Tag Archives: Georgia Stone Veneer Buildings

Antioch Baptist Church, 1911, Lithonia

Established by a group of Freedmen in 1869, Antioch-Lithonia Missionary Baptist Church [known originally as Antioch Baptist Church] is thought to be the oldest African-American congregation in Lithonia and DeKalb County. The church first met in a brush arbor and built their first permanent structure circa 1871. It was replaced by this structure, clad in local stone, in 1911, and served the congregation until 2004, when a larger facility was built at another location.

Reverend Adam Daniel Williams, the maternal grandfather of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., served the congregation at one time.

Lithonia Historic District, National Register of Historic Places & Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area

Conyers Theatre, 1930, Conyers

Sandy Greene writes: This was the theatre in Conyers for many years…The Clay Building. It has been purchased by the county and is now the Probate Court.

From the Special Collections Libraries at the University of Georgia, more biographical information on the Clay family: Ernest Paris Clay (1892-1959), son of William Salathial Clay and Ethel Ann Walker, married Katherine Maddox (1905-1941) and they had one child, Martha Ann Clay (1930-1975). Prior to the First World War, Ernest Clay was a professional photograph and after the war he and his brother Cappy (Alvin) opened a theater in Windsor, Ill. Later Ernest purchased a tent show, renaming it Clay’s Comedy Show, and traveled around the United States showing silent films. Ernest’s brother James Eldridge (1903-1962) assisted him with the tent show and later began his own traveling show, Clay’s Cinema Show. Ernest Clay and his family settled in McDonough, Ga. and opened the McDonough Theater. In 1934, James Clay and his family settled in Conyers, Ga. and opened the Conyers Theater.

Conyers Commercial Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Worth County

This historic congregation near Shingler was established in 1876. The earliest members were: J. A. Reid; Dave Newkirk; Dan Boyd; Charlie Walker; Millie Walker; Walter Terry; Jacob Lamar; and R. B. Wynn.

Paulk House, 1912, Bleckley County

This striking Neoclassical farmhouse has been one of Bleckley County’s best-loved landmarks for over a century.

Queen Anne House, Circa 1880, Sandersville

General Store, 1900s, Jersey

Though it is now used as the Jersey Community Building, I believe this stone-veneer storefront was originally a general store. Besides the Bank of Jersey, it is the only surviving commercial structure from the early days of Jersey. It has been nicely preserved and its continued use speaks to the quality of its construction. It likely dates to the first decade of the 20th century.

Bank, 1905, Taylorsville

A 1992 historic resource survey identifies this as a bank, built in 1905.

Alamo Baptist Church, Wheeler County

This historic African-American church was organized in 1892. It was re-established in 1954 by Reverend A. Goram. Deacons at the time of re-establishment were L. J. Robinson, H. Geter, Sr., C. H. Gillis, Jr., S. E. Chapman, J. A. Williams, and W. B. Bennett. Trustees were Rufus Mincey, Jessie Dixon, Charlie Little, and Jim Nesbit.

Granite-Sided Building, Good Hope

I believe this Georgia granite-sided building was once a store. The sign on the side leaves no doubt as to where you are. By the way, there isn’t really as much of a difference in the color of the stones as these two photos would indicate. The sun was really bright on the front of the store as was fairly late in the day when I was passing through Good Hope.

Stone Veneer Building, Good Hope

This is located at the center of the Good Hope community, across the road from the Good Hope General Store. I will update when I can identify it.