This is one of two abandoned churches in Westwood.
West Side Church of God, Westwood
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Tag Archives: Georgia Vernacular Architecture
West Point Missionary Baptist Church, Westwood
West Point Missionary Baptist Church is an historic African-American congregation in the Westwood community of Fitzgerald. Westwood was populated by skilled African-American machinists, most of whom worked in the nearby Atlantic Coast Line Railroad shops. It’s interesting that the establishment of the church predates the settlement of Fitzgerald and the location of the railroad by nearly 20 years. The present structure was built in 1972.
The church, which is the center of the Westwood community today, recently lost its well-loved and long serving pastor, Reverend Willie B. Pride (1938-2020).
Williamson House, Circa 1870s, Ben Hill County
This historic home (seen here in 2014), was owned by the late George Horton Williamson (1928-2019). It was recently torn down. According to his granddaughter, Wendy Young, Mr. Williamson was born and raised in the house. I believe it was among the oldest houses remaining in Ben Hill County, possibly built in the 1870s by Mr. Williamson’s grandfather, Charles M. Williamson (1845-1920). This section of the county has long been known as Williamson’s Mill, for the family who operated a shingle mill in the area and founded Salem Baptist Church. The house was certainly an important link to the early history of this community.
Update: As of 2023 this house is no longer extant.
Twin Houses, 1880, Louisville
These adjacent gable front houses are essentially “twins”, with a slightly different placement of the doors and windows on the front.
Pyramidal Cottage, Twin City
Nevil Farm Tenant House, Bulloch County
I spoke with the lady who lives next door to this old tenant house and she stated that her husband grew up here. It is a log house and the siding was added later.
Gable Front Farmhouse, Bulloch County
This is located near the Adabelle community.
Lake Primitive Baptist Church, 1839, Candler County
One of the most historic congregations in the county, and one of the oldest Primitive Baptist congregations in existence, Lake Primitive Baptist Church traces its origins to 1823, when settlement in this section of Georgia was beginning to take hold. Several sources note that the present structure was built in 1839, but I’m unable to confirm at this time. In design, it is quite similar to Upper Lotts Creek Primitive Baptist, nearby. The adjacent Lake Cemetery is the largest in Candler County.
Dekle-Brown House, Circa 1875, Excelsior
This house definitely appears to be earlier than 1875, but it is fairly well-documented. It is definitely influenced by the earlier Plantation Plain style so common in the region.
Hall-and-Parlor Farmhouse, Brantley County
