These haunting pictures reveal the crumbling remains of the plantation home of an African-American civil rights activist, Dr John McCown – who is buried in the back garden.
The eerie images of the property, in Hancock County, Georgia, show wallpaper peeling from the walls, ceilings collapsing and broken windows.
Moth-eaten curtains hang from the windows allowing the light to pour through.
These eerie images show all that remains of a plantation home which once belonged to African-American civil rights activist Dr John McCown. Such was his charisma, he was called ‘Black Jesus’ by his followers
The now-abandoned property, in Hancock County, Georgia, was built in 1917 – and was purchased by Dr McCown in 1967
Born in 1934, McCown was a civil rights activist who helped to make Hancock the first county in the US to be politically controlled by blacks since Reconstruction days
In the 1960s, 90 per cent of Hancock County’s population consisted of African Americans
The haunting pictures were taken by urban explorer Abandoned Southeast, who ‘loves discovering what is forgotten from the past’
Who was US civil rights activist Dr John McCown?
‘Black Jesus’: Dr John McCown
Born in 1934, John McCown was an African-American civil rights activist who helped to make Hancock the first county in the US to be politically controlled by blacks since Reconstruction days.
The year of this milestone was 1968 – and was mainly due to his charismatic leadership, with some calling him ‘Black Jesus’.
To achieve his goal, McCown secured $8million in federal grant money, which he ploughed into the county.
He used some of this money to build a catfish farm.
However, individuals within his organization would later be convicted for perjury and defrauding the federal government.
In January 1976, McCown died after his Cessna plane crashed into pine trees near the landing strip in Mayfield, Georgia.
He was survived by his wife, Annie Mae, three sons and a daughter.
One shot depicts a lone chest of drawers strewn across a room while another shows how Mother Nature has reclaimed what was once hers, with ivy growing up the outside of the house.
The spooky pictures were taken at the home of Dr McCown by urban explorer Abandoned Southeast.
‘This is a plantation home that dates back to 1917 and was sold to Dr John McCown in the late 1960s,’ said Abandoned Southeast.
‘McCown was a civil rights leader who died in a plane crash after piloting it while intoxicated.
‘After his death, his home – along with many other businesses – were tied up in scandal. Hancock County is one of the poorest counties in all of the United States.
‘There were no obstacles when we visited.
‘I love the architecture and discovering what is forgotten from the past.’
In the 1960s, 90 per cent of Hancock County’s population consisted of African Americans.
In 1967, Dr John McCown bought the house and moved to the area to help black voter registration.
And such was the father-of-four’s charisma, he was known by his supporters as ‘Black Jesus’.
As part of the East Central Committee for Opportunity, McCown investigated the Federal Housing Administration to find out why so few African Americans were given housing loans.
After the investigation, more African Americans were granted loans.
McCown died when the single-engine Cessna aircraft he was piloting plunged into a clump of pine trees in Mayfield, Georgia, 30 minutes after taking off.
The two-storey plantation was built by a cotton farmer around 1917 and was sold to a local store owner in the 1930s.
The house was renovated in the 1950s before it was purchased by Dr McCown.
Above, McCown lies buried in the grounds of the property. ‘A friend told me about the house, but did not know the owner was buried in the backyard,’ said Abandoned Southeast
As part of the East Central Committee for Opportunity, McCown investigated the Federal Housing Administration to find out why so few African Americans were given housing loans. After the investigation, more African Americans were granted loans
‘A friend told me about the house, but did not know the owner was buried in the backyard,’ said Abandoned Southeast.
‘I want to show others what history and amazing stories there are all over the south-eastern US.
‘People are amazed at what I photograph. I just want to share my [explorations] with others so they can see in photos what I see when I am there.’
Abandoned Southeast took the pictures using a Canon DSLR equipped with a Tamron wide angle lens.
For more information, go to www.abandonedsoutheast.com
The two-storey plantation was built by a cotton farmer around 1917 and was sold to a local store owner in the 1930s. The house was renovated in the 1950s before it was purchased by Dr McCown
The house was renovated in the 1950s before it was purchased by Dr McCown
In January 1976, McCown died, along with two passengers, after his Cessna plane crashed near a landing strip