This barn likely dates to the 1930s [perhaps 1920s], when tobacco production became a larger sector of the commercial agricultural economy in Georgia. Before that time, production was scattered and more specialized. An interesting feature of several tobacco barns I’ve documented in Long County is their height, which is notably shorter than most barns found elsewhere in Georgia. I’m unsure as to the reason for this.
This focal point of this farm is the old central hallway house, which was expanded a couple of times over the years.
A couple of outbuildings survive on the property.
This is a truly amazing example of an early-20th-century log tobacco barn. It likely dates to the 1930s.
This barn is located near the Wilsonville community.
This is a good example of a tobacco barn built in the last era of the crop’s dominance in Georgia.
For many years an old wagon sat beside this iconic barn, surrounded by trees. I think I have a photo of the wagon somewhere but never got a good shot of the barn. I had just noted the loss of another Irwinville Farms barn I’ve photographed for many years when this came into view, as if to make up for that loss.
Just outside Pembroke, this row of tobacco barns is reminiscent of a scene that was once common throughout Georgia. Productive farmers often situated their tobacco barns in close proximity on dirt lanes like this one. While many wouldn’t expect to find tobacco cultivation near the coast, northern Bryan County, where Pembroke is located, is more similar to inland Georgia than Coastal Georgia.
Jan Deal Hendrix notes that the barns were originally owned by Albert Floyd and are now owned by his nephew.
The barns are in amazing condition, considering they likely date from the 1940s or 1950s.
Thanks to Linda Shaver Starling for bringing these to my attention.
Vanishing Georgia: Photographs by Brian Brown 