The Baptists organized in Augusta around 1817 and built their first church home at this site in 1821. In that structure, the Southern Baptist Convention was established in 1845. This structure, designed by architect Willis Franklin Denny and built in 1902, served the congregation until 1975. It has been home to other churches over the years.
Greene Street Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
This was designed by Louisville native and prominent architect Willis Franklin Denny II (1874-1905).
Hartwell Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was established in 1854, the same year the town was founded. The congregation first met in the temporary courthouse, then in the first brick courthouse, until local contractor John R. Kay built their first permanent home in 1859. It was the only church in Hartwell until after the Civil War and was shared with the Baptists and Presbyterians, as well. I presume the congregation outgrew the old frame church, as the present structure, built utilizing a design of Atlanta architect Willis F. Denny, was erected in 1897. It remains in use as Hartwell First United Methodist Church.
National Register of Historic Places
Designed by Louisville native son Willis Franklin Denny, a famed architect of his time with many surviving structures in Atlanta and Augusta to his credit on the National Register of Historic Places, the current Jefferson County Courthouse was built on the site of the old state capitol.
The historic marker for the old state capitol reads: Georgia’s Capitol was on this site (1794-1807). Colonists on the coast had urged a location on higher ground “with good drinking water”. The famous constitutional convention of 1798 was held here and the document then adopted lasted for 70 years. Georgia’s Great Seal, still in use, was adopted here in 1799. Governors who served here were Jared Irwin, James Jackson, David Emanuel, Josiah Tattnall and John Milledge.
Another marker regarding the Yazoo Fraud reads: The notorious “Yazoo Fraud” act was passed and later repealed in the old state capitol that stood here 1794-1807. The 1794 Georgia legislature sold 35,000,000 acres of land along the Yazoo River in what is now Alabama and Mississippi at 1 1/2 cents per acre. James Jackson resigned as U. S. Senator to run for the Georgia legislature and urge repeal of the Yazoo act. He succeeded in 1796. The act itself and all records of it were burned on the grounds here “with fire from heaven” aided by a sunglass. The U. S. Supreme Court upheld the land sales. Congress paid Georgia $1,250,000 for the Yazoo territory (1802), then paid the land buyers $4,000,000 (1810). The land went into the new states of Alabama and Mississippi.
This fine Victorian home was designed by Atlanta architect Willis F. Denny for Charles Robert West. Linton West, an attorney and Cuthbert mayor, also lived in the house with his wife, as well as his sister, Mrs. M. R. Knighton.
Cuthbert Historic District, National Register of Historic Places