National Register of Historic Places
Tag Archives: South Georgia Courthouses
Wells-McAllister House, Circa 1880, Fort Gaines
Built for attorney John C. Wells, this home was purchased by Robert C. McAllister as a gift for his wife in 1897. The kitchen of the house was the first Clay County courthouse until the present courthouse was built. It was used as a school until being purchased by Wells and attached to this house.
Fort Gaines Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Filed under --CLAY COUNTY GA--, Fort Gaines GA
Wilkinson County Courthouse, 1924, Irwinton
This unusual courthouse has been expanded over the years; it’s very difficult to photograph. This is a side view.
Filed under --WILKINSON COUNTY GA--, Irwinton GA
Telfair County Courthouse, 1934, McRae
McRae was designated the Telfair County seat in 1871 (replacing Jacksonville) and a courthouse was constructed in 1873. A more modern structure was completed in 1904 and served until burning in the early 1930s.
The present structure was built in 1934, incorporating some of the brick walls from the 1904 structure. It was designed by the Macon firm of Dennis & Dennis.
National Register of Historic Places
Filed under --TELFAIR COUNTY GA--, McRae GA
Belvin House, 1875, Blackshear
This is said to have served as the Pierce County courthouse from 1875-1902, having been condemned and moved by the Donaldson family to this location in 1903. It is best known today as the Belvin House, for owner Robert Belvin. Other owners over the years included Charlie Davis and Gene Baker. The Blackshear Times references Pierce County historian Dean Broome in validating the courthouse identify. The GeorgiaInfo page on Pierce County states that the courthouse was torn down in 1902, but I’m deferring to the local sources on this for now.
I’m a bit curious as to why a marker outside the house calls it the Belvin Home, with no reference to it being the old courthouse. If that is indeed what it was, the name should be changed to reflect it. The most likely scenario is that the old courthouse, which was said to be in bad condition in 1902, actually was razed and some of the lumber was salvaged to build this house. If so, the date of the house should be 1903, not 1875. I hope to get some feedback from Pierce County.
Filed under --PIERCE COUNTY GA--, Blackshear GA
Brooks County Courthouse, 1864, Quitman
Though the Brooks County Courthouse is generally noted as having been built in 1859, that date is misleading. Construction began that year, but due to the Civil War and the death of contractor Charles H. Remington in 1862, the courthouse was not completed until 1864. It was extensively remodeled in 1892 by the firm of Bruce & Morgan, in the Italian Renaissance Revival style.
National Register of Historic Places
Filed under --BROOKS COUNTY GA--, Quitman GA
Old Macon County Courthouse, 1850s, Oglethorpe
Though best remembered as Taylor’s Pharmacy, this is said to have been the first courthouse constructed in Oglethorpe. The long lost town of Lanier was the county seat when Macon County was created in 1837 and the courthouse there burned in 1857. Oglethorpe was assuming the status of new county seat at this time and that is when this structure is believed to have been constructed. Colonel George W. Fish was murdered on the west side of the building in 1871 after returning home from business in Macon. The first floor presently serves as the law office of Jon Coogle. [This information needs further documentation, but I believe it to be accurate at this time].
Filed under --MACON COUNTY GA--, Oglethorpe GA
Taylor County Courthouse, 1935, & Police Station, Butler
Taylor County’s Neoclassical/Colonial Revival courthouse was funded by the Civil Works Administration, part of Roosevelt’s New Deal. Significantly, it was designed by Frederick Roy Duncan (1864-1947) an architect from nearby Columbus, known for work on the Gatun Power Plant on the Panama Canal in 1910, as well as public buildings in Columbus and various structures at Fort Benning. This courthouse replaced Taylor County’s first courthouse, on the same location. It was built in 1852 and stood until 1934, when it was torn down using convict labor.
A six-sided police station stands on the northwest corner of the courthouse grounds. These were once common features but are rarely seen today. I don’t know that I’ve seen another one in Georgia. I’ve seen a few in the Midwest, though.
National Register of Historic Places
Filed under --TAYLOR COUNTY GA--, Butler GA
Tift County Courthouse, 1913, Tifton
W. A. Edwards designed Tift County’s courthouse in the Beaux Arts style quite popular at the time. On first glance it may appear a bit mundane, but walk around the square and you’ll likely by inspired by its architectural influences. My favorite features are the lion medallions at the top of the front facade.
National Register of Historic Places
Filed under --TIFT COUNTY GA--, Tifton GA
Berrien County Courthouse, 1898, Nashville
Designed by the W. Chamberlain Company of Knoxville, Tennessee, the Berrien County Courthouse was built for $17,000. It replaced a two-story log structure of 1858 which was also located on this site. The old courthouse was moved across the street and used as a hotel for a time but it is no longer standing.
National Register of Historic Places
Filed under --BERRIEN COUNTY GA--, Nashville GA
