In an earlier post (The Sun is Going Down on Gough, Georgia, Part 2) I describe a scene I witnessed in which a dozen or more African American farmers, having arrived in mule- drawn wagons, are gathered around this old water pump and concrete trough that was situated behind Planter’s Store and my grandfather’s (Calvin Sego’s) tractor repair garage. I was only a small boy at the time but returned in 1977 and captured this image. Behind the pump is a building which, I was told by my father, once housed a motorized grinding (grist) mill. The photo’s value is in the very fact that it was once so common a feature to locals that it likely never occurred to anyone to photograph it. I hope I am mistaken, and that there are other photographs that include animals being watered and their owners standing about. When my grandfather opened the big shop doors in the morning, this was the scene offered to anyone bringing their farm tractors and equipment for repairs. Nearby once stood Dr. Joseph Hudson’s medical office and a block behind that stood his home-one of the newer homes in Gough seemingly built about 1940.
I have chronicled many stories about Gough and its families on this website. See more here.
You could just pay me to travel and photograph for each of your posts. I do love this old photo. Your stories make me want to explore more.
Great picture, Joe, thanks for posting it! Your commentary was, as usual, right on the mark.