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.
Tag Archives: South Georgia Schoolhouses
Abandoned Schoolhouse, Marion County
I’ve identified this historic structure, south of Mauk, as a schoolhouse, largely due to the fact that it still has traces of red paint. I hope to learn more. It’s definitely endangered and will likely not survive much longer without intervention.
Filed under --MARION COUNTY GA--
Asbury School, 1910s, Wilkinson County
Though it appears at first glance to be a house, this was the Vernon Johnson School. Located across from Asbury Church, on the Wilkinson side of the Wilkinson-Twiggs County line, it is best known locally as Asbury School today. A state educational survey in 1918 recorded 31 students from both counties. Wilkinson County students attended for 5 months and Twiggs County students for 6 1/2 months. One teacher was responsible for all eight grades.
Filed under --WILKINSON COUNTY GA--
Oliver School, Screven County
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
Willis Academy, Crowell
Thanks to Jamie Whitley for an identification of this structure in our Vanishing Georgia Facebook group. Jamie shared a photograph of the school made in the late 1800s, so I presume it dates to that time. It seems beyond repair at this point.
Filed under --TAYLOR COUNTY GA--, Crowell GA
Walker Grove School, Newington
It was common practice in many African-American communities in early 20th century Georgia for churches to construct schools. This was due to the fact that the state was notoriously negligent in the construction and upkeep of schools for black students. The Rosenwald Foundation and the American Missionary Association were two outside concerns that contributed to the cause of African-American education, but I haven’t been able to link either group to Walker Grove and therefore believe that it was built by the members of Walker Grove Baptist Church. It’s located on the same property. I believe this was built in the 1910s or 1920s.
Filed under --SCREVEN COUNTY GA--, Newington GA
Union Schoolhouse, Quitman County
Located next to Union United Methodist Church, this historic one-room schoolhouse is now used as a social hall for the congregation.
Filed under --QUITMAN COUNTY GA--
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