Cows Are “Long” Gone…
8705 Old Kings Road
Old Kings Road travels long North and South all of the way from Georgia to below St. Augustine. It has been less than a long and winding road but instead a long, fairly straight and meaningful path for so many including my own family.
On our trips to see family in Hampton, South Carolina, we often took the Kings Road through Georgia and then over to South Carolina so I feel as if I know some of the road’s ins-and outs.
Recently, I was traveling Old Kings Road and saw an old but fancy farm house so I dropped by to photograph it and then later find out some of its history.
The house is vacant as of the summer of 2022 but the land to the left is being used as a car, truck and dumpster park. I asked a guy walking across the street for permission to photograph the house. He told me he knew nothing about the old house but to click away; he was only there to get his parked 18 wheeler.
And so, with his permission, I parked and photographed the home that I later found out was built on 13 acres and constructed in 1901. The owners at that time appear to be Charles Henry Long (September 3, 1907- May 16, 1971)and Lavaughn Riggs Long(1910-1995). The two married on June 7, 1925. They had 2 children: Charles Jr. who died at 18 in service to his country and Eva Bernice who was born in 1929.
The Long’s were cattle buyers and had a meat processing farm often called an abattoir or slaughterhouse. Meat was processed for human consumption.It has been written that they also provided food for the Jacksonville Zoo animals on occasion.
The meat processing barn and other out-buildings including the fences for keeping livestock are not in view but you might can imagine a life of cattle and livestock. There was also, on Beaver Street, a meat processing house for packing and distribution.While I’m not sure of its owner, it is still located there and is known as being owned by a demolition business. It looked abandoned except for a newer model car in the yard in 2022.
Over the years, the property was used by others including businesses associated with the American Forest, Famous Historic Trees, Johnny Appleseed, Florida LLC and Leaf Me Along, Llc. As mentioned, it is most recently used as a parking facility for large trucks and equipment.
Meeting a driver gave me opportunity to photograph the place. I can imagine already the fine events held in the sun room or at the pool out back. It must have been a beauty back-in-tha’-day. One thing for sure, someone will have to take care of the hundreds and hundreds of wasp nests hanging on the old stucco siding which was probably put there when remodeled in 1920.
Oh, and my Mother’s maiden name is Long. I could be kin to these folks.. (More research needed here). Ha!
(Sources: S. Strickland of Call Box, Google Books, T. Gilmore, Florida Memory, Ramey Collection)
See you tomorrow,
