Pope Park, 1910, Sylvester

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Georgia is lucky to have three landmark minor league parks dating to the 1920s [Golden Park in Columbus (1926); Grayson Stadium in Savannah(1926); and Luther Williams Field in Macon (1929)], but none is as old as Sylvester’s historic Pope Park. It’s been in continuous use as a baseball venue since 1910.

Named for Colonel John D. Pope, it has hosted amateur, semi-pro, American Legion and county league teams throughout its history. It’s presently home to the Worth County Rams high school team. The wooden grandstand is a rare sight in the modern era of baseball and is the centerpiece of Pope Park. The property is maintained jointly by the City of Sylvester and Worth County High School.

Gordon Motor Court, Circa 1950, Sylvester

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This was one of numerous motor courts along busy U.S. Highway 82 built between the 1930s and early 1960s. The wrought iron posts are obviously later additions, as they aren’t visible in the vintage postcard, below. Dr. Gordon Davis III writes: Gordon Motor Court opened in approximately 1950-1951. My family still owns the property. We closed the “motor court” in the 70’s after I-75 opened completely from Detroit to Tampa. Was named for my grandfather, Gordon Davis, Sr., my father, Gordon Davis, Jr., and me, Gordon Davis, III. Many fond memories !

Linen postcard, circa 1951. Courtesy The Tichnor Brothers Collection, Boston Public Library.

Hall and Parlor Cottage, Surrency

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Other than the addition of a front porch, this house appears to be in original condition.

Central Hallway Cottage, Surrency

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Double-Pen Tenant House, Evans County

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An old, rustic wooden cabin with a corrugated metal roof, surrounded by greenery and tall grass.

I think this was a originally a double-pen cottage, changed in appearance by the addition of a preacher’s room.

Woodland, 1877, Wheeler County

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Passing through rural Wheeler County from Lumber City (Telfair) to Alamo, one cannot miss this Eclectic Victorian with Carpenter Gothic details. An exquisite two-story arcade (not visible in this photograph) connects the main section of the house to a rear addition. More than one friend has commented over the years that the sight of the house stopped them in their tracks. It is a standout in South Georgia, out of place in a landscape most characterized by simple vernacular dwellings.

McArthur Family, vintage photograph courtesy Elizabeth Chancellor

The McArthur family owned portions of the land around the house beginning in 1827. From the shambles of the cotton economy Walter T. McArthur (1837-1894) developed his father’s farmland into a thriving timber plantation and completed Woodland in 1877, the year of his father’s death. A Captain Renwick and Johnus Thormaholon are listed as the architects/builders. Walter was a Confederate veteran and served in the Georgia legislature from 1868-1871. His son Douglas later maintained and managed the property. It was sold in 1917 to Emory Winship (1872-1932). Winship was a career naval officer from a prominent Macon family and primarily used the house as a hunting lodge during his ownership.

The property is currently on the market.

National Register of Historic Places

McArthur House, Circa 1830s, Wheeler County

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Situated behind the iconic Woodland plantation house is this amazing survivor, an enclosed dogtrot thought to have been built by the first McArthur family member to settle here; their ownership of the land dates to 1827. It is possibly the oldest house in Wheeler County. After use as a storage shed for many years, it was restored in 1993.