Osierfield, GA, May 5, 1967

(Irwin County)

Last Day of Service Cover with 5c. National Grange Stamp

Osier, meaning corn, fits the area perfectly, as Osierfield from its inception has been a bit of an agricultural outpost. A thriving whistlestop in its day, Osierfield went the same direction as many rural settlements and dried up to nearly nothing. But today, with Madie Denton's Osierfield Grocery and her antique and found bottle and glass collection, and Milton "Buddy" Hopkins, renowned naturalist and author, most recently of In One Place: The Natural History of a Georgia Farmer, which details with great humor the life of a South Georgia birdwatcher and all-around Renaissance man. (Buddy gave me this cover from the Osierfield Post Office when I was in high school, and I've treasured it for many years.)

Above, Top to Bottom:

Abba, GA, Nov 18 1937

Abba, GA, May 8 1945

(Irwin County)

Abba was never a large place, but today has a thriving Baptist church (see earlier post). In its heyday it boasted a general store and post office, and I've personally talked to a few natives of the area, off Lower Rebecca Road, In Irwin County, who say childhood there was idyllic. I'm currently checking to find out when the Abba Post Office closed. I'm also unsure of the origin of the name of the northwest Irwin County settlement, but suspect it's related to the Atlantic Birmingham & Atlanta Railroad, which pushed through much of the site's history.

LINK

www.saltmarshpress.com for Buddy Hopkins' book.