Travels in the South

Welcome back friends to another edition of Travels in the South.  We have been talking about our visit with our great friends Bill and Jean from Canadian Cats.  If you have missed the previous editions, please check them out here:  Red Lobster; Fogo de Chao; Stately Oaks; Spa Day. World of Coca-Cola Part I, World of Coca-Cola Part II. World of Coca-Cola Part III, The Varsity, Gone with the Wind Part I, Gone with the Wind Part II

Hello friends – welcome back to our continued tour of Jonesboro, Georgia in Gone With the Wind. Today, let’s talk about some of the gorgeous homes in downtown Jonesboro.

This is the Ashley Oaks Mansion that was built in 1879 by Leander Hutchenson.  Ashley Oaks is built from over over 1 million hand made bricks. Each exterior home wall is 12 inches thick and each of the four large rooms downstairs stand on its own independent foundation.  I guess they are right in the saying, “They don’t make things like they use to.”  And Leander Hutchenson – he was actually the Sheriff of Clayton County several different times throughout the years:  01/18/1860 – 02/02/1862; 09/07/1868 – 02/06/1871; 01/31/1877 – 01/07/1879; 01/08/1887 – 01/08/1891; and 01/06/1893 – 10/17/1896.  Wouldn’t it be interesting to see someone in politics take office this many times these days?

This house is the Crockett-Blalock house that was originally built in 1879.  It has been under reconstruction over the years with rooms added on and now is currently a Wells Fargo bank.  The home originally though belonged to Mrs. Hanes.  Mrs. Hanes was a tough lady.  In the middle of the Battle of Jonesboro taking place outside her doors and windows, Mrs. Hanes was giving birth to her baby.

And her husband was Alfred Blalock.  Now Alfred was a prominent heart surgeon and was the first to ever do open heart surgery.  But we found out something more about Alfred Blalock that mom found fascinating.  Alfred Blalock was also the developer of plasma for the treatment of shock.  Isn’t that totally awesome?

And you know what they say about growing up on the wrong side of the tracks.  Does that really take place?  The tracks run straight down Jonesboro.  So, depending on who you ask they will tell you which side is the right side – snorts.

But don’t worry because all streets lead you back to Gone With the Wind.  And in the end, I guess you can say in some ways that Scarlett and Rhett will always be linked together..if only in street signs 🙂

My friends, I hope that you enjoyed our tour of Jonesboro, Georgia.  Stay tuned next week to find out what additional trouble the foursome (Mom, Dad, Bill and Jean) get into.