“The actual building was old and dilapidated and remained
standing more out of habit than from any inherent structural
integrity.”
Douglas
Adams
After
our fantastic weekend in Ellijay, Georgia, we decided to drive the
back roads home through many small towns in Georgia. We were driving
down rural Hwy 98 and stopped at Paoli Junction (a convenience
store) in Madison, County, Georgia and saw these two amazing looking
buildings that stood out on the other corner. The buildings looked
ominous with the wide open farm fields in the background. After
getting a drink from the store, I had to get a closer look of these
buildings.
We
drove over and looked around the property. The old house was in bad
shape and the red painted Gholston’s Stand looked as though it had
been closed up for years. The stand was fronted by a porch and was
a small building. I could just imagine people sitting on the porch
with a bottle of soda, laughing and chatting it up with their
friends. Many people call this intersection of Hwy 98 and Hwy 172,
Paoli Junction but was once known as Gholston’s Stand which is
located about two miles NW of Comer, Georgia.
I
was so fascinated by this place that when I got home I did some
research on it to know what the story was on this property. Yes,
there is a story or fable to tell. I choose to believe it was a true
story as it makes the property that much more interesting.
Dabney
Gholston was born in Virginia around 1759 and decided to move to
Wilkes County in the late 1700’s. It was thought he moved here
because he was offered land after serving during the Revolutionary
War. He decided to open a country store on this corner. The
Gholston’s family did well and became one of the richest families
in Madison County. They were always very civic minded.
While
Dabney ran his country store, he befriended one of the local Cherokee
Chiefs who were camped down the hill from his store. That Chief came
to him and warned him of the danger that was to come. He told
Dabney that the Creek Indians planned to come to his farm and take
all his food, cattle, and hogs.
So
doing some quick thinking, because he wasn’t going to give up all
his food and animals, he went to his family and neighbors with the
news. They decided to work together and set up a skirmish line from
his store all the way to the creek to defend was was his.
So
when the Creek Indians came to raid his property in the late 1780’s,
they were ready. Gholston, his family, and neighbors succeed in not
allowing the Creek to acquire any of their possessions. Several
Creek Indians were killed and are buried in unmarked graves near the
old Lystra Church Cemetery.
Gholston’s
Stand may refer to this incident or that it may have been named just
because it was a small country store or stand. Many years later
they added a gas station. I am unsure of the year it closed. This
is a must see if you want to get out in the rural area of Georgia.
Take
care and bye for now.
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