Tag Archives: Georgia Livestock

Sicilian Donkeys: Ossabaw Island’s Beloved Invaders

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Free-ranging miniature Sicilian Donkeys in front of the Boarding House on Ossabaw Island, Georgia.

The free-roaming miniature Sicilian Donkeys that have become a symbol of Ossabaw Island were introduced by Sandy West as a gift for her son in 1965.

A miniature Sicilian Donkey on Ossabaw Island.

With no natural predators on the island, the donkey herd grew to over a hundred individuals by the late 1990s.

Miniature Sicilian Donkey in the tabby smokehouse on Ossabaw Island, Georgia.

In the year 2000, a state management plan declared the donkeys an invasive species and the majority of the herd was relocated through adoption to locations on the mainland.

A pair of Ossabaw Island's miniature Sicilian Donkeys inside a barn.


Today, only about eight donkeys remain on the island. They have been sterilized to prevent future expansion of the herd, but the survivors are loved by all who are lucky enough to visit Ossabaw. They are usually very curious and greet visitors soon after their arrival. They often seek shade in the old tabby smokehouse.

Two miniature Sicilian Donkeys on Ossabaw Island.

You can help support the herd by adopting one of the donkeys, through the Ossabaw Island Foundation.

Wingate Mule Barn, Circa 1940, Lax

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Interior of an abandoned wooden barn, featuring exposed beams, a wooden floor with some decay, and an open doorway leading to a view of greenery outside.

This long-abandoned barn is part of a group of tin-sided structures in “downtown” Lax that were part of the Wingate family’s turpentine and farming operations in the 20th century. This particular structure served as the mule barn, and as this view of the loft would indicate, is in its final days. Thanks to Quint Wingate for the historical background and to Jerry Youghn for suggesting I document it. I’ll share more of these structures soon.

An old, weathered barn at Lax, Georgia, made of corrugated metal and wood, with partially open sides, surrounded by green grass and trees under a partly cloudy blue sky.

Pearson House, Circa 1850, Tattnall County

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This historic home is located in the Altamaha community. According to Kent Pearson, “Laurence Pearson (1831-1911), a carpenter and joiner, did indeed build the house which was owned and occupied by four generations of the Pearson family. Laurence was the son of John Pearson (1777-1857) of Pennsylvania, who established the family in Tattnall County in the early 1800’s. John built the first sawmill in the area on Slaughter Creek when he purchased a 1000 acre parcel of virgin timber land in 1832 for the princely sum of $1,200, where the family homestead and farm were located. Laurence’s brother, John (Jr), was also a carpenter. Between them, they built a number of houses in the area. And according to John P. Rabun, Jr., John Pearson and George Merriman built a Greek Revival courthouse in Reidsville in 1857.“

The house is presently part of Red Earth Farm. Another notable Pearson House is located just down the road.

Calf Barn & Maternity Ward, Butler Island Plantation, 1935

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Butler Island Plantation, Real Photo Postcard, 1935. Collection of Brian Brown.

After many years of decline, the historic lands and waterways of Butler Island, just south of Darien, were purchased and modernized by Col. Tillinghast L’Hommedieu (T. L.) Huston, in 1926. A dairy was part of the Butler Island Plantation enterprise before it was converted to an iceberg lettuce farm, and some of the dairy structures were maintained throughout Huston’s ownership. This barn and other related buildings have been gone for decades, but may have still been in use when R. J. Reynolds purchased the property after Huston’s death in 1938.

This real photo postcard, dated Tues. Apr. 16, 1935 wasn’t mailed, but features a somewhat exaggerated, tongue-in-cheek message on the reverse: “Near border of Georgia & Florida. Air fresh & fragrant with blossoms. Cattle have free range in this state & receive excellent attention, as card shows. Autos barely escape colliding with hogs, cows, chickens, dogs, turtles, etc. on the highways.” It isn’t signed.

Southern Swiss Dairy, Burke County

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I was born at the tail-end of the era of home milk delivery and therefore, had never tasted “fresh” milk. After reading an article by Damon Lee Fowler about Southern Swiss Dairy, I decided it was time to try it for myself.

I liked what I read about Jimmy and Ginny Franks, who during the economic downturn of the late 2000s decided to transform their cattle operation into a commercial dairy that would focus on non-homogenized low-pasteurized milk, with no use of growth hormones. They also sell butter, ice cream, beef, and fresh eggs. Southern Swiss Dairy has been in business since 2010.

They source their milk from these wonderful Brown Swiss cows, which are among the top milk-producing breeds. Besides productivity, the Brown Swiss are just happier cows than most. They’re friendly, even.

Southern Swiss Dairy wasn’t the easiest place to find, and though they sell most of their product in retail locations, I wanted to see the cows myself. I could tell that Ginny Franks was busy when we pulled up to the dairy office but she was very welcoming. This isn’t one of those “tourist farms” that source their products from all over the place and call it local, but a place where what you see is what you get. And there are a lot of those “tourist farms” around the state.

We bought some whole and chocolate milk and some fresh butter and I’m impressed with the taste, which is slightly different than what I’m used to. But more importantly, I have a new appreciation for the hard work and dedication that goes into making milk. The dairying life is a hard one and at Southern Swiss Dairy, it’s obvious that it’s a labor of love.

Hitching Horses at Parker’s, Surrency

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I made this photograph in 2010 and somehow forgot all about it until working on my archives today. It’s quite unusual to see a horse being hitched at a convenience store, though I’m sure Surrency once had more than its fair share of horses. These young men even made sure to “park” the horses within the marked parking spaces.

Coley House, Circa 1842, Bleckley County

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I was very eager to find this house after being made aware of it by Cindy McDonald Swartz, who lives in nearby Goldsboro. I can’t thank her enough for sending me here. This historic property was built by Alcanah (Cain) Robert Coley [sometimes published as Alcainan] (1808 or 1818-1868) & Martha Dikes Coley (1818-1897) and used at times as a travelers’ inn. After changing hands several times, the house is now owned by Alan Johnson, who operates a restaurant here called “Fritters”. Signs on the fence leading to the home suggest they have the best fried green tomatoes in Georgia, as well as local wines and fried Moon Pies.

The house was destroyed by fire in September 2015.

When I was standing by the fence photographing the house, this beautiful Gypsy Vanner horse met me with a friendly greeting and made for a wonderful shot.