Category Archives: Bainbridge GA

Graves-McCoy House, 1886, Bainbridge

According to a “Heritage Tour of Historic Homes” brochure: This Victorian-era home was built by James Ralph Graves. Mr. Graves was a Bainbridge alderman and deacon of First Presbyterian Church. The Bainbridge Democrat reported on March 6, 1884, that “James R. Graves is improving his new lot preparatory to building a house.” The house originally sat on four acres, contained 3,800 square feet, and had a detached kitchen. It cost $1500 and took five years to build.

The home’s Queen Anne and Carpenter Gothic elements blend nicely to make one of the most interesting Victorians in Bainbridge. It was for sale when I photographed and first published it in 2010. I hope it found a new owner and that it retains its wonderful appearance.

Bainbridge Residential Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Donalson-Rollins House, 1898, Bainbridge

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Local lumber baron John Ernest Donalson (1846-1920), for whom nearby Donalsonville, Georgia, was named, built this house in 1898. In addition to his vast holdings with the Donalson Lumber Company, he was a Confederate veteran, well-known Georgia entrepreneur, lawyer, and judge. Bainbridge was the center of his business operations.

The Queen Anne home, possibly a George Barber design, originally featured Tiffany stained-glass windows, but they were removed by a later owner and sold. The house is also said to have been the first in Bainbridge to feature wire window screens, quite an innovation at the time.

Bainbridge Residential Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

First Baptist Church, 1920, Bainbridge

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I haven’t been able to locate much information about this congregation, but it’s certainly among the oldest in Bainbridge. Considering the early establishment date of the town (1824), there was a probably a Baptist presence in that decade. The earliest known history at this time suggests that local congregants first met in the old “Log House” of the Methodists and built their first permanent home in 1852. It was sold in 1892 and a larger sanctuary was built on the same site. Considering that it was moved, it was likely a small frame structure, typical of the time. Construction on the present structure began in 1916 but was not completed until 1920, due to delays brought on by World War I. Wayne Carter writes that James E. Green was the architect. Green practiced in Birmingham, and designed several churches there.

Bainbridge Residential Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Note: This updates and replaces a post originally published on 8 September 2010.

Temple Beth El, 1916, Bainbridge

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Abraham Ehrlich, born in Gehause, Germany in 1841, was one of the first Jewish settlers in Bainbridge, moving to the community from Valdosta in 1869. A peddler by trade, he served in the Georgia infantry in the Civil War, and was wounded at Chickamauga. His brothers, Henry and Lewis, migrated from Germany after the war. Abraham and Henry established a dry goods business in Bainbridge and Lewis had a butcher shop. Abraham died from an infection in the wound he received at Chickamauga. Lewis and Henry became the leaders of the local Jewish community, which soon included the Kwilecki and Nussbaum families.

The Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish Communities notes that by 1878, an estimated 53 Jews lived in Bainbridge. Most of the male breadwinners worked in retail trade. This growing number of Jews began to meet together. In 1900, Rosalie Kwilecki began a Sunday School to teach the tenets of Judaism to her community, and remained its leader for over 50 years. The Reform congregation was established in 1902 and met in members’ homes until the dedication of this synagogue in 1916. The Jewish community in Bainbridge peaked in 1927 with over 220 members. By 1937, the American Jewish Year Book counted just 42 Jews in Bainbridge, largely due to the effects of the Great Depression.

Beth El’s membership continued to dwindle over the decades but remained an active small community. In 2018, the decision was made to dissolve the congregation and sell the synagogue. It’s presently a short-term rental property.

Bainbridge Residential Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Willis Park, 1904, Bainbridge

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Willis Park is one of the nicest city parks in South Georgia, and is a beautifully maintained green space in the middle of town. It has been the center of life in Decatur County ever since it opened to the public in 1904.