New Gallery: Senoia, Georgia

After leaving Zebulon (see below) last Thursday, I continued northeast into the beautiful spring morning. My destination was Senoia, a town of about 5,000 that has a lovely, old-time feel, and is usually busy due to its “touristy” nature. There’s a film studio (!), and major productions like Driving Miss Daisy and The Walking Dead have used it for a location. Plus, given its proximity to Atlanta, it’s a popular day trip for city dwellers looking for a getaway.

Gerald and I were there last April, and while I had a camera with me, I only took a few photographs and didn’t like any of them. But a church window had stuck in my head, we enjoyed the visit, and I determined to return.

This time: success. Starting with that church window:

Church of God of Prophesy (Window #1), Main and Johnson Sts.

Elsewhere in the historic district, fantastic Southern porches await:

The Veranda Historic Inn, 252 Seavy St.

While amongst the dogwood blossoms, there was even a porch for our feathered friends:

Bird House, 128 Travis St.

But it’s downtown that folks come to visit:

Shops and Eats on the Hill (#2), Main St.
Book Light (Reflecting Tour), 53 Main St.
Giraffe at Foxhollow, 7 Main St.
The Classic Market, 30 Barnes St.

Plenty of history here, too:

The Museum and the Water Tower (From Baggarly Way)
Light and Lights Detail, 61 Main St.

A total of 57 photographs — clearly, it was a good time — have been posted to the Senoia gallery. No matter the weather where you are, wander a picturesque small town on a beautiful spring day.

Thank you!

New Gallery: Zebulon, Georgia

We’re having an absolutely beautiful March here in Georgia — apologies to places that absolutely aren’t — and I’ve been trying to take advantage by getting out and taking photographs.

The latest photostroll starts in the small town (pop. 1225) of Zebulon1Named for Zebulon Pike, the general and explorer (for whom Colorado’s Pike’s Peak is named, among other things), in Pike County, northwest of Macon, with the typical courthouse square:

Pike County Courthouse, Barnesville St.

The building, from 1895 and on the National Register of Historic Places, is wonderfully detailed, sporting columns aplenty and lots of Colonial Revival details:

Pike County Courthouse (Column Detail #1)
Courthouse Square Composition, Barnesville and Thomaston

The small downtown is well-kept and bustling in a way that small downtowns should be:

Barnesville St. Storefonts, Zebulon

Better still, spring is in full bloom:

Garden Gate in Spring (#2)

Enjoy the 25 posted photographs from Zebulon — and stay tuned for the main destination of the trip: Senoia. Have a good weekend!

  • 1
    Named for Zebulon Pike, the general and explorer (for whom Colorado’s Pike’s Peak is named, among other things)

New Gallery: Eatonton, Georgia

Confession: For the last several years, I’ve been avoiding Eatonton. Its four-lane bypass is notorious as a revenue generator for Putnam County, so when heading north to Madison or Athens I have been taking the prettier Monticello route instead.

My mistake. In almost twenty years of living less than fifty miles from this gem — and perhaps because of that bypass — I’d not explored downtown. It’s definitely earned another visit.

Residence Above Maggie Lane (Mind Your Step)
Putnam County Courthouse (Tree)

I also wasn’t aware that Alice Walker (The Color Purple) and Joel Harris (Uncle Remus) were locals — the latter explaining the prevalence of rabbits hopping about:

Rabbit (Paper Jeff)

Interesting art, too:

The FolksArt, 119 S. Jefferson
Selz (The “Sole” of Honor), 107 N. Madison

Please enjoy the 30 photographs posted — and stay tuned: I’ll try to travel the Historic Piedmont Scenic Byway again soon.

New Gallery: Sparta, Georgia

I’ve been meaning to take a camera to Sparta for a minute now; its downtown is small yet old and photogenic in a distinctly Southern way.

Confederate State of Hancock County

On that subject: let’s get the elephant in the room out front and center. Sparta is 85% Black, arguably economically and socially suffering, and yet this monument stands front and center. Why?

Neglect: “It Suits Us”
Lightbulb Moment, 12745 Broad St.

However, there are signs of hope. More than one building downtown is being refurbished, and there are at least a couple of businesses that are surviving — perhaps even thriving — by providing a sense of community:

The Sparta Ishmaelite (Printing)
Hattaway Furniture, 12755 Broad St.

By the way, those old buildings often have beautiful cast iron details:

Building Detail, 12699 Broad St.

I was glad to have made the trip, and hope that you’ll be glad to take a moment and look and Sparta’s downtown in the new gallery.

Up tomorrow: Eatonton. Thanks for stopping by.

Gallery Update: Milledgeville, Georgia

Spring has sprung here in Middle Georgia:

Downtown Dogwood

Gerald and I took advantage of a warm and cloudless March day for a lengthy photostroll which started in Milledgeville — lunch — and wandered northeast, starting at the nearby O’Quinn Mill:

Old O’Quinn Mill (Wheel)
Old O’Quinn Mill (Siding Detail #2)

The old mill building is situated on, natch, O’Quinn pond — a man-made addition to Town Creek:

O’Quinn Pond Dam (Town Creek)

There’s a dock and old farm buildings in the complex, which these days is a picturesque event venue:

O’Quinn Mill on Town Creek

We continued on to Sparta, then returned through Eatonton, stopping in both towns for photographs. (Updates coming tomorrow and Wednesday: stay tuned.)

Meanwhile, take a look at the updated Milledgeville gallery, now up to 100 photographs spanning the last twelve years. Enjoy!

Gallery Update: Jackson, Georgia

Spring is beginning to blossom here in Middle Georgia, which means it’s time to restart the traditional Sunday drive and photostroll. This week’s destination was the small city of Jackson, seat of Butts County, and home to a typically pretty downtown square:

Jackson Historic Square (20 Oak St.)

The courthouse, as is often the case in Georgia, takes center stage:

Confederate Butts Forever
“Dream,” Not Necessarily Reflected

No, I usually don’t make political commentary. Why do you ask?

Anyway, there are several examples of my architectural studies, including these:

Butts County Courthouse Tower (B&W Study)
Smoking Column Detail, 10 3rd St.

I didn’t realize that Jackson was the filming location for Stranger Things — a stand-in for Hawkins, Indiana:

Jackson is Hawkins (Police)

Check out the full gallery for Jackson, including yesterday’s photographs and those from last year, which include some from nearby Jackson Lake, in the updated gallery.

Gallery Update: Dublin

Named for the city in Ireland, Dublin in Georgia is an hour or so southeast of Macon. It’s my third trip there, and, like last time, I enjoyed Gerald’s company.1He seemed to enjoy the trip, rain notwithstanding, but apparently the creative juices didn’t flow. (Sorry, man.) Details here.

It has a photogenic downtown, too:

Corker (of a) Building, W. Jackson St.
Fountain and Holiday Tree, N. Monroe St. and Bellevue Ave.

The Welcome Park includes a clock and bell complete with clover, reminding visitors that the name is, in fact, a tribute:

Dublin Welcome Tower #1

As has become typical, my favorite — “best” is debatable, of course — shot is a close-up that’s almost an abstract. In this case, a turquoise box car in the appropriately-named Railroad Park:

Pull Down for Camel, Dublin Railraod Park

Just off the main drag we found an item thankfully not yet painted over:

Aqua Fox, Jefferson and Madison

. . . Which may, in fact, be a holdover from a bygone era. In fact, I’d be remiss if I didn’t call this subject out:

Laurens and Dublin Mural (No Biases Shown), S. Lawrence St.

The only people of color depicted here are Native Americans, relegated to viewing (probably from afar), and two Blacks, very much shown “in their place.” (Dublin still prominently features a Confederate memorial, as well.) Let’s hope that this small city continues its journey into the 21st century, one step at a time.

See the updated gallery here. As always, once in the gallery, click on any photograph to start a slide show.

  • 1
    He seemed to enjoy the trip, rain notwithstanding, but apparently the creative juices didn’t flow. (Sorry, man.) Details here.

New Gallery: Fickling Mill

An unintended postscript to the recent photostroll, and another in the lengthy list of places you pass through without stopping — except, this time:

Signs of White Flash
Shell Motor Oil

While tiny, Fickling Mill in 2022 is eye-catching, thanks to this building at the water crossing, and likely represents exactly what the name advertises — the location of a former mill of some sort, driven by the power of the water of Patsilinga Creek.

Patsiliga Creek Over the Fickling Mill Dam

We were there late in the day, hence the fading-yet-still-golden light:

Windmill Decor and Patsiliga Creek

Only nine photographs, but posted as a dedicated gallery. Enjoy your virtual photostroll — and thanks for visiting.

New Gallery: Talbotton

The county seat of Talbot (Wiki) was the primary destination of our recent photostroll, another of those places that are often passed through without stopping. A small, poor town — and county — its rich history absolutely deserves a home here amongst the galleries of Georgia.

Monroe Street Storefonts, Downtown

Founded in 1828, Talbotton was a center of education for the area; its architectural splendor reflects a wealth no longer present. Even the later courthouse (1892) is a beautiful structure:

Talbot County Probate Court, 26 Washington Ave.
Talbot County Court Tower #3

There was one structure in particular that I wanted to visit: the Zion Episcopal Church, an 1848 wooden item, painted dark brown with white shutters:

Historic Zion Episcopal Church, Circa 1848

Unfortunately, Georgia’s early- and mid-century legacy survives intact. From the Zion Church’s Historical Marker:

The choir loft at the east end of the structure opposite the sanctuary, above the narthex, is flanked on each side by a gallery, where slaves worshipped prior to the conflict which many believed temporarily destroyed Southern culture.

Georgia Historical Commission, 1955

The church is still beautiful, it’s still beautifully preserved and maintained, and I’m glad that we can, in 2022, look at it in the historical context it deserves.1Read more about Zion Episcopal and its place in Talbotton here.

Zion Episcopal Church (Window Detail #2)

See the church and all of Talbotton — 34 photographs in all — in the new gallery here.

Thanks to Gerald for a pleasant Sunday of fine photography.

  • 1
    Read more about Zion Episcopal and its place in Talbotton here.

Updated Gallery: Thomaston

Despite the leaves pretty much, well, leaving us, yesterday was too nice a day to not do a photostroll — or three, in our case. First up: Sprewell Bluff Park. Located in rural Upson County on a lovely bend in the Flint River, the park has long been one of those places that was driven by and not visited.

Flint River from Sprewell Bluff #1

Glad to have fixed that! Better still, it’s more than just a bluff with a view:

River and Tree in Afternoon Sun, Sprewell Park (#2)
Cairn on the Riverbank, Sprewell Park
Flint River Shoals at Sprewell (#2)
Bluff Base, Flint River

As it’s technically located there, the Thomaston gallery has grown by nineteen photographs — check it out. (As always, once in the gallery, click on any photograph to start a slide show.)

Stay tuned for Talbotton and Fickling Mill, which will be posted as soon as possible.

Thank you!

Updated Gallery: Milledgeville

The small city of Milledgeville, on the banks of the Oconee River in nearby Baldwin County, is a favorite for photography. In this case, Gerald and I stopped on our way home from Sandersville, and spent some time wandering the historic district.

Aged Signage, 101 W. Mcintosh St., Circa 1911
Fall Color, First Presbyterian Church (#1), S. Wayne St.
(Extended) Weathervane, Old Courthouse Building, 201 W. Hancock St.

I especially liked this gate:

Gate and Stairs (Going Up), 129 S. Wayne St.

We were these the day after (part of) the Deep Roots Festival, which meant some street decorations lingered:

Deep Roots Festival Balloons, S. Wayne St.

Oh, and happy Halloween:

Happily Haunted Window, S. Wayne St.

See all my photographs from Milledgeville in the updated gallery. Thank you for visiting. See you in November!

Updated Gallery: Sandersville

As promised yesterday, there’s more from Sandersville. This time, the City Cemetery, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places:

Sandersville’s City Cemetery National Register Sign

Some beautiful statuary within:

Not all of the plots are marked with statuary, but some have beautiful markers.

Sandersville the site of a skirmish on Sherman’s March to the Sea, and according to the official history, probably took place in the cemetery grounds itself.

A plot marker in marble, together with the U.S. and Georgia flags.
The St. Paul AME Church, seen through the fall foliage.
Long-leaf pine is typical of this area, and provides some lovely shade.

An enjoyable time on a beautiful fall day. See all of the photographs from Sandersville in the updated gallery here.

New Gallery: Sandersville, Georgia

Sandersville, seat of Washington County, was the photography destination this past weekend. Gerald and I wanted to get out and enjoy this beautiful stretch of fall weather, and this small city — with its National Register-listed cemetery (more on that tomorrow) — hadn’t yet been explored.

Dr. Gate, W. Haynes St.

There was a pleasant little park off what I’m calling Courthouse Square (it doesn’t seem to actually be named that):

Park Arch, S. Harris St.
Park in the Square, S. Harris St.

The Washington County Courthouse is a beautiful and historic building, like many here in Georgia:

Washington County Courthouse #3

Can’t close without a plug for the home team:

Drink Coke, Get Waves

See all of the photographs from Sandersville in the new gallery, and stay tuned for more tomorrow. Thanks!

See also: Gerald’s journal post on the trip.

Gallery Update: Downtown Macon

The first Friday of fall saw Gerald and I out celebrating the beautiful weather — and his new “creative camera,” a Leica M8 in pristine condition:

M8 @ Bearfoot (#3)

Which of course meant a quick spin around downtown. I was using my favorite lens, the 90mm macro, resulting in lots of detail shots:

Capitol (Theatre) Details, Second St.
Windowmaker, Mulberry St. Ln.
Peeking Across Third (Street), Downtown
Street Art Detail, Cherry & Third
Street Art Detail, Poplar & Third

With these latest additions, the Downtown Macon (2022+) gallery is at eighty photographs. Take a look.

Gallery Updates: Andersonville and Americus, Georgia

Last weekend, Gerald and I took a summer road trip and photostroll through southwest Georgia — with stops in Andersonville and Americus.

Andersonville is a sobering place: “The deadliest ground of the American Civil War.” Further:

Nearly 13,000 men died on these grounds, a site that became infamous even before the Civil War ended. Their burial grounds became Andersonville National Cemetery, where veterans continue to be buried today. This place, where tens of thousands suffered captivity so others could be free, is also home to the National Prisoner of War Museum and serves as a memorial to all American prisoners of war.

National Park Service

We just visited the National Cemetery section of the park, with its closely-spaced Civil War graves, memorials, and reminders that it’s still in use today.

Bench and Garden, Andersonville National Cemetery Rostrum
Stalag XVII Memorial Detail (WWII), Andersonville National Cemetery
Maine Civil War Memorial Statue (Photo #2) Amongst Graves, Andersonville National Cemetery
Illinois Civil War Memorial (Detail #2), Andersonville National Cemetery

Later, we headed just down the road to the small city of Americus:

Wall Painting Detail #1, Sweet Georgia Bakery and Cafe, 134 W. Lamar St., Americus
City Municipal Building and Windsor Hotel, W. Lamar St., Americus
Window Arch #2, 106 W. Lamar St., Americus

Both galleries — Andersonville and Americus — have been updated with new photographs. The new items start with “2022,” and remember that clicking on any photograph starts a slide show for that gallery. Thank you!