6
Jul
2009
Williamsburg, Virginia
I visited Williamsburg, Virginia, in 2006, the year before the 400th anniversary of Jamestown. I definitely do want to go back at some point. They were building a huge new museum at Jamestown that was to be opened in time for the anniversary. A lot of people forget, the pilgrims weren’t first. The first permanent English Settlement was at Jamestown, and a lot of colonial and revolutionary history is to be found in that stretch of land from Jamestown to Williamsburg and Yorktown.
Founded in 1607, by the early 1700’s the emphasis had shifted to Williamsburg, which had become the new colonial capital of Virginia. And Jamestown slowly vanished from the map, its exact location actually being lost for many years. Williamsburg eventually became something of a backwater too, but the small town including some colonial buildings survived into the 20th century. In the early 1900’s, a reverend, Dr. W.A.R. Goodwin became became Rector of the local Parish church, parts of which dated into the 18th century. He lead a successful effort to restore and preserve the church. He was transferred to upper New York state where he lived for a number of years before returning to Williamsburg in the 1920’s. Seeing the number of deteriorating colonial buildings and fearing that there would soon be nothing left of them, he began a movement to save the historic core of Williamsburg. He managed to get the interest and financial support of John D Rockefeller, JR. Much of the town was bought up and everything was restored to its colonial appearance. Buildings that were original were restored and other buildings that had been lost were rebuilt in what was believed to be their colonial appearance. Colonial Williamsburg became a large living history museum that attracts visitors by the droves each year.
To the untrained eye, Colonial Williamsburg is a remarkable recreation of Colonial life in America complete with performances of key events in the colonial period by actors, etc.
During my brief visit in 2006, I came away with several photos that are, to me, reflective of the timelessness of the place.
Williamsburg - Picket Fences
I could not find anything specific about this little home other than it’s part of the property of Benjamin Waller, onetime notable of Williamsburg. The actual home is adjacent to this. I’m not sure if this little building was a cottage or a shop or what, but I love the look of it. It is the epitome of Americana to me. This little house with it’s picket fence and little dormers would once have been the American dream, before people decided they wanted to live in McMansions that filled their tiny lots. I hope we may boomerang back to this dream. I’ve been looking at lot at small homes. If I ever buy somewhere permanent again, I’d love a little house like this, the once upon a time American dream.
Williamsburg Courthouse
The courthouse at Williamsburg is actually one of the surviving structures from the Colonial era. Completed in 1771, it was the courthouse for the community for over a century and a half before being restored and becoming part of the living history exhibit at Colonial Williamsburg. The Treaty of Paris ending the Revolutionary War was announced here.
Old Grandeur - Governor's Palace
The Governor’s Palace for the Governor of Virginia during Colonial days was long gone when the current living history museum was established, but this was built on the original site and used the original plans, methods and traditional fired bricks to recreate what to most of us would appear to be a spot on re-creation of the original.
Little Pink Houses
When I first saw this little pink house on Waller Street in Williamsburg, I love how tiny it was and the color of it! So charming! It’s actually one of the original colonial houses in Williamsburg, rather than a reproduction. Apparently the first records of it are when it was purchased in 1778 by Isham Goddin, so it’s now known as the Isham Goddin Shop, even though it was sold by him only a few years later when he left Williamsburg.
There are more photos from Williamsburg which can be found in my Rural America and Americana prints.
3
Jul
2009
Downtown Americus Georgia
These are actually more from the archives despite being close to Americus for over a month now. A photo walk there is still on the agenda. But I had a couple of photos of downtown buildings that I was already happy with.
Americus was founded in 1832 and for decades was just a small town where the Sumter county courthouse was located. After the arrival of the railroad, the city became a cotton distribution center and one of the top 10 largest cities in the state and the “Metropolis of Southwest Georgia.” It was in this atmosphere that a large hotel, the Windsor opened in Americus in June of 1892. This mammoth nod to the Victorian era managed to remain active into the 1970’s when it finally sputtered into silence. By the 1980’s, Americus was set to revive the Windsor, which reopened as a tourist destination a second time in 1990.
Historic Windsor Hotel in Americus, Georgia
Another quick image from Amerius, more lovely victorian brickwork and charm, this building was empty the last time I noticed it. I’ll have to check in again soon and see if something has opened here, but I really like the red brick work against those skies. There’s something reassuring and solid about the architecture that appeals to me and I hope some of you as well!
Old Facades - Americus, Georgia
1
Jul
2009
King Cotton
This photo was taken in nearby Byromville, Georgia. This small town was founded in the 1850’s but not incorporated until 1905. This community today numbers less than 500 people. Once upon a time, this was a cotton warehouse bordering the tracks of the Atlanta and Birmingham Railway, completed to Byromville two years before its incorporation. This landscape photo speaks a lot of the quiet beauty of rural America and at the same time the lack of opportunity that exists in these small communities.
Byromville, Georgia - King Cotton
12
Jun
2009
Meandering Through The Other Georgia
If it seems like I haven’t shared any news lately, it’s perhaps because there isn’t much to be had. I’ve been using a lot of my now spare time to do some handyman stuff at my parent’s house that I’d put off or only half done in the past. It’s hard when you’re only in town for a weekend to get a lot done. There’s still a lot to do (aren’t old houses fun?), but it’s looking like I’ll have some time as I wait for the house to sell. There’s also the chance that I might do a lttle meandering stateside or even take advantage of some last minute travel deals (harder to travel on the spur of the moment when you have a day job you know!).
I did finally take some me time realizing it had been more than a few days since I picked up my camera and did some wandering. I left late in the afternoon, and there are definitely worthwhile places I could have gone near by, but instead I wandered down Georgia 26 until I found myself in Hawkinsville, Georgia. I couldn’t tell you the last time I had been there – probably at least a decade. I saw a lot of rolling countryside on the way and had to make a couple of stops.
Framed By Clouds - Highway 26
There are actually several photos of this old house on that awesome hill (it’s for sale if you want a fixer upper, but I suspect the land is what’s really worth something). Definitely give the others a look in my new “Other Georgia” photo album. I had a hard time picking a favorite but don’t want to put them all in this post! If I didn’t pick your favorite, let me know which one was!
And for anyone wondering what the “other Georgia” is, it’s the part that’s not Atlanta. I’m by far not the first to reference it as such.
I wandered through Hawkinsville for a bit but only took a few photos – neat place and I’m sure I’ll wander back through again, but didn’t find anything too awesome photo op wise in the direction I chose to amble. I drove on a ways but decided it was too late in the day to keep wandering towards the coast unless I was prepared to spend the night in that direction somewhere. So I headed back to Macon County and got there in the best light of the day.
I took one stop in Oglethorpe for a photo I would only get on a quiet Sunday when no one would see me literally lying on the street next to the curb to get this perspective of the 100+ year old courthouse.
Macon County Courthouse
I was partially shielded from view by my car, but if anyone saw me lying there, my apologies! I wanted to get this view of that big blue sky.
After that, I stopped by Troy’s Snack Shack in downtown Montezuma and finally timed it for the light I’d hoped for on past stops. Now, a photo of Troy’s empty doesn’t tell the story of this Montezuma tradition. It’s been there for decades and it’s always busy!
Troy's Snack Shack - Montezuma, Georgia
Troy's Snack Shack Interior - Montezuma, Georgia
That second one is shot through the plate glass windows – I liked the result!
4
May
2009
Extended Stays
So, last Friday was my final day at Equifax. I’ll still be back and forth to Atlanta for a bit until I move my stuff in storage and won’t entirely cut ties until I manage to sell my house, but soon, I’ll get to move onto another chapter of my life. A little travel and then we’ll see what’s next.
But there will surely be some interim stops here at home while I await the sale of the house and possibly longer if I decide to go back to school. Much to think about but it’s a happy time.
As it goes, I’ve already taken some long walks here with the camera and wandered some familiar old streets. I’m sure there will be more of these to come.
Several new images added to the Macon County photo album. A couple are below.
Gathering Storm
The above house on North Dooly used to belong to ‘Miss’ Irene Brown, a good friend of our neighbor, ‘Miss’ Matt Price. They are both gone now and I couldn’t say who lives there anymore, but it’s well kept and the skies beyond it just begged for a shot.
Corner of South Dooly & Walnut
If anyone could be said to be stalking a house, I seem to be stalking this one. I’ve always liked the style of this home and it’s literally a block from my parents house. If I go for a walk, I invariably seem to come back to this spot just as the afternoon sun is striking it. I know it will be a ways off in the future based on the speed they are going, but I look forward to that day when it’s finally completely restored.
Surely more to come in my rural south and Macon County portfolios before I get to go on my Euro adventure!
