About

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Statement of Purpose

Vanishing South Georgia exists primarily to bring attention to the myriad forms of vernacular architecture once common throughout the region. Many of these structures were built during the sharecropping and tenant farming eras, and as a result have long ago been abandoned.

A dual purpose is to bring attention to the countless forgotten villages and towns which have all but disappeared with the passing of the railroads and agricultural dominance. In Vanishing South Georgia, I hope to give them a permanent photographic presence for future generations, whether their interests be trivial, genealogical, or historical.

From time to time, I also feature photographs of wildlife and native plants of the region, as well as festivals, folklife, and personalities who help make South Georgia the wonderful place I call home. Images of festivals or people on this website do not imply an endorsement of any kind, either by Vanishing South Georgia or by those depicted.

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Geographical Focus

For the purposes of this site, I consider South Georgia to be the southern half of the state, roughly divided by the counties of Muscogee, Talbot, Taylor, Crawford, Peach, Houston, Twiggs, Wilkinson, Johnson, Emanuel, Jenkins, and Screven.

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About the Photographs

To protect my images, I make them available on this website in a slightly lower resolution than that in which they are originally shot. That’s because today’s internet consumers seem to believe that just because they find a picture on the web that it’s presumably available for general use. Copyright infringement and “sharing” of images is an epidemic that threatens the intellectual property of nearly all photographers, so by showing these images in a reduced format, I’m trying my best to prevent just that.

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Comments

The comments feature on Vanishing South Georgia has become one of the most popular parts of  the website. Not only that, it also functions as an informal oral history of our region shared by people who have lived it and learned stories passed down through their families. Your words and reminisces are very important to me, and I do my best to respond to them when at all possible. Sometimes it may take me awhile, and sometimes, I just don’t have the answer; but rest assured, all  your suggestions and compliments are taken very seriously. Thank you. (Please note that I reserve the right to edit or refuse comments submitted to Vanishing South Georgia)

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Glossary of Terms Commonly Used on  this Site

Folk Victorian- Vernacular structures which exhibit some element of Victorian design.

Ghost Town- A place which still exists on maps or as a small community, but a place which generally is characterized by no more than the presence of a church or store today. Ghost town in the context of this website doesn’t imply that people no longer live there, but that the features which made it a town have long been lost or abandoned.

Granitoid- A masonry or stone block with a sculptured contour, commonly used in the early twentieth century. Fitzgerald Granitoid Works in Ben Hill County was a prolific and well-known supplier of this material.

Ludowici Tile- Also known as Ludowici-Dixie tiles, or terra cotta  or clay shingles, these design elements are used in roofing to this day and considered among the best in the world. Though the original factory in Long County is now but a memory, the tiles are still made by the Ludowici-Celadon Company.

Tar Paper- Asbestos siding usually made to look like bricks, and most commonly red, brown, or gray in South Georgia. Also known as false brick siding.

Tenant Farming- A socioeconomic system in which yeoman farmers “rent” the house and work the surrounding land for a share of the crop and consideration for housing. More commonly referred to as sharecropping.

Vernacular Architecture- Simply put, vernacular architecture is the architecture of the common man; it is generally accomplished without the aid of a trained architect and reflects the personal aesthetic of the builder. Most structures in South Georgia, especially those from the nineteenth and the first half of the twentieth century were built in this style.