This historic congregation was established in 1894.
Jennings Baptist Church, 1904, Taliaferro County
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Dr. White House, Crawfordville
Every time I’m in Crawfordville I check to make sure this house is still standing. It’s one of my favorite houses in Georgia, though notoriously difficult to photograph. It is essentially a Greek Revival form with Gothic Revival elements.
The only information I’ve been able to gather from locals is that it was the home of Dr. White, and that it’s been empty for many years. I hope someone can save it before it’s too late.
Crawfordville Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Queen Anne House, Crawfordville
This is next door to the colorful Queen Anne shown in the previous post.
Crawfordville Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Relocation of the Paradise Restaurant Sign, Cooperville
Like many other photographers and travelers on US 301, I’ve shot the iconic Paradise Restaurant sign numerous times over the years. It’s a landmark that most who have ever driven past remember fondly. By researching postcards of the restaurant I’ve discovered that a smaller sign preceded this one and was still in use until at least the early 1960s. I’m not sure when this sign was placed, but my guess would be sometime in the 1960s. A comment from Jerry Levy on a previous post about the sign indicates that the restaurant was open as late as 1982.
I recently got a message from Melissa Birmingham stating that the sign would be removed and relocated to the business that she and her husband Greg operate across the highway, the Cooperville Caboose restaurant. I was sad to hear that it would be removed but less so after talking to Melissa. She invited me to come up and document the removal of the sign.
Dollar General bought the property on the corner that includes the historic sign and their plans were to scrap it.
Melissa and Greg knew that the loss of the sign would be a blow to the community and saving it isn’t a publicity stunt.
It’s where preservation and community involvement come together for good results. The Sylvania Telephone (newspaper) and Screven County Chamber of Commerce were present to witness the event.
It looks like the volunteers enjoyed the day, as did I. Melissa sent me packing with great barbecue and slaw.
Log Tenant Farmhouse, Screven County
This amazing survivor is located just outside Sylvania on US 301.
Pyramidal Roof Tenant Farmhouse, Screven County
Few examples of this form survive today. It’s located just outside Sylvania on US 301.
Board-and-Batten Tenant Farmhouse, Screven County
Oak Grove Methodist Church, 1919, Screven County
Oak Grove stands at the end of a lonely dirt road in rural Screven County, not far from the Savannah River and the South Carolina state line. It’s as perfect a setting for such a place as one could imagine. Established in the first generation after slavery, the congregation dates to 1876. The first church built here is now lost to history, but was likely of crude construction. The present structure, which is critically endangered and probably beyond saving, was built in 1919. It was in use until the 1970s or early 1980s. The congregation survives at another location today.
Nothing remains inside the church but the ruins of a York Player Piano. I would advise strongly against entering due to the instability of the structure.
Precinct House, Holt
Besides a precinct house, this was also used as a barber shop. Katherine Griffin recalls: “My Dad, Ed Grantham, used this building to barber for the area farmers on Saturdays until 9: or 10: pm”. These old precinct houses are getting harder to find. I’ve photographed this one many times over the years. Tracie Lott Thacker shared my favorite memory of this place: “My first ever vote was cast right here. I walked down the dirt road and my grandfather Cleon Lott and Aunt Karen Lott were working here that day.“
Hall and Parlor Farmhouse, Holt
I’ve been photographing this old tenant house on Veal Road for nearly ten years and it hasn’t changed a bit. It’s an amazing commentary on the change in construction techniques over the decades. These houses were built “on the cheap” as they were housing for sharecroppers, but even so, they’ve often held up for 60 or 70 years. I can’t imagine today’s prefabricated houses lasting this long.