Albany, GA

Throughout the summer we have been in towns with painted statues. In Louisville there were horses. In Abdingdon we had wolves. And in Albany, GA, they have turtles.

 

A little out of character was this kangaroo chair.

Albany was the childhood home of Ray Charles.

Albany Welcome Center

The city sits on the banks of the Flint River. Where the current welcome center is located was once the home of the Col Nelson Tift, owner of the bridge and ferry rights and founder of Albany. In 1857 Col Tift had the Bridge House built. Entry to the bridge was through the center of the house on the ground floor and the upstairs was home to Tift Hall, a theater. Many famous people came and performed at the hall. Masked balls and special events were held at the hall until the civil car. During the war the building became a slaughter house for the many animals needed to feed the Confederate Army.

 

You do see who sponsored this turtle?

We went to the museum which is housed in the old train station. Here I learned about Bob's Candies. It operated in Albany from 1919 until 2005, when it was sold and all operations were moved to Mexico. I'm going to look for the Bob's name this Christmas when I buy candy canes.

They even have a door from the company.

A peanut picker from the 1920s. This style picker was used until the peanut combine was invented and manufactured in the 1950s. Both items were produced by the Lilliston Company, also located in Albany.

These Cypress trees were on the banks of the Flint River.

Although it was a little shallow for kayaking now, it looks like it could be fun in the spring and early summer.

More turtles.

Down the road from Albany was America, GA, home of Souther Field.

Americas is also the home of Habitat for Humanity.

I always thought Jimmy and Roslyn Carter started HFH, but I was wrong.

Jimmy did not get involved until 7 years later.