Ichauway Bridge. When was the last time you saw a one-lane bridge on a dirt road? Have you ever even seen a dirt road much less a one-lane bridge?
The last time I went to my mother’s house in south Georgia, I stopped off at Ichauway Plantation to see if the old bridge was still in use. It is indeed there and still in use. I watched two trucks cross it while I was taking photos. This bridge spans the Ichauway-Nochauway (pronounced Itch-a-way-Notch-a-way) Creek in south Georgia.
It’s located on what was once the Ichuaway Plantation which was owned by Robert Woodruff, the founder of Coca-Cola. My mother grew up on Ichauway Plantation. Right at the end of that bridge, actually.
At the end of the bridge is this little country grocery store. My grandparents ran the store and they all lived in a house in back of it. My grandfather also worked for the CDC (Communicable Disease Center) at the “experiment station” located on Ichauway. They did malaria research. Perfect area for it since there’s an abundance of mosquitoes. It’s beautiful out there. So quiet. So peaceful.
Today the plantation is home to the the Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center. However, all the old buildings are still there and I thank them sincerely for preserving it just the way we’ve always known it.
I’m heading back there for work this week. It’s only about a 4 hour drive from us but a complete world away. It love it there. It is, simply, home.
More about Ichauway from the New Georgia Encyclopedia.
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That’s so awesome Lana, that general store is so cool! LOVE those old bridges. You’re right, don’t see too many of those anymore :)
The very best thing about going back home is the way it almost forces you to slow down and relax. There’s no traffic to speak of and no real rush to go anywhere or do anything. That slow and easy pace really gives people time to enjoy each other and appreciate life.
That reminds me of the old Chatahoochee bridge on I-10, but it was closed so long ago, it terrified me because our cars use to be SO big and that bridge was SO long and narrow. Great story!
So glad you will be back in “our neck of the woods” for a few days. Call me.
Miss P
By the way, according to a good source, one of the spellings is “Ichauuay.”
Looks like a Mayberry kind of place, my kind of place. I’m glad it still looks the same as yesteryear!
It must be so gratifying that a piece of your family’s history is so well tended. Great pics!
It is. The owners of the property now are very good stewards of the buildings and sites located there. Next time I’m in the area I’ll get some photos of the main house and the dog cemetary. It was where they buried all the hunting dogs when it was a hunting plantation.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I have always heard about the dog cemetary at Ichauway. Billy remembers it but I don’t ever remember seeing it. Can’t wait to see your next pics of the plantation. So glad the owners are committed to preserving the past.
Sure, I remember it. It’s one of the things I plan to photograph on my next trip.
Hi! I haven ‘t been to that store in a LONG time, not since I was little. I will ask my momma, but I am pretty positive my Aunt Iva Mae owns that store.. I remember going with my mom and Aunt Jo. I was always afraid to cross the bridge!