Hotel Camden Now Government Offices in Kingsland, Georgia

Once a Kingsland, GA landmark, the former Hotel Camden now houses several city departments in the same city. (Source: Patricia Jared, Downtown Development Authority Manager, City of Kingsland).

The Kingsland City Council renovated the old inn to its original state and moved some county governmental offices there. (Source: Kingsland City Council).

Back in 1990 the council started making plans to remodel the building in its original two sections, restoring the facility to its original appearance. (Source: Former Kingsland City Administrator Bill Andrews).

The first section opened in July, 1929 with a lobby and 11 rooms. The second one was built in March, 1930 with 14 rooms and one large spacious dining room, according to Andrews.

The council planned in 1990 to remove the yellow paint and returned the building on Lee Street to its original red brick color. Offices for the Department of Community Planning and Development, Building Inspection, and Tourism are now located in the old Hotel Camden, according to city records.

Local resident Maxine Wells' paintings of the hotel show the building the way it was in its early days before its deterioration. (Source: Camden County Chamber of Commerce).

Over in St. Marys, Georgia in the same county, lies good ole home-style cooking in the form of Sterlings Southern Café, located in what was once Sterling's Grocery, according to the Chamber.

"The Sterling's Grocery Store Building has always been owned by the Sterling family," said Alyce Thornhill of the Chamber. "The current family member is Margaret Joyner and she lives in Texas."

Sterling's Café rented half of that space and a pottery studio was in the other side, according to Thornhill. The restaurant is now moving across the street into what was the Batchelot House and the pottery side is now Coastal Art League Gallery, she said.

Sterling's Grocery served St. Marys for almost 100 years. (Source: city records).

In the old days, David Sterling, the original owner, used to have all his wholesale groceries delivered by boat. A horse and wagon would pull up daily and load up. (Source: David Sterling).