THE CHALLENGE OR PRESERVING a LATE 1700S RURAL QUAKER
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WRIGHTSBORO: THE CHALLENGE OR PRESERVING A LATE 1700s RURAL QUAKER COMMUNITY by JOHN GORDON MCBRAYER (Under the Direction of Mark Reinberger) ABSTRACT Wrightsboro, Georgia is a pre-Revolutionary settlement in the Central Savannah River Area. As with any historic rural community, there are many challenges involved in the preservation and promotion of its historic resources. This thesis follows the community’s path in preservation, documenting its successes and failures. Preservation efforts in Wrightsboro illustrate the challenges involved in an historic district when there is sparse population, limited funding, a remote government presence and a limited number of willing volunteers. Lessons learned in Wrightsboro, good and bad, can be applied to a number of other historic rural communities. INDEX WORDS: Wrightsboro, Wrightsborough, rural preservation, Quakers, pre- Revolutionary settlement, historic preservation, McDuffie County, rural historic community WRIGHTSBORO: THE CHALLENGE FOR PRESERVING A LATE 1700s RURAL QUAKER COMMMUNITY by JOHN GORDON MCBRAYER BA, University of Georgia, 1989 BFA, University of Georgia, 1998 A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of The University of Georgia in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree MASTER OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION ATHENS, GEORGIA 2018 © 2018 John Gordon McBrayer All Rights Reserved WRIGHTSBORO: THE CHALLENGE OF PRESERVING A LATE 1700s RURAL QUAKER COMMUNITY by JOHN GORDON MCBRAYER Major Professor: Mark Reinberger Committee: Scott Nesbit Danny Sniff Mary G. Rolinson Electronic Version Approved: Suzanne Barbour Dean of the Graduate School The University of Georgia December 2018 DEDICATION This work is dedicated to my late mother, Regena Hawes Hall. I am thankful to her for instilling in me a love for our family farm, an appreciation of history and the responsibility of being a good steward to our historic community. My mother’s efforts in preservation continue to inspire me. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I could not have seen this project to completion without the continued encouragement, love and support from Rich Howe. He never allowed me to doubt that I would complete this thesis, even when I could not see an end in sight. I am so grateful to Rich and all of our friends who helped me through this process. Lastly, I would like to thank my major professor, Mark Reinberger for his sustained encouragement and guidance in the writing of this thesis; Mrs. Donna Gabriel for her unwavering support and many words of kindness; my reading committee of Scott Nesbit, Daniel Sniff and Mary G. Rolinson, and all of the faculty in the Historic Preservation program. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .............................................................................................................v LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................................... vii INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................................1 CHAPTER 1 HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE ................................................................................3 2 INVENTORY ..............................................................................................................14 Contributing Sites and Structures Within the Wrightsboro Historic District .......14 Non-Contributing Sites and Structures Within the Wrightsboro Historic District ....... 31 3 EFFORTS IN PRESERVATION UP TO MODERN DAY ........................................41 1950s ......................................................................................................................41 1960s ......................................................................................................................44 1970s ......................................................................................................................45 1980s ......................................................................................................................46 1990s ......................................................................................................................50 2000 to Present Day ...............................................................................................54 4 PRESERVATION IN PHILOMATH, GEORGIA ......................................................59 5 ONGOING EVENTS AND FUTURE PROJECTS AT WRIGHTSBORO ................69 CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................................80 REFERENCES ..................................................................................................................83 vi LIST OF FIGURES Page Figure 1: Map of Wrightsboro Historic District ..............................................................................6 Figure 2: Town Lots in Wrightsboro ...............................................................................................9 Figure 3: Wrightsboro Methodist Church Sign .............................................................................17 Figure 4: Interior, Wrightsboro Church .........................................................................................17 Figure 5: Wrightsboro Church .......................................................................................................18 Figure 6: Reconstructed Cabin.......................................................................................................19 Figure 7: Hawes General Store (c. 1898).......................................................................................20 Figure 8: Holliman-Hawes House (c. 1815) ..................................................................................22 Figure 9: Interior Plan, Holliman-Hawes House ...........................................................................22 Figure 10: Wrightsboro Academy Girls’ Dormitory/ Duckworth-Hunt House (c. 1834) .............24 Figure 11: Interior Plan, Wrightsboro Academy Girls’ Dormitory/ Duckworth-Hunt House ......25 Figure 12: The “Old Bryant Hunt” House .....................................................................................26 Figure 13: Ruins at Site of Quaker Meeting House and Burial Grounds ......................................27 Figure 14: Hunt-McCorkle House (early to mid 1800s) ................................................................28 Figure 15: Wrightsboro School/ Gardner House ...........................................................................29 Figure 16: Middle Lane .................................................................................................................31 Figure 17: Quaker Road .................................................................................................................32 Figure 18: Palmer House ...............................................................................................................34 Figure 19: Gilmer House 2002 ......................................................................................................35 vii Figure 20: Nunn House ..................................................................................................................36 Figure 21: Rock Dam .....................................................................................................................37 Figure 22: The Rock House ...........................................................................................................38 Figure 23: Hawes-Knox House (1906-1935) .................................................................................39 Figure 24: Bowdre-Rees-Knox House (c. 1806) ...........................................................................40 Figure 25: Georgia Historical Markers at Wrightsboro .................................................................43 Figure 26: Vandalized Gates at the Rock House ...........................................................................49 Figure 27: Vandalized Rock House Center ...................................................................................49 Figure 28: Pull Off for Wayside Exhibit........................................................................................51 Figure 29: Wayside Exhibit ...........................................................................................................51 Figure 30: Wrightsboro Church in 1963 ........................................................................................53 Figure 31: Audio Box at Wrightsboro Church ..............................................................................56 Figure 32: New Pavilion at Cabin and Store Area .........................................................................57 Figure 33: Covered Pavilion and New Drive at Cabin and Store Area .........................................58 Figure 34: Glenn-Nichols-Callaway House 1834 ..........................................................................61 Figure 35: General Store, Philomath .............................................................................................61 Figure 36: Philomath Church .........................................................................................................63 Figure 37: Georgia Historical Marker at Philomath Church .........................................................63 Figure 38: Pews and Pulpits Stop ..................................................................................................70 Figure