The road was named for members of the Ray family who owned property on both sides of the road for many years. Family members who owned the property over time included Henry Ray, Earl Claude Ray, Earl Lamar Ray, Lillian Moore Ray, James Claude Ray, and Lamar Rufus Ray.
https://turnercountyproject.com/2021/02/18/ray-road/
https://turnercountyproject.com/2021/02/21/parked-after-the-day-is-done/
Built around 1890, was once known as the Betts House because this three-story Queen Anne-style home was built by Ashburn entrepreneur John Samuel Betts (July 29, 1848 – April 25, 1918). The home boasts of pine hardwood flooring, 12-foot ceilings, 6 bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms, 2 staircases, an informal family room, a formal living room, and much more! There is a two apartment detached guest house which you can see in the right part of the picture, though it has since fallen into bad disrepair.
https://turnercountyproject.com/2021/02/21/betts-shealy-house/
Location: 105 E College Ave. in Ashburn, GA National Register of Historic Places #: 92001042, Ashburn Commercial Historic District James Simon Shingler (August 25, 1859 – September 30, 1943) constructed what is known as the McKenzie building located in downtown Ashburn, Georgia in 1906. This 8000 sq feet (per floor), two-story structure was built to be used as an office complex. When it was first built, it was originally called the Shingler building but gradually became known to everyone by the current name after Gordon Columbus McKenzie (February 10, 1885 – 2/25/1958). He had offices upstairs where he made farm operations and long-term land loans for at least a decade, possibly longer. In fact, you can still see his name painted on several office doors upstairs (pictured below). Despite the name change, it was still a family affair because J.S. Shingler’s daughter Clyde Shingler McKenzie (Nov 15, 1887 – June 30, 1934) was married to G.C. McKenzie.
https://turnercountyproject.com/2021/03/05/mckenzie-building/
NOTICE HOW THIS ~1909 POSTCARD RENDERING HAS THE NAME “SHINGLER BUILDING” AND THE “J.S. SHINGLER” MARQUIS. DUE TO A TIMING ISSUE, THE MARQUIS WAS ORDERED FOR WHAT WE KNOW AS THE MCKENZIE BUILDING BUT IT WAS NOT COMPLETED IN TIME. HOWEVER, IN 1914, THE MARQUIS WAS USED ON WHAT WE NOW KNOW AS THE SHINGLER BUILDING AROUND THE CORNER (205 MCLENDON ST.).
Location: 109 N Gordon St., Ashburn, Ga The Wiregrass Farmer building was designed by Peter E. Dennis of the Dennis & Dennis firm of Macon, Georgia in 1903. It was constructed on the instructions of town pioneer and Ashburn entrepreneur John Samuel Betts (July 29, 1848 – April 25, 1918). Although the original use of the building was for governmental purposes, particularly the open second floor used as a court until the Turner County Courthouse’s construction in 1907, the main use for the past 100+ years has been for the legal organ and the local newspaper for the county, The Wiregrass Farmer.
https://turnercountyproject.com/2021/03/26/wiregrass-farmer-building-c-1903/
405 Gilmore Street, stop #27 on the Ashburn Historical Tour, according to the tax records, was built in 1900. Previous information has said this home was built for the Gilmore family whom the street it sits on was named after. There are also rumors that the home was an infamous Sears home but if we believe the home was built in 1900, that is before the time of the Sears homes from 1908-1940.
https://turnercountyproject.com/2021/07/05/405-gilmore-st/
Location: 327 Hudson Avenue in Ashburn, GA This Georgian-style home was built in 1896 by John Robert Patton (September 13, 1859 – March 20, 1898), as a gift for his wife Fannie McLendon Patton (September 23, 1869 – November 9, 1949). Apparently, it was a complete surprise to Fannie when her husband took her for a ride one day and showed her the new home. The family moved from the house in 1902 to Macon but it stayed in the family until the 1969. It has since been refurbished by newer owners but it’s still referred to as the “Patton House.”
Location: 420 S Main St., Ashburn, GA This home is known as the Evans House because this two-story Victorian home was built by Ashburn entrepreneur John West Evans (September 27, 1844 – January 16, 1904) and his wife Ella Bohannon Evans (December 27, 1852 – February 22, 1910) who were married September 27, 1871 before coming to Ashburn. It was designed by Macon architect P.E. Dennis. He had his hand in designing many Turner County beloved buildings such as the Methodist Church and the Courthouse. It was completed in 1897. The house was built with local heart pine. Per the local newspaper, The Ashburn Advance, the cost of the home was ~$6000. (Ashburn Advance, 7/6/1897)
Ashburn First Baptist Placing of the Steeple (1956)
Tifton Machine Shop lifting the steeple in place with an extended boom. The boom tilts against the steeple base and another truck was tied to the front of the skidded so that the steeple could be set on the foundation.
Ashburn First Baptist Church Baracca Sunday School Class (1915)
Handwritten note on back: Mr. Frank Marion Tison Sr. Class He is seventh on second row, reading L to Right.
Dot Ireland Coker swearing in as Probate Judge (~1980s)
Dot Ireland Coker, first woman county officer (~1980s) Pictured L to R is Dot, her husband Bussey, and her two sons Randy and Mike.
Pioneers Sheep Bennett Pate and Daniel H. Davis, early ~1900s
Built in 1919 by J.S. Shingler for his son Robert Royal Shingler. Within a few years, he married his distant cousin Lillian Hughes. In 1926, Lillian turned her home into a hospitality suite with lodgings and a restaurant for travelers who frequented what would eventually become a new National Highway three years later in 1929. Most notable of the visitors was Duncan Hines who gave the establishment a very good rating. Atlanta mayor William Berry Hartsfield, for whom ATL airport is named after, dined there while on a trip to FL. He liked the food so well he stopped on his return with twice the entourage. As a guest house, the building contained eight bedrooms and could accommodate up to sixteen guests. The dining room could comfortably seat twenty-five. This establishment was closed around 1970 following the death of Mr. Shingler in 1966 and the opening of highway. More info about the House by the Road: https://turnercountyproject.com/2025/06/13/house-by-the-road-751-n-main-st-in-ashburn-ga-c-1919/
View from Turner County Courthouse Bell Tower (after 1912)
Ashburn Methodist Church far upper left and Ashburn First Baptist Church far right.
Coastal Plain Building [previously Ashburn Bank]
In 1926, Ashburn Bank moved to its second location, a newly constructed brick facility on the southwest corner of College and Gordon Street. Stained glass windows were imported from a church in England and were installed in the new bank. As of 2021, the building functions as the Coastal Plain EOA.
Location: 315 E College St. in Ashburn, GA This Classical Revival home was built by J.S. Shingler in 1916 for his sister-in-law, Mrs. Josie Baldwin. Construction costs totaled $2,500.00. This home was eventually sold to Judge W. A. Greer in 1919. Fun fact: a local dairy known as Greer Dairy was once located on the property before the home was built.
“The House by the Road,” a craftsman style home was built in 1919 by J.S. Shingler for his son Robert Royal Shingler and his wife, Lillian Hughes Shingler. It was cited by the Duncan Hines travel guide as “such a delightful place you will want to return again.” This establishment was closed around 1970 following the death of Mr. Shingler in 1966 and the opening of Interstate I-75. Location: 721 N Main St, Ashburn, GA More info about the House by the Road: https://turnercountyproject.com/2025/06/13/house-by-the-road-751-n-main-st-in-ashburn-ga-c-1919/
This medallion is feature on the Shingler Building located on McLendon Street in downtown Ashburn, Ga. James Simon "J.S." Shingler is heavily responsible for Turner County as we know it today. He had his hand in building many prominent buildings in the county and was one of the wealthiest citizens of the county.
Live Oak Methodist Church, founded in September 1888, is located on Live Oak Rd. The church has been completely abandoned and in disrepair.
Location: 765 N Main St. in Ashburn, Ga. Constructed in 1908, the building features a multi-hipped, red tile roof, exposed rafters, and monumental portico. The porte cochere was enclosed in 1914 when a sun room was added. Built for Clyde Shingler McKenzie by father J. S. Shingler for wedding present. This is the former home of Betty Shingler Talmadge, wife to Herman Talmadge (governor and former US Senator).
Advertisement for Mitchell Stewart Hardware Company
Advertisement for Mitchell Stewart Hardware Company where it was located before it shut down. MITCHELL STEWART HARDWARE COMPANY was registered on 1923-02-02 as a domestic profit corporation type with the address 113 COLLEGE ST, ASHBURN, GA, 31714