The first St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Waycross was dedicated on 12 May 1889. On 3 October 1896 it was destroyed by a hurricane. Father P. J. Luckie, who had come to Waycross in 1897, led the effort to construct the church seen here. It was built by local contractor T. J. Darling and the work was completed in October 1898. Unbelievably, another hurricane ravaged Southeast Georgia soon after the church was finished and during the storms, it was lifted off its foundation and badly damaged. Father Luckie had it repaired in short order.
It was moved just a short distance from another position on this lot in the 1920s and served the congregation until 1981, when a larger modern structure was built on Darling Avenue. In recent years, the old St. Joseph’s was used by the Lutherans but it may be empty at the present time.
Jason Canon recently reached out to share a bit of the history of St. Joseph Academy, a school established by the church. “The Order of the Sisters of St. Francis of Allegany opened the Academy in September 1948. It served both Catholic and non-Catholic students until its closure in 1976.
Downtown Waycross Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
What a neat building! Its location (modern high-rises now behind it) make it look like the relic from older times that it is. I have seen other older churches in “newer” locales like this one is, and it always looks strange. but also reminds one that, even as “times progress, and new ways of doing things come along,” other things are still important, timeless, and not to be forgotten.
Would be interesting to see if any earlier photos exist that show this in its original position relative to its neighborhood, before those larger buildings behind it were built. That would give your viewers a better context of its original placement in time.
Thanks for this post. Wonder what the difference in congregation size was, then and now?
Brian, my grandfather built his house in Ocilla before 1900, my father was born there in 1910. Mr. John L Sumner moved into that house when my grandpa moved to Glynn County in 1920..Theckast that I heard was that Mr..Sumner’s grandson lives in the house and farms there adjacent to the old 125 acre mill pond. Check it out when you are nearby. I loved riding in Mr.Sumner’s pick-up truck, helping him move the cows to a different pasture, and other chores, just loved talking with him. Jim