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, 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.

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.