I wasn’t lucky enough to visit the church when the area was flooded (that sentence is odd to write). It was a fascinating town. I hope to visit again.
Rodney Baptist Church-Rodney, Mississippi
Category Archives: Abandoned
The Ruins of St. John’s Episcopal Church-Glen Allan, Mississippi
Glen Allan, Mississippi is located in the Mississippi Delta region of Washington County. Built in 1830, it was one of the first churches in the area. During the Civil War, the stained glass windows were supposedly removed to assist in the Civil War efforts by using the lead in the windows for bullets.
This began the decline of the church building. Unfortunately, it was hit by a tornado in the early 1900s, and the outer brick walls were destroyed leaving most of what you see today.
Coatopa Church-Sumter County, Alabama
Located on a dirt road near Livingston, Alabama is the Coatopa Church. Built in 1901, the church served the small community of Coatopa. It’s most famous resident was Kelly Mitchell, the gypsy queen. She died in Coatopa during childbirth but was buried in Mississippi.
When I first saw a photo of the church, I knew I needed to document it one day. If you visit, just do it post mosquito season.
Snow-Wasden House-Quitman, Georgia
If you’ve ever been to Quitman, Georgia, this eclectic Queen Anne home sits on the edge of town. Built in 1884, it has been empty for years. It’s a home with a great deal of interest in it due to its imposing size on an open field and the continuing myth that it was the site of a double murder. Jamie Snow Branch, and her husband, Lee Branch, were murdered by her brother Livingston Snow on December 17, 1937. These types of homes, rusty yet beautiful, always lend themselves to great stories and myths.
Jamie and Lee Branch lived on North Court Street, north of the courthouse, in town. Census records show that they were living there in 1910, 1920, and 1930. Their death records show that they died on Court Street. The home above is not on Court Street.
The 1900 Census records do indicate that Jamie and Lee Branch were living with her family. Her brothers, Livingston and Russell, and her parents were living at the home with them. Additionally, two boarders lived with them. I suspect this is the home where all of them lived together in 1900, but it is NOT where the murders happened.
The home where this happened is still standing. I used old Sanborn maps of Quitman and Google Street View to determine the location. Street numbers do not match, but it is common for cities and towns to renumber homes and businesses as they grew. Additionally, I utilized tax records to determine the age of the homes. A friend who grew up in the area confirmed which house it is, and it is still standing.
Thanks to Brian Brown for mentioning that the murders might not have happened here, so I decided to research historical records.
Abandoned Store-Damascus, Georgia
Early County
Shady Grove Primitive Baptist Church-Early County, Georgia
