Georgia Natural Wonder #242 - Laura Walker State Park - Ware County (Part 1).

[Top Row Dawg]

Georgia Natural Wonder #242 - Laura Walker State Park - Ware County (Part 1)

Now, I came to Laura Walker State Park with Georgia Natural Wonder #120 the Satilla River. I was going back forth on the Waterfalls of Georgia, to the Swamps of Georgia just after passing 100 Wonders. I was looking for one last good swamp area of South Georgia and I found the Satilla River with several descriptions of floats and several boardwalks in two separate State Parks.  I said I may have to break the State Parks down one day into separate GNW’s. Well this is that day. I want to be complete about featuring all the State Parks as Wonders so instead of just being a Tangent within a post, it will be a full separate Georgia Natural Wonder. 




Now we covered General Coffee State Park along with 17 Mile Creek with our post just before this one (GNW #240). It was closer to where the Satilla started in Fitzgerald. Today we are coming to Laura Walker State Park in Ware County Georgia. First, let's re-post that Tangent section of Laura Walker State Park from the Satilla River Post.

Laura Walker State Park

The Laura Walker State Park’s namesake was a Georgia writer, teacher, civic leader and naturalist who loved trees and worked for their preservation.

   

One of Waycross’ most distinguished citizens, Mrs. Laura S. Walker, was known for her literary ability, profound interest in mankind, and crusading spirit that launched many movements for the betterment of her community and state. Walker wrote three books about the land and history of her home. They are: (History of Ware County, Georgia) First published in 1934, it relates Ware County history from Indian Wars; notable families; to the routing of US 1 through Waycross up until 1934. (About "Old Okefenåok" and Doctors of Primitive Times) and (Horse and Buggy Days of Ware County).

Mrs. Walker was born of Colonial ancestry in Milledgeville Georgia, February 28, 1861. She came to Waycross in 1886 as the wife of Dr. J. L. Walker, the former mayor.



Mrs. Walker’s friends included presidents, governors, military leaders and the great leaders of the South. Her home at 502 Gilmore Street was the most visited in Waycross. Mrs. Walker was a teacher, writer and civic leader. She worked tirelessly for land conservation and tried in vain to persuade Ware County officials to buy land for that purpose. Had her advice been followed, the county probably would have never been in debt. She not only advanced the interest of forestry by her talks, but also by writings in the local paper. In the Waycross Journal Herald of December 24, 1924, Mrs. Walker outlined a comprehensive program of forestry activities including forest parks, road side beautification, forestry programs for schools, activities for civic organizations in forestry, and forestry legislation.



Her work in Waycross made history. In 1924, she planned a ceremony on the banks of the Suwannee River marking the centennial of General Floyd’s victorious march through the Okefenokee Swamp. In 1934, she produced a pageant with 800 characters marking the 100th anniversary of Ware County and depicting the historical significance of Waycross. She erected markers and monuments at old trails and historic sites so that history and romance would not be forgotten.



Agricultural developments in Ware County advanced because of her interest. She was responsible for Ware County securing a home demonstration agent and a 4-H club. She also engaged herself in school and church welfare.



Interested in issues faced by African-Americans, she lent her efforts to their progress. She was responsible for the Negro Library. She was a member of the First Methodist Church, Daughters of the American Revolution, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Waycross Woman’s Club, and other groups.



In the 1930s, the federal government bought land under Depression – Era programs, where some of the eroded, worn out and uneconomical land was purchased from farmers and developed for recreational purposes. The land that became Laura S. Walker State Park; was purchased under a Federal land Use Areas project, and was the first park in Georgia named for a woman. Laura Walker was a National Park until around 1941 when it became the 13th state park of Georgia. It had been built in 1937 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Work Progress Administration and Civilian Conservation Corps. After a long and prosperous life, she died on April 9,1955 following a lengthy illness.



It is the only publicly owned lake in the Satilla River Basin. This blackwater lake is approximately 110 acres in size and has fisheries for largemouth bass, bluegill, catfish, chain pickerel, and flier.



Now, we post our most recent information discovered about the Laura Walker State Park as we missed quite a bit the first time. And in a recent trend, I am going to add a TRD Nugget for you click and play the rest of the post, a relevant topic swimming at this park.



From the State Parks & Historic Site

"Wander among the pines at Laura S. Walker, the first state park named for a woman, an oasis that shares many features with the unique Okefenokee Swamp, where you can enjoy the serene lake, play rounds on a championship golf course, and stroll along the trails and natural communities in this southeast Georgia haven."

Located near the northern edge of the mysterious Okefenokee Swamp, this park is home to many fascinating creatures and plants, including alligators and carnivorous pitcher plants. The park’s lake offers opportunities for fishing, swimming and boating, and kayaks and bicycles are available for rent.



Walking along the lake shore and nature trail, visitors may see alligators, carnivorous pitcher plants, the shy gopher tortoise, numerous oak varieties and saw palmettos. More than 100 bird species have been seen at Laura Walker, with the best birding spot being the lakeside trail. Yellow billed cuckoos are common in summer, and yellow shafted flickers, warblers, owls, cattle egrets, little blue herons, glossy ibis and numerous other species also populate the park. It is not uncommon to see 50 wood ducks within an hour.



The Lakes, a championship 18 hole golf course, features a clubhouse, golf pro and junior/senior rates. 



Greens are undulating rather than tiered. Each fairway and landing area is defined with gentle, links-style mounds that accent the course’s three large lakes.



The Lakes Golf Course was designed by Steve Burnes and features native sand for the many bunkers and waste areas. This coastal Georgia course has three large lakes and is very close to the Okefenokee Swamp. 



Popular for great course conditions and mild weather. Voted the 2011 “Hook A Kid On Golf” Best New Site of the Year in the Nation. Voted 2009 Best Municipal Golf Course in Georgia by Golf Digest.



New Sportsman's Cabins sleep six.

 

Reservations, Accommodations & Facilities

626 Acres

120 Acre Lake



6 Cottages



44 Tent, Trailer & RV Campsites



7 Picnic Shelters (Before making reservations, call park for capacity limits.)



4 Group Shelters (seat 75–165. Before making reservations, call park for capacity limits.)



1 Group Camp (sleeps 142. Before making reservations, call park for capacity limits.)



1 Pioneer Campground (Before making reservations, call park for capacity limits.)



1 Gazebo (Before making reservations, call park for capacity limits.)



Playground



Dog Park


Cats and Turtles too.

Sand Beach



Boat Ramp



Wildlife Observation Boardwalk



Wi-Fi — available in the Visitor Center (and Campground for camping guests)

Things To Do & See


Docks and Squirrels.
    
Biking

Lake Trail is a 1 mile less popular green singletrack family friendly trail located near Hoboken Georgia. This multi-use trail can be used both directions and has a easy overall physical rating with a 25 ft green climb. On average it takes 8 minutes to complete this trail.



Watch for snakes! (I was happy to be off the ground on a bicycle, lol.) Roots and some uneven terrain for biking but no big deal for mountain bike or hybrid.

Oh man this is pretty cool 12 minute ride.
   
Very shaded trail with some wooded and muddy. I biked so it was OK.



Birding
    


Hell, the birds camp with you at Laura Walker.



Boating — private boats permitted, 10 HP limit (except between 9 a.m.–6 p.m. EDT & 9 a.m.–7 p.m. DST)


   
Fishing


   
Geocaching


    
Hiking — 4 miles of trails

All Trails

Laura S. Walker  Lake Boardwalk Trail

Get to know this 2.6-mile out-and-back trail near Waycross, Georgia. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 49 min to complete. This is a popular trail for birding, fishing, and hiking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. The best times to visit this trail are January through April. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.



Reviewers of Laura S. Walker Lake Boardwalk Trail in Waycross, Georgia, describe it as a beautiful trail with lots of native plants. Some recommend combining it with the Palmetto Trail for a longer hike, noting good sun and a minor breeze. Trail conditions have been reported as good with easy-to-follow paths, nice scenery, and a well-maintained park. Recent conditions have been described as very shaded, wooded, and muddy in some areas, with a recommendation to wear hiking boots unless it hasn't rained for days. Typically in March, the area may have similar conditions with cooler temperatures and occasional rain, requiring appropriate footwear for potential mud. The lake views are highlighted as a favorite feature of the trail.



I only did the northern half of this trail. A little muddy on the north side before you get to the boardwalk. Beautiful lake with the Spanish moss-draped trees. Nice pine forest away from the lake too. I wasn't expecting much from this park, but I was very wrong.



One of my favorite state parks! It’s in my hometown and I love the scenery! The boardwalk is beautiful!

Big Creek Nature Trail

Discover this 1.2-mile loop trail near Hoboken, Georgia. 



Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 23 min to complete. This is a popular trail for hiking and walking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. 



The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.



Recent reviews of Big Creek Nature Trail in Hoboken, Georgia describe it as a great, beautiful, and easy trail with boardwalks, trees, and grasses. 



One reviewer mentioned a lack of photos but highly recommended it. Another reviewer found it cool and adventurous. Trail conditions are typically clear with the boardwalk providing nice views of Big Creek. 



The trail offers a short loop with red trail markers, a pine forest, and options to combine with the Lake Trail for more scenery. There may be bugs in the summer months, but overall, it is a simple and enjoyable state park trail.

Swimming

They discussed this on Facebook.



They have actually created swimming areas in the lake. The state closed all the pools several years ago due to liability issues.


Beach right next to Cabins Picnic Shelters. Looks Safe. Looks Gator free.


Probably best to stay on Beach or Boardwalk.

They cemented in posts and fencing in the lake. They also worked to catch all the gators and take them to Swamp Park. They have the majority captured and relocated. You can call the park office and speak to the rangers for updates on that. (912) 287-4900.



By the way, I'm not against the idea of these swimming areas, if they are actually done right, but in current form, all they do is create a false sense of security for parents that don't know any better.


What was that?


Where's Timmy?
   
Water Skiing


Can't find any skiing images, but somebody's got the Ski Boat out there.
 
Bike Rental


   
Kayak & Stand-Up Paddleboard Rental

 


Talk about pressure to stay upright.

Trip Advisor Reviews

We love camping at LSW State Park. The sites have plenty of room and are fairly level. Fire rings, lantern poles, and picnic tables on each site. We had water and electric for our site. A bonus at this park is the wifi throughout the park. We were able to listen to our satellite radio app on our phone using the wifi. Friendly staff, clean bath house, and the sites are well spaced so you don't feel as if you are right on top of your neighbor. Kayaks and bikes are available for rent and there are plenty of trails for hiking. We were fortunate to book a waterfront site. Do not forget the bug repellent, especially this time of year, because the yellow flies are abundant. I take this space to show some Facebook Nature images.



Beautiful state park in south east Georgia. There is a beautiful lake, hiking trails, kayak and bicycle rentals. There are pavilions and picnic shelters available to rent, a beautiful campground on the lake as well as cottage and a large group area. There is a beautiful golf course as well.



If you want to slow down and take a deep breath then you’ve found your spot here. It is located right next to the swamp. This is a beautiful State Park in southeast Georgia. We will come back to the park when we come back.


Group walks, high as a Georgia Pine, painted Buntings with Pride.

Today, when you visit the park, you will enjoy seeing how Friends of Laura Walker have worked hard to keep this park beautiful in memory of their namesake. From removing invasive species to beautification and restoration projects, Friends volunteers are hard at work keeping the memory and spirit of Laura S Walker alive.



Ware County, Georgia



Ware County is a county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 36,251. The county seat and only incorporated place is Waycross.


County Seal and vintage Waycross.

It is the largest county in Georgia by area. A large portion of the county lies within the Okefenokee Swamp and its federally protected areas. The county encompasses 903 square miles.

History

Ware County, Georgia's 60th county, was created on December 15, 1824, by an act of the Georgia General Assembly from land that was originally part of Appling County.It was named for a man who never visited the area, Nicholas Ware, an active politician known for his flamboyant lifestyle.



Ware was the mayor of Augusta, Georgia from (1819–1821) and United States Senator who represented Georgia from 1821 until his death in 1824.

Ware's Folly. (GNW #58 Part 1)

The lower portion of the county forms a major part of the Okefenokee Swamp. Waycross, the county seat, is about 100 miles northwest of Jacksonville, Florida.



The defining of county lines did not stop conflict with the Native Americans, who resented the crossing of old borders, regardless of any treaties. The Wildes Massacre, the last slaughter by the Indians in Georgia, occurred in Ware County in 1838, during the Second Seminole War. Nine people were killed by a group of Creek warriors, who escaped into the vast Okefenokee Swamp.

AJC Re-print of 1838 article and Wildes Cabin.

One of Ware County’s borders is the Satilla River, which in the mid- to late 1800s became a busy locale for rafting yellow longleaf pine to sawmills on the coast.



Cutting Long Leaf Pines and floating them down the Satilla.



The Okefenokee Swamp offered cypress trees, and the famed Hebardville Cypress Mill, considered the largest such operation in the world at its peak period, also underscored this area as a timber cutter’s paradise. 



Unique here at the turn of the century was the narrow-gauge railroad that snaked its way from Ware County’s Hebardville to Billys Island in the Okefenokee, transporting cut cypress to the mill.



Several counties were later created from parts of the original Ware County borders:

    Bacon County (from portions of Appling, Pierce, and Ware counties in 1917)
    Charlton County (from portions of Camden and Ware county in 1854)
    Clinch County (from portions of Lowndes and Ware counties in 1850)
    Coffee County (from portions of Clinch, Irwin, Telfair, and Ware counties in 1854)
    Pierce County (from portions of Appling and Ware counties in 1857)

Ware County was known as a place where trails and roads met, the reason for Waycross’s name.  The Indian paths along which many early roads were cut headed toward Trader’s Hill, Coleraine, and Camp Pinckney on the St. Marys River, or to Burnt Fort on the Satilla.


Trader’s Hill, Coleraine, and church at Camp Pinckney.


Church and Ferry Burnt Fort.

Later, the stagecoach would find one of its major relay stations at Peter Bedford’s Tavern in the county seat of Waresboro. 


Old Courthouse Waresboro.

The county’s position as a transportation hub continued to strengthen with the coming of the railroad and the 1874 formation of Waycross, which became the new county seat.

Waycross today.

Ware County was home to Laura S. Walker (1861-1955) a noted author and conservationist. We covered her extensively above. We found two more images.



Contributing to the county’s educational growth are Waycross College and Okefenokee Technical College, which offer, besides their regular curricula, various programs beneficial to everyone in the community. Southern Forest World, the Okefenokee Heritage Center, the Okefenokee Swamp Park, and Obediah’s Okefenok also offer both educational programs and entertainment for the public and tourists.


Southern Forest World - Okefenokee Heritage Center - Okefenokee Swamp Park - Obediah’s Okefenok


Vintage post card and pamphlet Okefenokee Swamp Park. We found our next GNW for a Part 2 tangent on Ware County.

The Downtown Waycross Development Authority has successfully encouraged new businesses to come into the once flourishing downtown.  Phase I of the new Trembling Earth Recreation Complex has turned into Phase II, with Phase III of the Ware County plan waiting in the wings. 


Trembling Earth Recreation Complex

Ware County is known as southeast Georgia’s regional retail center, and many buyers come daily from the surrounding counties to make purchases. With this growth in both the city and county, new buildings and plants are on the drawing boards for expansion in what is still called “This Magic Wilderness.”

National Register of Historic Places listings in Ware County, Georgia

There are 8 sites on the register for this county.

Obediah Barber Homestead

The Obediah Barber Homestead is a late-19th century homestead of Obediah Barber (1825-1909). The homestead was built in 1870 and is near the northern edge of the Okefenokee Swamp in Ware County, Georgia, 7 miles south of Waycross, Georgia. Barber, who was known as the "King of the Swamp", was a great explorer of the swamp. The main house, the detached kitchen, and the well were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.



The round cypress logs, native to the Okefenokee Swamp, are saddle notched at the corners of the single pen. Narrow cypress battenscover the joints between the logs on the exposed end wall. Hand-hewn floor and ceiling joists and rafters are pegged together. Vertical half logs pegged into the log walls provide support for the shed roofs of the front and rear porches. The house stands on cypress log piers, many of which are hewn into a triangular shape.



On the interior, the cypress log walls are exposed. Cypress battens cover the joints between the logs. The wood floors are made of wide, heart-pine boards. The ceilings are narrow tongue and groove boards. The brick fireplace has a simple wooden mantel with a shelf. A steep ladder-like stairway framed into a corner of the log pen leads to a loft which is floored to provide sleeping space. The shed rooms have no interior wall sheathing so that the wood framing and exterior weatherboarding are exposed on the interior.

Significance

The property is significant in architecture as an intact example of the type of vernacular log house typically built by settlers in and around the Okefenokee Swamp from the 1850s to the 1920s.



The property is significant in exploration/settlement as the home of renowned farmer, hunter, and explorer Obediah Barber (1825-1909). Barber was symbolic of the independent and self-sufficient frontier people who settled the Okefenokee Swamp and its margins during the mid-19th century. Barber played a significant role in the 19th-century exploration of the Okefenokee Swamp. 



He was well-known as a swamp explorer and served as a guide for surveying parties exploring and mapping the swamp in 1857, 1875, and 1890. By the 1890s, his reputation as a skilled woodsman, hunter, and explorer had made him a living legend.

Today

Today the site is run as a museum to show typical life of the late 1800s in the area. There are over 20 structures, but none of them are original except the main house and the kitchen. 



The site features a large collection of pre-mechanical farming equipment and a moonshine still. It contains a nature trail and a few animals. 

Downtown Waycross Historic District

The Downtown Waycross Historic District in Waycross, Georgia is a 50-acre historic district which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.


The Waycross Kress Building now serves as a real estate office.

It includes the Post Office, the Phoenix Hotel among totals of 47 contributing buildings, two other contributing structures, two contributing sites, and three contributing objects in the district.



Also the Bunn Building was Waycross's first "skyscraper", among the first reinforced concrete buildings in the state. It is a five-story building which was home for offices and a Masonic Lodge. The tallest building in downtown Waycross, the seven-story Ware Hotel, was constructed in 1928 in the Neoclassical Revival style. The Ritz Theatre fine Art Deco work is credited to prominent Jacksonville architect Roy A. Benjamin, it became the home of the Waycross Area Community Theatre in 1986 and still serves that purpose today.

 



The district is significant in the area of architecture for the historic commercial, institutional, governmental, and transportation-related buildings that together make up the historic commercial center of Waycross.


Waycross has one of the oldest active YMCAs in Georgia, founded and chartered in 1896. They built this delightful building in 1908. This building, on Pendleton Street, was sold to the city in 1916 and has served as the Waycross City Hall ever since.

Building details include large storefront windows and entrances, cast-iron storefront columns, pressed metal bracketed cornices, corbeled brick cornices, brick and stone window lintels and sills, terra cotta ornament, and clay tile pent roofs.



These buildings were constructed from the 1870s to the 1940s and represent the types and styles of buildings constructed during this late-19th- and early 20th-century period in small Georgia cities. 



First African Baptist Church and Parsonage (Waycross, Georgia)

First African Baptist Church and Parsonage is a historic church and its parsonage in a traditionally African-American neighborhood of Waycross, Georgia. The church is now known as First Antioch Missionary Baptist Church. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 11, 2003. It is located at 615 Knight Street and 407 Satilla Boulevard.



The church was constructed c. 1905 and is Gothic Revival in style, wood-framed on a brick pier foundation. The front entrance to the church was changed sometime before 1957. The parsonage, built c. 1910, is a Queen Anne cottage with clapboard siding.



First African Baptist Church is a Gothic Revival-style church that retains its original siding, towers, pointed-arch windows, floors, wainscoting, bulls-eye molding, and pressed metal ceiling.

 

The buildings are significant in the area of Ethnic Heritage/Black because they reflect the role of the Baptist church in the post-Civil War life of the African-American community of Waycross, and how, after losing the earlier building to a storm, the congregation was able to build this building with its fine construction and design elements, showing the strength of the community and its commitment to the Baptist faith. It is considered the oldest African-American Baptist congregation and the "Mother Church" for others that were organized later in this area. From this church came the first private African-American school for blacks, the Hazzard Hill Baptist School, which, while no longer extant, was reflective of the important role the church played in local education.

Lott Cemetery

Lott Cemetery is a cemetery in Waycross, Georgia that was established in 1877. It occupies the block bounded by Butler, Tebeau, Quarterman, and Pendleton streets. There were no areas designated for religious or ethnic groups. African-American graves are along the western edge. Several veterans of the Confederate States Army are also buried there. It was the main cemetery in the city until the Oakland Cemetery was created in 1901 and the African-American Pine Hill Cemetery in 1907. There is a wide variety of funerary art in the cemetery.



The cemetery has fine examples of Victorian-era funerary art including angels, Woodsman of the World markers, urns, and broken columns. Some unique grave markers include a statue of a young girl, a bas-relief carving of a teenage boy with his boat, and a monumental round colonnade with an angel in the center. 



The cemetery also contains an unknown number of unmarked burials and an indigent or "potter's field" burial area. Landscaping includes cedar, magnolia, pecan, palm, and dogwood trees, and oleander, camellia, forsythia, and azalea bushes.



Dr. Daniel Lott was one of the civic leaders and founders of Waycross. From his vast property, land was donated for the development of Waycross, including land for the cemetery. Lott Cemetery was established as a public cemetery, a necessity in newly established and growing urban centers. Many of Waycross' important civic, business, and social leaders are buried in the cemetery, including Dr. Daniel Lott, William S. Bailey, Dr. Benjamin F. Williams, and Captain Cuyler W. Milliard, early founders of the town. The fact that the cemetery was established early in the town's history indicates that the presence of a community cemetery was a concern of the town's founders and early residents.



It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.

Manor School (Manor, Georgia)

On a July night in 1935, horns sounded an alarm to alert the town of Manor that their school was burning; citizens left their beds and rushed to help, but the two-story wooden school building was a total loss. Parents and concerned citizens rallied and quickly began to make plans for a new school building.



The Manor School, located at 4650 Manor Millwood Rd. in Manor in Ware County, Georgia, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2017.



The listed property is 24 acres and includes five contributing buildings and a historic athletic field. A newspaper reported that it was deemed "significant in the area of architecture, as a good intact example of a rural consolidated public school building with elements of the Colonial Revival style that was later expanded with an International Style addition; and in the area of education, for its association with public education in Manor, according to the press release."



The main school building was built with Works Project Administration funding in 1937 and has an E-shaped plan. A kitchen and cafeteria building was built in 1956, a gymnasium was built in 1959, and a special education classroom building was built in 1964. The latter includes International Style elements. The school was the area high school until 1969, and the school was closed in 2010.



However, the spirit of the community is strong and lives on. The school property has recently been leased from the Ware County Board of Education by the Manor Improvement Corporation and includes all buildings and the property, which is being used for community activities.

Phoenix Hotel (Waycross, Georgia)

The Phoenix Hotel (originally the "New Phoenix") is a historic hotel in Waycross, Georgia, built about 1890.


During the latter part of the nineteenth century, the expanding railroad industry increased the need for hostelry services in Waycross. 



To help these needs, the Phoenix Hotel was constructed.



It is a three-story brick building that occupies a 200 by 111 feet  block of the city. Businesses occupied the first floor, which has been modernized, but the other two floors retain their original configuration. 



The building originally had two stories and the third floor was added in 1913. It is near the train depot and catered to travelers. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.



When completed, this two story brick structure not only provided comfortable accommodations for the many travelers passing through Waycross on the daily passenger
trains, it also provided space on the first floor for many of Waycross early business endeavors; such as barbers, banks, cigar stores, and clothing stores.



Architecturally, the Phoenix Hotel could be described as an interpretation of the Spanish Revival style that was becoming popular during the early twentieth century. 



This is evidenced by its stylized dormers, window ornamentation and smooth, earthtone stucco exterior.



United States Post Office and Courthouse (Waycross, Georgia)

The former U.S. Post Office and Courthouse in Waycross, Georgia was built in 1911 and expanded in 1936. The building reflects Renaissance architecture and "Romano-Tuscan" architecture. It served historically as a courthouse of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia and as a post office until 1975.



It is a two-story building with basement of approximately 21,700 square feet in size. The original building of 1911, designed by James Knox Taylor, was one story with basement and with a tile roof. 



The 1936 expansion, designed by G. W. Stone, added the second story and two-story wings at each end, and has a composition roof. 



Floors in the building are terrazzo and maple hardwood, except the second floor courtroom's floor is cork tile. Stairs, door facings and wainscoting are in marble. Woodwork is oak.



The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. It was only ever used as a courthouse and post office, and the building had been empty from 1975 until at least 1980. It now houses the Southeast Antique Exchange.

Waycross Historic District

The Waycross Historic District is a 178-acre historic district which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.



The earliest residential neighborhood of this young, south Georgia railroad center, the Waycross Historic District roughly consists of the area bounded by Plant Avenue, Williams, Lee, Chandler and Stephens Streets. Formerly a forest, the neighborhood even today sports magnificent specimens of oak, palm and pine which handsomely compliment the district's wide, straight streets.


Two sides of Summerland-Tilman home, 1986,

Only after much of the forest had been cleared away was the site divided up into small blocks and developed in a relatively consistent manner as the city's first "subdivision."  Rapidly becoming popular with local professional people and executives of the railroad, many of Waycross's most prominent doctors, lawyers, judges and the like have resided here.


2nd house here is Powell House, 1895, Waycross.

The district then included 237 contributing buildings and one contributing structure.


(1) The Blackshear House (1888) an unusual Victorian version of the ante-bellum which demonstrates a greater than usual degree of creativity in the transfer of the classical to the Victorian. Sporting a shallow mansard-like roof and with a deep cornice that has been lightened by means of lattice-work, this house is of a greaterquality than normally found and far exceeds the level of local significance. Its columns, too slender to read as called for by a classical order, nevertheless possess strifing wooded capitals that read well as the Victorian translation of that which would be classically appropriate. The second-story balcony floats behind the two center columns and runs almost the full length of the veranda, supported on each end by thin posts that also act as the corner posts for the balustrade on the ground-level below.


(2) The Thornton Residence is a two-story frame with the second floor executed in the shingle-style. A wide, one-story porch runs linearily across the front of the house
supported by short, paired, square columns that rest on brick pedestals. Elaborate brick work crowns the house in the form of three ornate chimneys.


(3) The Livingstone Residence, located at 407 Gilmore, is a rambling two-story frame whose chief characteristics are the shingled front gable and the unusual jig-saw work on both the front porch (which runs the full width of the house and turns down both sides) and the second floor porch-balcony.


W. W. Beach Residence, 405 Lee Street

The houses located within the historic district are typical of, and signify, the newfound wealth of early Waycross. As a rule, well-sited and both tasteful and generous in their decoration, these large, primarily Victorian era, homes resemble those in size and proportion that one would expect to find in the Georgia countryside. 



Some, overly gracious in their dimensions, almost yearn for the wide expanses of an estate and seem to be strangely misplaced in their present urban environment. Others, small and devoid of any elaborate decoration, reflect the life-style of the railroad workers who, at one time, in the railroad's hey-day, inhabited them.


4th house here is Hamilton House, Circa 1900, Waycross.

Architecturally speaking, the houses located within the Waycross Historic District are not only significant for the above mentioned reasons, but also due to their strong sense of individuality.



Wow, Lotta images, still did not finish Ware County Tangent. Still need to feature Historical Markers and War Memorials in Ware County, Georgia, Communities, and Notable people. One of the 7 Natural Wonders of Georgia is in Ware County. When we came to the Okefenokee Swamp with (GNW # 8), we went mainly to the Stephen Foster State Park, and that is in Charleton County. The main Ware County access to the Swamp will be our 2nd Ware County Wonder so we can do that 2nd Ware County Tangent. My Georgia Natural Wonder Girls for today are all Laura's for Laura Walker.


Laura Dore Model - Laura Harring 1st Hispanic Miss USA - Laura Whitmore the face of MTV Europe - Laura Esposto television presenter and model.