Montrose – Building a better South

April 2, 2014March 30, 2014

Creepy, Montrose, Ga.

Just looking at this photo of an abandoned bus and a creepy row of dried corn stalks gives us the Willies. It’s part of Haunted Montrose, a seasonal attraction in the small Laurens County town of Montrose, population 154.

In the bigger picture, however, what’s interesting is how folks in this small community put the town on the map in a non-agricultural time of the year to generate extra revenue. See earlier photo.

Montrose, located in central Georgia, has a relatively low poverty rate of 11.2 percent, although 30 percent of its children live in poverty. Some 23.6 percent of residents of Laurens County (population 48,434) live in poverty, according to Census data

March 31, 2014March 30, 2014

Haunting success, Montrose, Ga.

This old Cadillac hearse in Montrose, Ga., advertises a clever local success — a ghoulish Halloween sensation called Haunted Montrose. What apparently happened is some local residents took an abandoned house in the small Laurens County town and converted it into a spine-chilling attraction open a few days each year. Just walking around the area, which has a creepy corn field, abandoned vehicles and more, might give you the Willies.

But from another perspective, it’s an interesting way in which a small community — 154 people — has put itself on the map in a non-agricultural time of the year to generate extra revenue. On April 2: Another photo from Haunted Montrose.

March 29, 2014March 30, 2014

Brick shell, Montrose, Ga.

At one of the main intersections in Montrose, Ga., sits this abandoned brick shell of a building that is across the street from the Montrose Baptist Church along U.S. Highway 80.

The building had few clues as to its past use, but it may have been part of an agricultural business, such as a farm supply store.

Montrose, located in rural Laurens County in central Georgia, is home to 154 people and a relatively low poverty rate of 11.2 percent, although 30 percent of its children live in poverty. Some 23.6 percent of residents of Laurens County (population 48,434) live in poverty, according to Census data