McCranie's Turpentine Still
Why it's listed
Beside U.S. Highway 82 at Willacoochee, a group of log dwellings and open-sided sheds preserves a complete wood-burning turpentine still. George F. McCranie, Jr., and his three sons built it about 1936, and it processed raw pine gum into turpentine and rosin until 1942. The production sheds held the copper kettle, condenser, coil and cedar still tub, along with areas for barrel assembly and rosin straining. Nearby are log houses, a pond and the remains of a workers' village. The nomination describes it as the best preserved still of its kind known in Georgia, built late in the era of fire distillation, just before steam distillation made such stills obsolete. Most similar stills were dismantled for their copper. The family also kept clay and iron turpentine cups, prototype cups from their own experiments, and trees scarred by the older box method of tapping, all documenting changes in turpentining.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the best preserved wood-burning turpentine still known in Georgia. It represents the older, farmer-run fire distillation process that was replaced by centralized steam distillation after about 1940. The site also preserves experimental turpentine cups and tools showing how gum collection methods evolved.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 76000608, listed June 28, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | W of Willacoochee on U.S. 82, Willacoochee |
|---|---|
| County | Atkinson County |
| Listed | June 28, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76000608 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1936 |
| Architect / builder | owners |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Conservation, Invention, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Not presently in operation; described as in good condition with some deterioration from about thirty years of non-use. The still is capable of being restored to working order, and the family hopes to restore the site. |
| Acreage | 60 |
| Coordinates | 31.36422, -83.06349 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 76000608.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16894877
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.