Category Archives: Alston GA

Alston School, Circa 1920s

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Tax records date the Alston School to 1900, but the architecture indicates it was built in the the 1920s or thereabouts. It was an elementary school. When it closed in 1961, it was the last rural school in Montgomery County. It was briefly used as a music hall in the early 2000s, but that endeavor was short-lived.

Empty school buildings can be found in communities all over Georgia, and though they were once sources of pride, are now considered liabilities by small governments unable to maintain and properly restore them for other uses. There are success stories, but more often than not, they suffer the fate of the Alston School.

Central Hallway Cottage, Alston

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This central hallway cottage, located on the edge of town in Alston, may have been a tenant property. There’s an historic farm nearby. The house probably dates to circa 1900-1910. Note the preacher’s room on the front porch. It has begun to pull away from the rest of the house.

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Craftsman Cottage, 1930, Alston

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Alston, Georgia

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Sharpe Farmhouse, 1880s, Alston

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Kate Moses writes: The house was built by the Sharpe Family. The house and the land surrounding it is still owned by descendants of the family. The “Farm” has many surrounding barns and tenant houses. The inside of the home has not been updated since the early 1900’s. Wesley Odom adds that the house was built in the 1880s.

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An historic commissary and barn are also present on the property.

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Post Office, Alston

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Kate Moses writes: Ms. Evelyn McArthur was the Postmaster here for many years. She was best friends with my grandmother and gave every child that came in to the Post Office a piece of strawberry candy. Dory Sharpe Hickson recalls: Evelyn’s father, Theodore, was postmaster before she took the job. I spent the happiest days of my life as a child visiting in Alston…Dr. Sharpe’s office was in the back of the store. The post office was to the right of the front door, on the left was a soda fountain. In the 1930’s, Lyman Jones worked behind the counter as soda jerk – a very handsome young man. It was known as the “drug store”, the post office just happened also to be housed there.

Olivia Higgs Neesmith notes: I remember this very well, being the oldest granddaughter of Dr. Sharpe and spending much time there. His office was in the back of the store as Dory Sharpe Hickson mentioned. Everyone new each other!