Railroad Bridge over Altamaha River at Old Doctortown (SE Georgia)
This railroad bridge and Old Doctortown are isolated in the back reaches of land owned by the Rayonier Paper Mill outside Jesup, Georgia. The Altamaha River that the bridge crosses is one of the largest along the Atlantic coast and for decades was filled with barge traffic bringing lumber and naval stores down to the coast.
Doctortown was once a thriving community located at one of the few crossings of the Altamaha. There’s nothing left now except a few mounds and some signs that denote where a few of the buildings were, and oak trees huge enough that it’s obvious they were growing there long before there was a Doctortown.
Being an engineer, I sure would like to see the drawbridge work (if it still does?)
As I get older, I seem to notice more places called “Old” something. In this busy, technological, digital age we can think things were so much different long ago, and “old” was just, you know, so old. But, as Solomon wrote “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9 ESV).
People are still people. Doctortown, before it was Old, had good people, middle of the road people and bad people, sorrows and joys, life and death, just as we have today. But, the greatest thing is the Living God back then is the same Living God we have today (“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.”)! For that reason, we need to remember the old days and learn from them, changing things that need to be improved, but making no changes just for the sake of change, or especially, not making changes because the culture demands it. We need to follow the old paths when they are God’s paths.
“Thus says the Lord: “Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16 NKJV
Doctortown Historical Marker (Southeast Georgia)
Here’s the Historical Marker for Doctortown. It’s located upriver from the actual site, at a location that’s accessible to the public.
I Was Thinking the Other Day About... 
I’ve always loved that verse in Jeremiah!
Heather – I also replied from email but don’t see it here – Thanks for the comment – I love that verse too. The sad part comes right after that where it says but the people wouldn’t listen or follow. Sounds a lot like present days.
I think it’s pretty hard for people to find those “old ways” — they’ve been buried so long. That’s why I like Edgar Guest’s poems so well; he holds forth the “old ways” of taking responsibility, doing your best and acting with consideration for others.
Like your new look!
Thanks for your comments, Christine. I do like his poems that you post, too – and that’s probably the reason why. We as a culture have sadly left the good paths long ago (actually not that long – it seems much of the straying has come within my lifetime.)
Thanks again – I thought it might be time for a “new look”.