This log building once served as the Willacoochee library. It has most recently been used as a thrift shop by the United Methodist Church.
Tag Archives: South Georgia Libraries
The Scout House, 1928, Fort Gaines
Under the leadership of Methodist minister Emmett Emerson Gardner, the local Boy Scout troop cut, notched, and scraped the logs and erected this cabin for use as their lodge.
Originally consisting of two rooms, the cabin was later remodeled for use as the first library in Fort Gaines.
It’s located adjacent to the Toll House.
Filed under --CLAY COUNTY GA--, Fort Gaines GA
Jakin Library & Museum
This was likely a general store at one time.
Filed under --EARLY COUNTY GA--, Jakin GA
Ludowici Community House & Library
This was best known as Ludowici’s’ community house and library but in recent years it was a clubhouse for the Wingmen Motorcycle Club. Sadly, it was lost to fire in 2015.
Filed under --LONG COUNTY GA--, Ludowici GA
Warthen Law Office, 1860s, Sandersville
This neoclassical gem has a fascinating history. There is some confusion as to its date of construction. Some sources suggest that it’s antebellum (which wouldn’t surprise me) while prominent architectural historian John Linley put its construction shortly after the Civil War. Ray Irwin, whose husband is a descendant of Warthen, shared this, which should clear it up: It was built before the Civil War. There is a partially burned book formally owned by R. L. Warthen with the inscription in the front that states the book was scorched by a fire set in his office in November 1864 by General Wm. T. Sherman of the U.S. Army. It is signed by RLW. It is believed that his office fire was a result of the burning of the Wash. Co. Courthouse. The book is in the Brown House Museum.
Colonel Richard Lee Warthen built this as his home and law office. In 1925, the Transylvania Club moved here. The club was founded in 1908 by Mrs. C. B. Chapman and soon thereafter, at the suggestion of President Mary Tarbutton, set about establishing a public library for Sandersville. They opened to the public, with over 7,000 volumes, in the Masonic Hall in 1909. That structure was lost to fire in 1921. The ladies of the Transylvania Club moved forward and acquired enough books to reopen the library here in 1925 where it remained until 1998. It’s still home to the Transylvania Club. They’re perhaps best known for their Wedgwood series of Georgia Historical Plates.
Sandersville Commercial & Industrial District, National Register of Historic Places
Filed under --WASHINGTON COUNTY GA--, Sandersville GA
Town Hall & Public Library, Deepstep
A sign you’ll see as you approach Deepstep proclaims this picturesque village to be the “Heart of Kaolin”. Considering that, there’s a lot of “chalk truck” traffic here, so use caution when photographing. Chalk truck is the name used by locals for the huge semis that move the bulk kaolin almost non-stop.
Filed under --WASHINGTON COUNTY GA--, Deepstep GA
Old Presbyterian Church, Sylvester
Originally the Presbyterian Church, this also served as the library for many years.
Filed under --WORTH COUNTY GA--, Sylvester GA
Marshallville Public Library, Circa 1928
One of Georgia’s smallest public libraries serves as a memorial to one of its patrons, Jacob Walter Frederick (1851-1928).
Filed under --MACON COUNTY GA--, Marshallville GA
Central of Georgia Depot, 1926, Reynolds
In 2002, this depot was renovated by architects Tribble & Richardson for use as a library. Much of the original appearance and material was retained.
Filed under --TAYLOR COUNTY GA--, Reynolds GA
Carnegie Library, 1914, Dawson
Though the official list of Georgia Carnegie libraries list its date of construction as 1913, I think that was just when the funding process was initiated. It was completed in 1914 at a cost of $10,000. It served the community as a library until 1999 and after undergoing a renovation in the late 1990s it became the headquarters of the Terrell County Historic Preservation Society.
Dawson Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Filed under --TERRELL COUNTY GA--, Dawson GA
