Tag Archives: Georgia Vernacular Architecture

Willcoxon House, Circa 1860, Sargent

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Colonel John B. Willcoxon built this house around the time he opened a grist mill near Wahoo Creek in the Lodi community. The grist mill opened in 1861 and remained in operation for five years. In 1866, with partners H. J. and George Sargent of Massachusetts, Colonel Willcoxon established the Willcoxon Manufacturing Company to produce cotton rope. The large four-story factory attracted many rural families to the area and primarily employed women and children. This was long before child labor laws prohibited such employment.

In 1888, H. C. Arnall, Sr., and T. G. Farmer purchased the enterprise and renamed it the Wahoo Manufacturing Company. The name of the town was officially changed to Sargent in 1892.

Sargent Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Old Post Office, 1892, Sargent

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This served as the post office until 1982.

Sargent Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Durden House, Treutlen County

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This vernacular farmhouse (likely 1870s or 1880s) was the home of the Durden family, who owned and operated the adjacent store. The condition of both the store and farmhouse have greatly declined since I made these photographs in 2012.

Central Hallway Cottages, Villa Rica

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These “twin” cottages are among the oldest residential structures near the commercial center of Villa Rica and judging by the nearly identical entryways, are likely the work of the same builder. I presume them to be antebellum, but they could possibly date to the early 1870s. I will update when I know more.

Wick’s Tavern, Circa 1830, Villa Rica

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Built within a few years of the establishment of Villa Rica, Wick’s Tavern is the oldest commercial structure in Carroll County and among the oldest in Northwest Georgia. The structure has had roof damage and needs stabilization. Also, the side that is visible here, presumably the front facade, has been altered.

St. Paul Methodist Church, Carroll County

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St. Paul was established in the 1860s. A sign on the property indicates 1869, but there are burials in the cemetery dating to 1864, which suggest a slightly earlier date. It’s near the Hulett community.

Jackson Warehouse, Lowell

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Because it’s essentially on the back lot of the L. H. Jackson General Merchandise store, I’m tentatively identifying this as the Jackson Warehouse. It’s likely where feed and other agricultural supplies were stored.

Jackson General Store, Lowell

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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.

Gabled-Ell Farmhouse, Glenloch

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Other than a modern church building, little remains of the historic northeast Heard County community of Glenloch, which had a post office from 1886-1904.

Flat Rock Campground, 1879, Heard County

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Flat Rock Campground was established by the Methodists circa 1876 and the tabernacle was built in 1879 by A. B. Lashley. All of the historic tents are gone from the property today, but the camp meeting is still active.

Penny Knott Branum writes: “My grandparents were the caretakers of Flatrock Campground from around 1964 until approximately 1980 ( my Pop Knott passed away 1980) there were 3 OLD cabins there( been torn down many years now) . Me, my cousins aunts & uncles, my brother & parents. We all spent MANY wonderful weekends camping in those old rustic cabins. In the background up on the hill stood the house my grandparent’s home (very old) was the gathering place for many weekends of our young years. The old house was torn down many years ago…My grandparents were OL Knott Sr. and Christensen Knott...”