The Courthouse and the Depot: The Architecture of Hope in an Age of Despair : A Narrative Guide to Railroad Expansion and Its Impact on Public Architecture in Georgia, 1833-1910 [Hardcover]

Wilber W. Caldwell (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 613 pages
• Publisher: Mercer Univ Pr (December 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0865547483
• ISBN-13: 978-0865547483
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.9 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,134,669 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An essential collection of Georgia architectural history, March 3, 2002

By 

"rbjonesy" (Decatur, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Courthouse and the Depot: The Architecture of Hope in an Age of Despair : A Narrative Guide to Railroad Expansion and Its Impact on Public Architecture in Georgia, 1833-1910 (Hardcover)

Mr. Caldwell, an "independent" historian, has provided us an exaustive and accurate compendium of the architectural and social history of Georgia in the 19th century. He has reviewed and cross-referenced the hundreds of sketchy local histories in Georgia and has noted the background and history of the creation of every Georgia county and railroad from 1800-1911, and how the railroad shaped the aspirations or distrust of Georgia's communities.

He notes how the influence of Northern "carpetbaggers" led to the development of many of Ga's reconstruction railroads and the erection of its many distinctive high-style courthouses. The influence of Bostonian H.H. Richardson on Georgia architects Gloucke and Bruce & Morgan is prevalent as well.

Interestingly, Mr. Caldwell is intent on revealing what he sees as the truth behind the "myths" of the Old and New South and how those myths are related through railroad development (the equivalent of a 19th century interstate highway) and public architecture. His conclusion that the creation of post-civil war railroads and the promise of Northern investment was nothing more than a sham in most cases is very unique and interesting and deserves further study.

This book is less about the specifics of architecture but basically provides a clearer view of rural southern history, and provides a useful collection of the local history of 159+ counties in Georgia. There are a few spelling errors, and could have used a few color plates, but the book is well made.

This book is a must for any Georgia architect, landscape architect, and historic preservationist. It also could be of use to a few politicians in order for them to better understand the background of thier own GA communities. Of course, armchair historians and lovers of southern history will enjoy it as well.

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb historical railroad station architecture survey., March 23, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Courthouse and the Depot: The Architecture of Hope in an Age of Despair : A Narrative Guide to Railroad Expansion and Its Impact on Public Architecture in Georgia, 1833-1910 (Hardcover)

The Courthouse And The Depot: A Narrative Guide To Railroad Expansion And Its Impact On Public Architecture In Georgia 1833-1910 by Wilber W. Caldwell is an exhaustive catalogue of 19th century public architecture in Georgia and all the railroad lines that criss-crossed the state during this period. A wealth of Deep South history illustrated throughout with black and white photographs. The Courthouse And The Depot uses the unique framework of architecture to substantially narrate a significant stretch of Georgian state history, and how the coming of the railroad changed everything for the future. A fascinating and superbly presented wealth of information about changing times over a century ago, The Courthouse And The Depot is highly recommended reading for American history, architecture, and railroading reading lists and reference collections.