Gholston’s Stand, Comer, Georgia

“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.