Wilson Farmstead, Irwin County

This was among the most common styles of housing in South Georgia prior to the Great Depression; many structures of this style remain today in various stages of modification. Thanks to Gary McDaniel for identifying this as his grandparents’ home. It was archived as a typical home of an Irwinville Farms client before resettlement. The young boy on the front porch, barely visible on the right, is his uncle, Bill Wilson. Gary’s mother, Joy Wilson McDaniel, is an Irwinville native and the author of the wonderful history: Irwinville Farms Project: The Making of  a Community.

Arthur Rothstein/Library of Congress (September 1935)

Here’s a link to the photograph of Bill Wilson:

https://irwinvillega.wordpress.com/2012/04/16/son-of-sharecropper-who-will-be-resettled-on-the-irwinville-farms-project-georgia/

Scene at Irwinville, 1938

John Vachon/Library of Congress (May 1938?)

This was made in 1938 but there’s no further identifying information. The log house is typical of the time, as well as the chinaberry tree in the dirt yard. It was likely made on the “outskirts” of Irwinville.

Father & Daughter at the Irwinville Farms Project Office

This was made by John Vachon in May 1938, along with several other photographs of farmers from the project. I do not know the identity of these two, who appear to be a father and daughter. Hopefully someone will know.

James McDuffie’s Farm at Irwinville

John Vachon/Library of Congress (May 1938)

The McDuffie family were among the most-documented families on the Irwinville Farms Project. This is the image used on the site header.

New House at Irwinville Farms, 1938

John Vachon/Library of Congress (May 1938)

Irwinville Farms Tobacco Barn

Irwinville Farms Barn, Crystal Lake Road, © Brian Brown 2012

I believe this to be an original Irwinville Farms Project tobacco barn. If not, it’s of the same construction. It’s located on Crystal Lake Road.

Irwinville Farms Co-Op Store

John Vachon/Library of Congress. (May 1938)

Besides signs encouraging consumers to “Call for Phillip Morris”, there’s also a flyer advertising National Airmail Week.

Joe Dowdy at the Project Office

John Vachon/Library of Congress. (May 1938)

Repaired House Near Irwinville

Carl Mydans/Library of Congress. (June 1936)

Mydans noted that there were 23 houses like this around Irwinville which had been repaired in one way or another.

The casual visitor to Irwinville will still see houses of this vernacular style today. Many have been in the same families for generations. (Note the Chinaberry tree on the right side of the photo).

Irwinville School

Arthur Rothstein/Library of Congress. (September 1935)

The Irwinville School was torn down in the late 1970s, I believe.