Sumter Merchantile, State Highway 3/U.S. Highway 19 at Croxton Cross Road, Sumter

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS GA-2385. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Sumter Merchantile is part of the rural crossroads community of Sumter in Sumter County. Sumter Merchantile is a significant example of a rural store that served the needs of the farming families in this area of Sumter County. Description: Sumter Merchantile is located across Sumter City Road from the Big Store (HABS GA-2384). This timber frame building is distinguished by a front gable metal roof, board and batten door and window shutters and a brick pier foundation. The double board and batten door is symmetrically placed on the western elevation and is flanked by window openings that have been shuttered. A similar arrangement exists on the eastern elevation, but the door opening contains a single, five panel wood door.

Earlier pictures of the store show a light fixture over the front entrance and a metal, hanging "Coca Cola" sign on this elevation. The building has a single door opening on the north elevation and a faded advertisement for Jefferson Island Salt painted near the rear of the building. The store name was also painted on this elevation near the front, but is barely visible. It appears that a door or window once existed on the south elevation but the opening has been closed with clapboards. A small brick chimney is located on the ridgeline near the rear of the building. History: Buildings can be located on a map and are identified as "Webb Brothers" a commercial enterprise run by the Webb family which included the gin and stores.