Another mystery, another lighthouse sent in by a reader. Figure out this lighthouse location, and send your thoughts to ebrack2@gmail.com.
The last mystery photo turned out not exactly as several of our readers thought. While most correctly identified the location and what it is, another part of the story turned out differently.
Several people identified the photo as Memory Chapel in Townsend, Ga., the ‘smallest church in America.’ Those included Dick LoPresti, Berkeley Lake; Jay Altman, Columbia, S.C.; Tracy Brookshire, Duluth; Lori (Medlock) Anderson, Suwanee; and George Graf, Palmyra, Va. The photo came from Rick Krause of Lilburn.
But Allan Peel of San Antonio, Texas, found out that there is more to this story. He identified it as Memory Park Christ’s Chapel, located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 17 and Old Highway 17 NE, approximately 10 miles northeast of the small unincorporated community of Townsend in McIntosh County, Ga.
“The chapel was built in 1949 by Mrs. Agnes Harper, a local grocery store owner, who wanted to create a permanent and peaceful place of rest and meditation for weary highway travelers. She even deeded the property in the name of Jesus Christ, ensuring it would remain a non-denominational sanctuary open to all. The quaint little chapel measures a mere 10×15 feet, or 150 sq ft, in size. Inside, there are 12 chairs, facing a tiny pulpit. Outside is a sign that claims that the chapel is the ‘Smallest Church in America’….but.
It seems that one mystery leads to another. In this case, it raises the question as to whether this really is ‘the smallest church in America but is it really the smallest? Nope!
“While there is no official recognition or title for the ‘Smallest,’ if there was one, it would likely be assigned to the Morning Star Chapel, a 1951 church built by Charles Johann Walensky, an 83-year-old Danish immigrant. The Morning Star Chapel is now located on the grounds of the Museum of Danish America in Elk Horn, Iowa. At only 48 square feet (6′ x 8′), it can only seat 4-5 people.”
- SHARE A MYSTERY PHOTO: If you have a photo that you believe will stump readers, send it along (but make sure to tell us what it is because it may stump us too!) Click here to send an email and please mark it as a photo submission. Thanks.
Keeping Gwinnett beautiful is the result of maintaining its public facilities and roadways. Here is an example of a handsome planting along Interstate 85 near the Jimmy Carter Boulevard bridge maintained by Gateway85 Community Improvement District, and its contractor, Gibson Landscaping Service. For the first time, the CID is using annual plantings, which adds to the color of the area.
