Old Appalachian Building, Union County, GA

Ross Lane, photographer facing NW

A couple of months ago while driving west from Brasstown Creek towards Blairsville, GA on Hwy 76, this old weathered gray-sided building to the north caught my eye. It is located on the corner of Ross Lane and Old Smokey Road, just northeast of Blairsville.

This stretch of Hwy 76 connects Blairsville to Young Harris and Hiawassee, GA. The highway winds its way alongside Butternut Creek, just to the south of Ivylog Mountain, a range that includes from west to east, Anderson Knob, Atkins Knob, Stephens Ridge, Juber Knob, Lynn Knob, and Chestnut Flats, before finally ending with the Hullander Knobs at the Towns County line.

The structure is located between two landscape features that also bear the Ross name; Ross Gap on Ivylog Mountain between Juber Knob and Stephens Ridge, and Ross Ridge which is located on the south side of Hwy 76. It's apparent that the Ross family was one of the earliest and successful settlers of Union County.  I found a James B. Ross listed in the 1840 census.

I am unsure of the original function of this structure. It includes three doorways; one on the south side, and two to the north. There is also a larger opening on the eastern side of the home, almost like a small garage door. Was this a business or shop of some kind, or a residence?