Most of the store fronts on Warrenton’s historic Main Street have been restored. If you’re in town, stop by Miss Jane’s Restaurant for Southern cooking.
Downtown Warrenton Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Most small towns once had their own seafood markets and fishmongers, but this is increasingly rare today. The colorful murals were what first caught my eye.
As the sign suggests, they serve what they sell, so I hope to check them out.
I made the first photograph about three years ago. The truck driver just stopped his truck in the road and waited for his meal. The food is that good.
The restaurant is still here, but is just known as the Hen House now. It does, however, still have great fried chicken and lots of other local favorites.
The structures seen above are still standing and largely unchanged in appearance, but it’s been many years since they served the purpose indicated here. The sign on the Cafe reads: Specializing in KC Steaks, Chops, Seafood, Frog Legs & Channel Catfish Dinners, while the back of the card notes the presence of a swimming pool, bowling, fishing, a mineral well 673 feet in depth and a Camellia & Azalea nursery.
Today, they’re used as a school for a nearby Christian community.
This postcard from my collection dates to around 1960. I regret I never photographed this place, which was demolished some time before 2006.
A postcard dating to 1945 would suggest this local landmark was likely built around the end of World War II. At that time, the catch phrase for the business was “Court of the Lost Flower”, for the mysterious Franklinia tree (Franklinia alatamaha) first collected by John Bartram near Fort Barrington along the Altamaha River in 1765 and named for Benjamin Franklin. Though the species survives in cultivation, it was thought to be extinct in the wild by the early 1800s. The motel is still standing to the left of this structure, but is now used as apartments.
In its heyday, it was a busy roadside stopover on U. S. Highway 84. The Ludowici Tile used as awning on the restaurant today was not present in the structure’s early days. The motel did boast a Ludowici tile roof, which has since been replaced. The property was owned at one time by Mr. & Mrs. Hugh Gordon.
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.
This appears to have been an old store at one time, with remnants of gas pumps out front.
This Spanish Eclectic landmark, located directly across Broad Street from the courthouse, was recently restored by the Queensborough National Bank & Trust Company for use as its operations center. Visible at the far left of the building is the old coffee shop, which was operated for years as Pansy’s by Pansy Agerton.
Louisville Commercial Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Opened in 1943 by Maurice Zell, the Twin Oaks Drive-In is the oldest restaurant in Brunswick. The service is some of the friendliest you’ll find anywhere. Whether it’s your first visit or you’re a regular the staff knows by name, you’ll be treated the same. You can learn more about their history in this Georgia Times-Union profile. Though it’s changed owners over the years, it remains as popular today as it ever was. Check out their menu here.
