Category Archives: –COFFEE COUNTY GA–

Cumorah, The Oldest Surviving LDS Church in the Southeast, Lost to Hurricane Helene

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Cumorah Church, photographed in July 2021

I learned yesterday that Cumorah Church, believed to be the oldest surviving Mormon (LDS) structure in the Southeast, was a victim of Hurricane Helene. The abandoned church was already in a poor state of repair but was a landmark to many. Now, it is but a pile of boards and tin. So much history was represented in this building. Those pioneer missionaries came to unfamiliar lands and were met with suspicion and unwelcoming locals but still they persisted and managed to nurture a small community. That this building survived so long was a testament to their original mission and its loss is notable.

Queen Anne House, Douglas

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The dormer is a later addition to this tall Queen Anne home.

Gaskin Avenue Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Eclectic Victorian House, 1910, Douglas

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Gaskin Avenue Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Neoclassical Cottage, 1912, Douglas

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Gaskin Avenue Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Package Store, Broxton

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I don’t know about other states, but Georgia for many years identified all of its liquor stores as package stores in a dubious attempt at propriety, an extension of its so-called “Blue Laws” which made sure no intoxicants were sold on Sundays. Georgia politicians, privately suspected to be passionate consumers of spirits, have historically been more than willing to pander to their constituents with such asinine regulations. They were fooling no one, of course. Hence the importance of the drive through, which allowed those downlow politicians and church folk to be as discreet as possible.

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The only reason I photographed this place was this sign, which definitely caught my attention. It reads: “Clean & sober means I’ve had a bath and on my way to the liquor store”.

Tenant Farmhouse, Coffee County

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I photographed this house in 2013, somewhere between Lax and Douglas. It’s an old single-pen tenant house that had a room added on at some point. The shake roof, peeking out beneath the tin, was what caught my attention. I’d be surprised if it’s still standing, but these places often surprise me.

Historic Farmstead, Broxton

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Office or Commissary? I can’t decide. With my track record for guessing, it’s likely neither.

I made these photographs in 2018, under the blazing sun and unforgiving midday light of August, somewhere on the outskirts of Broxton. I didn’t like the way they turned out so they were forgotten. This happens all the time. I planned to return to the location but never made it back and imagine the structures are all gone now. I’m glad I got them. They were elements of a larger historic farm.

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Hay/Stock Barn

The Queen Anne Folk Victorian farmhouse was my favorite structure on the property. Nature was decidedly reclaiming the place.

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Farmhouse

Ambrose, Georgia

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Vickers Crossing, Downtown Ambrose

Ambrose is located west of Douglas, not far from the Irwin County line, and has always been an agriculturally focused community. When the Atlanta, Birmingham & Atlantic Railroad reached the area, in 1899, Dennis Vickers and J. J. Phillips gave the land for the town site. I’m not sure as to the origin of the name. Some of the first businesses were H. L. Vickers’s general store and Dr. Moorman’s pharmacy. Dennis Vickers built a gin to service the many cotton farmers in the area. A school was built in the late 1920s and the town was first electrified by Georgia Power in 1930.

Folk Victorian Cottage, Ambrose

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I photographed this house in 2009 and it was in bad condition then, as the photograph indicates. It was a winged gable cottage with Victorian details on the front porch, likely built between the 1890s-1920. The only view I was able to get was from the side, unfortunately. I suspect it is long gone by now.

Mora, Georgia

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Mora has always been an out-of-the way place, but was once a busy farming community. It had a post office from 1910-1917 but I can’t locate an origin for the name, which is pronounced “more-A” (think Moray Eel). Judging by road names and comments about Vickers Store, the Nugent and Vickers family were early settlers in the area, and the old Vickers store is visible in the foreground. The white building in the distance was also a store with a built-in residence. I used to have more information about it, but have misplaced it in my archives. This photo dates to circa 2009-2010. Satellite views online show many more vehicles parked around the Vickers Store today. I haven’t been through the area in many years.