Gribblenation

"Here Comes Santa Claus, Here Comes Santa Claus, Right Down Santa Claus Lane," is the opening lyrics of Gene Autry's timeless Christmas tune.  However, if you are driving down US 1 through Toombs County in Southeast Georgia, you could sing 'Here Comes Santa Claus' all year long. Just south of Lyons on US 1 is the small City of Santa Claus, Georgia.  During the 1930s, as automobile tourist traffic increased, Calvin Greene, a local pecan farmer, sought clever ways to promote and attract visitors to his pecan stands and encourage them to stay at his motor inn.  His idea was to name the area around his farm after the Christmas icon, Santa Claus.  Santa Claus developed from 60 acres of Greene's farmland and was incorporated in 1941.  Originally 'Santa Clause', the 'e' was dropped in 1970. Greene tapped Bill Salem to develop Santa Claus - complete with holiday-themed street names like, Reindeer Street, Rudolph Way, and Candy Cane Street.  Salem also...

The nearly 100-year-old truss bridge that carries US 17 over the St. Marys River connecting Georgia and Florida is most commonly known for its vibrant blue paint.  However, this through-truss bridge is also a swing bridge with a unique twist. The St. Marys River Bridge. (Joe Babyak - August 2011) The swing portion of the bridge - a standard design for many low-level bridges of the time - allows passing boats to continue their journey on the St. Marys River unobstructed.  However, unlike most swing bridges - opening the bridge is done manually and not electronically. From the Georgia Side - the St Marys River Bridge on the left and a railroad bridge on the right. (Adam Prince - August 2011) The opening of the central span typically takes six to eight workers.  They manually turn a 15-foot-long turnkey.  Turning the span to allow vessels through can take up to 30 minutes.  The Florida Department of Transportation operates the bridge - and shuts down the bridge twi...

It is often said that all politics is local. This adage is also true with highways. In the days of the Auto Trails, local communities would send delegations to various road conferences with efforts to route the highway through their town. During the Interstate era, routings of many freeway segments were adjusted closer to or further away from towns and cities depending on various political maneuverings.  When it came to Interstate 85 in northeast Georgia - a late decision to adjust I-85's routing to the south had leaders in Gainesville and Toccoa crying foul. What was at issue was the routing of Interstate 85 from Suwanee northeast to the South Carolina state line.  At first, three different routes were considered: 1) An 'Upper Route' running northeast from Suwanee to Gainsville and then running south of US 23 towards Toccoa before a turn east to the River and South Carolina. 2) A 'Middle Route' that brought I-85 closer to Carnesville and Lavonia. 3) Finally, a ...

For centuries, natural springs have been an attraction throughout the United States for tourists, vacationers, and residents alike.  From a break from the hot summer or possible healing remedies, these springs and the communities that surround them have become an oasis from the often stressful and overwhelming city life. Cave Spring, Georgia is another of those unique spring towns.  Founded in 1832, Cave Spring is home to a limestone cave and spring that produces 2 million gallons of fresh water daily.    The former Hearn Academy building is located in Rolater Park. The springs are located within Rolater Park - a widely known community park and attraction.  To visit inside the limestone cave is $2 .  The 29-acre park includes numerous historic buildings, including the 1851 Cave Springs Baptist Church, the former Hearn Academy schoolhouse (owned by the church), and the Hearn Inn (a former Academy dorm, now an active Bed & Breakfast). The Hearn Inn is a f...

"...turn left at the Big Chicken." Landmarks, before the era of GPS navigation, physical places, man-made or not, were often used in directions to help get from one place to another. "...one mile South of the Big Chicken." On US 41 in Marietta, Georgia - a 56-foot tall red-and-white chicken - complete with a moving beak and rolling eyes - dominates the suburban commercial strip.  You can see it from nearby Interstate 75 - it's simply known as The BIG Chicken. The story of The Big Chicken dates back to 1963. Stanly "Tubby" Davis wanted a unique way to promote his Johnny Reb's Chick-Chuck-'N'-Shake.  The restaurant served fried chicken, hamburgers, and milkshakes.  It also was a drive-in offering curbside service. Davis commissioned a local Georgia Tech student, Hubert Puckett, to design the roadside attraction.  Puckett would later be involved in renovations to the structure after it sustained significant storm damage in 1993. Close-up of th...

Carnesville is a small town of just over 700 residents in Northeast Georgia.  Founded in 1805 as the county seat for Franklin County, Carnesville was incorporated as a town in 1819.   Carnesville is named after Judge Thomas P. Carnes - a lawyer and later congressman.  Former in 1784, Franklin County is named after Ben Franklin and was Georgia's ninth county. Franklin County Courthouse. The center of this small city is the Franklin County Courthouse.  The neoclassical design structure has been standing since 1906 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.  The courthouse is one of 12 locations listed within the register in the Carnesville Area. Downtown Carnesville might be small but it is still charming. Carnesville is home to the Franklin County Livestock Market - which is the largest in the state. All photos taken by post author - June 23, 2021 . Sources & Links: Explore Georgia - Carnesville Franklin County Communities - Carn...

This past January, before the COVID-19 mess, my family went to Disney.  On our way down, we overnighted in Savannah.  We got there early enough to check out a few places, the Savannah Children's Museum, Savannah History Museum, and the Georgia State Railway Museum.  All three locations are pretty much on the same block.  If you have kids, the museums offer a combination ticket that allows you to visit all three locations at a discount and is valid over three days.  If you do not have kids, or they are too old for the children's museum - the combination ticket may also be used at Old Fort Jackson, Pinpoint Heritage Museum, or the Harper Fowlkes House. The former Central of Georgia Roundhouse. The Georgia State Railway Museum and Savannah Children's Museum are located within the former Central of Georgia Savannah Shops and Terminal Facilities.  The Central of Georgia began as a railway and canal company in 1833.  The Central was formed to build a rail ...

The Northeast Georgia City of Lavonia sits only a few miles from Lake Hartwell and the Savannah River.  In 1878, as the railroads continued to expand into the region, the Elberton Air Line Railroad had desired to build a new station near what was known as Aquilla. A town was laid out; and in 1880, the town of Lavonia was incorporated.  The town is named after Lavnoia Jones, the wife of J.H. Jones who was the president of the Elberton Air Line.  The Elberton Air Line was absorbed into the Southern Railway System in 1908. The former railroad depot serves as the town's welcome center.  The depot opened in 1912 after the local women's group successfully petitioned the town to rebuild the existing depot at a new location. Downtown Lavonia's layout is dominated by the railroad.  The railroad runs through the center of the downtown splitting Main Street between Thomas and Burton Streets.  In the center of town, storefronts line both sides of the...

The Smith-McGee Bridge is an abandoned camelback bridge that crosses over the Savannah River in Georgia and South Carolina.  The bridge once carried South Carolina and Georgia 181, a highway that runs from Hartwell, GA to Starr, SC. The former three span bridge was built as a private toll bridge in 1922.  Four years later, both South Carolina and Georgia acquired the bridge removing the tolls.  The bridge remained in operation until 1983 when a new concrete bridge was built to its immediate north. Fortunately, the old bridge was allowed to remain.  It is a popular fishing spot and offers great views of the Savannah River. All photos taken by post author - March 19, 2019. Further Reading:   Smith-McGee Bridge ---Vanishing North Georgia How To Get There:

Sign errors happen - a US shield in place of a state highway shield or vice versa.  It's interesting to some and a pet peeve to others.  But when Mike Natale found a Georgia 280 shield in Sutersville, Pennsylvania, you have to think something must be up. Georgia Highway 280 somehow made its way to Westmoreland County, PA. (Photo taken by Mike Natale) And in this case, there's a reason for it.  It's a prop for a television series.  Netflix's popular TV series " Mindhunter " is shot in the Pittsburgh area.   Mike came across the GA 280 sign in October 2018 and it is possible that the scenes involving Georgia 280 should be in Episode 6 or 7. Georgia State Highway 280 is located in northwestern and western Atlanta.  That's a far cry from the Mon Valley.  It is common for television or movie scenes to be shot elsewhere than where they are set at.  However, it is very rare to see a sign prop out in the wild while production is on going....

When I was last doing these catching up posts it was January 2013 - the last few days and weeks before our oldest son was born.  Hard to believe he is now five, and the many adventures he has taken us on!  Then we had a second one, and he's quickly becoming two.  So I was actually surprised that when I was starting to move some of the old gribblenation Georgia features over to the blog, I realized that I never did a post about Maggie and I's time in Savannah as we closed out our honeymoon in October 2011. Maggie outside of The Ballastone Inn After four fun, yet exhausting days at Disney, Maggie and I started our return journey back to Raleigh but with a two day stopover in Savannah.  We stayed at The Ballastone Inn , a historic bed and breakfast within the city's downtown.  The Inn dates back to 1838 and had a colorful history in the 150 years prior to it being converted to a Bed & Breakfast in the 1980s.  We had a pretty casual first night in Sa...