BY TERI R. WILLIAMS PHOTOS BY RUTH ENGLISH
A Return
to Glory
With support from the Georgia Council for the Arts
and our community, the Altama Museum of Art and
History will continue to safely serve our area.
P R E S E R V I N G T H E P A S T
Are museums and art galleries still relevant in today’s digital age?
Can an image of the Sistine Chapel on a computer screen ever compare
to standing beneath Michelangelo’s storied fresco of Biblical scenes and
religious events of the times? Of course not. One is a reflection; the other,
an experience. Although a visit to a world-class museum is always nice,
smaller communities across America have recognized the importance of
providing places for history, art, and artifacts in their own communities. In
1980, a group of Vidalia citizens did just that, forming the Altama Gallery,
now known as the Altama Museum of Art and History, with the goal of
bringing quality art closer to home.
At that time, the Brazell House on Jackson Street with its gigantic
columns, multi-hipped rooflines, and grand porches had sat vacant for
nearly a decade. In need of a place for their newly-formed nonprofit
organization to hold art and historical exhibits, concert performances,
and other cultural experiences, the group of art lovers in Vidalia contacted
the descendants of the Brazell family about purchasing it. Built in 1911,
architect/builder Ivey P. Crutchfield had designed the Brazell House for
William Crawford Brazell and William’s wife, Mary Clifton Brazell. Known
for his neoclassical style, Crutchfield designed many homes and businesses
in Toombs County and across Georgia and Florida. Of those still standing,
many are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the
Brazell House which was added in 1981.
The only occupants to ever live in the house were the Brazell family. The
oldest daughter, Emma, and the youngest of the Brazell’s five daughters,
Sara, both married. But the middle three daughters did not. Anna, Nora,
and Rusha lived out their days in the family home on Jackson Street.
People often saw one of the three sisters sweeping the sidewalks or sitting
on the porches around the beautiful family home, even in their later years.
Many of the older homes in the historic district, also known as
Jackson Heights, had been torn down over the years to make way for
“modernization.” The Brazell House was an essential piece of architectural
history for our region and a testament to the resilience of those early
families in Toombs County. Preservation of the historical landmark would
protect an important piece of history as well as provide the perfect space
for the newly-formed organization.
HOMETOWN LIVING AT I TS BEST 69