The Martin Theatres group opened the State Theatre, now the J. Lane Theater, in 1945. Originally opened as a movie theater, the theater now hosts live events.
The Former State Theatre of Albany, Georgia
Tag Archives: Dougherty County
West Dougherty Community House-Pretoria, Georgia
Tax records indicate this building was constructed in 1930. I stopped because I assumed it was an old schoolhouse. I am unable to locate any other information.
Broad Avenue Elementary-An Albany Place in Peril
Broad Avenue Elementary was built in the 1930s and was open until 2005. It was abandoned until 2019 when the nonprofit organization Southwest Georgia Rising purchased it in hopes of turning it into a rural innovation center.
In 2024, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation included it in its annual list of Places in Peril. The brickwork and details highlight construction not seen in modern school buildings. The book at the roofline is an interesting touch for the facade.
The Hiker of ’98 Monument-Albany, Georgia
Albany, Dougherty County, Georgia
Inspired by The Hiker sculpted by Allen George Newman which honors the American soldiers who took “long hikes in steaming jungles” during the Boxer Rebellion, the Spanish-American War, and the Philippine-American War.
There are over 40 sculptures and reliefs commemorating these soldiers. Georgia is home to eight of them. This one can be found in Riverside Cemetery in Albany, Georgia.
Created by the Lamb Seal and Stencil Company, this monument is listed on the Smithsonian’s Save Outdoor Sculpture database. The plaque reads, “You triumphed over obstacles which would have overcome men less brave and determined.”
Pattie’s Grave at Oakview Cemetery-Albany, Georgia
Albany, Dougherty County
Martha Dillon Wright Jones’s final resting place is in Oakview Cemetery in Albany, Georgia. I consider it to be one of the most beautiful funerary monuments in the state.
On the front side, it’s etched with the words “Pattie’s Grave.” Since I first photographed her monument, I have periodically researched who her ancestors were. I am unable to determine who they are. Her husband is next to her in the family plot.
The Bell Sister Monuments-Albany, Georgia
Dougherty County
Fannie (1880-1891) and Willie (1876-1880) Bell were sisters who never met. Little Willie died only a couple months before Fannie was born. These monuments illustrate how much loss some families could face in short time due to childhood diseases in accidents.
Approximately 32% of all children in the US would pass away before the age of 5 in 1885. Cholera, yellow fever, smallpox, and diphtheria were leading causes of death in the 1800s. In comparison, in 2020, childhood deaths were below 1%. (Mortality rates from statista.com).
These markers can be found in Oakview Cemetery in Albany, Georgia.
