Georgia Small Towns and Cities and more

Just a quick note. I’ve had to remove myself from social media for a bit but will return very soon.
Thank you all for following me.

Midville Georgia
5/11/2025

I just drove 3 1/2 hours just to eat here. Literally everything I ate was phenomenal and I thank all of the family for keeping this wonderful business alive. May our Lord and Savior bless your whole family.
The rainy day made it feel like a cozy place to eat…..like at home!
Thank you Reverend Rucker for helping with the family picture.

Note: A larger post of the town is prior to this one.

Monticello Georgia
Jasper county
12/25/2024
(Filming location of the movie My Cousin Vinny)

This is a "short post" as I barely scratched the surface in 2 1/2 hours! After looking back I had photographed this local town many times including Christmas but years ago. I’ll include some here.
The area is recorded back to 1632. In 1807 the county was then formed (called Randolph then changed in 1812) Monticello was made the county seat in 1808. The site was picked for its hill top location and thus named after Thomas Jefferson's estate (even a bank here honors that appearance). The town was laid out in a grid pattern. The town was incorporated and later made a town by the Georgia state legislature in 1810 and a city in 1910.
The Covington and Macon railroad arrived in 1887 where it stalled and then began again with a new path. The Central of Georgia railway eventually bought the line and built a train depot here in 1901 (now torn down) so I have included a historical picture of it. The rails have been revitalized and used for hauling mostly local products on a now short line leased from the state.
There are many notable people too many to list and many historical homes and buildings not pictured here. This is a fascinating city with very nice folks. I spoke to a citizen who watched me for 20 minutes from his car and pulled up and inquired as to my purpose. After explaining he said "oh, I thought you might be a movie scout". 🤣❤️📸🚂🏛️🏚️🚙🇺🇸

Midville Georgia
Burke and Jenkins counties
12/1/2024

This once thriving town was incorporated in 1877. Burke county was formed in 1777 (really) and is an original county to the state. The town was a junction of The Central of Georgia and Midville, Swainsboro and Red Bluff railroads and is currently operated by The Heart of Georgia Railway. Only one of those lines are still active. The town no longer has its train depot with its history very obscure if demolition or such a fate befell it. Quick searches show a pic from 1959 and that's all.
There are about 3-5 businesses there. Now, on this particular Sunday I found open an awesome buffet of home cooking at Momma's homestyle cooking. It's on the corner of the Main Street in one of 2 large rows of buildings built by Thomas R Slappey of Savannah. Built in 1918 with some really cool brickwork and tile entrances. But let me stop and say, Momma's was awesome. I went inside to take pics of the tile. I asked permission and the gentleman looked at me surprised. After he spoke to the owner and I told her what my purpose was she happily agreed. While I was there all 4 workers talked to me, and just like there sign says, I left as a friend. I did not eat but bought a BIG plate of food and took it home to my dad. He loved it! I'll be back asap to sit in the window and enjoy every minute.
So I could say a lot more but this is ridiculously long....❤️📸🚂🏚️🏛️🍗🥦🍞🍰🇺🇸

Perkins Georgia (Perkins station)
Jenkins county
12/1/2024 7:42 a.m. (sunrise 6:51)
28 degrees

Perkins settlement dates are unknown to the author after very basic research. In 1906 it became a part of Jenkins county. The county was created from other counties in 1905. The Central of Georgia train depot is cir 1900 but I suspect older. It has been moved a little back from the tracks. The Hawe's grocery store was built in 1893 and was purchased cir 1920 by another family who kept the name and handed it down.
I met the owners of these properties and buildings. They drove up wondering what I was doing. After a very nice talk the Mrs. asked me to go to church with them telling me there were only 15-20 members. That was one of the most pleasant conversations I've had with local people over the last 4 years. I had to regretfully decline as I had more towns to see and had to catch the sun in a better position. I was there for 2 hours just taking it in. As I started to leave a Norfolk Southern train came by. I love those sounds ❤️
The Chance home posted here is now missing its front porch. Its date is also unknown. I was told the long barn was a Ford dealer (tractor I think). The town is missing most of its original buildings and you cannot see any sign of foundations. All of the "town" structures were later all painted this red.
I plan to go back very soon and talk again with the owners and will update this soon.
❤️📸 🚂🏚️🇺🇸

Milan Georgia
Telfair and Dodge counties
10/13/2024
• ••
This "village" along the Seaboard Air Lines railroad was Incorporated as a town in 1891. The counties founded 1807 and 1870 respectively.
The towns depot is not used and all very original inside. It was built in 1899.
The town is empty for all but 2 buildings. This was a thriving town as evidenced in some of my pics, you know the ones you scroll past.
The foundations are still
there in most areas. In 2 pics you can see a wall that fell down finally after the rest of the building was removed. If owners would just put roofs on these buildings they might be saved.
❤️📸🏚️🏛️🏦🏭🇺🇸

Manasses Georgia
Tattnal county
9/15/2024

“Founded in the late 19th century” it became incorporated as a city in 1920. It is the smallest town in the county. The Savannah and Western railroad built tracks here in 1890. Research does not reveal who built the depot but this RR company sold off their holdings in 1894 to The Central of Georgia and I would put its age at about that time. The main industry was turpentine and cattle. There is nothing left of the town at all except for the depot and a few old homes.
I spoke to a nice lady, whose 6 month old German Shepherd Saluda kept playing with me, that said it was very quiet except for speeders (Tattnal sheriffs officers - 2 where there shooting radar later when I passed back through) and her grandchildren were at risk all of the time.
This depot and town were not even on my radar so my eyes popped wide open, my mouth dropped, and I barely could get off of the road fast enough! Someone please save this depot!!! ❤️📸🚂🚙🏚️🇺🇸

Adrian Georgia
Johnson county
9/2/2024

Founded as a city in 1899 (125 years ago). It was at the crossroads of the Wadley Southern and the Central of Georgia railroads.
The city was missing many buildings as I found a lot of foundations and a Jet gas station on a prominent corner. A lady there gave me a pointer and showed me the long depot with the old gas pumps. Later when I went inside the two other ladies were so kind they deserve mention.
The tiled store entry ways were really nice. The city had all of the major stores etc. Only a few still operate. The train “station” was long gone. There were beautiful churches and homes I never got to given the 92 degree weather with a very high humidity. The whole time I was there a police officer sat at the edge of town (see pic).
I enjoyed my visit and when I pass that way again I’ll spend much more time. The City of Adrian. ❤️📸🏚️🏛️🚂🚙🇺🇸

Kite Georgia
Johnson county
8/25/2024

The town (now a "city") Kite was founded in 1891.
The county founded in 1858 from surrounding counties.
This town once saw The Wadley and Mt Vernon railroad (built 1890 on a 13 mile stretch) come right through the center of town according to a citizen who pulled up on me in a golf cart. With his cigarette in hand, and a long beard appearing to be in his late 60's, he gave me a quick run down of his hometown telling me how his grandfather worked at the garage you see the old Chevy at in my pics. He also pointed to his old house, the blue one in the background in 2 pics. He told me the town is now only 1/3 of what it was (all vacant now with fair restoration attempts starting on the long row of stores). He showed me where the train ran through. The tracks and all evidence are gone. I was hard pressed to find the remnants of it. Please read the picture captions for more details on these things. Unfortunately I did not get his pic or name.... Ugh! Not the best time of day for pics. ❤️📸🏚️🏛️🚂🚙🇺🇸

Hawkinsville Georgia
Pulaski county
6/13/2021

These pics are from some time ago. This is a beautiful town (city now). I took 334 pics, have 125 favorites, and Facebook limits me to 80…..😒
The county was created in 1808! (216 years ago). The town was incorporated in 1836. The pictured courthouse was built in 1874. It has been expanded many times. The clock was added in 1897. This Classic Revival was unique as it had a chapel just outside the entrance.
The Southern Railway depot was built cir 1900 and is in excellent shape. It has been used as an agricultural scale as seen with my car “weighting” to be weighed ….. 😂
There was so much more to photograph and it’s nice enough to want to put it on my top 10 places to live one day. The City of Hawkinsville, GA❤️📸🏛️🏚️🚂🚙🇺🇸

Poulan Georgia
Worth county
8/4/2024

Town created in 1889. This is a now truly abandoned town with the exception of the post office. This is typical of a Georgia small town built along a rail line. Most of these towns have only a few buildings and generally all built around 1900-1920.
The railroad company Albany & Brunswick (1861/1866) had tracks running through town from Albany to Tifton, Waycross, and Brunswick. I do not know who actually built them originally. There is no evidence it ever had a depot or station here. The tracks are now gone. You can still see the bed and rise in the cross streets where it went through.
The D.A. Phelps building on the corner of “downtown” has a collapsed roof but looking inside I see someone making an attempt with steel joists and supports to maybe restore this unique beauty. I’m at a loss to find accurate property records on this….ugh! Maybe 1905?
The bank was in bad shape. I really couldn’t see the vault door but the room is still there. The front building support column is solid granite and in EXCELLENT condition. The large park was also very nice but in need of grass cutting. The firetruck appears to have been restored nicely and is lifted off its tires nicely. Cute town.
❤️📸🏛️🏚️🚂🚙🇺🇸

Moultrie Georgia
Colquitt county
8/4/2024
(Part 2 of 2) 6:48 am (sunrise)

See part 1 post first. 🙂Keep in mind these are all strictly amateur photos. My love of travel and history (and walking) spill over to my love of photography. 😁
You will see here some photographs that have been retouched and all are shot in RAW without live function.
This city is so nicely quiet on a Sunday morning but obviously very much alive with restaurants, unique stores, and people. It is also very clean! ❤️
One building I was looking at had no signage but I KNEW it was a Carnegie library by its looks (1908). The door k**b, door, and red brick building on the corner across from the Federal building caught my eye immediately as I drove in to town. Research after the fact proved me right.
There was no train depot remaining but the Baldwin locomotive that was donated to the town once ran the tracks first under the ownership of The Boston (Ga) & Albany railroad. The first train into the town was in 1893. The system was bought in 1895 and named The Georgia Northern railroad (ironically at the southern most part of our state 😆). The #105 locomotive 2-8-2 was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Company in 1928. I will say it could use a REAL restoration but at least it’s covered. Downtown Moultrie GA
❤️📸🚂🏚️🏭🏛️🇺🇸