The only reference I can locate regarding this structure is from the old Friendship Baptist Church minute book. It was noted on 23 January 1864 that the schoolhouse and adjacent five acres were purchased by the congregation for $500. Considering the church was built in 1857, it is possible that the schoolhouse predates it. The portico is obviously a later addition.
Filed under --SUMTER COUNTY GA--
I first identified this historic structure, south of Mauk, as a schoolhouse, largely due to the fact that it still has traces of red paint. But George Woodall, who grew up in Mauk, relates that it was Liberty Methodist Church. It’s definitely endangered and will likely not survive much longer without intervention.
Filed under --MARION COUNTY GA--
This historic Mauk School was built by the Works Progress Administration in 1936 to replace a smaller schoolhouse that had served the the community for a number of years. The architect is unknown, but the school is almost identical to “Floor Plan No. 5 – Five Teacher Community School” from the Rosenwald Fund. The school appears to be well-maintained today.
National Register of Historic Places
Filed under --TAYLOR COUNTY GA--, Mauk GA
Photo Courtesy John Aubrey Brown
I’m so excited to be able to share this photograph, which was shared by John Brown. He made the shot circa 1995. It’s the old Oliver School and was lost to fire a few years after the photograph was made.
Oliver was one of about 40 white schools in Screven County surveyed by M. L. Duggan for the Georgia Department of Education in 1916. The steeple or bell tower was a design element present only in the larger schools of the county, including Capitola, Douglas Branch, Gilgal, Harmony, Rocky Ford, and Sylvania. At the time of the survey, W. S. Brown was teacher and principal, and Miss Fannie Ryon was his assistant. There were 10 grades and 62 students, with a 32-week school year. The school was valued at $3000 and was noted to be in very good condition.
Filed under --SCREVEN COUNTY GA--, Oliver GA
When Brantley County was created in 1920, Hoboken was chosen as the seat of government. After two contested elections voters chose Nahunta to be the new county seat and it was officially recognized as such in 1923. Since this structure, designed by Waycross architect Thomas Jefferson Darling (1868-1943), wasn’t completed until 1930, I presume the courthouse in Hoboken remained in use during the interim.
National Register of Historic Places
Filed under --BRANTLEY COUNTY GA--, Nahunta GA
Donny Screws writes: This is the original Chester High School, built in 1927. Rebuilt in 1929 after a tornado outbreak damaged the foundation. Many people graduated from Chester High, and when Dodge County built a consolidated High School, it became Chester Elementary School in the late 50s. I went to school there and taught there my first year, as did my wife. I have posted extensively on Chester Elementary and there is also a Chester Elementary School Page on Facebook. There are a thousand great stories to tell from that great School. Looking at that picture, every room has a fascinating history. I have tons of photos also. Good photo here. Holler if anyone wants more information.
Filed under --DODGE COUNTY GA--
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’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
My identification of this structure is tentative. It appears to have been a school, and since the old Midville High School survives, my guess is that this was the grammar, or elementary, school. It has most recently been used as the Midville Voting Precinct.
Filed under --BURKE COUNTY GA--, Midville GA
The newer of the two schools still standing in Crowell, this is now used as the community center. It was built by the WPA in the early 1930s.
Filed under --TAYLOR COUNTY GA--, Crowell GA
