If you’ve ever driven between Cordele and Americus via Lake Blackshear you’ve probably noticed this eclectic structure, built to look like an old river boat. It was a popular restaurant/nightclub known as the Anchored Flint and is still in use today as a banquet facility at Lakeshore Marine on the Sumter County side of the lake. The “flint” in Anchored Flint refers to the Flint River, from which Lake Blackshear was created. Thanks to Lydia Cook for the identification.
Filed under --SUMTER COUNTY GA--, Lake Blackshear GA
The Ferguson Store was located on the ground level of the DeSoto Masonic lodge. It was most recently known as Disco D’s Warehouse, which I assume was a nightclub.
Filed under --SUMTER COUNTY GA--, DeSoto GA
I first though this was a juke joint, considering its small size and location just outside the city limits of Morgan. Shawn Weathersby wrote that it might be associated with the Milner Grist Mill but Toni Milner writes: It is an old beer joint. My grandfather Sonny “Plunk” Milner sold beer out of it back in the day. The Grist Mill is housed in the building to the left of this building.
Filed under --CALHOUN COUNTY GA--, Morgan GA
Approaching Kite from the east on Highway 57, you cross the Little Ohoopee River. The remains of a very large swimming pool stand between the river and the buildings discussed later in this post. Martha Claxton Hill writes: The swimming pool was called “Beeline Springs”. Earnest Claxton owned all of the land around the pool. It was a special place in its day. In a time when private pools were a domain of the wealthy, public pools such as this were among the most popular recreation spots of their day.
Ernest Claxton’s daughter, Lynn Paul Neal penned the following remembrance in Emanuel County’s 2013 Bicentennial Celebration Book. Thanks to Mary Ann Smith for bringing it to my attention and procuring permission from Mrs. Neal to share it here.
Many public pools featured skating rinks, bowling alleys and/or restaurant, but this structure is too small to have been either of those. And Martha Claxton Hill notes that it was not here when the pool was open. Grady C. Riner writes: That block building was built years after the pool was grown over and broken. It was built as a juke joint ( in todays words a bar) It had the juke box for music and dancing. After it was closed as a juke joint it was used as a house. My aunt lived in it for years with her two young boys.
A shed-sized structure is located just to the left of the larger building.
Filed under --JOHNSON COUNTY GA--, Kite GA
I’ve passed this abandoned building on US Highway 301 countless times and always wondered about its identity. Margie DeLoach Love, who is Long County and Ludowici’s unofficial historian, writes: this was Rudolph and Hildreth Todd’s Piney Pig Juke Joint. He also sold hamburgers and barbeque sandwiches. I recall eating a hamburger in there when I was a teenager.
Filed under --LONG COUNTY GA--
Boone’s is a legendary local watering hole near the Ocmulgee River at Jacksonville. In its heyday, in an earlier incarnation, it was probably the most popular honky tonk/bar in South Georgia history. It had a raucous reputation that can’t be ignored, but love it or hate it, it’s still a landmark. I think a newer incarnation may be operating today.
Filed under --TELFAIR COUNTY GA--, Jacksonville GA
According to their Facebook page, the Oglethorpe Lounge has been open since 1954. In an era when most dive bars are closing, the Oglethorpe is alive and well. Their Carling Black Label sign is a landmark in its own right.
Filed under --DOUGHERTY COUNTY GA--, Albany GA
According to one of our readers, this was recently torn down (2016).
Filed under --MITCHELL COUNTY GA--, Camilla GA
Dive bars are an endangered species and this is one of the coolest around, at least in appearance. The signage alone deserves a bit of reverence. Places like this were once ubiquitous in towns of any size, but now, for a host of reasons, seem nearly impossible to find. I’m unsure if the Sputnik is still open.
Filed under --MUSCOGEE COUNTY GA--, Columbus GA
