Tag Archives: Georgia Wooden Shingle Structures

Craftsman House, 1914, Sparta

This shingle-sided Craftsman sits on a high lot above Broad Street. It’s an unusual but nice example of the form.

Sparta Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Faith Chapel, 1904, Jekyll Island

A non-denominational sanctuary built for the Jekyll Island Club by architect Howard Constable, Faith Chapel is one of the best-known structures in the National Historic Landmark District. It features a window signed and personally installed by Louis Comfort Tiffany and another stained glass panel behind the pulpit depicting the Adoration of the Christ Child designed by Maitland Armstrong and his daughter Helen. The chapel is well-maintained today and is often used for weddings and open for tours at times.

The gargoyles are a copy of those found at Notre Dame de Paris.

Jekyll Island Historic District, National Register of Historic Places + National Historic Landmark

Moss Cottage, 1896, Jekyll Island

One of the most beloved homes in the National Historic Landmark District, Moss Cottage was built for William Struthers, Jr., (15 June 1848-12 December 1911) in 1896. Though the architect is unknown, it’s possible that Struthers himself was involved in the design.

Struthers and his brother, John, owned one of the largest marble firms in the country. It was established by their architect grandfather, John Struthers, who worked with William Strickland on the iconic Second Bank of the United States in Philadelphia.

It was later occupied by George Henry Macy, Kate Carter Macy, and William Kingsland Macy.

Jekyll Island Historic District, National Register of Historic Places + National Historic Landmark

Note: This replaces a post originally published on 5 March 2012.

Gabled-Ell Farmhouse, Washington County

This farmhouse is an important variation of a common form. It features an angled or corner porch. It’s possible I’ve seen one or two with this form in my years of documenting rural Georgia, but I can’t recall another example at the moment.

Saddlebag Farmhouse, Dooly County

This is located across the highway from the gambrel-roof barn in the previous post. It was expanded into a gabled-ell form at some point in its history.

Hall and Parlor Farmhouse, Ben Hill County

I made this photo of a 19th century farmhouse in 2001. It was located in western Ben Hill County off Lower Rebecca Road and was likely among the oldest domestic structures in the county. It has been gone for many years.

Historic Farmstead, Lowndes County

Isolated in the countryside near the Lowndes County ghost town of Delmar, this historic farm is one of the most intact collections of original agricultural structures I’ve ever seen in South Georgia. I’m grateful to Mandy Green Yates for bringing it to my attention. Mandy travels the back roads of South Georgia and North Florida finding lots of places like this. Follow her to see what she finds next.

I believe this was primarily a turpentine camp, as the area was well-known for large scale naval stores production. There would have been tenant houses here at one time, also. The structure above was likely the office for the operation.

My favorite structure is the commissary, which would have served all the needs of this small community.

The shingle-sided barn and water tower are amazing survivors, as well. The owners of the property should be commended for keeping this place in such relatively good condition throughout the years.

Morgan Indoor Tennis Center, 1930, Jekyll Island

By the early 1900s, tennis had eclipsed hunting as the primary leisure pursuit among members of the Jekyll Island Club. In 1930 this shingle-sided facility was completed and named in honor of Club president J. P. Morgan, Jr. A renovation was completed in 1986 but a public-private partnership between the Jekyll Island Authority and the Jekyll Island Club Hotel led to its full restoration as a conference center in the mid-2010s.

Jekyll Island Historic District, National Register of Historic Places + National Historic Landmark

Mistletoe, 1900, Jekyll Island

Charles Alling Gifford built Mistletoe in the Dutch Colonial Revival style for Pittsburgh manufacturer and U. S. Congressman Henry Kirke Porter. Upon Porter’s death, John Claflin purchased Mistletoe. Claflin was an original member of the Jekyll Island Club.

Jekyll Island Historic District, National Register of Historic Places + National Historic Landmark

Shingle-Sided Building, Barnett

This small shingle-sided structure is located across the highway from Barnett Methodist Church. It was presumably a store but another store once stood near here and this is not it.