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.