According to Ken Krakow in Georgia Place-Names, Coolidge was established as a rail stop on the Tifton, Thomasville & Gulf Railroad, and was named for its president.
This structure was home to Willis Mercantile. The mural advertises two local businesses, Woodhaven Limousin Cattle and MacTavish Furniture Industries.
This house was built by the Wasdan family and was briefly home to a Wasdan daughter, who married a Huffmaster. Resource surveys date the structure to 1914, but I believe this to be incorrect.
This is just a portion of early to mid-20th century commercial storefronts that comprise the business section of Ochlocknee. This view is East Railroad Street. The two-story building on the far left is the D. B. Anderson & Company Building (1906). It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places. From its construction until 1960 it housed a succession of general stores. D. B. Anderson and his partner sold the business in 1912 to the Mutual Trading Company. H. F. Segler’s obtained the property in 1928 and operated his 5&10 Store until 1960. The second floor housed a telephone exchange for many years. I’m not sure of its use today. Adjacent to the Anderson Building are the library and city hall.
National Register of Historic Places (D. B. Anderson & Company Building)
There are still a few of these Obelisk Flour ghost murals around Georgia.
This mural at George’s IGA is a well-loved Ochlocknee landmark.
Built by Tudor Rommerdal as a winter resort for Chicago shoe manufacturer C. W. Lapham, this house was sold in 1905 to the James G. Patterson family, who lived here until 1970. After being operated by the state for many years, it’s now in the able hands of the Thomas County Historical Society. It’s available for rentals and tours.
National Historic Landmark, National Register of Historic Places
The National Register nomination form for Boston Presbyterian notes: This is believed to be the only structure moved from the former settlement of Boston in 1861. At that time its name was changed from McIntosh Church to Bethany Presbyterian Church. For many years it was the only church building in Boston. The building is a wood-framed structure, originally three bays deep and two wide; in 1908 it was expanded toward the front (possibly enclosing an original porch or portico) and a new entry vestibule under a three-tiered centered tower was constructed. In 1910 the name was changed to Boston Presbyterian Church.
* It’s easy to see that the structure could have begun as a simple vernacular Greek Revival built before Boston relocated to its present location around the outset of the Civil War. The original section is contemporary to the church’s founding. I hope further research will be done. More evidence can be gleaned from the evolution of the church cemetery. Dating to 1861, it became the final resting place of many from different denominations who worshiped here and eventually became the city cemetery.
The waiting room and office section is all that remains of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Depot in Boston. The freight room was removed long ago.
Boston Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Originally home to the city hall and fire department, this now serves as the police department. Mark Strickland notes that it has also housed the city jail. According to Danny Groover, the exterior and first floor have been completely restored and the second floor is presently undergoing restoration to become a courtroom.
Boston Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Vanishing Georgia: Photographs by Brian Brown 