History Museum, just down the street.
Cairo Commercial Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Commercial Block, Cairo
This is one of several commercial “blocks” located on South Broad Street. It was once home to Mobley Furniture and Appliances.
Cairo Commercial Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Bishop’s Jewelry, 1948, Cairo
Bill and Evelyn Lett Bishop established Bishop’s Jewelry in 1948, and operated for 51 years. They sold it to their nephew, Mark Bishop, in 1999, and it remains one of the anchors of the downtown historic district. Most small towns had a jewelry store like this when I was growing up.
Cairo Commercial Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Citizens Bank, 1908, Cairo
The Citizens Bank is one of the finest structures in the downtown historic district, defined by its narrow Neoclassical Revival facade. Many banks of the early 20th century embraced this style. Most examples are clad in marble or limestone. I believe this one is limestone.
Cairo Commercial Historic District, National Register of Historic Places