May is National Preservation Month, a very opportune time for a ramble around a historic pocket of rural Georgia just to the north and west of Augusta. The route begins in Washington, Georgia and winds southward through the communities of Sharon, Crawfordville, Powellton, Sparta, and Linton. That may sound like a lot, but the entire route can be accomplished in an afternoon if you plan ahead, and the wealth of historic structures that you will encounter along the way will be worth the effort. Within this route are a couple of places that have been favorites of yours for years on Southern Voice.
The town of Washington is about an hour northwest of Augusta, and contains one of the best concentrations of historic architecture within a few blocks as can be found anywhere. In fact, here is a secret about your first visit to Washington that will put a smile on your face. Within the space of about fifteen minutes, there is one street in town that will easily yield more than a dozen great old houses for photographing and admiring.