Georgia Small Towns: Greensboro

The Old Rock Gaol in Greensboro, Greene County, Georgia.

Located just off Interstate 20 about 75 miles east of Atlanta, the town of Greensboro, founded in 1786, is the county seat of Greene County and is the doorway to Lake Oconee, with 400 miles of shoreline and ten championship golf courses. The population in 2024 was about 3,600.

Greensboro is notable for a number of historic buildings, including the Old Rock Gaol (Gaol is the way the English spell jail). Built in 1807, it has granite walls two feet thick and was patterned after the Bastille in Paris. The original cells and gallows are all still in place.

The Greene County Courthouse.

The Greek Revival Greene County courthouse in downtown Greensboro was built in 1848. It is the eighth oldest courthouse in Georgia and the second oldest still in use. The upper floor was designed to house the Masonic Lodge, which it does to this day.

Across the street from the courthouse is the Yesterday Cafe, famous for Buttermilk Pie and other good things. Country music star Carrie Underwood ordered 300 of the pies for her wedding reception.

At the intersection of Main and Broad streets stands McCommons Big Store, once the largest store between Atlanta and Augusta, and boasting of selling "everything from the cradle to the grave." It is now home to the Greensboro Antique Mall and other shops.

The Davis-Evans House.

On West Broad Street, next to the Methodist Church is the lovely Davis-Evans House, built in 1854. It served as the parsonage for many years and is now the Parish House.

The Happy Times House.

 The Happy Times House at 205 West Broad Street was built iin 1824 and was once a dormitory for Greensboro Female College. Louisa May Alcott, author of Little Women, was once a teacher there.

The Spinks-Kinitra House at 201 West Greene Street was built sometime before 1846.

One thing not to be missed in Greensboro is the Ripe Thing Market at 112 West Broad. Featuring fresh, locally-grown fruits and vegetables and grass-fed hormone-free meat, poultry, and lamb, they also serve outstanding home-made soups, deli sandwiches, and fresh-baked desserts.

(All photos were made with Olympus E-M5 digital cameras and the Panasonic Lumix G Vario 12-32mm lens.)

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Photography and text copyright 2024 David B.Jenkins.

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

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

Tags:   photography     travel      Georgia     Greensboro    Greene County     Panasonic Lumix G Vario 12-32mm lens     Olympus E-M5 digital camera