Candler County Ramble
We started out this morning to find the Charles Harrold Preserve in Candler Co, near Metter . Having read on Nature,org that it was the home of a few rare and beautiful plants, the silky camellia and the endangered Georgia Plume. We followed the directions from the website, It states there is (in their words), a "quarter mile walking trail that lets visitors see wildflowers. " The Georgia Plume blooms in July,so we were hopeful to view it.
Alas, we were rather disappointed, there are no markings, signs or even evidence of a trail. Some piney woods that may or may not be private property, and evident signs of ATV joyriders having tore up the sand hills.
But,we like to ramble, and right down the road, we found an interesting old church to explore.( too hot to walk very far anyway, in my opinion.)
Salem Baptist Church of Metter, located just a couple of miles off Hwy 80 on Salem Church Rd.
Salem is said to be the first church built in Candler County , back in 1875.
It is an old building. I don't know if the original one. Set back on a low rise with a sandy front lot. It needs paint and repair
There are several interesting graves there , one being the Mercer Grave Houses
( my photo didn't turn out well so I offer these links
https://vanishingsouthgeorgia.com/2020/01/09/mercer-grave-houses-candler-county/
Find-a-Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/208967/memorial-search?page=1#sr-192367843
https://www.pbase.com/image/161211801 Henry Thain Monument,A selfless young soldier that saved the lives of his fellow companions.
A very fancy wrought iron fenced section containing the graves of Mr. and Mrs. James Ellerbee, (Mary Polly Kirkland) He must have had money to afford that fence,
I found this on Family search, but not much else.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TSY-GM4?i=852&cc=1914217&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AZMYH-CMT2
Mr. Ellerbee's family was in Savannah, by the way of Edgecombe NC, He was in Bulloch Co, later on.
More photos of the church and grounds, and out house, lol
The last photo is graffiti painted on the back wall " Quack on Jeezus", whatever that means, maybe a new age version of "Keep on keeping on"?
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