Tag Archives: LaGrange

Black History, Cemeteries, Churches, Demolished, Georgia, Schools, Vernacular Headstones

Mt. Zion Baptist Church-LaGrange, Georgia

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The congregation was founded in 1868 by freedmen and women of Troup County, Georgia. Initially, they met under a bush arbor. The church was built in 1906. An active church, baptisms were held in the nearby creek until recently, according to this article in the LaGrange Daily News.

I believe the wooden structure is a school since the history of the church states their first church building was built at the turn of the century. It also resembles the many one room schoolhouses that dot Georgia’s landscape.

The cemetery contains a mixture of prefabricated and handmade markers. It also includes at least two Eldren Bailey markers.

Mother Mary Clay (1859-1941)

I believe this marker was made in the likeness of the church.

Chollie Cameron, d. 1942

There were several markers in the cemetery that a similar angel and crown motif.

Bob Florence (1869-1946)

This marker contains the addition of P, 8, and S to the crown and wings. I am uncertain what means.

This marker did not have a name, but I was intrigued that the star was on the front and back side of the marker.

Katie Ruth Crowder, d. 1963

This is one of the Eldren Bailey markers in the cemetery.

Alabama, Black History, Cemeteries, Famous People, Georgia, Historic Photos, National Register of Historic Places, South Carolina

Horace King-The Master Bridge Builder

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Horace King, 1807-1885, was considered the preeminent bridge builder in the South. It is believed he built over 100 bridges, most of them being in Alabama and Georgia. King was born into slavery in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. His enslaver, John Godwin, earned a bid to build a bridge over the Chattahoochee River. King moved with Godwin to Girard, Alabama, to begin the project.

In 1846, Godwin decided to no longer hold King in bondage. I have also read that King purchased his freedom. At this point, King’s services were in high demand to build bridges. He moved freely throughout the South. He is credited with building bridges at many points over the Chattahoochee River and other rivers. Outside of bridges, he built homes and warehouses. He also built the freestanding spiral staircase in the Alabama State Capitol.

Spiral staircase at Alabama State Capitol. (Photo credit- Library of Congress, HABS)

In 1839, he married free woman, Frances Gould Thomas. They had four boys and one girl. For whatever reason, the grave markers for the four boys have the birthdate of 1844. Based on census records, which can be incorrect, I believe Washington King was born in 1840, Marshall in 1842, John in 1846, and George in 1850. All of the children were involved in the construction company that they called the King Brothers Bridge Company.

He also built homes. There is at least one surviving example in Opelika.

The long approach of the Red Oak Covered Bridge is located outside of Woodbury, Georgia in the community of Imlac. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The graves of Horace and Marshall King in the Mulberry Street Cemetery complex are located in LaGrange, Georgia. The city of LaGrange has been restoring this part of town and recently added a covered bridge to honor King.
Johnson Mill Bridge in Harris County, Georgia (courtesy Digital Library of Georgia