This farm land is mostly what is left of Fort Motte in Calhoun County. Now extinct, the town is part of present-day St. Matthews. There are a few abandoned buildings along the railroad tracks, including the former jail.
The abandoned post office below once made up the heart of the town. The origins of Fort Motte go back to a military outpost during the Revolutionary War. A skirmish known as the Battle of Fort Motte took place near this forgotten community, lending the town its name.
A village was established here in the mid eighteenth century, and the town was officially incorporated in 1875. Fort Motte continued to thrive into the twentieth century. However, the arrival of the interstate replaced the town’s railroads, leading to the ultimate demise of Fort Motte. Little remains of the former town, but remnants of Fort Motte’s days as a thriving village can be seen in its vacant buildings.
More Pictures of Fort Motte
My grandparents live there, Henry and Annie McDuffie. Do you know them?
I as born in Fort Motte in 1949, still have family there.
My great-great grandfather once had a tavern there.
Mr. McDuffie, we may be related. Can you confirm your great-grandmother was Susie Hair? In addition, can you confirm where your grandparents moved after leaving Forte Motte?
I am a Christie. My great-grandfather was Joseph Christie. I don’t believe there are any Christies left in Fort Motte, but I would love to make connections to see our old family home and meet people who may have known my family, although we have been gone a long time. My great-aunt, Myrtle Christie Caliman Moore, I believe, was the last born there. We brought her to visit about a year before she died. She also collected Julia Peterkin books.
Check out the 2015 The Fort Motte Community Festival Reunion
My mother was born in Fort Motte. Her father worked for Southern Railway at the depot there.
I was raised a few miles out of the town of Fort Motte but spent a lot of time there. My best friend’s mother was Post Mistress there. The town still had one general store as well as the post office at that time (in the early 50s). Sorry that these little towns have to fade away to nothing. Lots of memories there.
The Ft. Motte Post Office was once located in a portion of this brick building.