Forgotten Georgia: The Decaying Ruins Tell The Tales Of These Dying Towns

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Regarding the Market House in Louisville - built in the late 1700's, one of its purposes was to sell slaves. I've been told there are many who would like it to be torn down. Should it be? Or should it remain, a reminder of our past, something we learn from? Or should it be moved to a museum? I'm curious as to what you all think.

[@Kimteach2011]

It needs to preserved. It’s history. We must learn from it and never forget.

[@WhittyPics]

Erasing history dooms us to repeat it. We need to learn from the mistakes of the past.

[@altha-rf1et]

Reminder. looks like you are close to N.C. should go up there do some videos of the storm damage and go to Tenn

[@TaterTots380]

I would hate to see the structure gone since it is part of history, which cannot be changed.

[@kirktinsley]

I think it should preserved. I’ve never seen such a building. Just seeing it on video is chilling. Tearing it down would remove a bit more evidence of that awful history.

[@ValetaBarger]

Joe, although it's spelled Bartow the correct pronunciation is Bar Toe! Native Georgian here.😊

[@SkipperUSA30305]

Came here to post this 😂 Thank you, fellow native Georgian ❤

[@Pluh88]

@@SkipperUSA30305 as a life long Bartow resident I approve XD

[@bigb7157]

Yep. I was raised near Bartow County. Which oddly is a distance from the city namesake.

[@debraphillips8399]

@@SkipperUSA30305 Me too! (from Carrollton)

[@candacecorbitt4653]

Came here to say the same thing 😂 I’m from Hazlehurst in Jeff Davis County about an hour and a half away.

[@bentonlindsey6098]

I grew up about 6 miles from bartow. Remember when all those stores were open. There were about 4 service stations. A grocery store, bank, Barber shop, clothing stores. That was a cotton gin that you heard running. Used be 3 or 4 of them running. So sad to see it now.

[@1962JULY]

Thanks for sharing! BTW, when did the town start going down and losing population?

[@ca3782]

I was born in Summerville & lived in Rome (GA), Lafayette, etc.. Always lived in the southeast.

[@ca3782]

BTW...Still in Georgia. ❤

[@brandiparker9615]

Noise would run anyone away! Wooo! 😂

[@darcymoon2109]

Yet there is zero crime. As someone from the congested northeast, I don’t see why folks don’t head out there and start a life.

[@pamchambersconsulting3210]

I love how you can look at “ruins” and find beauty in them. You help us see that too.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you.

[@ganiwaseem9210]

Hi from Mysuru, India, Joe and Nic. I've been watching your videos since I lost my high paying IT job in October 2022. I was jobless for 6 months after that and would binge on your videos just to escape reality and feel a sense of calm. Your voice and your narration along with the stunning visuals of small town America is so peaceful and almost served as therapy to me when I was very low. Now, I work at a charitable school on the outskirts of my city where I teach spoken English to underprivileged children. I wish someday my dream of living a peaceful life in a big house with a lawn and a backyard comes true. Amen. Peace ✌️

[@richardmcgrath61]

There are lots of houses in these videos that are big, with a huge lawn and back yard. Problem is, many of them have large holes in their roof.

[@ericperkins4661]

I immediately recognized the old Pure gas station from the thumbnail as I scrolled by. We used to use that Pure sign as the landmark for when to call home because the cell service wouldnt work far past that. Its between Wrightsville, GA and Bartow. Still lots of dirt roads in this part of Georgia.

[@pigtyme]

First, I really enjoy your videos! You have a natural talent as a storyteller and your appreciation for history honors the places you showcase. That being said, I once was incarcerated for a short time in Louisville GA. back in 1973 for speeding. LOL I was 16 years old traveling from Jacksonville FL back home to SC. Back then if you were out of state you either paid cash bond or went to jail, juvenile or not, until you paid or saw the judge. My mom was able to come and bail me out within a few hours but I carried that memory, and how poorly I was treated, with me throughout my, then future, 40 year career in law enforcement. While it was certainly a bad experience it taught me to treat people with as much respect as they would allow me. Funny how bad experiences can turn into blessings!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Great story!!! Thank you for sharing it.

[@heatherstephens9295]

👏👏👏

[@travelingman484]

I can only imagine what it was like 100 years ago when the steamer pulled up with passengers visiting they’re friends and family in town, and folks walking into the toasty warm stores being lit by kerosene lanterns and coal stoves. The smell of dry foods and old wood. Keep this stuff coming my friend.

[@2catsonboat]

You would have stepped off your imaginary 1924 train into a world of "Jim Crow" laws and segregated drinking fountains. You could not get a cold beer due to Prohibition, and the sheriff controlled the bootleg stills.

[@hansburbon01]

Do you think the black folks were allowed in those toasty warm stores 100 years ago?

[@todddunn945]

A bit of help from Google identified that noisy plant in Bartow as a cotton gin.

[@lynnwaters2557]

Welcome to Georgia. I’m sure you and your wife have had some great adventures together. Georgia has a lot of rural areas that are barely existing. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

[@millipedic]

Always impressed by the architecture of public buildings in these old towns. Appreciate Joe's knowledge of architectural styles.

[@clarisaexplainsitall79]

Georgia girl, born and raised. We have a lot of really interesting history here. Great video.

[@JohnDoe-jq1br]

Can someone explain why people like Margie Traitor Greene spend their time making fools of themselves, instead of helping the people of Georgia?

[@sandrahansen83]

I am pleased that these small towns still have Christmas decorations up. Where I live in Australia we don't have any up at all. Melbourne Australia

[@craigoOZ]

bah humbug

[@simonhenry3815]

hey Joe - that noise sounds like a cotton processing plant in town there my friend - to get it to the stage from cotton flower to ready to sale

[@tommystrawnarm2810]

The Christmas decor up is a shocker. I guess it just shows that people still love an enjoy that town. Those buildings look the same in all those small rural Georgia towns

[@SleepyUncleSam]

Crime rate skyrocketed and the town could no longer thrive

[@jenniferk.7023]

Could be that the Christmas decorations have been there for years, and no has bothered to take them down.

[@tommystrawnarm2810]

@@jenniferk.7023 it's typical for some small GA towns to do this to the downtown part of the city limits. Where I'm from they decorated it for the holidays the same way as this city. Sharon GA an Crawfordville GA someone does the holiday decor

[@Rustebadge]

@@jenniferk.7023 Not so. Batteries are running the lights. Someone still lives and loves their small town. Thank goodness.

[@tatsf]

To me the Christmas decor up in an almost abandoned town adds to the post-apocalyptic feel of some of these towns!

[@lisagallo1745]

What an awesome looking town, Bartow, so much character, would love to see it restored. Thankyou, Joe and Nic, another great video!

[@richardnoegel275]

And he skipped the main residential area, which is beautiful and doesn't need restoration. No idea why he left that out. It's in plain view from where the video starts. Very odd.

[@svetozarevic]

I must say Joe you are a national treasure...I admit I've had a couple of schliwowitz but thank you for showing the real American picture and for someone who is from eastern Europe I really enjoy your videos.

[@johnm.5848]

The vintage radio at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="122">2:02</a> is wicked cool. My grandmother had one just like it.

[@EmansAdventures]

Another awesome video,my sons best friend and family moved from here in Massachusetts to Valdosta, Georgia,where there house got destroyed by the storms,and are now back here in Mass.staying with friends and family until it can be repaired,stay safe my friend.

[@Nicksonian]

Joe, you have taught me enough about architecture that soon as I saw the post office I thought, "WPA" ... and a second later you said, "New Deal..." Same thing. Not only are you entertaining but you're educational. And I loved the Jefferson County Courthouse. What a magnificent building.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Awesome!!

[@willnotcomply1328]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="34">0:34</a> we pronounce it Bar “toe”, but then again, we are some backwoods folks around here! Screven County has a lot to offer, if you like old “Ghost towns”, Hiltonia, Cooperville, Rocky Ford, etc, are all pretty dried up. Our County seat (Sylvania)has roughly 2,800 people. But even it has a lot of empty storefronts.

[@YeahYall]

Got a law enforcement buddy that policed in Sylvania for a little while. I think he may still reside there.

[@willnotcomply1328]

@ I am full time Corrections and a Reserve Deputy Sheriff, so I probably know him.

[@D3M3NT3Dstrang3r]

Dunno, think Toe sounds more like proper pronunciation to me. You don't call a TAU truck do ya!

[@doogalloonni]

Thanks!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you!!

[@Marc-fr6ls]

I come from Europe from the Netherlands. I'm a big fan of your channel. it gives me the opportunity to see America without an expensive trip from the comfort of my home. What always strikes me is the spaciousness. There is so much space to live. Also a lot of vacancy. It looks like an episode of The Walking Dead. The Netherlands is one of the most densely populated countries at work. we have no vacancies. It will be immediately renovated and re-occupied. if you have that much space left, many more people can live there. opportunity gives responsibility. I'm not trying to make a political statement. I only think in possibilities.

[@cherryjuice9946]

One big problem in re-populating dying towns is the lack of jobs. People need to work for money, so they don't have an option to live where they can't work. People in this country often drive long distances to go to work, but that's often due to the lack of affordable homes near their work place (think Silicon Valley for instance).

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you!!

[@AlejandroRued]

The Netherlands has many blacks also

[@hvac402]

We want it to stay this way too. We don’t want to be living on top of each other like you do there. So, no people need to stay TF away.

[@echoconstant182]

@@AlejandroRued what does that have to do with anything? Strange comment. So does the U.S. So what is your point?

[@Margot_est_douce.]

I can see how much effort went into this!

[@johnhart125]

Love this channel, always interesting and sometimes see places I visited in 70s when I was a young man looking at America from back of a Harley Davidson. Sad to see how many of rural towns have emptied and are falling apart

[@stevenpeaketrainsandstuff3682]

Enjoyed the vid mate. Always amazes me how some country towns have a habit of dying and never bouncing back. I suppose if an industry moves the jobs go with it. Steven.

[@raymonddriggers]

I’ve always pronounced it bartoe sort of like a toe truck. Awesome video! You sure can tell when it’s cotton harvesting time because cotton will be all over the sides of the roads.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

I think your pronunciation is correct.

[@Grasshoppertrish]

It is absolutely pronounced BarTOE/BarTOW

[@jamaicimurray63]

most deff bartoe or tow as its spelled ❤❤

[@raymonddriggers]

@ I am beginning to think he deliberately mispronounced just to create controversy in the comments lol

[@sufiameen6093]

Yep😃ya'll its Bar-Toe. Aint nothing else😂

[@KMRamanandan]

It (the market) should remain as a reminder of past mistakes. Beautiful video with some history of the locality. Thanks Joe&Nic

[@jwaller132]

I'm fascinated by the history of these small towns. How they got their name, famous people who might have been born there, the frozen in time stores etc. Small town America dying. 😢

[@cherryjuice9946]

These towns are close to the area, or maybe in exactly the same area, where Erskine Caldwell based his books Tobacco Road, and Gods Little Acre. He wrote those long before I was born, but he described what you're seeing today.

[@freddypflugbeil6]

One of my favorite things to watch. Thanks Joe and Nic

[@siphomogale779]

Its 3 years now watching your videos twice a week you the best especially on rural areas

[@ScottDLR]

I thoroughly enjoy every one of these . I also appreciate the history tidbits - thanks for the research you put into these! It seems like towns with less than 1700~2000 people just can't support themselves like they once did.

[@mamasinger49]

I literally said that's too bad right when you did in regards to the theatre not being in use lol. I love your videos so much, because not only is it really nice to see you going through these small towns, but you always hit us with interesting facts as well. Another great one, thank you.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you!!!

[@p7estates]

I saw the theater as a possible entertainment space, weekends laser tag, week days rotate with card game night, bingo night. Small cafe to feed them.

[@LEFTBEHINDTIMES]

I live about 45 min from Bartow. Gotta check it out for sure. Thx for sharing

[@pamchambersconsulting3210]

Once again, amazed to see no people out and about.

[@AlejandroRued]

They’re all asleep! They don’t get out of bed until 3pm the earliest

[@larrynorsworthy8582]

Or at work.

[@allenhamilton6688]

My uncle, Morrie was a traveling singer in the late 50's all the way to the 70's. He sang in clubs from Alaska to Mexico. I wonder how many of those old buildings you show, he may have sung in. Many, possibly.

[@marywalker2896]

I agree Nancy!this channel is A+++ I love watching and going traveling every week with Joe and Nicole…never ceases to amaze with all the info..wish he had come to clermont ga..where I live..Joe we always love your blogs!!

[@PamelaEHunter]

I find myself being happier if I get to enjoy at least one of your videos a day. No one does it like you do, just suits my taste somehow!!!😊😊😊

[@carvinlambert6899]

Meee to... especially love to Take along a Metal Detector. 😮

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you, Pamela!!

[@TessaRucker]

I for one appreciate your tactfulness. Thank you for sharing another video with us all. 👍🏼

[@HARISHKUMARGOUDBOMMAGANI]

I have been constantly watching your videos since 1 year. The way you explain the things 😮❤❤

[@harleyenjoytheride1324]

Joe, the name of the town is pronounced Bartoe. Of course, the spelling is Bartow. There’s a Bartow County on the west side of Georgia. I really enjoy watching your videos. Keep up the great work.

[@shawnchase483]

Thanks for mentioning that Ga has another Bartow in northwest Georgia where I am from. I had no idea there were two in Ga, one being a city and the other being Bartow County. Nothing in this video looked familiar, so I was about to question his facts before I saw your comment.

[@johnscannell4189]

Joe, just watched the video you had made over at Travel with a Wiseguy. Been watching you two travel for a while and was interested in your backgrounds. Nice podcast and will enjoy all travels you and Nicole make together.

[@timsmith4685]

Ami I the only one that pretty much skips the big town videos, and waits a day or two and the tiny towns, in case a local were to chime in with a bit more information? Not sure why, just cant get enough of the small towns, the ones that are close to ghost town. I find them fascinating. Thanks for giving us the tour.

[@JacksonRachels]

It’s nice to see Wadley again that is where I can trace lots of my family coming from for generations since the birth of America and my great grandmother used to live there and nobody knows about that little town anymore

[@robertmoore2049]

Hey Joe, thank you for taking us with you on these nice rides. For some reason, I’m drawn to places like this that you show on your videos. Have a great day and please tell Nicole we all said Hi 👋!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

I will, Robert!

[@robertmoore2049]

@ thanks, Joe! Merry Christmas 🎄🎁!

[@NativeNYer]

Ty Joe and Nicole 4 another vid full of nuggets of info! Awesome. It was the cotton gin that was making all that noise, I just looked it up. 100 yrs they been @ it!! Very cool

[@karinschild9020]

West coast Canadian; loved this one! How beautiful the large trees are! I am so used to mountains and hills, so the flat land is very interesting to me.

[@tatsf]

I love these videos of these seemingly endless small towns in our country, often declining but with such rich histories! I can't help but get lost in imagining what life must have been like back when they were booming! Thank you for giving that to us!

[@whiskey11niner]

My mother’s family is from Louisville/Jefferson county, at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="770">12:50</a>-1306 you actually walked around the corner of the outer perimeter of what was my maternal grandmother’s insurance office, very cool video

[@peterparr3079]

Bartow Down town shops must have been awesome in its day. The canopy over the shops was majestic.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

I agree.

[@romuloeduardo7253]

I like your videos, man. Greetings from Antonina Paraná, Brazil.

[@JAMESPATTERSON-mk9sr]

At <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="7">0:07</a> the slogan : Be sure with Pure ! With these towns old decaying while in Atlanta growing population with new buildings constantly come up ! Keep them coming salt of the earth . Happy trails to you and peppery wife Nicole .

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thanks, James!!

[@janerrahnoble]

i like your channel, i like the history of america. you bring the pure and true history of the cities. cheers !!!

[@Mike-ot3yg]

I’m a recent subscriber to your channel and have started at the beginning, after watching some recent or random videos. I’ve appreciated your thoughtful commentary regarding the statistics, history, and architecture along your trip. You have traveled along many routes that I’m familiar with and I’m enjoying seeing them again from your perspective and those that are new to me. Wishing you both the very best with your future endeavors.

[@thealexandrasupertramp]

Cotton bales!! That's something I never thought I'd see, thank you!

[@randallbates9020]

Honestly those cotton bales are small compared to the ones in Texas. I lived 10 years in beautiful Texas and I was always blown away by the endless miles of cotton fields in West Texas, they go on as far as the eye can see. Many really cool old towns in upper West Texas and winters there are rough.

[@jasong3652]

Your travels just keep getting better and better! I especially love these with the forgotten towns, it’s inspiring me to get out and visit a lot of these places when I can! If you’re ever in Hickory, NC I’d love to buy you a beer!

[@roseanneweyrauch2886]

Found you on KZbin on TV because we watch traveling shows and really enjoy you and your wife's adventures I just subscribed

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Awesome! Welcome aboard. :)

[@bbay1977]

Its crazy how you shiwed these towns that are roughly a hour from me and i havent even visited them yet. I love to see and learn about history. I will just have to take my daughter on a toad trip and see what we can see and pay visits to any mom and pop stores or businesses. Thanks for showing me what i have been misisng.

[@sierradanecapps8216]

Your videos are so well done that it makes it hard to watch anyone else's since they don't live up to your standard. Best all around! Here's an idea, maybe, for some videos: do some "then and now" photo fade overs, showing how a street looked at the height of existence to how it is now.

[@DUMPSTERDIVINGADELAIDE123]

Thanks for the video 😊

[@JimBEATTIE-os1jk]

Another great video tour that old radio has to be worth some good money I've set up but a lot of antique shows but I've never seen one like that like someone else said the architecture is really interesting I wonder if freight trains run down the street of the Town anymore your videos are really the very best

[@EduardoJimenez-rk8nw]

Fantastic video ! 🇺🇸👍👍

[@rogertorres3325]

I from Georgia and I think this is really cool to see unfortunate that it’s abandon but it’s almost like stepping back in time

[@irwinloos1098]

Thanks for the video Joe..Louisville was a very interesting town..honestly I'd like to go visit it myself..be safe out there..see ya on the next one😉👏🏾🙏🏾🤞🏾😊

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thanks, Irwin!!!

[@adriennekierdak8507]

Another cool video and you've just got to love an abandoned trailer park! The Market House where they sold slaves, wow, such a piece of history...and I love when you do a shot of the local courthouse, as I work in one, and enjoy seeing them from all over the country :)

[@wickedways1291]

Joe, you and Nic bring more to your audience than you're aware of. Your respect for each location and for the townfolk is one thing. But, you bring us places we wish we could visit...places we've been and dream to return to. I thank you both for what you do God bless you both. Happy trails.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thanks for watching and for the kind words. :)

[@wickedways1291]

@JoeandNicsRoadTrip Very welcome.

[@RichardFelstead1949]

As always, another great video. Merry Christmas Joe and Nic from Albury NSW Australia.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Merry Christmas to you as well, Richard!!

[@kylerobinett8148]

Love the content .

[@14dolphins11]

Hello , just to let you know that me and my wife enjoy watching you're videos . Keep it up !

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Awesome!!

[@senzanome8294]

Another great trip and history lesson, of which I did not know or was not taught.

[@1954shadow]

Make a trip through Marshfield, MO, RT. 38 runs through it which is, old RT. 66. There is also a replica of the Hubble telescope there by the courthouse. Hubble was born in Marshfield, MO.

[@limbiclove9487]

Thank you for the tour and especially the slave market. I would never have known about it. People would like to forget, but there is always something left to remind us of things we want to forget but can't.

[@NourishyourBeauty2027]

No offense but you can see that the USA is a very young country. After 200 years you still can't come to terms with history. From Europe and from countries that have 2000-3000 years of history I can tell you that everything is forgotten, in fact it's not that the French or Turks protest in Rome because under the Roman Empire they were slaves of the Romans!!!!! With time everything passes!!! You have to know how to move forward!!

[@nancygowster]

Fascinating. Thank you. Those wreaths don't add much Christmas cheer. 🎄

[@andandovou23]

Yes, I liked seeing the streets, all clean, no trash to be seen.

[@courtneysands6646]

And the buildings aren't being looted for anything of any value, or just destroyed for the fun of it.

[@virgilkennedy6692]

Thanks buddy! Missed you guys and hope to see you soon. My wife was born in Louisville Georgia.

[@shamarizelewis5813]

Hey Joe sending love all the way from Nassau Bahamas 🇧🇸 ❤️

[@lillypad9960]

Joe, always stuff, never junk. Thank you for that. Blessings from Michigan.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Right!!

[@cpritchett2098]

Another interesting video. I find I can't look away from these almost lost towns. Like passing an accident on the highway.

[@igavehimadollar3354]

i really enjoy these from Australia these are the parts of your country i would love to see

[@lawrencehubbard2985]

What a killer old gas station sign. Would be wall art after a good cleaning and adding new lights.

[@hirameberhardt8643]

They still put up the Christmas wreaths, beautiful.

[@pamelabrinkley6900]

Welcome to Georgia 😊I enjoy the adventures 😊

[@bendavis7246]

Im a trucker, i was recently in vadalia, ga...lots of damage from the storm leftover

[@boroblueyes]

Vidalia

[@adventureswithadrienne]

Wow! I enjoyed watching this. I look forward to checking out more like this. I'm fascinated by old vintage things. 12.21.2024

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you!

[@cathylamott259]

Love your show Joe and Nic❤❤🎉🎉😊😊

[@jim49666]

Yes those towns have seen better days If only you had a Time Machine it would explain a lot of things. A antique dealer would have a good time in those towns. Keep on rolling. Thanks for the ride .

[@HaXaW5150]

I live in Dalton Ga. And it looks like all of these small towns. One exception though, we have grown a lot more than these other towns. Good ole carpet and flooring has thrived. We're busting at the seams. Anyhoo, love the videos.

[@thomasstokes1949]

Not sure why this was recommended to me but I’m glad it was. I live near many of these places and had no idea.

[@turtlewest6114]

Black thought is on top of my list because you literally have to digest the verbal gymnast artistic highlights just to learn that the truth is within he’s a true master teacher!

[@gobjohns]

Great work.. this was profound...

[@MichaelVermylen]

The christmas decorations makes the main street nice.

[@PamelaEHunter]

I LOvE the cover photo for this y.t. + all the content photos!!!!❤️

[@WORLD_NATURE_FAN]

Hello from Northern Florida. I love driving into Georgia and seeing the quaint parts of the state. Beautiful area.

[@BrianRay-mi1dr]

I love old radios 📻 I would have loved to have that old floor model radio 📻 in that store

[@sufiameen6093]

Hi from North Georgia near Chattanooga. ❤ love your videos and information. Been to this area often. ☺

[@pattyhamilton9267]

Thank you, Joe. ❤ traveling on the internet with you without leaving home.

[@ImJustDavid-p9k]

Shoutout from Augusta right here!!!!

[@goodcitizen4587]

Great tour!

[@buzzsah]

Keep them Coming