The two-room Gaskins School is located in the Weber community. Bryan Shaw of the Berrien County Historical Society notes that it was built prior to 1908. After consolidation, a larger building was constructed adjacent to this schoolhouse and it was used as the lunchroom.
Shaw also states that the consolidated school was moved off the property when it closed, and was remodeled by Sheriff Walter Gaskins for use as his home.
Filed under --BERRIEN COUNTY GA--, Weber GA
I can’t find any history of the Weber community, but considering that it was the home of Walt’s Bar-B-Q (Walt Gaskins) and the old Gaskins Consoldiated School, it seems it should have been called Gaskins. I imagine Walt’s was a landmark but looks like it’s been closed for many years.
Filed under --BERRIEN COUNTY GA--, Weber GA
I’ve preliminarily identified this as Purple-headed Sneezeweed (Helenium flexuosum). Sneezeweed doesn’t get its name because of allergens but because certain species were used in early medicinal elixirs to induce sneezing. Medicinal use is strongly discouraged today because the live plants are known to be toxic to humans and cattle.
Filed under --BERRIEN COUNTY GA--
This is located on a large farm south of Alapaha so I’m presuming it was a commissary. It could have also been a neighborhood store or agricultural shop building.
Filed under --BERRIEN COUNTY GA--
I’ve always admired this unusually large wooden structure and until recently knew nothing of its history. It has been in an advanced state of decline for many years.
Harvey Williams notes that it was the elementary school (segregated) and later a coat factory, owned by Sheila Gaskins. It’s a very large school for such a small town, and may have served more grades when it was first built.
Filed under --ATKINSON COUNTY GA--, Willacoochee GA
This log building once served as the Willacoochee library. It has most recently been used as a thrift shop by the United Methodist Church.
Filed under --ATKINSON COUNTY GA--, Willacoochee GA
These snapshots were made by Frances Trammell McCormick in July 1940. This early pavilion (above) was quite different from the two that followed. It was an open-air shelter and likely held a concession stand. [I have a download of another snapshot from the same era of a much more elaborate structure which was identified as being at Crystal Lake but I’m having trouble confirming it; it seems unlikely that there would have been two large pavilions at the site around the same time].
The edge of the pavilion is visible at the extreme left of this photograph, made from the lake. A small wooden structure, likely a diving platform, is also visible. I believe there are cars parked near the shoreline.
Shoreline from the lake
Boaters passing a wooden slide
Water skier
A couple walking on the beach, with the slide visible to the left
Filed under --IRWIN COUNTY GA--, Crystal Lake GA
This huge Folk Victorian was located at the corner of Orchid and Violet Roads, off the Lax Highway. The photograph dates to 2001 and the house was gone before 2008, I believe. Thanks to Debbie Paulk Mixon, granddaughter of W. H. Paulk, for the identification.
Filed under --IRWIN COUNTY GA--
This simple vernacular farmhouse was located on Morning Glory Road. The photograph dates to 2002 and the house was razed not long after.
Filed under --BEN HILL COUNTY GA--
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.
Filed under --BEN HILL COUNTY GA--
