The Backroads Traveler: Watkinsville, Georgia

The Eagle Tavern has been a Watkinsville landmark for 225 years.

Entering Watkinsville from the northwest via Main Street, on your left, across from the courthouse, is the Eagle Tavern, at 26 North Main Street. Built around 1801, it was an important inn, tavern, and stagecoach stop on the route between Milledgeville and Athens. The tavern also has a rich history of ghostly tales and is considered by some to be the most haunted building in North Georgia.

Today, the Eagle Tavern is a history museum depicting frontier life in Georgia 200 years ago. It is open for tours Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

The Visitor Information Center is across from the Eagle Tavern at 21 North Main Street. They will be happy to provide guidance about tours and points of interest. Watkinsville, probably because of its proximity to  Athens and the University of Georgia, is also home to a very active and extensive art colony, with numerous shops and galleries awaiting your exploration.

 The Old Oconee County jail still stands in Watkinsville.

 Also across from the Eagle Tavern, behind the courthouse, is the old Oconee County jail, which in 1905 was the scene of one of the worst incidents of racial violence in Georgia's history, when a mob took nine men, eight black and one white, out of the jail, dragged them outside the town, and lynched them, supposedly for raping a white woman.

The Haygood House, built around 1827.

 Going south, the Haygood House, circa 1827, at 25 South Main Street, was the birthplace of two prominent Methodists: Bishop Atticus G. Haygood, born in 1839, was president of Emory College from 1875 to 1884, and his sister Laura Haygood, born in 1845, was one of the first Christian missionaries to China.

The Elder Mill Covered Bridge.

From the Haygood House, turn left and go back to GA 15. Turn right and go about four miles to Elder Mill Road. Turn right again and go 0.8 miles to  Elder Mill Covered Bridge, 

Originally built by Nathaniel Richardson over Calls Creek on the Watkinsville-Athens Road in 1897, the bridge was moved by wagon (don't ask me how they did that) to its present location over Rose Creek in 1924. It uses the sturdy Town lattice construction, with heavy planks fastened together with wooden pegs. The 99-foot-long bridge is in daily use, although weight-limited, and is one of very few covered bridges in Georgia to carry traffic without underlying steel support beams. 

This post was adapted from my book Backroads and Byways of Georgia. All photos were made with a Canon EOS 6D digital camera and the Canon EF 28-105mm lens

If you like my pictures, visit my online gallery at https://davejenkins.pixels.com/  

Click on the link at left for information about ordering original signed prints from the Rock City Barns book.

Signed copies of my book Backroads and Byways of Georgia are available. The price is $22.95 plus $4.95 shipping. My PayPal address is djphoto@vol.com (which is also my email). Or you can mail a check to 8943 Wesley Place, Knoxville, TN 37922. Include your address and tell me how you would like your book inscribed.

Text and photographs copyright David B. Jenkins 2026.  

I post Monday, Wednesday, and Friday unless life gets in the way.

Soli Gloria Deo -- For the glory of God alone.

Tags:   photography  digital photography   travel photography    Canon EOS 6D camera    Canon EF 28-105mmlens    Watkinsville    Georgia travel    Elder Mill Covered Bridge    Eagle Tavern

The View from 89

A Cross in the sky. (Chicago skyline, 1990).

 Today I am 89 years old.

That sounds impressive until you consider the fact that if I live to the age of 100 I have already used up 89 percent of my life!

That doesn't mean I'm pessimistic. I'm looking forward to whatever time I may have left. There are still miles I haven't driven and photographs I haven't made. In fact I have a standing offer from my publisher to do a Backroads and Byways of Tennessee book, but Louise is too worried about me being out on the road all those days and nights, plus her health is up and down, so I need to stick around here.

But I'm content. I've had a full life. I feel privileged to have had a long career as a professional photographer (even though I probably would have made more money if I had stayed with teaching) and I'm grateful for all the places my cameras have taken me and the experiences I've had. 

I'm even more privileged (and blessed) to have shared my life and many of my travels with the lovely Louise Devlin Jenkins. Our great-grandchildren count is now up to ten, with another on the way!

I do have some health issues. Next week I'm going for tests that may reveal that the problem with my feet and legs is poor circulation. That may lead to surgery, which I would welcome. We'll see.

 Whatever may happen, I give all credit to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The Gospel is simple and straightforward: Jesus Christ is God, who came in a human body. He died a sacrificial death that paid the penalty for all my sins -- past, present, and future. When I acknowledged myself to be a sinner and received him by faith as my savior, he saved me (John 1:12). He will save anyone who comes to him on those terms. That means you -- whoever and wherever you are.

I hope to have many more years to enjoy life, Louise, our family, and photography. But if not, my future is secure.

 Photo of the Chicago skyline: Olympus OM2n camera, Fujichrome 100D film.

If you like my pictures, visit my online gallery at https://davejenkins.pixels.com/  

Click on the link at left for information about ordering original signed prints from the Rock City Barns book.

Signed copies of my book Backroads and Byways of Georgia are available. The price is $22.95 plus $4.95 shipping. My PayPal address is djphoto@vol.com (which is also my email). Or you can mail a check to 8943 Wesley Place, Knoxville, TN 37922. Include your address and tell me how you would like your book inscribed.

Text and photographs copyright David B. Jenkins 2026.  

I post Monday, Wednesday, and Friday unless life gets in the way.

Soli Gloria Deo -- For the glory of God alone.

Tags:   photography   film photography    Olympus OM2n camera    Fujichrome 100D film   Chicago

Photographing Missions in Africa: Zambia

Bishop John Mambo welcomes the ambassador from Mozambique to his home.

Upon arrival at Lusaka, the capital and major city of Zambia, I was met at the airport by Bishop John Mambo, the Church of God National Overseer. I stayed at his home for the week I was in Zambia.

Bishop Mambo was a charismatic leader and a busy man, meeting with members of the government, other church leaders, and even ambassadors from other countries. Yet, he made time to show me around extensively.

Formerly the British colony of Northern Rhodesia, Zambia obtained its independence from the British Empire in 1964. It was a one-party government until 1991, when a two-party system was established. Transitions of power in Zambia are usually peaceful.

"Tying the steel" on a new church construction project, Lusaka, Zambia.

I saw construction going on everywhere in Lusaka. People working hard under the hot sun, but apparently very happy to have jobs.

Farming with simple irrigation.

 One of the church's ministries Bishop Mambo showed me was a farm outside Lusaka where young men who had no jobs and no opportunities could live and work in agriculture. 

Each man had his own hut to live in. The huts were built above ground level because of snakes and other varmints. 

This young man is exceedingly proud of the beautiful ears  of corn he has grown. This, while only one of the many ministries carried out by the Church of God in Zambia, seemed to me to be very worthwhile and effective.

Game Wardens at the Luangua Valley Game Preserve, Zambia

 

One afternoon some of the Bishop's helpers took me out to the Luangua Valley Game Preserve. We drove around watching the animals until sunset, then stopped at the ranger station on our way out so they could check us for contraband. I asked the rangers if I could make a picture of them, but they said it wasn't allowed. 

"Okay,then," I said, "can I make a picture of that big water buffalo skull?" They decided that would be okay. But human nature being what it is, before I could zone in and focus my camera they were all in the picture. Which was fine with me. But then, the warden with the rifle fired it off and I nearly jumped out of my skin.

 

Musicians at the Cultural Village, Lusaka, Zambia.  

 On another day the Bishop took me to the zoo and the cultural village, where musicians, dancers, and artisans worked to preserve the old tribal customs. It was a busy and productive week for me, with only one hitch: the Bishop's shower put out only HOT (really HOT) water!

Photos: Olympus OM2n, 100-300mm f4 Tokina lens, various Olympus Zuiko lenses, and Fujichrome 100D film.

If you like my pictures, visit my online gallery at https://davejenkins.pixels.com/  

Click on the link at left for information about ordering original signed prints from the Rock City Barns book.

Signed copies of my book Backroads and Byways of Georgia are available. The price is $22.95 plus $4.95 shipping. My PayPal address is djphoto@vol.com (which is also my email). Or you can mail a check to 8943 Wesley Place, Knoxville, TN 37922. Include your address and tell me how you would like your book inscribed.

Text and photographs copyright David B. Jenkins 2026.  

I post Monday, Wednesday, and Friday unless life gets in the way.

Soli Gloria Deo -- For the glory of God alone.

Tags:   photography   film photography    Olympus OM2n cameras    Fujichrome 100D film    Lusaka    Zambia    Africa     Church of God World Missions    Christianity in Zambia    Olympus Zuiko lenses    Tokina lenses    Luangua Valley Game Preserve

Photographing Missions in Africa: Nigeria

Lagos, Nigeria. One of the largest cities in the world.

Moving on from Ghana, I flew to Lagos, the largest city in Nigeria and also the largest in Africa. Nigeria itself, with more than 200 million people, is the most populous country on the continent. At the time I was there the population was 50% Christian and 50% Muslim, however the Muslims have carried on an intensive campaign of persecution so that the population is now divided 60/40 in favor of the Muslims.

I spent some time in Lagos, walking around and making photographs. On one street I saw a large mosque with a number of men sitting outside. As I raised my camera to make a photograph, I saw that I was getting some very unfriendly looks. Discretion being the better part of valor, I decided I didn't really need that photo after all and walked away.

Examining a patient in the Church of God hospital at Abak.

 The next day the National Overseer for the Church of God took me to the church's mission compound in the town of Abak, in Ibom province, where they had a hospital, a worship center, and other facilities.

 

A church service in Nigeria

On Sunday I went to the mission church, where I made this picture. As always, I worked very quietly, so most of the worshipers ignored me -- except for a young boy whose sideways glance lifts the picture out of the ordinary.

 

One afternoon I watched some kids playing soccer on the mission grounds. This boy on the right, with his intense, take-no-prisoners expression reminded me of the great Nigerian basketball player Hakeem Olajuwon, who played for the University of Houston and then for 18 seasons in the NBA.

 

  Sunset beams. After evening Chapel. Church of God hospital, Abak.

 The sun sets quickly in the tropics, and as I approached the hospital chapel, the beams were traveling horizontally across the ground and splashing against the wall of the chapel. I had a 100-300mm Tokina lens on my Olympus OM2n camera. I did not usually shoot in auto-exposure mode, but there was no time to do anything but raise the camera, zoom in, focus, shoot, and pray. I made three exposures at f4, 1/15 second at 300mm on Fujichrome 100D film before the light faded. Two were sharp. This one was the best.

 If you like my pictures, visit my online gallery at https://davejenkins.pixels.com/  

Click on the link at left for information about ordering original signed prints from the Rock City Barns book.

Signed copies of my book Backroads and Byways of Georgia are available. The price is $22.95 plus $4.95 shipping. My PayPal address is djphoto@vol.com (which is also my email). Or you can mail a check to 8943 Wesley Place, Knoxville, TN 37922. Include your address and tell me how you would like your book inscribed.

Text and photographs copyright David B. Jenkins 2026.  

I post Monday, Wednesday, and Friday unless life gets in the way.

Soli Gloria Deo -- For the glory of God alone.

Tags:   photography   film photography    Olympus OM2n cameras    Fujichrome 10D0 film     Nigeria    Africa     Church of God World Missions    Christianity in Nigeria    Muslim persecution    Tokina lenses