Volume IV, No. 3 June 2004
A Program of the Historic Preservation Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources
continued on page 2
BOUND FOR THE PROMISED LAND:
THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD NETWORK TO FREEDOM PROGRAM
By Barbara Tagger, Historian, Southeast Region Coordinator
National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program
National Park Service
Almost everyone has heard of it or seems to have some
knowledge about it. Such names as Harriet Tubman,
Frederick Douglass, and Levi Coffin lend further clues to
its popularity. Even states like New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and
Michigan and foreign nations such as Canada have developed a
claim to fame because of their association to this phenomenal story.
Yet, the full story of the Underground Railroad has not come close
to being told.
Why is this remarkable American story so hard to know
and appreciate? First, much of what is known about the
Underground Railroad is buried in family histories and nontraditional sources. Because
of the secretive nature of the
Underground Railroad, and
the high risks that were
involved for those who
actively engaged in its
activities, written records are
not readily available.
Secondly, passed
from one generation to another,
stories of the Underground
Railroad were embedded in
oral tradition, and often
attached to myth and legend.
Thus, oral histories and
traditions have become important vehicles in gathering personal
accounts. Though this particular method has been challenged by
scholars, information derived from oral accounts cannot and should
not be overlooked. Indeed, oral history not only provides valuable
clues to our understanding of how the Underground Railroad
operated, but are essential to helping us to know and fully appreciate
the risks and sacrifices these unsung heroes made in order to make
the Underground Railroad a success.
The daring escape of William and Ellen Craft from Macon to
Boston was documented in their own account: Running a
Thousand Miles for Freedom. In 1850, Congress passed the
Fugitive Slave Bill, and the Crafts fled to England. They returned
to Georgia and operated a school and farm after Emancipation.
This photo of the Crafts appeared in William Still’s The
Underground Rail Road, published in 1872.
To completely understand the significance of the
Underground Railroad, the story must be placed in a broader
context. In this instance, the Underground Railroad must include
an examination of slavery. The southeastern portion of the United
States, for example, provides a rare opportunity to interpret slavery
and the various types of plantations. More important, stories of
daily activities and working conditions help people understand
why enslaved people sought escape as one method to resist
human bondage.
Reaching freedom was indeed a difficult task. In most
instances, it required tenacity, ingenuity, and the willingness to
take a tremendous risk. For those who lived in the lower south,
destinations of freedom did not necessarily include travel to Canada.
On the contrary, in most cases it was easier for runaways to seek
liberty or refuge closer to the point of flight or beyond. Perhaps the
most common places of refuge for freedom seekers were natural
areas such as forests, swamps, mountains, and bayous. Native
American groups such as the Seminoles, as well as maroon societies
frequently harbored runaways. Often these communities served as
This is the home in New Bedford,
Massachusetts, where Frederick
Douglass lived after his escape from
enslavement. Photo by Jeanne Cyriaque
2
Though escape was one measure runaways sought to
secure their freedom, resistance to enslavement took other forms.
Prior to 1865, more than 100,000 enslaved and free African Americans
performed military service to gain their individual freedom and to
liberate their people. During the Civil War, for instance, thousands
of enslaved African Americans fled plantations and sought refuge
with the Union forces. Eager to secure their liberation, more than
200,000 African Americans volunteered their services to the Union
army and navy in the name of freedom.
To encourage a broad range of participants in the Network
to Freedom Program, the Network highly encourages partnerships
between the National Park Service and local, grassroots
organizations, individuals, and federal, state, and local governments
that have as their goal the preservation, commemoration, and
interpretation of the Underground Railroad-related sites and stories.
The vehicle through which this can happen is for these local entities
and individuals to become NETWORK PARTNERS. It is often through
BOUND FOR THE PROMISED LAND:
THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD NETWORK TO FREEDOM PROGRAM
the first places of protection long before a runaway received shelter
in homes, schools, inns, barns, and churches beyond the
southeastern areas. The maritime industry soon became common
modes of transportation to liberty as freedom seekers, with the help
of seamen, stowed away on boats and ships. Some refugees
eventually made their way north, while others followed the coastal
waters and major rivers to Mexico, Key West, Florida, Andros
Islands, Cuba, and the Bahamas Islands. For those who chose to
travel by land, freedom routes led them to join free black communities
centered in large urban areas like Charleston, Savannah, Pensacola,
and New Orleans.
Barbara Tagger, continued from page 1
demonstrates the significance of the Underground Railroad not only
in the eradication of slavery, but also as a cornerstone of our national
civil rights movement.
The Network to Freedom Act specifies that the Network
include elements such as “governmental and non-governmental
facilities and programs of an educational, research, or interpretive
nature that are directly related to the Underground Railroad.” This
provision of the legislation invites inclusion of a variety of different
elements. “Facilities” and “programs” in the Network can have an
educational, research, or interpretive scope, as long as they are
directly related to, and verifiably associated with the Underground
Railroad. “Facilities” can include, but are not limited to, operating
archives and libraries, research centers, museums, collections, and
cultural and commemorative centers. “Programs” can include, but
are not limited to, tours, interpretive talks, traveling exhibits, theater
productions, living history productions, and educational programs.
There are a multitude of Underground Railroad-related
“sites” around the United States that have suffered the impacts of
prolonged negligence or developments inconsistent with the
historical character of the site. Nonetheless, these sites are often
integral parts of the Underground Railroad story. Their significance
should not be lost, so the Network to Freedom is designed to include
these impacted “sites” with the provision that they must be
associated with an interpretive program and signage. The
association of such a site must be documented in a verifiable way
using professional methods of historical research, and must be
related to Underground Railroad activity.
Managed by the National Park Service, the Network to
Freedom Program is recognized as a unique partnership program.
To date, the Network has accepted more than 180 sites, programs,
and facilities in 25 states and the District of Columbia into the
program. The Program has developed a visual identity to raise
awareness by developing a distinct logo. Shelly Harper is the
graphic artist who designed the Network to Freedom logo.
These various methods of resistance used by enslaved
people of African descent are just a few examples of the intriguing
stories that are interpreted throughout the southeastern region of
the United States, the Caribbean, in particular, and the entire nation
in general. The National Park Service recognizes the importance of
these fascinating stories, and is committed to preserving and
commemorating the legacy of the Underground Railroad as a
significant part of the American story.
The National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom
Program (also known as the “Network to Freedom Program”) will
celebrate its sixth anniversary on July 21, 2004. Authorized by the
United States Congress as the National Underground Railroad
Network to Freedom Act, the Network to Freedom Program has
made a critical transition from a start-up endeavor to a mature
program achieving national and international statute. The Network
to Freedom Program identifies the Underground Railroad
comprehensively as the historical process of resistance against
slavery in the United States through escape and flight. The program
Black soldiers fought for the Union Army during the Civil War. These
reenactors perform a drill at the Port Hudson Civil War State
Commemorative Park in Louisiana. Photo by Jeanne Cyriaque
3
continued on page 4
Regrettably, the benefits offered to elements accepted into
the Network to Freedom Program are not extended to Network
Partners. Yet, Network Partners are recognized as an integral part
of the Network Program. Partners are included in the Network to
Freedom Program directories that are published by the National
Park Service, and more importantly, Network Partners act as
consultants and are encouraged to assist the Network in sharing
information with others in their areas of expertise or general
issues of the Underground Railroad.
The Network to Freedom Program invites the public to
share its community-related or family accounts of the Underground
Railroad. The Network to Freedom Program is always in search of
stories and sites associated with the Underground Railroad,
especially in the state of Georgia. To receive national recognition
of commemorative programs, facilities or sites related to the
Underground Railroad, one must apply to the Network.
Applications are accepted twice each calendar year: January 15
and July 15. Are you interested in becoming a part of the Network
to Freedom Program? If so, please check out the Network to Freedom
Program website for additional details: www.cr.nps.gov./ugrr or
contact Barbara Tagger, Southeast Region Coordinator, National
Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program, at the National
Park Service. My mailing address is 100 Alabama Street, Atlanta,
GA 30303. My email address is: Barbara_Tagger@nps.gov or
telephone 404/562-3108 x 518.
This photo depicts freedmen and women who escaped to Fort Pulaski after
General Hunter’s Emancipation Proclamation.
Photo courtesy of the National Park Service
the dedicated efforts of Network Partners that elements are added
to the Network to Freedom Program.
For those elements that are accepted into the Network to
Freedom Program, there are several advantages of being a listed
member. These benefits include:
• National recognition of the authenticity of historic sites,
programs, and facilities.
• The use and display of the National Underground Railroad
Network to Freedom logo.
• Eligibility for Network to Freedom grants, when funds are
appropriated, and assistance in locating project funding.
The Network to Freedom Program is working with partners
to identify funding sources and raise funds to support
interpretation and commemoration efforts.
• Inclusion in a Network database featured on the Network
to Freedom Program’s web site that will include standard
information on every site, program and facility that has
been reviewed and accepted into the Network.
• Inclusion in a nationwide system of comparable sites,
programs, and facilities that fosters networking and
coordinating educational, preservation, and commemorative
activities.
March Haynes
Photo courtesy of
Charles J. Elmore
I
n Georgia, the Network to Freedom Program has formally
recognized the Fort Pulaski National Monument as a National
Park Service site near Savannah and From Africa to Eternity
Traveling Exhibit as a program owned by Denise Fields of
Brunswick. Though completely different, both elements have
achieved national recognition for their commemorations of the
Underground Railroad.
Fort Pulaski National Monument
achieved national attention for its
association with the Underground
Railroad in 2001. Listed among the first
to be inducted into the Network to
Freedom Program, Fort Pulaski served
as a military fort during the Civil War. In
April 1862, the Union Forces, under the
command of General David Hunter,
demanded the unconditional surrender
of the fort. Confederate Colonel Charles
H. Olmstead refused the demand, and
the two sides began exchanging cannon fire. After 30 hours of
battle the Union forces prevailed and took possession of Fort Pulaski.
On April 13, 1862, General Hunter announced in General
Order No. 7 that “All persons of color lately held to involuntary
service by enemies of the United States in Fort Pulaski and on
Cockspur Island, Georgia, are hereby confiscated and declared free.”
This order was issued approximately eight months before
Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Fort Pulaski served
as a destination for enslaved people attempting to reach freedom.
More importantly, the fort played a significant role as a
recruitment station for freed African American males wanting to
serve in one of the nation’s first black regiments, the 1st South
Carolina Volunteer Infantry.
One of the first African
Americans that assisted freedom
seekers after General Hunter’s
proclamation was March Haynes.
He was an experienced stevedore
and river pilot while a slave, and
smuggled fugitives into Union
lines after the fall of Fort Pulaski.
He served as a spy for the Union
forces, and conducted nightly raids
along the Savannah River in his
boat, collecting information and bringing refugees to freedom.
General David Hunter’s Proclamation, a book by Charles J. Elmore
of Savannah State University, describes how Haynes assisted
refugees in their quest for freedom.
THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD IN GEORGIA
General David Hunter
Union Army
By Barbara Tagger and Jeanne Cyriaque, Reflections Editor
4
Barbara Tagger and Jeanne Cyriaque, continued from page 3
Araminta. Minty. Harriet.
Enslaved. Freedom Seeker.
Conductor. General. Nurse. Spy.
Scout. Humanitarian. These are
just a few names and words that
describe one of America’s most
extraordinary heroines, Harriet
Tubman. Araminta Ross,
nicknamed “Minty”, was born
around 1821 or 1822. As a child,
she grew up on the Edward
Brodess Plantation in Dorchester
County, Maryland. In 1844, Minty
married a freeman, John Tubman.
She soon emancipated herself by
escaping via the Underground
Railroad in 1849. After safely
arriving in Philadelphia, she
changed her name to “Harriet”
and began her life anew in liberty.
Determined to liberate her family
and friends, Harriet returned to Maryland between the years 1851
and 1860, emancipating at least 70 to 80 people with the assistance
of noted stationmasters and sympathizers like William Still, Thomas
Garrett, and Gerrit Smith. Harriet set up temporary residence in St.
Catharines, Ontario, Canada. In 1859, Tubman purchased seven
acres of land and a house in Auburn, New York from Senator William
Seward. This site would eventually serve as her permanent residence.
When the Civil War began, Tubman volunteered her
services to the Union Army. From 1862-1864, she served as a scout
and spy under the command of Major General David Hunter. Tubman
served as a cook and nurse, and facilitated a raid against the
Confederacy that liberated more than 700 enslaved African Americans.
At the conclusion of the war, Tubman returned to Auburn,
New York, and in 1869 she married Charles Nelson Davis at the
Central Presbyterian Church. Harriet lived the remainder of her life
helping others in the Auburn community. She began the Home of
the Aged for destitute individuals who could no longer care for
themselves. In 1913, Harriet Tubman Davis quietly passed away in
her home in Auburn, New York due to failing health. She was interred
at Fort Hill Cemetery with military honors.
In 2000, the United States Congress requested that the
National Park Service conduct a study to determine how best to
commemorate the life and legacy of Harriet Tubman. The public is
invited to share information on Harriet Tubman, and is highly urged
to suggest ideas for commemorating and honoring her. The National
Park Service is seeking further information from anyone with
particular knowledge of Tubman and the places where she lived
and worked. Visit www.HarrietTubmanStudy.org for more
information or contact Barbara Tagger. The project manager is
Barbara Mackey. You can reach her at 617/223-5138 or
Barbara_Mackey@nps.gov.
THE HARRIET TUBMAN
SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY
By Barbara Tagger, Historian, Southeast Region Coordinator
National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program
National Park Service
The Smith College collection
features Harriet Tubman, her
adopted daughter, and her second
husband, Charles Nelson Davis.
Denise Fields is the
president and curator of From
Africa to Eternity, Inc. Her
exhibit is an excellent example of
the various ways communities
and individuals are creatively
educating the public about the
Underground Railroad legacy.
For more than 25 years, Fields
served as an educator as well
as a community social worker.
She is an avid collector of
African American history and
memorabilia. From Africa to
Eternity traveling exhibit
includes rare artifacts, slave
documents, books, periodicals,
and photographs that represent
enslavement and its resistance
from the colonial era to the end of the Civil War, with specific emphasis
on the Underground Railroad. Students and adults alike are drawn
to this extraordinary display.
The collection offers viewers a rare opportunity to learn
more about the multifaceted operations of the abolition movement
and its relationship to the Underground Railroad. The From Africa
to Eternity exhibit has appeared at public schools, colleges, and
universities as well as local, state, and federal programs throughout
the states of Georgia, North and South Carolina, and Florida. The
Underground Railroad segment is only part of the total collection
of over 3,000 artifacts encompassing the pre-enslavement period to
current times. The exhibit was displayed for ten months at the
Coastal Center for the Arts in Brunswick.
For information about the From Africa to Eternity
Traveling Exhibit, contact Denise Fields at 912/261-0461. Denise
Fields is a member of the St. Simons African American Heritage
Coalition, and is administering plans for the 2004 Georgia Sea Islands
Festival. The festival will be held on August 14-15, 2004 at Neptune
Park on St. Simons Island.
THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD IN GEORGIA
Denise Fields is the curator for From
Africa to Eternity. Her traveling
exhibit was the first Georgia program
to join the National Underground
Railroad Network to Freedom
Program. Photo by Jeanne Cyriaque
Denise Fields’ From Africa to Eternity traveling
exhibit includes rare artifacts, like these circa
1840 shackles that were used on captured
runaway slaves. Photo by Jeanne Cyriaque
5
THE GOVERNOR’S AWARDS IN THE HUMANITIES
Since 1986, the Georgia Humanities Council has recognized
achievement in the humanities through a special awards
ceremony. These awards are presented to honorees for a variety of
contributions to the humanities, including behind the scenes work
in museums, libraries, publications, cultural heritage and
preservation. On May 13, 2004 Governor Sonny Perdue presented
Awards in the Humanities to nine individuals and two organizations.
Three African Americans were recipients of the awards.
 Cornelia Walker Bailey, Sapelo Island historian, was
recognized for her contributions to the preservation of Georgia’s
Geechee culture. In 2000,
Bailey published God, Dr.
Buzzard, and the Bolito Man:
A Saltwater Geechee Talks
About Life on Sapelo Island.
In this book co-authored with
Cristena Bledsoe, Bailey shares
the history of the Geechee
community of Hog Hammock
on Sapelo Island. Her second
book, Sapelo Voices, is a
compilation of oral histories
from Sapelo Island elders and
anthropological studies that
she co-authored with Ray
Crook, Norma Harris and Karen
Smith from the State University
of West Georgia.
Charlotte Hawkins
Frazier was one of the
volunteers who organized the
Georgia African American
Historic Preservation Network
(GAAHPN). She is a graduate
of Spencer High School in
Columbus. This school is
named in honor of William H.
Spencer, an African American
educator who was the first
Supervisor of Colored Schools
in Muscogee County. Frazier
and the Golden Owlettes, an
alumnae group, preserved the
home of William H. Spencer. His
residence was listed in the
National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Frazier was instrumental
in preserving the Columbus home of Gertrude Pridgett “Ma” Rainey,
the nationally recognized blues legend who is considered “mother
of the blues.” Her favorite cultural heritage initiative is tracing
historic sites and theatres where “Ma Rainey” and other artists
performed. These venues and the artists who performed there were
known as the Chitlin Circuit.
While Frazier was chair of GAAHPN, she diligently
pursued the establishment of a position specializing in African
American programs in the Historic Preservation Division. She is
currently a member of the Columbus Board of Historic and
Architectural Review and the Liberty Theatre Cultural Center. The
Liberty Theatre is a Columbus African American theatre that was
listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Frazier is
featured in Lift Every Voice, a documentary about African American
heritage in Columbus. The documentary and pictorial exhibit are
currently featured at the Columbus Museum.
Charlotte Hawkins Frazier is a member of the Mayor’s
Commission on Diversity. She received a resolution from the Georgia
Senate in recognition of her African American preservation initiatives.
Jack Hadley, a veteran of the United States Air Force, was
honored for his contributions to the legacy of African Americans
in his native Thomasville. Hadley spent his career with the U.S.
Postal Service in Thomasville.
He is a collector of African
American historic artifacts, and
is president of the Jack Hadley
Black History Memorabilia, Inc.
His humanitarian projects
include recognition of Henry
Ossian Flipper, a Thomasville
native and the first African
American graduate from West
Point. Hadley’s current
preservation project centers
on Douglass High School.
Jack Hadley raises awareness
of African American sites on
his Step on, Step Off heritage
tours in Thomasville. He is the
co-author with Titus Brown of African-American Life on the
Southern Hunting Plantation, a chronicle of the African
Americans who lived and worked on Pebble Hill Plantation, a
National Register of Historic Places property near Thomasville.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION DIVISION
 ANNUAL PRESERVATION ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
continued on page 6
Each year during
Historic Preservation Month in
May, the Historic Preservation
Division (HPD) holds its
Preservation Achievement
Awards ceremony. The honorees
are recognized for contributions
made while working specifically
with, but not for, HPD and its
programs. Cumulative career
achievement or completion of
noteworthy projects are
considered in the nominations.
Staff recognize individuals and
organizations for contributing to
the mission and goals of HPD.
Cynthia Rosers of Newnan was one of this year’s awards recipients.
Cornelia Walker Bailey
Charlotte Hawkins Frazier
James “Jack” Hadley
Recipients of the 2004 Historic
Preservation Division’s Preservation
Achievement Awards included, from
left to right: Monica Kocher, Michael
Miller, Cynthia Rosers, Tom Gresham,
Anne Floyd and Randy Weitman. Other
recipients (not in picture) were Andrea
MacDonald and Hope Moorer.
6
GEORGIA HERITAGE GRANT PROGRAM
Cherie Bennett, Planning & Local Assistance Coordinator
Historic Preservation Division
Funding through grant programs is, more often than not, vital in
the success of historic preservation projects. One of these
crucial programs is the Georgia Heritage Grant Program administered
by the Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Natural
Resources. Since its inception in 1994, the Georgia Heritage Grant
Program has provided seed-money to make hundreds of statewide
historic preservation projects a reality. Many of these important
projects have involved the restoration of historic African
American resources.
This past year, the Peabody School in Eastman received a
grant for $16,000 to repair and replace the roof of this historic
educational building. The school was constructed circa 1938 as
the high school for black students in Eastman and much of Dodge
County. The structure is a one-story brick, T-shaped building with
a metal roof that exhibits Colonial Revival elements. In the late
1950s, a new high school was built so the original Peabody School
was converted to serve grades 1-8. After the school ceased
operation, the United Concerned Citizens of Dodge County formed
to acquire the property. In 1994, this organization purchased the
building from the Dodge County Board of Education. The facility
is currently used for social activities, such as meeting, reunions,
parties, and for the Summer Feed-A-Kid Program.
Each year, approximately 15-20 projects are selected for
funding, based on need, degree of threat to the resource, project
planning, and community benefit from the resource. Geographical
and demographical distribution and variety of resource types and
uses are also considered in award decisions. Grants are available
for development and predevelopment projects. Development
projects include stabilization, preservation, rehabilitation and
restoration activities. Predevelopment projects include plans and
specifications, feasibility studies, historic structure reports, or other
building-specific or site-specific preservation plans. The maximum
grant amount that can be requested is $40,000 for development
projects, and $20,000 for predevelopment projects.
To be eligible for funding, applicants must be a local
government or private secular nonprofit organization and have
documentation of matching funds (equal to at least 40% of the
project cost). The property for which funds are being requested
must be listed in, or eligible for listing in, the Georgia Register of
Historic Places, and be listed prior to reimbursement of funds. All
grant assisted work must meets the applicable Secretary of the
Interior’s “Standards for Archaeology and Historic Preservation.”
This year’s grant applications are currently available,
and must be postmarked by July 15, 2004. For further information
about the grant program, please contact: Cherie Bennett, Acting
Grants Coordinator, at the Historic Preservation Division,
Department of Natural Resources. I can be reached at 404/651-5181
or by email at cherie_bennett@dnr.state.ga.us.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION DIVISION
 ANNUAL PRESERVATION ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
continued from page 5
Cynthia Rosers is president of the African American
Alliance, Inc. She is a member of the board of directors of the
Newnan-Coweta Historical Society. She is committed to increasing
diversity in Newnan’s preservation community, and has
successfully implemented several projects that contribute to the
mission of HPD.
Rosers and other members of the Alliance led the effort to
list the Powell Chapel School in the National Register of Historic
Places (June 2003). Through her leadership, the African American
Alliance leased a shotgun house threatened for demolition by the
City of Newnan, and adaptively
used this structure to house
the Coweta County African
American Heritage Museum
and Research Center,
Newnan’s first African
American Museum. The
museum is a repository for
information about Newnan’s
African American past and is
a facility where individuals can
conduct genealogical research.
The museum was dedicated in
April 2003.
Rosers assisted the
Rosenwald school inventory
by linking HPD African
American programs with the mayor of Turin and the Walter B. Hill
Industrial School in that community.
Her recent preservation projects included development of
a tour of the Chalk Level community, one of Newnan’s historical
African American residential districts. Under Rosers’ leadership,
the African American Alliance secured a grant from the Georgia
Humanities Council to produce a catalog of homes on Pinson Street.
This information will be used to support the nomination of the Chalk
Level Historic District to the National Register of Historic Places.
Recently Rosers and the African American Alliance
acquired a slave cabin from a Newnan family. This cabin will be
reassembled at the site of the museum, and may assist in future
interpretation of plantation life in the 1800s.
Cynthia Rosers receives her award
from Richard Cloues, deputy state
historic preservation officer and
manager of HPD’s Survey and
National Register Unit.
Cherie Bennett presents the $16,000 Heritage Grant from the Historic
Preservation Division to the United Concerned Citizens of Dodge County
and Robin Nail, historic preservation planner for the Heart of GeorgiaAltamaha Regional Development Center. Photo by William Hover
7
Karl Webster Barnes
Atlanta, 404/758-4891
C. Donald Beall
Columbus, 706/569-4344
Corinne Blencoe
Newnan, 770/254-7443
M.M. (Peggy) Harper
Atlanta, 404/522-3231
Linda Wilkes
Atlanta, 678/686-6243
Thomas Williams
Kennesaw, 678/445-5124
Isaac Johnson
Augusta, Chair
706/738-1901
Beth Shorthouse
Atlanta, Vice-Chair
404/253-1488
Jeanne Mills
Atlanta, Secretary/Treasurer
404/753-6265
GAAHPN STEERING COMMITTEE
Jeanne Cyriaque
African American
Programs Coordinator
Reflections Editor
Voice 404/656-4768
Fax 404/657-1040
jeanne_cyriaque@dnr.state.ga.us
STAFF
Isaac Johnson
Chairman
Jennifer Eaton
African American
Programs Assistant
Voice 404/657-1054
Fax 404/657-1040
jennifer_eaton@dnr.state.ga.us
Jennifer Eaton, African American Programs Assistant
Historic Preservation Division
THE FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH & PARSONAGE OF WAYCROSS
On April 11, 2003, the First African Baptist Church
and parsonage were listed in the National Register of Historic
Places. The church is presently known as First Antioch Missionary
Baptist Church. It is the sixth property to be listed in the National
Register in Ware County, Georgia. This site is also the first and only
African American property listed in the National Register in Ware
County. The church and parsonage were listed in the significant
areas of architecture and ethnic heritage.
The Gothic Revival-style church retains its original siding,
towers, pointed-arch windows, floors, wainscoting, bulls-eye
molding, and pressed metal ceiling. The parsonage is an excellent
example of a Queen Anne cottage that maintains its original floor
plan and materials. The detailed construction and architectural style
of these two buildings are not consistent with the typical African
American rural church plan. According to Carole Merrit’s Historic
Black Resources, a statewide context on African American historic
properties, rural churches were simplistic with few or no stylistic
features. These two buildings are good examples of popular
architectural styles of the late 19th and early 20th century.
 The First African Baptist Church was initially organized
as the Zion African Baptist Church on October 15, 1870. Worshipers
who had just emerged from slavery received help from Rev. William
Quaterman, an African American minister, Rev. H.V. Jeffords and
Lewis C. Tebeau to organize the church. Rev. Frank Hazzard, the
first pastor, and 37 new members began worship in an old log cabin
that was later dedicated as the
meeting place. They quickly
outgrew the log cabin. In 1905, the
church congregation moved to the
present building, under the
leadership of Rev. S. Buford.
The two buildings reflect
the role of the Baptist church in
post-Civil War life in the African
American community of Waycross,
Georgia. It is the oldest African
American Baptist church in the area
and is considered the “Mother Church” of other congregations in
Waycross. In addition to the religious foundation provided to the
community, the church also formulated the first African American
private school for blacks in Waycross. Hazzard Hill Baptist School,
though no longer extant, was named after Rev. Frank Hazzard.
The First African Baptist Church provided a spiritual
meeting place, educational facility, and a home away from home for
many years. It is still a strong and growing congregation within the
Waycross community. The efforts of the congregation to be listed
in the National Register of Historic Places demonstrates their
concern and awareness of historic preservation as well as their
hard work and determination to provide a legacy for the future.
The First African Baptist Church in Waycross features Gothic Revival-style
dual bell towers. Photo by James R. Lockhart
The First African Baptist
Church parsonage is a Queen
Anne cottage.
 Photo by James R. Lockhart
The Georgia African American Historic Preservation Network (GAAHPN)
was established in January 1989. It is composed of representatives from
neighborhood organizations and preservation groups. GAAHPN was formed
in response to a growing interest in preserving the cultural and ethnic diversity of
Georgia’s African American heritage. This interest has translated into a number of
efforts which emphasize greater recognition of African American culture and
contributions to Georgia’s history. The GAAHPN Steering Committee meets regularly
to plan and implement ways to develop programs that will foster heritage education,
neighborhood revitalization, and support community and economic development.
The Network is an informal group of over 1,750 people who have an interest in
preservation. Members are briefed on the status of current and planned projects and are
encouraged to offer ideas, comments and suggestions. The meetings provide an
opportunity to share and learn from the preservation experience of others and to receive
technical information through workshops. Members receive a newsletter, Reflections,
produced by the Network. Visit the Historic Preservation Division website at
www.gashpo.org. Preservation information and previous issues of Reflections are
available online. Membership in the Network is free and open to all.
ABOUT GAAHPN
This publication has been financed in part with federal
funds from the National Park Service, Department of the
Interior, through the Historic Preservation Division,
Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The contents
and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or
policies of the Department of the Interior, nor does the
mention of trade names, commercial products or
consultants constitute endorsement or recommendation
by the Department of the Interior or the Georgia
Department of Natural Resources. The Department
of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis
of race, color, national origin, or disability in its
federally assisted programs. If you believe you have
been discriminated against in any program, activity, or
facility, or if you desire more information, write to: Office
for Equal Opportunity, National Park Service, 1849 C
Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20240.
Published quarterly by the
Historic Preservation Division
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
W. Ray Luce, Division Director &
Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer
Jeanne Cyriaque, Editor
A Program of the
Historic Preservation Division
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
47 Trinity Avenue, S.W.
Suite 414-H
Atlanta, GA 30334-9006