This is a nice example of the saddlebag form, with a slightly taller chimney than most I’ve documented. It also features board-and-batten siding, another common feature of many utilitarian dwellings.
My identification of this structure is tentative. It is very similar to many precinct houses I’ve photographed throughout the state.
The Four Points community is a crossroads in Jenkins County, dominated by Elam Baptist Church and its large historic cemetery. There was never a post office here and it’s hard to find on a map, but ask a local where Four Points is located and they’ll gladly point you in the right direction. Undoubtedly, there are other places in the state which are known as Four Points. It’s a common geographical identifier.
This structure near New Daniels Baptist Church is a bit of a mystery to me. There are remnants of old signs on the front but they are unreadable.
The signs made me think of a store or commissary, but the layout of the structure doesn’t necessarily support that. It has been patched at some point and it’s hard to ascertain whether what looks like a door on the gable end was actually a window. If a door, it would certainly be akin to store/commissary design.
The ruins of another structure across the road definitely have a commercial appearance.
Houses of this type are generally identified as tenant properties, though many likely began as starter homes for small farmers. As the farms evolved, they may have been repurposed as housing for sharecroppers or other tenants. This isn’t to say that scores of these weren’t built specifically for tenant use, but it’s important to point out that not all were originally built for that purpose. It’s impossible to pinpoint without knowing the specific history of a property, but something to consider when recording such places.
Though it is one of the smaller Crawfordite meeting houses I’ve documented, Spring Hill remains an active congregation.
I’m grateful to Brittany Ragan for bringing it to my attention and for sharing the locations of other Crawfordite churches.
All of the Crawfordite meeting houses have a similar style, most notable in their primitive board-and-batten architecture, but each has distinct elements. Enon is a very “long” church, when taking its layout into consideration. It overlooks a beautiful piece of farmland and has expansive views of the surrounding area. It is still an active congregation. Thanks to member Brittany Mixon Ragan for sharing.
Though this congregation no longer holds regular services, their meeting house and cemetery are well-maintained.
I still hope that these important resources will one day be collectively added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The interiors of these wonderful structures are just as “plain” as their exteriors.
Though I’ve photographed nearly a dozen of these meeting houses, it always impresses me to see that the emphasis isn’t on decoration but on creating a place where the service is the primary focus.
This was beloved author Alice Walker‘s home during much of her childhood. Her parents worked the farm and she drew inspiration from all around.
This house originated as a central hallway form but was later expanded into a gabled-ell.
Like most vernacular forms, this once-common rural house type is rapidly vanishing from the landscape.
This was likely a turpentine commissary or general store, based on the floor plan.