OHC NEWSLETTER

Jan, Feb and March 2025
Okefenokee Heritage Center turns 50!
An excerpt from the book:
“The Unusual Story of the Okefenokee Heritage Center and Southern Forest World”, written by Susan Lott Clark
(Article abridged by Carla Cornett)

How it all began!

At the regular meeting of the Waycross Service League, on May 5, 1964, the following came as a recommendation from the executive committee: “We move that the League investigate the establishment of a Children’s Museum on Waycross”. Ruth Groover seconded; motion carried. There was a long discussion about it. Barbara Moore said that whereas our meetings usually lasted only about forty-five minutes, she recalls that this on went on for an hour and a half. Some of the members scoffed at the idea, saying there was nothing in Waycross old enough to be worthy of keeping. They probably were thinking of Waycross in comparison to Williamsburg. Others possibly were thinking that usually, the Waycross Service League had worked more to provide health clinics for children and with welfare-related organizations. A commit-tee was appointed, with Mrs. Norman (Dot) Gibson, chairman; Mrs. Billy (Ruth) Groover; Mrs. John (Anna) Fesperman; and me.

We met a couple of times, early in May, and decided the way to begin would be to interview various so-called civic leaders to see what they thought. So, we talked personally with some of the wealthier, more influential people in town. Many were rather indifferent. Their caution was that we might be able to raise the money for the museum but that it would be very hard to continue to raise money for operating costs for a museum in Waycross. How right they were! It has been a constant struggle from the start. However, we personally are glad we did it, because we believe it has added an awareness of the need for educational and cultural enrichment along with other activities that have improved the quality of life in Waycross. Young people, now in their thirties, have said, “I can’t imagine Waycross without the Heritage Center”.

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NEWSLETTER

OHC Newsletter

July, Aug and Sept 2026 “Elvis Returns” By Elizabeth Pond Elvis Presley will soon be back in Waycross. The Okefenokee Her-itage Center is commemorating the 70th anniversary of “The King’s” February 22, 1956, Waycross appearance with a special presentation. OHC is bringing Elvis Tribute Artist and Georgia native Jordan Poole to the CC McCray City Auditorium on Saturday, September 26, for an evening of old-time rock and roll. Poole, who hails from Sylvester, has won several awards for his portrayal of Presley, most recently being named the 2025 Tupelo Ultimate Elvis Champion in the birthplace of Elvis Presley, Tupelo, Mississippi.
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OHC Newsletter

April, May and June 2026 Jackson’s Folly
By Jessica Bennett
In the late nineteenth century, an ambitious plan was devised to tame one of the most mysterious landscapes in the American South—the Okefenokee Swamp. Located in southeastern Georgia, the vast wetland had long been regarded by locals as a place that resisted human control. Yet in 1889, investors and lawmakers believed they could transform it into a profitable enterprise. What followed became one of the most notable failures
in the region’s history, remembered as “Jackson’s Folly.” …

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OHC Newsletter

Jan, Feb and March 2026
Okefenokee Heritage Center In Review
By EJ Pond

2025 was a rewarding, exciting, and memorable year that saw the OHC celebrate a landmark anniversary, receive a highly prestigious cultural award, and install striking new signage. Among the components of the center, art is among the driving forces of OHC. …

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OHC Newsletter

October, November, and December 2025
The Waycross Post Office Building: A Century of Service & History
By Kemberly Stephens-Cone

Did you know that the handsome brick building at 605 Elizabeth Street once stood at the very heart of Waycross’s civic life? For more than six decades, it served as both Post Office and U.S. District Courthouse, a hub for communication, justice, and the growing rail-town community. …

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OHC Newsletter

July, August and Sept 2025
50th Anniversary
The Okefenokee Heritage Center celebrated its 50th anniversary on Saturday evening, May 31st, with a Golden Bowl Celebration. In true OHC spirit, the evening was family-friendly, casual, and tailored toward community connections.

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OHC Newsletter

April, May and June 2025
The Unusual Story of the Okefenokee Heritage Center and Southern Forest World,
written by Susan Lott Clark
(Article abridged by Carla Cornett)

An appreciation for the arts in their various forms – visual, music, and drama – first gave support to having the Okefenokee Heritage Center. We recognized the importance for cultural enrichment and enhancing the quality of life in this area.

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