This congregation was still active in 1974, when they held their centennial, but I don’t know when it disbanded, nor do I know when the fire damage that partially gutted the roof occurred.
Ezekiel New Congregational Methodist, as well as the old Ruskin Church and the old Trinity Methodist in downtown Waycross (now demolished) are, in my opinion, all the work of the same builder. J. Gregory Smith writes: Once as a child, I marveled at a 10 foot rattle snake that was hung on a pole on the highway in front of the church. My grandmother, Mina Jordan Smith once ran a filling station and grocery in Dixie-Union . In later years. my cousin Twiman Smith ran a store just down the road.Good memories!!
Leigh Nelson shared this wonderful historic photo, likely made during a revival or homecoming. She is unsure of the date but some of her relatives were part of the congregation. [Just looking at the clothing, I’d date this between-1935-1945].
Thanks to Anna Gay Leavitt for helping me locate this church.
Update: As of late August 2024, I’ve been told the church has collapsed.
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I once lived the the house behind the church for about 3 years. Such a wonderful piece of history in Waycross Georgia!
Thank you so much for these pictures. I spent summer vacations in Waycross with my grandmother and miss it so much. I love Waycross Ga. 🙂
As the story goes, my great grandparents were married in this church. I have some old pictures of the church somewhere as well that I will try to find. Drove past it all my life growing up and looking back I wish that I would have taken more pictures. It was restored at one point but then later abandoned.
I’m probably one of your biggest fans and I’m surprised this hasn’t happened sooner. Someone has posted your picture of this church on my timeline and even copied your exact words. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1479141377&fref=nf
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10208511906703378&set=o.461730657327966&type=3&theater
I believe this church was located on the north bound side of RT #1 between Waycross and Dixie-Union. I took a picture of the church before and after the fire while on my summer visits to my grandmother’s home. Once as a child, I marveled at a 10 foot rattle snake that was hung on a pole on the highway in front of the church. My grandmother, Mina Jordan Smith once ran a filling station and grocery in Dixie-Union . In later years. my cousin Twiman Smith ran a store just down the road.Good memories!!
My Great Grandparents, Walter and Annie Belle Cason lived in Dixie Union (Pebble Hill) . I’m wondering if you remember their old home place located at Dixie Union. It was a handmade log house on the west side of US 1.going into Dixie Union. As a child, my grandmother and her parents attended Ezekiel Methodist Church. The old Cason Home Place, sadly, was destroyed in the path of the interstate that was built going out of Dixie Union a few years ago. Thankfully, I have pictures. Just wondering if anyone remembers the old house. It had a concrete block modern home sitting near it and the old house sat several yards away on the property by the roadside. In later years the porch and house were filled with an accumulation of junk. I always wanted to go inside but was afraid to. At least I have it preserved in pictures. Using Photo Shop, I removed all of the junk, the old rusty truck and electric lines and it now looks almost like it did in its early years. Maybe your family would remember the old house. It was the only one of its kind in the area. jumeaujs1@aol.com
I am enjoying your new photos of St. Mary’s and Ware County, etc. So much of our Georgia landscape, buildings and customs are eroding away
It is good to see the photos that will remind us of all the history we have lost.
I sent an email to the Georgia Trust with a link to this little church. You never know……
that almost looks like a schoolhouse with that top belfry.
-Trish
This is a beautiful little building. There is a large frame church in Waycross – I have some photos somewhere – that has similar elements. I’ll try to find. They are recent.
Is the church located IN Waycross, Chip? It could be the one I thought was demolished…I know the Ruskin church is almost a carbon copy of this one.
about 65 years ago as a young teenager i would see these churches often these pictures brought back fond memory of those by gone times ;;thanks for shairing with me ;;lonnie