Possum Poke
Why it's listed
Possum Poke is a hunting camp on a wooded, level site just inside the northeast edge of Poulan, Georgia. Two wood-frame houses with metal roofs face each other along a dirt lane, with a barn-garage, smoke house, chicken house, and a glass-walled banana house between them. Big Poke, built in 1905 from uncured pine, is a two-story Plantation Plain house with four identical upstairs bedrooms. Little Poke is a one-story, Bungalow-influenced house rebuilt in 1934 after a fire destroyed the original. The camp began as a retreat for northern hunters wintering in South Georgia. One of them, Chase S. Osborn, later became governor of Michigan. He bought out his partners in 1920 and spent winters here until he died on the property in 1949. A Progressive Republican and early conservation advocate, he used the camp to meet with colleagues. His widow donated the 15 acres to the University System of Georgia in 1966. The property was listed for its architecture, conservation, and political associations.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the complex is significant in architecture, conservation, and politics/government. It reflects the simple, rustic tastes of its owner-builder, Governor Chase S. Osborn of Michigan, and the early conservation movement's fashion for rustic camps. It is also tied to Osborn's Progressive political career, and the nomination calls it the only intact place still associated with him in the United States.
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 82002499, listed August 26, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | US 82, Poulan |
|---|---|
| County | Worth County |
| Listed | August 26, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002499 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (owner-builder Governor Chase S. Osborn; Big Poke built by the hunter's club) |
| Architectural style | Plantation Plain (Big Poke); Bungalow-influenced (Little Poke) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Conservation, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied; the widow of Governor Osborn was said to occupy the premises seasonally. The property is owned by the University System of Georgia, and vinyl siding was added to both houses in 1981. |
| Acreage | 15 |
| Coordinates | 31.51682, -83.78141 (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 82002499.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16898772
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.