The Water Filter Building on Highland Avenue was built in 1937 in Augusta, Georgia. The Art Deco motif was utilized often in municipal buildings.
The Art Deco Augusta Water Works
Tag Archives: Richmond County
Dr. Scipio Johnson House of Augusta, Georgia
Dr. Scipio S. Johnson was a prominent member of Augusta’s Black community and lived at 1420 Twiggs Street in the Bethlehem neighborhood He lived in the Craftsman-style brick home from its construction in the 1920s until he died in 1940. Dr. Johnson graduated from the Haines Normal and Industrial Institute in Augusta. He graduated from Lincoln University in Oxford, Pennsylvania, and Howard University in Washington, DC. Dr. Johnson was a pharmacist and operated Johnson Drug Store out of his house on Twiggs Street.
I am glad to say that this home was fully restored. Images of the house can be seen in an article on The Augusta Chronicle.
Shotgun House and Azaleas in Augusta, Georgia
Built in 1911, this shotgun house has seen some better days, but the folk Victorian porch details, the blue paint color, and the azaleas highlight what a picturesque home this once was.
Penny Savings Bank of Augusta, Georgia
The Penny Savings Loan and Investment Company is located at the corner of James Brown Boulevard and Laney-Walker Boulevard. The bank was founded on September 10, 1910, by prominent Black businessmen. The bank’s initial success led to the construction of this three-story building in 1925. Designed by noted architect G. Lloyd Preacher, it served as an anchor of the “Golden Blocks” Business District. Unfortunately, the bank closed in 1928 due to financial struggles.
The building has largely been vacant since its closure.
Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church of Augusta, Georgia
Researching Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church has proven to be complicated. According to tax records, the eclectic Gothic Revival church was built in 1916. Unfortunately, in the Augusta Chronicle, it was hard to decipher which Mt. Olive Baptist Church was being discussed, as there was one in Louisville, Georgia, that had frequent mentions in the paper. I hoped there would be an article about its history, but I do not know the church’s history. I will update the post if I get more information.
Christ Episcopal Church of Augusta, Georgia
The Harrisburg neighborhood of Augusta, Georgia is located near the Augusta Canal on Greene Street. It was a once thriving mill village that is now a neighborhood in transition after the last mill closed in the early 2000s. Christ Church was founded in 1882. it was established to serve the mill workers, who were were poorly paid and unable to afford to travel to other Episcopal churches in Augusta.
Edward W. Platt, a local property owner, donated land for the church. The church building was relocated to the area when the Church of the Good Shepherd outgrew its building. In 1883, the Carpenter Gothic church was rolled down the hill from Summerville to Harrisburg, where it still stands today.
The church grew over the years and became a key resource to the Harrisburg families. Under the leadership of Deaconness Ruth Byllesby, the church became a Neighborhood House to support mill families. Deaconness Byllesby ministered for the church from 1927 to 1943. Her good work in serving the families and children of the area helped keep people fed and clothed, even during the Depression. Because of her good work, the Diocese of Georgia declared her a diocesan saint.
Christ Church attained parish status in 1951. While the Episcopal congregation has disbanded, the mission of supporting Harrisburg residents continues today. You can read more about the church and its continued services here.
