Typical of New Deal architecture, the old North Georgia College (now the University of North Georgia) library was built by the Federal Works Agency and is now used for classrooms, I believe.
Taylor County’s Neoclassical/Colonial Revival courthouse was funded by the Civil Works Administration, part of Roosevelt’s New Deal. Significantly, it was designed by Frederick Roy Duncan (1864-1947) an architect from nearby Columbus, known for work on the Gatun Power Plant on the Panama Canal in 1910, as well as public buildings in Columbus and various structures at Fort Benning. This courthouse replaced Taylor County’s first courthouse, on the same location. It was built in 1852 and stood until 1934, when it was torn down using convict labor.
National Register of Historic Places
This home was built for the Carver family by the Irwinville Farms Project, an initiative of the Farm Security Administration. Because the houses were utilitarian and therefore quite small, most families outgrew them. A variety of expansions can be seen on most of the surviving Irwinville Farms houses today; the Carver house has a minimal addition at the rear but it’s still one of the best examples of the way houses were originally built on the project.
I’ve photographed the tobacco barn on the farm many times over the years, and it remains one of my favorites. It’s an iconic symbol of Irwinville Farms.
Though it’s evolved over the years, the focal point of the center remains the old Walasi-Yi Inn (pronounced Wa La See Yee) built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) between 1934-37 on the site of an old tea room and inn previously owned by the Pfister-Vogel Land Company.
This site on Blood Mountain (elevation 4458) was known as Frogtown Gap until the completion of the highway around 1924, when it was changed to Neel (or Neel’s) Gap to honor the highway engineer. It’s been suggested that Walasi was a great mythical frog in Cherokee lore who was the chief of the animal council and made his home high on this gap. The CCC inn and restaurant operated until the 1960s and the structure fell into disrepair. Slated for demolition in the 1970s, it was saved by locals. The Walasi-Yi Interpretive Center building is also significant as the only place the Appalachian Trail passes through a structure over its 2100+ miles.
These days, you’re likely to be greeted by one of the center’s famous tabby cats, who seem to have no care in the world and don’t mind the hoardes of tourists and hikers passing through. Since 1983, the center has been an outfitter and store known as Mountain Crossings at Neel Gap.
Appalachian Trail stickers and kitsch are evident everywhere here. One of my favorites is the “Cell Phone Booth”, an old pay telephone booth minus the telephone, that was left behind to afford hikers a covered spot to use their cell phones in this often wet locale.
Hikers who have done 30 miles on the trail leave their worn out boots and shoes in an old tree at the center. Those who have completed at least 500 miles can hang their shoes and packs inside to inspire other hikers.
This is typical of the architecture of most New Deal post offices, many of which remain in use today, as post offices or other public facilities.
Thomson Commercial Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Jane Tucker Gentry has made it her personal mission to keep Jefferson Davis Historic Site alive and well. She’s been able to do this despite a general lack of interest by most local politicians. I caught up with her at the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the capture of Jefferson Davis.
Members of the local SCV encampment were on hand, as well as visitors from all over Georgia. The event included a Chasing Jefferson Davis Marathon, day-long re-enactments, free tours of the museum, as well as local food and craft vendors. Jane even did most of the baking herself. The event was capped off by a late afternoon showing of Gone with the Wind on the museum grounds.
This is likely a WPA school. I had misidentified it as being in Putnam County, but thanks to Connie Taylor Cason and Suzanne Smith Forte, I was able to correctly identify it. Suzanne notes that it was probably closed sometime in the 1930s.
The building at left is the old WPA Post Office.
Sandersville Commercial & Industrial District, National Register of Historic Places
This New Deal Post Office is still in use and features murals by artist Carson Davenport (1908-1972). Davenport served as director of the WPA Art School & Gallery in Big Stone Gap, Virginia and was Chairman of the Art Department at Averett College from 1943-1969.
Greensboro Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Now replaced by a newer facility, William J. J. Chase‘s Stripped Classical New Deal courthouse is still used for county business and is adjacent to the new courthouse. Chase also designed the Seminole, Mitchell, and Cook County courthouses.
National Register of Historic Places