[9] Historic Scenic Loop Three (Directions: GA 16 East from Eatonton to Old Phoenix Rd and left to Wards Chapel and right to New Phoenix Rd and right to Old Phoenix Rd and return to GA 16. Old Baldwin County Courthouse site, Crooked Creek Church, Turnwold Plantation, Wards Chapel Church (Alice Walker attended) and Cemetery (Alice Walker family burials), Alice Walker Homesite, Philadelphia Church.)
This loop begins on Old Phoenix Road at the intersection with GA 16 where a millstone indicates the site of the original Baldwin County Courthouse in 1803 (Putnam was formed from Baldwin County in 1807). After a mile on the right is the oldest church and building in Putnam, the Crooked Creek Primitive Baptist Church and cemetery, which dates from 1807. After another mile on the right is Turnwold Plantation, where Joel Chandler Harris lived, worked, went to school and received the inspiration to write the Uncle Remus tales. Turnwold produced the only newspaper to be published by a plantation, The Countryman. A few yards after turning right onto Wards Chapel Rd. you will pass the Ward Chapel AME Church (on your left) that was once attended by Pulitzer Prize winner (for The Color Purple), Alice Walker and directly across the road is the church cemetery where many Walker family members are buried. Less then a mile further on Wards Chapel you will pass Alice Walker’s family homesite on the right. Turn right on New Phoenix Rd. and after 2/3 mile pass the Greek Revival style Philadelphia Church, which was built in 1850, and cemetery. The next intersection is Old Phoenix Rd and turn left to return to GA 16 passing Crooked Creek Church again. - return to attractions -
