L. H. Jackson General Merchandise was likely the main store in the crossroads community of Lowell, which had a post office from 1878-1903. It is very typical of late-19th and early-20th-century stores in Georgia. The Coca-Cola mural, though faded significantly, is an amazing survivor.
Anne Chamlee photographed this old store on Union Church Road near Warthen in January 1989.
Most commercial architecture in early 20th century rural Georgia was vernacular in nature, with the vast majority of stores being “shotgun” structures. The Chesley Flanders General Store near Summertown is an excellent example of a community landmark that remains largely unaltered from its original appearance. This store has also been identified as Lillian Bishop’s Store and dated to 1935. If anyone knows which one is correct, please let me know.
Around 1910, the Pearson family purchased the tremendous Lee Pope Fruit Farm and its peach packing operation here. It included numerous tenant houses, this commissary, a “hotel” which housed seasonal workers (really a dormitory), a packing house (now gone), and numerous barns and sheds. At one time, the Pearson peaches were branded “Big 6”. The family’s long-term preservation of this property provides an important historic lesson of the importance of the peach industry in this section of Middle Georgia and she be commended.
This is a wonderful example of the most common rural store type of early 20th century Georgia.
I’d like to know the story of the delivery van that’s attached to the store.
The Hogan General Store is a familiar landmark in Oglethorpe County, located near the ruins of the Birdsong-Hogan House.
Like its twin down the street, it’s possible that this may have also served as feed & seed/warehouse, but it’s certainly a good example of the common style of late 19th/early 20th century rural general stores.
