Page Updated: March 04, 2024
Shields-Ethridge Heritage Farm
1866 Homeplace - Jefferson GA
Listed on the National Register of Historical Places, Shields-Ethridge Heritage Farm located in Jackson County has remained in the same family since 1802. In its early days, the farm cultivated tobacco. During the mid-1800’s the farm shifted to crops of corn and wheat with a primary focus on cotton - all while serving as a hub for surrounding farms.
Today, the heritage museum features nearly two dozen buildings on their original build sites. Structures include a general store, blacksmith shop, grist mill, and a cotton gin.
This was a captivating historical nugget in Jefferson, GA.
Shields-Ethridge Farm offers a self-guided walking tour with well-appointed interpretive signs at most buildings, and tours can be complimented with interactive smart phone apps.
On a misty day in early May, we had a personal walk through the farm with Mr. Darryl Chaisson. Intimately connected to the farm, we were charmed by his own historical accounts and word-of-mouth history he passes along to guests.
According to the location’s historical plaque, Shields- Etheridge Heritage Farm is one of the most diverse collections of farm buildings in Georgia. We spent an hour roaming the grounds, learning its rich history, and seeing how things used to be.
Great stop for those infatuated with old buildings and perfect for fieldtrips.
Visitors can even purchase stone ground girts and cornmeal ground right in the gristmill!
