There
was a “meeting of the minds” before we left for the day’s travel. We met Jack & Jackie here ... so, we are a caravan of 5 rigs now! We departed
Cecil Bay RV Park via Old Coffee Road, for our quick trip to Perry Georgia.
Cecil Bay is an OK overnight stop, I doubt I would stay longer … it needs some
TLC. But when we left, I saw a sign at the road “RV Park and 20 Acres for
sale.” I guess that explains it! Cecil’s original main street, Old Coffee Road, is now a historic landmark. It was one of the first roads cut through the
Wiregrass Territory, it served the early settlers traveling to and through this
area.
We
got back on US 41 in Cecil and quickly passed the South Georgia Motor Sports
Park. I’ll tell you about this place, but it is really for our friends, Ken
& Anne, who love to “play in the dirt.” This facility boasts a 1/4 mile
Asphalt Drag Strip and 1/2 mile D-Shaped Dirt Oval. They host drags and NHRA
sanctioned events at the track. In 2015 the track was a paved Oval, but the
facility was seized by the Georgia Department of Revenue for back taxes.
Getting the facility out of hock was the new owner, Ozzy Moya, owner of the
Orlando Speedworld and the Lakeland Dragstrip in Florida. He brought the dirt
to the South Georgia Motor Sports Park.
We
passed acres upon acres of cotton fields. The cotton harvest can begin as early
as mid-September, and continuing through early December, depending on the
weather conditions and whether planting was done early or late. Cotton can be
picked after the cotton plants drop their leaves and the boles open fully. The
plants we see, look like they are getting close … but we will need to ask an
expert, like our friend Pattye!
About
a mile south of downtown Adel on US 41, you see a sign for Sisters Florist and
Bakery. The sign is perched on the side of the road, just before a driveway and
a grandious house. I learned the house, is the Parrish House. It was built in
1868 by David Golden Hutchinson, who deeded it and several acres of land to his
daughter, Mary America Hutchinson, and her husband, Archibold W. Parrish, on
May 19, 1882. The two-story house was built of heart pine, and the hued sills
and beams were put together with wooden pegs. The brick used in the fireplaces
and pillars was made in the Puddleville Brick kiln located close to Bear Creek.
The house was later owned and remodeled by Perry M. Parrish. The Parrishes only
had one daughter. The daughter and her husband, along with their three young
sons, were involved in a plane crash. The couple died instantly but the three
boys survived. They went to live with their grandmother (Perry Parrish) in the
Parrish House. She was predeceased by her husband and the three sons inherited
the house after she passed away.
Today,
the house is home to Sister’s Florist and Bakery, a restaurant that offers hot
lunches served in the dining room and more. Gerald Griffin and his wife, Sonya,
bought the old Parrish house in April 2004 from two remaining Parrish
grandchildren. The house was in need of major repairs when they purchased it
and it took about two years to finish it. The house has most of the original
wood flooring and the four original brick fireplaces. The house includes a
banquet room, which seats about 100 people. It was originally part carport and
part game room for the grandchildren. The second floor is designed as a tea
party room and includes a sun deck. There is also a pool with a lighted
fountain surrounded by a patio and a bar area for extra outside seating. Just
behind the pool is a small garden area, perfect for a small, intimate outdoor
wedding. Four cottages sit on the property as well.
Adel,
Georgia is the county seat and Georgia's Official City of Daylilies. The city’s
name was derived from the center letters from the word Philadelphia. The town’s
former name was Puddleville because of the puddles of water that stood in the
streets after big rains. Of course, this was before the streets were paved and
a modern drainage system was installed. One of the older buildings in the former
Adel Primitive Baptist Church. It was in existence from 1913-1983. The church
is now the home of the Cook County historical society.
Lenox
is also located on US 41. The city
derived its name from the lean-ox many early settlers used for plowing and
pulling oxcarts. The annual Lean-Ox
Festival is held in November of each year in celebration of the town's history.
In the late 1800's, railroad workers stumbled across some of the finest timber
they had ever seen. In doing that, lumber mills began to set up and they called
this little place Mogul. In the early 1900's two farmers were setting at the
train depot when workers began to load an old ox. One farmer said to the other,
"that sure is a lean ox" and the story goes from there. Lenox has
become an agricultural hub for south central Georgia. The rise in the
production of produce, such as watermelons, has put Lenox on the map with
produce brokers from Florida and Missouri. The Battle of Brushy Creek is a
state historical landmark in which the Georgia Militia fought Seminole Indians
through the woods around Brushy Creek area. The Brushy Creek Muzzleloaders
Spring Shoot which takes place the second week of March.
Sparks
was the next town we came to, it is only about a mile north of Adel on US 41. It was named in honor of President Sparks of
the Georgia Southern and Florida Railroad, it is now a part of the
Norfolk-Southern Railway System and was incorporated on December 26, 1888. Sparks is home to a Navy Cross recipient. Corporal
James J. Barrett, USMC, for extraordinary heroism while serving in the Republic
of Vietnam on 19 September 1967. While positioned in an area southwest of Con
Thien, Corporal Barrett's company came under heavy mortar, rocket and artillery
fire followed by a supported infantry assault by a numerically superior North
Vietnamese Army force. In the initial attack, numerous casualties were taken
and the company was forced to withdraw to a more advantageous position.
Undaunted, Corporal Barrett courageously maintained his squad's position and
directed accurate counter fire against the hordes of assaulting enemy. Assuming
control of the platoon when his platoon commander became a casualty, he rallied
his men, reorganized the platoon and led them in an effective counterattack
against the enemy. With complete disregard for his own safety, he moved from
position to position, encouraging his men and resupplying them with ammunition.
Unhesitatingly, he aided the wounded and directed their evacuation. During the
six hour ordeal, he repositioned his men five times to thwart the enemy advance
and inflicted numerous casualties on the enemy force.
Tifton
Georgia offers a revitalized historic downtown and traveling on US 41, we
travel through it. Like many communities in the 1970s and 1980s, Tifton had
lost their sense of community. Thousands of cars were driving through daily on
the interstate, but one by one, many of the stores that lined Main Street in
downtown Tifton were closing or relocating from Main Street. The opening of a
new mall at the interstate lured more stores away. The once grand Myon Hotel
was now a boarding house that was home to flocks of pigeons and unmentionables.
Many grand buildings that once were the pride of downtown were vacant and
deteriorating.
Some
had been passed on to the next generation of owners who did not live in Tifton,
adding apathetic, absentee landowners to the problem. This transition did not
happen overnight, but the end result was the same, downtown was deteriorating
rapidly. The City itself became the catalyst that would begin the rejuvenation
of downtown Tifton. The City of Tifton needed a new home, having expanded to
the point of outgrowing City Hall. A bold step was made when City leaders
decided to look at the once grand Myon Hotel as a home for administrative
offices. Completed in 1986, the Myon is once again one of the finest buildings
south of Atlanta. Now serving as the home of the City of Tifton, the building
also houses apartments, professional offices and retail space.
This
historic house needs some TLC, but it is a bargain at less than $80,000. It is
the former home of Susan Lane Tillman Moore. She was the first woman elected by
popular vote to serve two terms in the Georgia State Senate. She resided at
this house until her death on May 5, 1951. After attending Mary Baldwin College
in Virginia, Mrs. Moore's love of her community led her into politics. She
served the state of Georgia and the community of Tifton by advocating for
woman's rights, higher education, and federal funding for infrastructure
development.
There
is a historical marker near the home for Susan Lame Tillman Moore. It lists all
her accomplishments in the Senate.
Cordele
Georgia is primarily an agricultural community of South Central Georgia. It is
known as the “Watermelon Capital of the World” and if you ever tasted their
home-grown melons, you’ll understand why!
Other major crops grown in the area are cotton, peanuts and pecans.
Every time we are in Cordele, I think of that Tracy Byrd song “The Watermelon
Crawl” since it is Watermelon Capital of the World.
We
arrived in Perry Georgia and headed to the Georgia National Fairgrounds and
Agri Center for the Georgia Fall Good Sam Rally. It is easy to find … just
follow the signs!
Georgia
National Fairgrounds and Agricenter. This facility is pretty awesome! It covers
over 1,100 acres. Since it’s opening in 1990, it has hosted the Georgia State
Fair, RV rallies, concerts, rodeos, conferences, trade shows, horse and
livestock shows. It’s location in Perry, known as the “crossroads of Georgia,”
is perfect to host these events. The fairgrounds are located near the
intersections of I-75, GA 127, US 341 and US 41.
Some
of the girls headed to Lanes Orchard for some peach bread, pecans, peach ice
cream, peach preserves and peach wine! Started in 1908, Lane Southern Orchards
has been growing peaches and pecans continuously for over 100 years! What would
an outing be without a selfie!
We
are all set up in our sites and ready to have some fun!
We played some cards in McGill hall this evening too!
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