I've been on a personal quest. I'm going to every county in Georgia to take a picture of their courthouse. Now, some counties have a new courthouse and a historic courthouse. Those counties that have both, use the historic courthouse for other county duties, or they've turned it into a museum or welcome center. But, surprisingly, many of the historic courthouses are still being used primarily as the main and only courthouse for the county.
In the case where there are both, I'm only interested in the historic courthouse. So those are the ones I photograph.
I often get asked, "Why do you want to take pictures of them, what are you going to do with them?" Do I have to have a reason other than the fact that I appreciate the architecture and the history of them? I love riding through the backroad of Georgia - its like one of my favorite things in the world! I get to see so many beautiful old homes, old buildings, gorgeous lakes, rivers and trees. I love our state and its history. I read ever history marker that I can safely stop at and read.
Unfortunately, the only day that is best for taking courthouse photos is Saturday. Sunday, I have church and Monday - Friday, the courthouses and town squares are busy and surrounded by cars and people. But on Saturday, you can pull right up front and park and take all the time you want just walking around the courthouse grounds without having to pay to park or having a bunch of cars or people in your shot.
Also, unfortunately, I only do this on a pretty and nice day. I don't want gray skies in my photos, I only want blue skies and preferably on the days where there are a lot of white puffy clouds (but that is more likely in the fall). SO....because it has been so cold and gray, It has been several months since I've been able to get out. The summer was also a bit hard because it was hot as blue blazes and I find it difficult to walk around and read all the history and explore the town, when its too hot to walk around.
Georgia has 159 counties, the 2nd most counties of any state in the country. Texas has 257 but is 4 1/2 times larger than Georgia. So, considering how small GA is compared to TX, having only 58 less counties is saying that Georgia has a LOT of counties!!
This past Saturday was PERFECT, and I mean PERFECT weather for riding around and taking courthouse photos. I managed to go to 7 different counties. I would have preferred to linger a bit longer in the last town but there was a car show and arts festival going on. That too can be a problem on Saturday, especially in the fall where festivals tend to be around the courthouse and center of town.
Therefore, I know, it is best to head out early...plus, when the sun gets to high in the sky, the photos don't turn out as well.
So...my first county stop this weekend, was in Clayton County, just south of Atlanta. I did get a later start than expected because as I was leaving, I discovered I had a nail in my tire, so had to get that fixed first. So, I was about 2 1/2 hours later getting to the Clayton County Courthouse in Jonesboro than I planned.
Click on photos to enlarge them.
Like many towns, Jonesboro has a nice mural painted on the side of an old gas station to welcome you.
Also, like many Georgia towns, a railroad track runs right through the middle of town. The old railroad depot in Jonesboro has been converted to the Road to Tara Museum. If you read "Gone with the Wind", you'll know that a large part of the story, takes place at the fictional plantation home of Tara, which is supposed to be locate 5 miles outside of Jonesboro. 5 miles was not a short journey in the mid 1800s.
I didn't go to the museum. Do you want to know why? Oddly, so many tourist museums in Georgia towns are closed on the weekend. Does that make sense? It's actually very common for these types of museums to only be open during the week, generally only a few days of the week. The Road to Tara Museum is no exception. It is only open Monday - Friday from 10am - 4pm. I suppose it is just as well. It will give me a reason to come back and plus I don't really have time to get to see all the counties I would like in a day, if I stop at EVERY museum and explore. I just add them on my "Return Trip To Do List"
In all cases that I have seen, all Georgia historic courthouses have a couple of things in common.
1) They have memorials to War Veterans and often police officers.
2) They often have a Civil War soldier memorial.
This courthouse, had the war veteran's memorial, but did not have a statue. It may have had one at one point, but many of the confederate statues have been removed. I'm surprised when I do find some that still remain.
I'm not honestly sure how I feel about the remove of the confederate statues. I think they are amazing works of art and while I don't agree with honoring the "old south" or glorifying it. I just see it as history. I think it is important to have our history displayed, good or bad. It's important to remember it. I guess others see it differently though. They believe these statues are "honoring" the confederacy. I don't see it that way...but if I were a different race, who knows how I would think?
At any rate...Jonesboro didn't have a confederate statue. They do, however, have the Patrick R. Cleburn Confederate Cemetery. Patrick Cleburn, born in Ireland in 1828, was a Senior Confederate Officer, who in 1864 called together the leadership of the Army of Tennesse and put forth the proposal to emancipate slaves. He wasn't a supporter of slavery but rather fought for the south due to his love of the land and the people.
Anyway...onto the courthouse.
Like many, or rather most, courthouses in Georgia...the original ones were lost during the Civil War and Sherman's army burning them to the ground.
I thought the current one in use, built in 1898 was the only one still standing. But later I found out that the 2nd courthouse, pictured below, was built in1869 and used until 1898. At that time, it became a Masonic lodge and is still used as one today. So...I didn't know that and therefore didn't visit it or get a photo (the photo below was not take by me)
The current, and 3rd courthouse, which I did visit and photograph, was built in 1898 and had an addition added in 1962.
The Romanesque Revival structure was designed by architect J.W. Golucke. Romanesque Revival courthouses are quite common in Georgia.
On my way out of town, I drove past Stately Oaks, a 1839 Greek Revival Antebellum home. Once again, I could not stop for a tour. They were surprisingly, open on Saturday but they didn't open until noon, and I didn't want to wait around for 90 minutes. Again, it just gives me a reason to come back. PS: Open /Friday - Saturday only, 12pm - 4pm and it takes about 2 hours to visit the home, grounds and other buildings on the property.
I'm looking forward to a return visit so I can tour the home and property. Many people think "Tara" was based on this house but it wasn't. It was actually long thought that Tara was based on the
Fitzgerald House, which sadly the remains were destroyed by a tornado.
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