Old McKee's Chapel, c. 1948, Dawson County, GA

From Hwy 183, photographer facing west

Located on Hwy 183, northwest of Dawsonville, GA, this modest brick structure is the second of the three structures that McKee's Chapel United Methodist Church has utilized. The initial church was organized in the 1860s in the form of a brush arbor (for those of you that are as unfamiliar with a brush arbor as I was, there's a great, short article here). 

Main entrance, photographer facing SW

According to the church's website, it was founded by people who were Union sympathizers during the Civil War.  Apparently Dawson County, like many of the counties in the mountainous region of north Georgia, was divided on the issue of secession. There is even a historical marker at the old courthouse in town that describes the unit formed (the First Georgia Volunteer Infantry Battalion) in the county that fought for the Union.

The church evolved into a campground with 14 cabins, and a log church, named Campground Methodist Church. In 1883, land was donated to the church by the Purdy and Bennett families, which was renamed McKee' Chapel to honor Joseph McKee who donated money (either $50 or $100, depending on the source) to construct a wooden frame church.

In 1909/10 the building was moved from its original location to where it is now, closer to the road. In 1948, the wooden building was replaced by the brick structure shown in these photos. 

From Hwy 183, photographer facing south

This structure was replaced in 1990, according to tax assessor's records. The new church building, with approximately 2,500 square feet is over twice as large as the old building. It is located across the highway.

Though no longer used as the main house of worship, it is apparently maintained by the congregation.

Adjacent to the old church is the cemetery, both silent reminders of a bygone era.

Two-story Farmhouse, c.1848, Union County, GA

From John Smith Road East, photographer facing NW

At the edge of  a pasture in northern Union County, GA stands this magnificent, two-story wooden, L shaped home. Built circa 1848, the owner must have been of substantial means. The feature that stands out the most to me is the 2nd story porch that is located on the front of the home. Few homes built in the mid 1800s  had two stories, much less a second floor porch.

From John Smith Road East, photographer facing NE

The property where this home is located also includes a home that was built in the early 70s and is obviously the primary home of the land owner. So many homes like this, if they haven't been torn down, destroyed by fire, or simply collapsed due to age, are typically covered by vegetation. Invasive vines such as Kudzu, Wisteria, Virginia Creeper; thick growths of privet, or other shrubs, and sometimes trees growing up inches from the foundation cause serious damage to these old structures.Thankfully, the owner has made sure that these grounds are maintained around the old home, allowing any passersby a glimpse of the past.

In the second photo, you will notice the mountains in the background, as you look past the house over T Chapel Road, and Hwy 129. These are the peaks of Gumlog and Ballard Mountains. These peaks rise from the floor of Union County, and fall down to the border with Cherokee County, NC.  The individuals that settled the surrounding lands were the heartiest of individuals. This area is still quite remote with respect to the distance to the nearest grocery store. When this house was built, the trip to Blairsville, GA or Murphy, NC by horse would have been an all-day venture.

Northwest side of home, with side porch 

If you're heading up Hwy 129 north from Blairsville, turn left on T Chapel Road, look to the right across the pasture as you approach the stop sign at John Smith Road East. The view will give you a glimpse into the 19th century, and allow you to imagine how magnificent it looked when it was first built.  

Old Matt School, c. 1945, Forsyth County, GA

Photographer facing SW, Bannister Road

The "Old" Matt School, named for the Matt Community, was constructed in 1945 and was used as a school until 1968. The northern part of the county that the school served is now served by Matt Elementary School which was built in 2001. The old school has since been used as a commercial structure, most recently as a retail mattress store that I'm not sure is open any longer.

According to the Matt Elementary School website, students walked to the old school and got their drinking water from a spring. An interesting concept for its time, the students didn't use desks, but sat on benches around an open fireplace.  

Photographer facing SE

In just about every community, there are old schools like this that are no longer in use. Many school systems turn them into administrative offices, and some, like this one, are used for businesses.

The old William Robinson School (where I attended the 7th grade) in Augusta, GA has been turned into residential housing. You can read about it here.

Photographer facing east

In these old structures, I'm sure any proposed renovation or restoration activities present challenges in dealing with hazardous building materials such as lead paint and asbestos.

However, the end result could be the preservation of structures that played such a large role in the shaping of this community's children, as well as providing housing for the increasing number of young professionals that are calling Forsyth County home.

Anyone have an extra million dollars laying around?

Colonial Revival Style Home, c. 1940, Augusta, GA

Magnolia Drive, photographer facing SE

Located in the Forest Hills neighborhood of Augusta, GA, this home stands out. In a neighborhood of beautifully maintained homes, this one is showing severe signs of neglect; from a couple of boarded windows, rotting wood and weathered paint on the trim, to the shrubbery that has grown out of control.

The Forest Hills neighborhood is located in the "Hill" area of Augusta, adjacent to Summerville, a place where the elite families used to retreat to during the summer months, escaping the oppressive heat, and summer time illnesses of the "Bottom" section of the city. In existence since the late 1700s, by the mid 1800s Summerville was also a destination used by wealthy northerners who would use it as an escape from the harsh winters. An independent city until it was annexed by Augusta in 1912, building in this area took off after the fire of 1916 that destroyed much of downtown Augusta.

Front Entrance, photographer facing east

Forest Hills sprang up during the 1920s and 30s and offered more humble homes, like the ones on Cardinal Drive, Wrightsboro Road, and Pine Needle Road, in addition to the larger, more grand homes located on  Comfort Road, Park Avenue, and Bransford Road.

On the opposite end of Forest Hills is the Forest Hills Golf Club which was established in 1926, in conjunction with the stunning Forest Hills-Ricker Hotel. You can read about it here. Unfortunately, it was razed in 1988.

In 1930, before the Augusta National or The Masters tournament existed, the Southeastern Open was held, with two rounds played at the Augusta Country Club, and two at Forest Hills. Played in late March, this was where Bobby Jones began his ultimate achievement of a grand slam of golf.

This house, though in rough shape, still stands; a sentinel waiting to be renovated back to its former glory.

Old Farmhouse, Turner Road, Forsyth County, GA

Photographer facing east

Located a stones throw from Costco, and the Market Place shopping complex, there's no telling how long this farmstead will remain in its pastoral state. Located on Turner Road, sandwiched between Lake Lanier to the east, and the City of Cumming to the west, this home can be seen to the east from the new four-lane Market Place Boulevard.

As one of the fastest growing counties in the country, Forsyth's population has exploded from 44,000 in 1990 to the staggering 2013 estimate of 195,000 residents. The majority of this growth has been from high-income professionals migrating north from Atlanta. Forbes listed the county as the 13th wealthiest county in the nation. The transformation of the once quiet countryside to McMansion developments has surely swallowed up scores of places like this small farm, one that is unlikely to be around much longer.   

Rear, photographer facing SW

There are some interesting features that I discovered later in the photo of the rear of the house. The stacked rock base below the windows is a mystery to me. It looks like the base for a chimney, but it doesn't make sense for one to be in that location.

There are what appears to be two windows up high, but they are covered with hinged, wooden inserts. There is a two-wheeled pushcart, a Christmas tree stand, and lastly, one of the windowpanes has been replaced by a cardboard Little Caesar's Hot-and-Ready pizza box. It is also easy to spot the more recent addition to the left.

Outbuildings behind the house, photographer facing east

Behind the house is a taller than normal small barn or shed, the function of which I am unsure. An old outhouse lurks in the background.

Be sure to look around, even near new commercial development, and you might be able to step back in time.

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? 

Two-story Farmhouse, Dawson County, GA

Hwy 183, photographer facing NW

This gem is hidden behind vegetation that prevents travelers on Hwy 183 from seeing all but the roof of the house. Near an unincorporated area known locally as Emma, it sits about 200 yards off the highway at the end of an old gravel drive that is blocked by a metal gate. Judging by the size of the trees growing right next to the house, it has apparently been a long time since anyone has called it home.

Clear view of rock foundation, photographer facing NE

Great examples of a stacked-rock foundation, along with the chimney which begins as field stone with the upper third being brick. I imagine that the original top of the chimney had to be replaced, thus the brick.A smaller chimney protrudes through the roof of what is probably the kitchen area.

2/3 field stone chimney, photographer facing north

Wrap-around porch, photographer facing SE

There is also a neat wrap-around porch that runs from the north to the west side of the house. I'd love to be able to hear the conversations that occurred there on hot summer evenings.

Located near the higher elevations of the county, a few miles from Amicalola Falls State Park, the landscape probably has not changed much in the past 100 years. It is mostly covered with wooded tracts interspersed with an open hay field or pasture here and there. It's still a world away from the hustle and bustle of the GA 400 corridor that is located in the southeastern part of the county.

Etowah River Farmhouse, c. 1920, Dawson County, GA

Intersection of Etowah River Road and New Bethel Church Road, photographer facing SE

As you travel in a northeasterly direction away from Hwy 53 on Etowah River Road, you will notice the green, expansive flood plain of the Etowah River, the largest opening of which is connected to this home. It sits on a knoll that rises to the north, away from the river. The home sits on a little over 193 acres, including 6,000+ feet of river frontage. As you enter the sweeping curve where New Bethel Church Road comes in from the north, this home's beauty grabs your attention as it is easily seen from on the right.

At first I couldn't believe that the home's windows were boarded, because it appears to be in pretty good shape, as compared to a lot of the other homes featured on this blog; roof intact, paint still white, chimneys not crumbling, no visible collapse or rot. It is beginning to be overtaken by vines, shrubs, and small trees, but nothing that couldn't be cleared out in a weekend.

Photographer facing SW from Etowah River Road

The tax assessor's website lists the construction date of this home as 1920. It has a T shape with an extension off the bottom of the T, which can be seen in the second photo; possibly a later kitchen addition. Three brick chimneys grace all of the endpoints on the T.

You'll have to forgive my lack of proper architectural terminology. It's something I'm learning more about as I research these old homes.

An internet search revealed that one possible reason for the home sitting vacant is the proposal for the expansion of an existing 12-acre reservoir to a 138-acre reservoir that is planned nearby.  The outflow of the dam would be into Russell Creek which is the southwestern border of this property. Perhaps the owner is waiting to see the final plans of the lake and how it will impact the property. Until then this beautiful, nearly one hundred year old gem will continue to look lonely.

Shingle House, c. 1880, Cherokee County, GA

Yellow Creek Road, photographer facing SE

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photographer facing NE

  It can be said that the term "house" is used rather loosely in this case. Aptly named due to the oak shingle siding, this structure has been used as a commissary, an administrative office, a post office, the second floor used as a hotel, and a boarding house. It also contained a small stamp mill used in the extraction of gold where local residents could participate in cashing in on one of the area's natural resources.

The building sits on the site of, and is the only remaining structure of the Creighton/Franklin Gold Mine complex. According to the Cherokee County Historical Society, the mine was active for more than 70 years (1830s-1907) as the property blossomed into a complex that eventually included a mining plant with a large stamp mill, a chlorination plant, assay laboratory, blacksmith shop, stables, miners' cottages and a dam with 2 large turbines to generate power for the site.

Like all land in this part of Georgia, it was obtained in the Cherokee Land Lottery in the 1830s by Mrs. Mary Franklin. At one time, the property ballooned to 1,280 acres. By 1883 it was owned and operated by J.M. Creighton.

Photographer facing north

Today, the Shingle House sits alone in an open hayfield, slowly decaying under the cover of climbing vines, the only remnant of the once thriving village of Creighton Hills.

The structure is part of a list of twelve "Sites Worth Saving", compiled by the Cherokee County Historical Society. Privately owned, there is no indication that any preservation attempts will be made.  

Waters Home, c. 1916, Dawson County, GA

Old Henry Grady Road, photographer facing NW

This old farmhouse sits on the west side of Old Henry Grady Road in the northern area of Dawson County, GA. Built in 1916, nearly 100 years ago, the area is still very rural, bordered by large-acre tracts of land to the west and the south. The area located between Hwy 136 and Hwy 183 contains some of the most bucolic land in the county.

The further north you travel, the more the Blue Ridge spine seems to rise out of the landscape, with openings in the trees revealing great views of the mountains. Rolling pastures, interspersed with wooded tracts make this section of Dawson County desirable for those seeking a quiet spot to call home. However, you won't see many "for sale" signs in this area. A suitable place for old homes like this one to pass the years, relatively unchanged. Hopefully most of metro-Atlanta's growth moving in a northerly direction will be tied to the GA 400 corridor, leaving places like this as it is for many years to come.

Old Farmhouse, C. 1910, Dawson County, GA

Etowah River Road, photographer facing NW

Sitting on a steady rise across the road from the lowland agricultural fields and flood plain of the Etowah River, this old home has stood the test of time for over 100 years. Based on the building materials stored on the front porch, it appears that the current owner is taking some care to make sure the structure stands a while longer.  A barn in an earlier post sits just southwest of this property. I wonder if in the early 1900s that the barn and this old home were part of the same farm.

Sherrill House, c. 1907, Forsyth County, GA

Old Federal Road, photographer facing SE

 Located in northwestern Forsyth County, Georgia, the Sherrill House is a great example of what an active  historical society can accomplish with regard to preservation. As part of the northern Metro Atlanta area, Forsyth County is one of the fastest growing counties in the country. The nature of development is to cram as much housing as is possible, usually building homes on half-acre lots. Most often than not this is done without regard to older structures, as it doesn't always make economical sense for a developer to consider pouring money into an old home.

Renovation began in 2013

Occupied by the family until the late 70s or early 80s, the home became rental property until the mid 90s. Since that time, the home sat vacant for about twenty years. As part of 225 acres that the county purchased in 2009 to become Eagle's Beak Park, the house will be renovated and turned into the Native American and Pioneer Heritage Center. 

Photographer facing west

Some historians believe that the property was the site of a Cherokee Indian settlement in the 1700s, and that the tavern where Cherokee leader James Vann was killed was also located on what is now part of the park. The tavern was relocated to the Cumming Fairgrounds as part of the Indian Village display.

A success story in the making, the Forsyth County Historical Society can still use volunteers for work sessions at the site, or monetary donations to go towards the renovation. Please see the following links for more information about this project.

Forsyth News Article

Sherrill House/Hightower/Frogtown Facebook Page

Stancil's Store, 1912-2012, Cherokee County, GA

Original store 1912-1952, photographer facing west

The remnants of Stancil's Store are located at 5240 Yellow Creek Road in Cherokee County, Georgia. The old store was opened in 1912 by William and Mary Ann (Holcomb) Stancil. On February 24, 1915, their tenth child of eleven was born and named Broughton.  A fixture of the store, Broughton was a World War II veteran having served in the U.S. Army fighting in the Pacific against the Japanese in British New Guinea. During his time there, he was cited for courageous conduct in action.  Mr. Stancil passed away November 30, 2011, just shy of the 100 year anniversary of the store.

Store built in 1952, photographer facing east

The demands of the small store became so great that they had to build a larger store on the eastern side of the road in 1952.

The rural location of the store allowed it to thrive during the "old days". However, the combination of the rise of the automobile, and the era of the large big-box stores, forced the family to close the doors in 2012.

There is a nice, short, three-minute video on the store that was shot before it became a remnant. It gives you a great feel for the interior of the store, and some of the regulars, but centers around Broughton Stancil. You can view it here "Stancil's Store" by Kos Films

A good article on the store featured in the October, 2011 edition of Smoke Signals newspaper can be accessed by the following link:

Smoke Signals Article

Sadly, as Mr. Stancil states in the video"It's got to where there's not much place for a country store any more."

Appalachian Farmhouse, Old Hwy 76, Fannin County, GA

Richards Branch Road & Old Hwy 76, photographer facing SW

This house is located at the intersection of Old Hwy 76 and Richards Branch Road in eastern Fannin County, GA. It can be seen looking south from Hwy 515 as Old Hwy 76 at this point is only 75'-100' to the south.  The front yard was littered with walnuts from last falls crop,  plenty of briars, and a band of daffodils running along the top of the embankment that leads down to Old Hwy 76.

A particularly noisy spot right now with the four-lane highway, I often wonder how quiet it was in these mountain spots before all of the traffic.

Large Walnut Tree and Daffodils, photographer facing south.

Wallace Farmhouse, c. 1900, Dawson County, GA

Photographer facing NE from Kilough Church Road

Photographer facing SE from Kilough Church Road

I was directed to this house by a resident of the area who has lived nearby since the mid 80s, and informed me that the home has not been lived in since before that time. It is a great example of an old tar-paper farmhouse. The tar paper's function is primarily aesthetic in that it's the cheapest way to make a board-sided home look like a brick house. The owner of the property obviously treats the house, and other outbuildings with tender loving care, as they appeared to be in good condition for being over 100 years old, with at least the last thirty years uninhabited.

Why I Do This:

The photos above were taken January 21, 2014. During the night of February 16, 2014, the area was hit with an ice storm which caused extensive damage to many of the local trees. The results were devastating for this farmhouse as a huge tree could not withstand the weight of the ice, and toppled onto the roof. The results can be seen below from photographs taken today March 9, 2014.

February ice storm damage.

Remains of the tree.

Whether it's from ice, thunderstorm, fire, or structural failure, these old homes are under constant threat from the elements and they will not last forever unless a lot of time and money is spent on their upkeep. I'm just glad that I took the photos back in January so that the home was documented prior to what appears to be damage so extensive that I can't imagine the home will ever be repaired. When they're gone, for whatever reason, they're gone. 

Hunter-England House, c. 1832 Union County, GA

Photographer facing NE from Hwy 129

These photos were taken on January 1, 2006. The home was built c. 1832 by John Hunter who migrated into  North Georgia from Buncombe County, NC after the Cherokee land lottery. It is believed to be the oldest dwelling in Union County, GA. It was constructed from poplar logs, with a stone pillar foundation. It was last used as a residence during the 1950s.

Photographer facing east from Hwy 129

The bad news is that the home no longer stands at its original location. The good news is that it is being dismantled piece by piece and re-built at a location less than five miles from the original. A 2008 posting on the storiesandevents.com website identified Clyde Smith of Cartersville, GA as being in charge of the project. As of the date of this post, I cannot  find any additional information about the completion of the relocation, though it's been seven years since the project began. Once I find the answer to this, an update will be posted.

St. Helena Parish Chapel of Ease, c. 1740, Beaufort County, SC

Photographer facing south

Located on Lands End Road, SW of Frogmore, SC on St. Helena Island, The Chapel of Ease was built c. 1740 for planters that lived in the area, but found the trip to the parish church in Beaufort, SC to be too burdensome for regular attendance. By 1812, the population of the area was such that it was made a parish church.

Photographer facing NE

The Union Army occupied the area early on during the Civil War, and the church was basically abandoned in 1861. A year later, just north of this site, the Penn Center was established to educate newly freed slaves (350 planters fled the island ahead of the occupation leaving behind 3,000 slaves). Some of the northerners that came as teachers and trainers used the church. It eventually burned in a forest fire in 1886 and was never rebuilt.

The construction of the chapel is classified as mid-18th century colonial tabby construction. Tabby is a building material that consists of sand, water, lime, and crushed oyster shells. The construction type, and the period of historical significance led this site as well as the Penn Center to be included on the National Register of Historic Places.

Photographer facing east

Old Duck Chastain Store c. 1950, Dawson County, GA

Photographer facing northeast from Hwy 183

According to the Tax Assessor's website, this structure was built in 1950, and is currently listed as a storage building. It sits on the NE side of Hwy 183 (Elliott Family Parkway) with a pull off area in front of the structure. There is also a house that sits not too far behind the building that is listed as having been built in 1957. These two features led me to believe that the structure functioned as something other than a home.

Thanks to Mr. Philip Burt of Dawson County, it was identified as the old Duck Chastain Store. An internet search located a W.L. "Duck" Chastain that was born in 1910 and died in 1978, and was laid to rest in the Goshen Baptist Church Cemetery, also in Dawson County. His headstone includes the "Duck" nickname.

Mr. Burt remembered stops there as a boy and getting cold bottles of coke out of an old fashioned coke coolers, the kind with a bottle opener on the side. He recalls that Mr. Chastain actually had his home in one part of the structure and operated the store out of the other part. Which side was which, I'm not sure.

Pardue Mill, c. 1930, Habersham County, GA

Mill and dam on Pardue Mill Creek

This site is located on Pardue Mill Road, roughly a mile west of the large Habersham Mill Complex. Pardue Mill was built in the 1930s, where corn was ground into meal until the 1960s. The original mill complex included not only the mill, but a barn and house where the operators lived. The house and the waterwheel are the only missing pieces. The water wheel was 18 feet in diameter and 4 feet wide. The dam is 7 feet high and 48 feet in length.

The only information I could find on this location is from the website where the current owner is attempting to sell the property. Obviously not high on the list of historic sites in Habersham County, but a remnant of southern architecture, nonetheless. 

Howser Mill, Dawson County, GA

Photographer facing north.

Photographer facing east, Shoal Creek in the foreground.

Howser Mill is located on Howser Mill Road in Dawson County, GA, on the eastern bank of Shoal Creek. Some research is in order as a google search covering 15 pages revealed very little.

In the City of Dawsonville Comprehensive Plan 2008-2030, even though the mill is outside of the city limits, it is mentioned as the first producer of electricity to the city through the use of a turbine water wheel.

Winter is the best time to see the mill, as the foliage that is creeping up virtually covers the SW wall in the Summer.

FitzSimons-Hampton House, c. 1815, Augusta, GA

Photographer facing north, 2/8/2015

 7/3/2018 - Update: A trip to the SC coast this past May took me through Augusta, GA, and sadly I saw that this home has been completely demolished. What a loss for Augusta, and the State of Georgia. Apparently this happened almost two years ago. You can read about it here.

This home has also been known as the Goodale Inn, though the home apparently never functioned as an inn. It is located on the two remaining acres of land that was a plantation once as large as 700+ acres. The original owner of the plantation was Thomas Goodale who received a land grant of 500 acres, later discovered to only be about 460 acres. He operated a grist mill on the property, grew grain, and operated the Sand Bar Ferry.

 He sold the property to Francis Macarten and Martin Campbell in 1754. The property eventually ended up being sold to Christopher FitzSimons of Charleston, SC in 1799. It was then that the plans were drawn up for the construction of the home. The home and plantation was given to FitzSimon's daughter Ann as a wedding gift when she married Wade Hampton, Jr. in 1816. The home stayed in the Hampton family until 1835, even though they never lived in the house.

There is an extensive history of the home written in 1976 by Martha Norwood for the nomination form to have the property placed on the National Register of Historic Places. See http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/76000645.pdf  The nomination was successful, however things have taken a turn for the worse in recent years.

Collapsed wall, photographer facing east, 2/8/2015

After being operated as a restaurant called The Goodale Inn, in the 70s and 90s, the home has slowly deteriorated. It was sold for $15,250 in 2009 to an investor whose heart seems to be in the right place, but whose pockets are not deep enough to ensure that the necessary restoration and maintenance are performed.

In 2011 one of the chimneys on the north wall collapsed bringing down most of the wall with it. Four years later, the wall is still open and exposed to the elements. It appears that the preservation of this Georgia landmark is in serious jeopardy. In 2014 a judge ordered that the property be repaired or torn down. Neither has been done. Lets hope for the former and not the latter.

Girtman Farm Tenant Home, Jeff Davis County, GA

Ocie Kea (Durden) Rowland on the front porch.

This photo was taken in the late 1970s, by my mother. It was her childhood home from 1947 until about 1955, before the family moved to Brunswick, GA. Their stay in Brunswick was short lived and they eventually returned to Jeff Davis, County. She remembers that the roof was covered with hand-made wooden shingles, instead of the metal roof in the photo. My grandmother is the lady sitting on the front porch.

My grandfather worked on the Girtman Farm as a sharecropper, with my grandmother and their six children. I have never been to the farm, but I plan on heading down south with my mother, hopefully in the spring to see the condition of the old home. Word is that it has been used as a hunting camp for several years and that if I want to see it I better hurry because it won't be around much longer. An update will be posted.