Primitive Baptist Churches: Oak Grove, Smyrna, High Bluff, Pilgrims Rest, Wayfair, Bethlehem and Sardis

Lately, I have been focused on structures and one of the structures that has caught my eye is the Primitive Baptist Churches.  So as it goes I find one, then someone tells me about another one in a remote area with very vague directions and I find it.  To learn that there are quite a few others in my area.  Well I hate to collect things, cause once I start I want them all, of course I want to find all the Historic Primitive Baptist Churches in my area.  It has been a fun adventure as most are remotely located, meaning dirt roads which are a favorite of mine and vague directions which are always a challenge.  I have tried to do some research on the churches and have learned that as a group they are very much the same.  Minimalist; simple wood structures, usually with three doors, one in the front, one in the back and one in the middle sometimes with a small overhang covering the door.  All windows are shuttered, some have glass, most don't, the only time the shutters are opened is when there is a service.  The interior is as minimalistic as the exterior, a pulpit in the center on the longest side of the building, hardwood, uncushioned and unadorned benches are to the left, right and center of the hardwood pulpit.  The roof is open rafters with an addition wood strip running down the center of the left side of the church with nails on it, this served as a hat rack.  It is my understanding that the left side of the church is the "men's seating" so also on the left side of the church there are holes in the floor in front of the benches reportedly for tobacco chewing.  The right side of the church was for women and the center benches were for the unbaptized and visitors. 
I think what I love most about these churches is the simplicity, no fancy wall hanging, no expensive stain glassed windows, shoot in most cases no electricity, if you were lucky you remembered to bring a hand fan.  The focus was on the scripture.  Nothing else.  Although, there aren't any fancy adornments; that is not to say that there is a lack of workmanship.  They are simply beautiful, many with rough sawn oak.  Any way, let's get to the good part; I would like to share some of my photos of the churches I have found:

 The first one is Oak Grove Primitive Baptist Church on Raybon Rd in Brantley County.  I don't know when this church was founded, it seems to be one of the newer structures but beautiful nonetheless.

 Notice the pulpit in the center and the hat racks on the left and center isles.

 Another similarity is a hand pump located nearby each church and in most cases a privy.  I followed the small path to the out building. 

 At first privacy seems a must from the outside, but inside is a different story, this is a unique three seater.

 One more similarity, is cemeteries, they all have one.  This one seems to date back to the early 1900's.  While photographing this structure two cowboys, literally on horseback came by and we chatted and they told me about Smyrna Primitive Baptist Church in Lulaton and gave me directions.

 This church is located on a dirt road not far from the County Solid Waste Station with a cemetery that holds the final resting place of many veterans from the Civil War and Spanish American War.

The pulpit viewed from the right side and hat racks on the left.

 

 Some markers in the cemetery of Confederate Soldiers.

 Viewed from the right, from the cemetery.  This church was founded in 1824 and moved to this location in 1889.  The property was donated by the James Highsmith Estate.  The Church disbanded in 1990.

High Bluff Primitive Baptist Church was founded in 1819 and is still active, it is among the oldest continuing congregation.  It is the largest Primitive Church I have found yet and more modern with the addition of a handicap ramp and hand rails.  The cemetery is absolutely beautiful and is the final resting place of Lydia Stone the Queen of the Okefenokee Swamp.

This church has two doors on the side.

 The pulpit is in the center and some cushions and hand fans are stashed away waiting for service.

 This Cemetery has some very large and extravagant monuments and family plots. 

 And some of the simplest grave markers, like the wooden hand carved picket fence surrounding this family plot.

The Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church is in Bachlott on a dirt road out in the country.  This church was founded in 1842 and disbanded in 1991.  There is also a well pump, appears to be remnants of a privy, which looks like overgrown snake country to me, so needless to say there is no picture of it and of course a cemetery.

 

 The inside is so pretty, there is glass in some of the windows, neatly kept and so serene.  As I walked around, I noticed something on the pulpit, money bunched up from previous visitors, I am thinking to help with the immaculate upkeep on this roadside treasure.

The covered well pump.

  This cemetery also had wooden grave markers for family plots and what was obviously a child's resting place.  There were also markers from the confederate soldiers.

 The next church I visited was Pilgrims Rest off Old Waynesville Road.  I don't really know anything about this church another than the front doors were wide open and welcoming.

 Shuttered window.

 Neat as a pin inside, no glass in the windows and I imagine it can get quite drafty in the winter time.

 Here is a close up of the holes in the floor on the men's seating side for the tobacco chewers in the crowd.

 On the back side of the building there is a well pump and the Pilgrims Rest Cemetery is to the right, 

What I do know about this place is that my brother in law Joe is buried here and that he is in a quiet and peaceful setting.  The gates of the cemetery date to 1878

 Charlton County is home to one of the oldest primitive churches in the area and that is the Sardis Primitive Baptist Church.  It was constituted in 1821 and moved to its current location in 1840. 

 I don't have photos of the inside but it is beautiful rough sawn oak.  You can see the blade marks in the wood.  I caught it one day while the shutters were open and returned another when it was all shuttered.  It is in a lovely setting up on as rise above the cemetery with facilities in the back and a well pump.

 One of my favorites is the Wayfair Primitive Baptist Church in Cox, also listed as the Hardshell church.  My favorite because it took me forever to find it.  This is located just outside a hunting club, so the road side sign says private keep out, but the hunting ground is just past the church....a little misleading.  Check out the foundation appears to be the original logs.

 

 The inside is as charming as the others, it has glass in some of the windows but from the look of it could be quite drafty also.

 This church is also reversed with the men on the right and ladies on the left.  It also has holes in the floor.

 Another View and last but not least the privy out beside the cemetery.  This was a to seater.

One other major similarity of these churches is that they are unlocked and open to the public.  If anything there is a hook and eye latch on the outside to keep the door shut.  They are so welcoming and willing to share their beauty and simplicity; yet so difficult to find out their history.  I wish I was more of a historian, but I am learning more and more every day and it keeps life interesting.  There is so much local history and so much Beauty that Surrounds Us, I am often overwhelmed and not sure where to go next.  Until next time....stop and slow down and take notice to the Beauty that Surrounds Us. 

Highway 32: Zirkle Dam - What "Use to Be"

Usually I photograph wildlife and coastal scenery, but, lately I have been stuck on structure.  I have been dwelling on the "Use to be".  So on the weekends I like to try and pick a place off the beaten path and go investigate.  I was recently told that there were remnants of an old dam along the Little Satilla River, that at one time there was a Community called Zirkle along Highway 32 in Pierce County, just past the Brantley County line.  How can you not be intrigued by a name like Zirkle?  I told my husband I found a place for us to find this weekend.  Now please keep in mind the Community of Zirkle no longer exists.  Zirkle was a thriving Community the second largest in Pierce County between 1905 and 1926.  The Davis Zirkle Lumber Company was the largest employer of about three hundred men.  In 1926 the Mill closed, the people left and nature once again took over.  So I tell my husband, this can't be too difficult...I don't think it will take us as long as it did on our adventure to find Wayfair Primitive Baptist Church. (That's another story).  We set out down Highway 32 in the rain, "Mother Nature" has not been friendly with me lately.  As we approach the County line I see the Little Satilla Wildlife Management Area, so I figure we were close.  We drove over the bridge and found a little dirt road, remember I love dirt roads!  Zirkle road, did I say dirt, I meant mud.  We drove to the end of it to find a nice quiet little picnic area with a concrete boat ramp and parking pad right on the Little Satilla.

I walked down the steep ramp and the river is low right now as I looked to the left, there was a tree down across the river, but when I looked to the right I saw that I could easily walk the bank of the river down to the remnants of Zirkle Landing.

So peaceful...So quiet

The photo is what remains of Zirkle Landing.  The water of the Little Satilla River is what they call black water, but the reflective qualities and shades of red, brown and black are beautiful.

I wish the weather had been nicer, but at least the rain stopped for a little while.  But I know this photo taken downstream from the Landing would be breathe taking if I could have had some sunshine and blue skies.  As I continued to walk down the edge of the river I could hear water rushing, almost like a waterfall.  I couldn't follow the bank all the down to the dam.  So I had to do the billy goat trail, up the embankment and through the woods.  I came out of the woods to see that there was a dirt road that went by a little closer. but my poor old chevy pick up is only two wheel drive and she is a bit of a wimp, beside I didn't feel like pushing if I got stuck and I don't think I could have given directions for the tow truck!

I had to walk back down the embankment and that is when I came across what is left of the steel dam.  What I have learned after doing some research is that Davis Zirkle Lumber Company built this dam on the Little Satilla River in the early 1900's to aid in floating the logs down the river to the mill.  I just find it so interesting to find part of what

"Use to be".

Finally I find the sound of the rushing water, which is the remains of the steel dam and it has in fact become a very mini water fall.  I am mesmerized by the rushing water which is the color of root beer.

 I was thoroughly enjoying myself, taking pictures of the rushing water, the metal supports upright through the water.  The river banks are covered with tree roots that resemble all kinds of creatures.

  I was in photo overload.

  The color of the water.

 

 So smooth and So clear.

 I could easily sit here and relax listening to the sound of the water rushing, watching the patterns and bubbles, small eddys and whirlpools.  I had the whole place to myself!  Oh, wait a minute, no I didn't, my husband was still upstream waiting for me in the truck.  Suddenly my phone rang and it was my hubby Don wondering if I had fallen in. 

Unfortunately, Mother Nature wasn't going to let me enjoy this much longer either and it started to rain again. I made my way back to the truck to find Don, not in the truck.  He was being a bit of a wise guy, maybe hiding behind this sign.

  He is healing and making such good progress.  I am very proud of him!  I told him he doesn't look handicapped to me.  We headed for home in the pouring rain.  But I will definitely be back to do some more exploring.  I have tried to do some research on this forgotten Community, but I have been able to find out much of anything.  If you have any additional info, please feel free to share!  This is just one more example of the Beauty that Surrounds Us.

Memories on Highway 17: What "Use To Be"

I drive highway 17 between Darien, Georgia and the Florida state line each week more time than I can count.  I didn't grow up in this area, but I have lived here now for 24 years.  This is my home.  As I drive up and down this stretch of road, I see the remnants and outer shells of businesses that "use to be".  I can't help but think of how things use to be.  Back in the day, when Highway 17, the Coastal Highway, was the main "drag".  There was no Interstate, no Wal-mart;  just small towns and little Mom & Pop businesses.  Over the years I have watched many of these structures cave in, be torn down and just eaten by the Kudzu vines, you can't even tell there was anything ever there.  So, a couple weeks ago I headed off for my early morning explorations and I decided to take my camera down Highway 17 and capture what remains from the "Good Ole Days".  Today I would like to share some of those photos with you!
This is what remains of Whiteheads Chainsaw Repair Shop.  I have drove by this building for so many years and never thought to take a photo while you could still read the name on the top of the building.  My husband remembers he and his Daddy going there when he was growing up.  He went on to have Mr. Whitehead service his equipment until he finally closed the doors.
 
As I traveled south I stopped at the corner of 17 and Burnt Fort Road.  I have drove past this little building that says "Reeds" many times, watching time take its toll on this memory.

 

Now someone told me that "Reeds" is now located in Tarborough, but I haven't had a chance to get over there.  I'm thinking it was probably a General Store?  Then located across the street is the White Oak Post Office, a very boring and unassuming building from the outside, a small white cube.  But the inside is full of charm, very small, but then again White Oak is a small community.

Then right next to the Post Office is an old building that I think was moved to this location some years back.  The Tarborough Mercantile.  This sits right on the corner and is over gown with weeds and broken windows.  But I would love to be able to see the inside and step back in time.

 

I consider this building a little jewel of "Days Gone By".  As I walked around this building, looking at broken windows and vines, I found these beautiful white lilies growing wild among the weeds as if they are saying there is something special here!

As I went a little further south my next stop was in Woodbine.  Woodbine has many unique structures and buildings, but my favorite is "The Georgia Girl Drive In".  I can just imagine this sign lit up, hot rods in the parking lot, hamburgers and ice cream.  I have heard they had awesome burgers and that it was quite a hopping place.  When I heard the American Pickers were coming through town earlier this year, I thought how cool would it be for them to restore this sign.

I'm going to end my short tour of Highway 17 at Moody's Bar-B-Q on the outskirts of Kingsland.  I drove past this many times on a Saturday afternoon and the cars would be lined up and down the side of highway.  Rumor has it was the best Bar-b-q in the area.  Unfortunately, I never stopped to try it out.  Mr. Moody passed years ago and his daughters tried to carry on the legacy.  But I guess in the long run it just wasn't the same.  Sure wish I had taken the time to try it out.

 

Well, there are so many more lost memories along the Coastal Highway and I often wonder if I am the only one who dwells on what "use to be", I'm I the only one who can see the Beauty in these shells of the "use to be"?  I hope you have enjoyed my drive down memory lane and maybe now you too can see the "Beauty that Surrounds Us" or at least maybe look at them differently.