Vanishing Coastal Georgia Photographs by Brian Brown

May 7, 2018 · 3:58 pm

St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, 1896, Burroughs

Established in 1832, St. Bartholomew’s is the oldest active African-American Episcopal congregation in Georgia. The Episcopal church was actively pursuing the evangelization of slaves by the early 1830s. In 1832, a white family in the area initiated religious education for its slaves and by 1845, the bishop appointed the Reverend William G. Williams as the area’s first official pastor. He established a church and school on the three plantations he served and was so successful that by 1860, on the eve of the Civil War, his congregation was the largest, black or white, in the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia.

A gift of $400 from St. Barholomew’s Episcopal Church in New York City to the Ogeechee Mission Congregation in 1881 helped stimulate interest in the construction of a permanent home. The present structure was consecrated in 1896 and named in honor of its first major patrons. The St. Barholomew’s Day School was constructed in 1897. It was operated by the church until 1916 at which time Chatham County rented the building and took over its operation. It was closed as a school in 1951 and has since served as the parish hall.

Known officially today as St. Bartholomew’s Chapel, the church which was once so integral to the life of the Burroughs community still meets on a limited schedule.

National Register of Historic Places

New Ogeechee Missionary Baptist Church, 1893, Burroughs

Organized in 1891 when members split from nearby First Bethel Baptist Church over their choice of Reverend Burke as pastor, New Ogeechee Missionary Baptist Church was built two years later on land donated by member J. D. Campbell. F. E. Washington was the first pastor to serve the congregation.

In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, this area was predominately populated by slaves. In the 1870s and 1880s, freedmen bought land on which they had worked prior to Emancipation. Burroughs was established on the lands of Wild Heron Plantation, at its peak encompassing over fifty dwellings, a school and a store, as well as three churches. It was incorporated in 1898.

National Register of Historic Places

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Filed under -CHATHAM COUNTY, Burroughs GA

Tagged as --CHATHAM COUNTY GA--, African-American Culture of Coastal Georgia, Architecture of Coastal Georgia, © Brian Brown/Vanishing Media, Burroughs GA, Churches of Chatham County, Landmarks of Coastal Georgia, National Register of Historic Places

May 7, 2018 · 1:57 pm

Hunting Cabin, Pooler

Someone contacted me regarding this structure, which was recently exposed after the clear-cutting of a property for a planned housing development. Housing development is booming in the area, rendering remaining rural tracts highly endangered. Pooler’s rapid growth in recent years has insured that the area looks much more like a modern suburb than a historic community. Pooler was the last whistle-stop on the Central of Georgia Railway before Savannah and was first known as Pooler’s Station. Sherman’s forces, en route to capture Savannah for the Union in December 1864, paused in the area to consider a location for the city’s surrender.

At first glance, the structure appears to be an historic dwelling but on closer inspection, it appears to be an old hunting cabin.

The positioning and style of the windows are certainly not normal and the exterior planks are very mismatched.

The chimney is also modern .

It’s possible that it was made using components of an older rescued structure.

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Filed under -CHATHAM COUNTY, Pooler GA

Tagged as --CHATHAM COUNTY GA--, © Brian Brown/Vanishing Media, Pooler GA

May 7, 2018 · 9:02 am

Giant Cow Mailbox, Pooler

If you’ve ever traveled to Savannah on Interstate 95, you’ve likely seen the big cow, Kelly, at Keller’s Flea Market when you turn onto Abercorn Street (Georgia 204). This giant mailbox, which is visible from I-95, was created by Charles Keller. The 16-foot traffic-stopper sits on a pole 30 feet above the ground, on Quacco Road.