Tag Archives: Georgia Streamline/Art Moderne Architecture

Ocmulgee National Park & Preserve, Macon

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Archaeologists have determined that human habitation at this Mississippian site, formerly known as the Ocmulgee Old Fields and now the Ocmulgee National Historical Park, dates back at least 17,000 years. Hopefully, it will soon become Georgia’s first National Park.

Entrance to Earth Lodge

The Earth Lodge was uncovered by Dr. A. R. Kelley in 1934. It was reconstructed between 1933 and 1938. It served as a Mississippian Council House. The original clay floor, with the raised eagle platform, was exposed by employees of the Civil Works Administration and Work Projects Administration under the direction of James A. Ford.

Interior of Earth Lodge, with eagle platform


The Mississippians had burned the lodge, perhaps as an act of ritual cleansing or something entirely different. The charred remains of the construction, dated to 1015 AD, were arrayed in a spoke pattern and protected the original floor.

Rear view of Earth Lodge

The roof was not originally covered with sod, but it has been employed today to preserve the site. One should keep in mind that during the Mississippian Period, these mounds were not covered in grass but rather in the natural red clay of the landscape.

Great Temple Mound

The Early Mississippian flat-topped temple mound, 300 feet wide by 270 feet long by 40 feet high, is one of several in widely scattered locations across Georgia. It dates to circa 900-1100 AD. It was the principal religious structure at the Ocmulgee site till at least 1200 AD.  A lesser mound (not pictured) stands adjacent to this one.

Cornfield Mound

Excavations on this site uncovered parallel rows of charred corn cobs dating to circa 900AD-1200AD, indicating an early agricultural use. At some point, the field was transformed into a mound. The mound is 90 feet wide by 160 feet long by 6 feet high.

Prehistoric trenches

These trenches can be found in several locations around Ocmulgee National Monument. These, near the Cornfield Mound, are 18 feet wide by 7 feet deep. It is unclear as to whether they were defensive in nature or if they were borrow pits for the mounds.

Ocmulgee National Monument Visitors Center

Constructed between 1938-1951, the Streamline Moderne visitors center is a landmark in its own right. It houses a wonderful collection of artifacts collected on the site.

Approach to the Earth Lodge from the Museum and Visitor Center

Old Ford Dealership, Adel

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I always thought this was an old theatre, but thanks to B. Sutton, I now know that it was originally a Ford dealership and was later O. P. Fausett’s Phillips 66 station.

Branch’s Market, 1948, Tifton

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Here’s yet another South Georgia landmark about to be lost to “progress”. Streamline Moderne architecture, characterized by curving forms and long horizontal lines, is akin to Art Deco and has been disappearing nearly as fast as our tobacco barns and country stores. [Thanks to Lew Oliver for correctly identifying this form for me]. Since it doesn’t have the same aesthetic, it’s harder to drum up widespread preservation support, or even interest for that matter. But it’s a highly endangered form in our area. A preservationist friend recently made me aware that the razing of this structure was imminent; even though it was a hard fought battle, the local preservation group relented and has allowed the tear-down to move forward.

Buddy Bryan, who first identified this for me in 2010, wrote: “This old market on the corner of Central Avenue and Second Street was originally owned by Buster Branch during the late ’40s and 50′s and known as Branch’s Market.” It wasn’t the first supermarket in Tifton, though, as I had originally thought. Matt Brown writes: The first super market in Tifton was the A & P Super Market… The A & P was located on 3rd Street across from Lang Printing. The building was completed and the A & P opened in the summer on 1947. Branch’s Market opened in 1948. I know these facts because my father, uncle and grandfather were the contractor’s that built the A & P food store…W P Brown & Sons. The building is still in use today and through the 70’s, 80’s and early 90’s was home to the Goodyear Tire & Service Center.

This view shows the Second Street side of the building, as well as the old South Georgia Ice Company. I think the ice company took over the market building at one point, as well.

Update: Branch’s Market was razed in 2014.

 

International Style Commercial Block, Circa 1940, Kingsland

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Kingsland Commercial Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Blakely Freezer Locker, 1946

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Doug Johnson notes: This was my father and mother, Huey and Lillian Johnson’s business from about 1952 until it closed in 2005.

 

Griffin’s Cold Storage, 1944, Ocilla

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A nice example of Streamline Moderne architecture, this structure was sadly demolished in 2012. According to Hugh Roberts, this was originally known as McCranie’s Freezer Locker until around 1956 or 1957 it became Griffin’s. It was purchased from the McCranies by Webster (Web) and Wylene Whitley Griffin. Thanks to their son, Noah, for some of the historical background. Alan Griffin writes: I recall visiting Uncle Web’s place many times while growing up and fondly recall the smell of fresh pork shoulders on the pit, Web making his BBQ sauce, and of course sneaking a taste while helping chop the pork. In summer, we’d usually get to spend a week or two and we would explore every part of the building. The coolers ((hanging hogs, beef quarters and all) were always a welcome escape from the South Georgia heat in July! A cherished place of my youth!