Tag Archives: National Register of Historic Places

Elk’s Lodge, Circa 1907, Waycross

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When built in 1907, this downtown Waycross landmark at the corner of Mary and Tebeau Streets was originally the lodge of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elk (B.P.O.E). After the Elks relocated to another facility on Plant Avenue in 1962, it served several tenants but most notably has been home to several popular restaurants over the past 50 years or so. To me, the most memorable was the Carter House, where my family would occasionally eat when we visited my father when he was in town overnight with the railroad. It was just down the street from the railroad men’s home at the time, the then-derelict Ware Hotel, and featured homestyle Southern cooking. Besides the old Green Frog, the Carter House was perhaps the most beloved Waycross restaurant of its day. Whitfield’s and the Crab Trap have also been located here.

Downtown Waycross Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Ritz Theatre, 1913 + 1935, Waycross

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The Ritz Theatre originally opened as the Grand Theatre in 1913. It was initially a vaudeville and live performance space but was screening silent movies by 1914. In 1917, it was renamed the Orpheum Theatre. By 1935, it was acquired by a Paramount Pictures subsidiary and a significant renovation and redesign was completed. It’s name was changed to the Ritz. The fine Art Deco work is credited to prominent Jacksonville architect Roy A. Benjamin, one of the architects of the iconic Florida Theatre. The Ritz showed its last regular run movies in 1977, with some features still playing until 1984. It became the home of the Waycross Area Community Theatre in 1986 and still serves that purpose today.

Downtown Waycross Historic District, National Register of Historic Places





Old Police Station, Butler

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This little six-sided police station stands on the northwest corner of the Taylor County Courthouse grounds, in the middle of Butler. It was likely built soon after the courthouse, in the late 1930s or the early 1940s. Stations like this one were once somewhat common but are rarely seen today, especially on courthouse lawns. In fact, this is the only one I know of in Georgia associated with a courthouse. One can presume that it was the only police station in town, since most law enforcement was handled by sheriffs and deputies in the past. When traveling in the Midwest, I saw a similar station on the grounds of one courthouse that was installed just for use in one trial, of a Chicago organized crime figure. I’m sure that wasn’t the case in Butler, however.

Graves-McCoy House, 1886, Bainbridge

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According to a “Heritage Tour of Historic Homes” brochure: This Victorian-era home was built by James Ralph Graves. Mr. Graves was a Bainbridge alderman and deacon of First Presbyterian Church. The Bainbridge Democrat reported on March 6, 1884, that “James R. Graves is improving his new lot preparatory to building a house.” The house originally sat on four acres, contained 3,800 square feet, and had a detached kitchen. It cost $1500 and took five years to build.

The home’s Queen Anne and Carpenter Gothic elements blend nicely to make one of the most interesting Victorians in Bainbridge. It was for sale when I photographed and first published it in 2010. I hope it found a new owner and that it retains its wonderful appearance.

Bainbridge Residential Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Donalson-Rollins House, 1898, Bainbridge

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Local lumber baron John Ernest Donalson (1846-1920), for whom nearby Donalsonville, Georgia, was named, built this house in 1898. In addition to his vast holdings with the Donalson Lumber Company, he was a Confederate veteran, well-known Georgia entrepreneur, lawyer, and judge. Bainbridge was the center of his business operations.

The Queen Anne home, possibly a George Barber design, originally featured Tiffany stained-glass windows, but they were removed by a later owner and sold. The house is also said to have been the first in Bainbridge to feature wire window screens, quite an innovation at the time.

Bainbridge Residential Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

First Baptist Church, 1920, Bainbridge

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I haven’t been able to locate much information about this congregation, but it’s certainly among the oldest in Bainbridge. Considering the early establishment date of the town (1824), there was a probably a Baptist presence in that decade. The earliest known history at this time suggests that local congregants first met in the old “Log House” of the Methodists and built their first permanent home in 1852. It was sold in 1892 and a larger sanctuary was built on the same site. Considering that it was moved, it was likely a small frame structure, typical of the time. Construction on the present structure began in 1916 but was not completed until 1920, due to delays brought on by World War I. Wayne Carter writes that James E. Green was the architect. Green practiced in Birmingham, and designed several churches there.

Bainbridge Residential Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Note: This updates and replaces a post originally published on 8 September 2010.

Temple Beth El, 1916, Bainbridge

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Abraham Ehrlich, born in Gehause, Germany in 1841, was one of the first Jewish settlers in Bainbridge, moving to the community from Valdosta in 1869. A peddler by trade, he served in the Georgia infantry in the Civil War, and was wounded at Chickamauga. His brothers, Henry and Lewis, migrated from Germany after the war. Abraham and Henry established a dry goods business in Bainbridge and Lewis had a butcher shop. Abraham died from an infection in the wound he received at Chickamauga. Lewis and Henry became the leaders of the local Jewish community, which soon included the Kwilecki and Nussbaum families.

The Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish Communities notes that by 1878, an estimated 53 Jews lived in Bainbridge. Most of the male breadwinners worked in retail trade. This growing number of Jews began to meet together. In 1900, Rosalie Kwilecki began a Sunday School to teach the tenets of Judaism to her community, and remained its leader for over 50 years. The Reform congregation was established in 1902 and met in members’ homes until the dedication of this synagogue in 1916. The Jewish community in Bainbridge peaked in 1927 with over 220 members. By 1937, the American Jewish Year Book counted just 42 Jews in Bainbridge, largely due to the effects of the Great Depression.

Beth El’s membership continued to dwindle over the decades but remained an active small community. In 2018, the decision was made to dissolve the congregation and sell the synagogue. It’s presently a short-term rental property.

Bainbridge Residential Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Allen Mercantile Company, 1903, Climax

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This building, and another one separated by an empty lot, are the oldest remaining commercial storefronts in Climax. Other than the removal of a shed roof on the front of the building and the addition of a restroom in the rear, it’s virtually unchanged from its original appearance.

Ira Albert Allen (1869-1924) and Walter Samuel Allen (1873-1931) established the Allen Mercantile Company in 1903 and operated the business until they went bankrupt in 1916. Typical of merchants of the day, the Allen Mercantile Company sold groceries, hardware, dry goods, and farm supplies, probably even caskets. The store was also home to the Climax post office from 1905 until the 1930s .The store also housed the Climax post office from 1905 until the 1930s. John P. Herring bought the store from the bank after the Allen brothers went bankrupt. Ira’s daughter, Inez Allen, reopened the store in the 1930s and operated it until the 1960s.

Bernice Doyle writes: This store was known as Miss Inez’ s Mercantile Store. My mother worked for her for many years. It is sad to see it is falling in. Climax looks nothing like it did when I was growing up there. Jean Ouzts notes: I am the Climax news paper correspondent for the Bainbridge Post Searchlight…There were several other stores on Main Street before being torn down for the building of Parker Park. Grover’s store, which later became Gowan’s, and then B&B or Bishop and Betts.

National Register of Historic Places

Note: This replaces and updates a post originally published on 26 October 2009. It was my very first post from Decatur County.

Bailey-Heard-Dallis House, Circa 1828 + 1842, LaGrange

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Typical of Georgia’s grandest town homes, the Bailey-Heard-Dallis House evolved from a smaller and plainer space to a larger, more architecturally-inspired vision. It’s also an important survivor of gentrification, as the 1974 application for the National Register of Historic Places attests: “…the house is currently the only Greek Revival dwelling left in its block. Only a few years ago there were seven such homes on the block.“

Thought to be the oldest house in LaGrange, it was built circa 1828 by General Samuel A. Bailey, who used it as his headquarters during the Creek Indian War of 1836. It was originally a simple vernacular form, with four rooms downstairs and two up, separated by a central hallway. When George Heard bought the house in 1842, he added four rooms and the exceptional colonnade, with six fluted Doric columns on the front and two more on each side of the house.

The home was acquired by George Dallis in 1888 and has remained in his family ever since.

Broad Street Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Dr. J. T. Reese House, Circa 1856, Newnan

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This fine Greek Revival townhouse is one of the architectural highlights of Greenville Street, in one of the oldest residential historic districts in Newnan. It was built by Dr. J. T. Reese, an early druggist in the community. Newnan was known as a hospital town during the Civil War, and this was one of the houses where injured soldiers were taken for care.

The house is also associated with the Umberger family and known as the Reese-Umberger House. The colonnade was likely added in the early 1900s when the Neoclassical movement was in full swing.

Greenville Street-LaGrange Street Historic District, National Register of Historic Places