Blakely structure among Georgia Trust’s 10 ‘Places in Peril’

BLAKELY – Hidden in plain sight in the heart of Blakely’s downtown rests the old Powell Opera House, a more than century-old gem that’s had its doors shuttered for almost 90 years. 

On Wednesday, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation released its 2025 list of 10 Places in Peril in the state, and the Powell Opera House made the cut. This program seeks to identify and preserve historic sites across the state threatened by demolition, neglect, lack of maintenance, inappropriate development or insensitive public policy.

Susanne Reynolds, the director of Blakely’s Downtown Development Authority, nominated the Powell Opera House as part of the wider mission to revitalize downtown and to call attention to a unique piece of Blakely’s history.

“It’s a hidden treasure in our community,” she said. “It’s not that it was really a secret or anything because it’s in a lot of Early County history books, it’s just been shut away for generations.”

Reynolds began a deep dive into the opera house’s history, sifting through records and stories from the Early County News and Early County Museum. She said she’s spoken with downtown professionals from other cities who agree there is nothing quite like the Powell Opera House. 

The original Opera House was constructed in 1904 by Arthur Gray Powell, a Blakely native who went on to become a judge who served on the first Georgia Appeals Court in the early 1900s. It was a three-story brick house with seating for 750. It hosted a variety of performances before a fire destroyed it in 1907.

In 1910, the remains of the original structure were rebuilt as a two-story office building. Businesses were on the first floor, while the second floor maintained the opera house. In the early 1930s, Blakely residents and visitors could watch “talkies” – the first films with sound – in the space. However, after the opening of a new movie theater in 1936, the Powell Opera House closed its doors.

The doors have been shuttered ever since. 

Today, the Opera House is privately owned by the Collier family. Reynolds said records from the 1980s show restoration attempts through Blakely’s Arts Council, but she said the project never took off. 

Decades of sitting empty, aside from storage use, have led the Opera House to deterioration. The space was never re-opened to the public. While the original seating was removed, much of the building remains intact. 

Reynolds said she hopes the community can work together to bring the theater back into operation.

Wright Mitchell, the president and CEO of the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, said placing structures on the Places in Peril list raises the profiles of the property.

“It creates a situation where, hopefully, public support will galvanize for the property and there will be a successful preservation outcome,” he said. 

Of the sites listed as Places in Peril over the years, 85% of them are still standing.

“That doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve been preserved or rehabilitated, but they haven’t been torn down,” Mitchell said. “Ideally, the properties will be either purchased or rehabilitated.” 

Reynolds said there are no concrete plans for the space yet.

“The idea would be for it to revert back to being a theater, a place for the community to come and enjoy history, culture … and give local artists an opportunity … maybe even to bring some community theater to Blakely,” she said. 

Reynolds said the space could be a turning point for downtown Blakely. The city has been on the path to revitalization, especially since being named a state Rural Zone in 2023, which creates tax incentives for job creation and investment.

“Making the list plays a big part … but it’s also honorary,” Reynolds said. “It’s really up to the locals to do the work and make the connections to figure out how to get the project completed.” 

She said the locals are excited.

“A lot of people who’ve lived in Blakely or Early County their entire lives had no idea the space was even there in that building,” Reynolds said. “It’s truly been shut away for generations. I often think about all those people who’ve come and gone in our community, and they never got to experience it. Now, we can be a generation that just almost steps back into time.”

Another south Georgia location made the list. The Crossroads Rosenwald School in Dixie was built in 1927 as a two-teacher facility that served African American students during a time of segregation and limited resources. Rosenwald schools in Georgia were established in the early 20th century to provide education to African American children in the rural South. They were funded by philanthropist Julius Rosenwald and Booker T. Washington.

The Crossroads school is at risk of demolition as it’s been sitting abandoned in a rural area for year. The community is actively seeking ways to restore and repurpose the building to honor its historic significance.

Places in Peril are listed at https://www.georgiatrust.org/our-programs/places-in-peril/.