Located east of Eastman in Dodge County, Georgia, the Giddens School is a bit of a mystery. The sign says, “1883 established 1947 1985.” I found an old history book about Dodge County, and there is no mention of it. The Giddens School is not mentioned. I imagine the school was established in 1883 and ceased existence as a school in 1947. I can only guess what the third date means. This may or may not be a Rosenwald, but the Fisk site is down to check (even though that site is incomplete.). Either way, this school architecture didn’t become prominent until the 1920s.
Built in 1858 by George and Joseph Pickett, this property is a contributing property to the Chester Historic District. Notes about the house on the South Carolina Department of Archives and History state the Fischel family owned it for six generations starting in 1960. I believe this to be a typo because the Fischel family was living at the address in 1900.
1986 photo courtesy of the South Carolina Department of Archives and History
This Queen Anne Victorian was built in the mid-1880s. Meyer Wachtel was a dry goods merchant who moved to the United States from Germany. His son, Manning, stayed in Chester after his parents passed away and became a dry goods merchant. I was not able to confirm if he took over a family business.
This Queen Anne Victorian was built before 1900. The exact date is unknown since a fire in the courthouse destroyed the property records. According to one account, the land was purchased in 1897. This Chester, South Carolina home sits just off downtown.
According to the 1900 Census Records, JM Coleman lives here with his wife Stella and her mother, Sarah Mattoon. Coleman was a dry good salesman. News articles highlight he graduated in May 1883 from a college in Baltimore. By August 1883, another news article lists Coleman with other men who are looking to build in Chester.
According to information on the South Carolina Historic Properties website, Coleman sells the house to his mother-in-law, Sarah Mattoon, for $4000 in 1903. They are still listed in residence in 1906.
Eyebrow dormer
By 1908, the Chester City Directory shows Augustus Aiken living here with his family. He works in the fertilizer industry.
By 1920, Abraham Balser, another dry goods salesman, is living here with his family. The Balser family is a prominent Jewish family who lives in the house for several decades. There is a Balser Building in downtown Chester.
It was listed as a contributing property of the Chester Historical District in 1987 on the National Register of Historic Places.
Fish scale tile 1986 photo of the house courtesy of the SC Department of Archives and History1986 photo of the house courtesy of the SC Department of Archives and History
