Ramblings from the President

What an honor it continues to be to serve as president of the Bulloch County Historical Society! Even though I experienced some medical issues during this past year, the work of the Society continued without a blip thanks to the efforts of our outstanding coordinator, Virginia Anne Franklin Waters, and hard-working committee chairs, officers and directors.

One of the highlights of 2013 was the dedication of the Society’s “Eagle Nation on Parade” at the Statesboro Regional Library. Public art is important to a community and our eagle is more than mere art, it is also “History on Parade,” telling Bulloch County’s history through the iconic art of Scott Foxx. When our companion educational booklet is completed in the next few months, we will take a giant step forward in teaching our children and adults about those people and forces that molded our community into its present form.

Your Society dedicated seven historical markers during 2013 and more are on the way, starting in February with the unveiling of a double-sided marker commemorating both the Rigdon Mill at Lake View and the Rigdon Cemetery. We will be aided by the Center for Irish Studies from Georgia Southern as we come to better understand the impact of the Irish in Bulloch County.

Our sponsorship of the Averitt Lecture series continues to reflect the intention of Jack and Addie Averitt to bring to our community a series of outstanding thinkers and authors who contribute to the public’s understanding and appreciation of Southern history, literature and culture. Last year it was Michael Kitchens and his “Ghosts of Grandeur” lecture on antebellum architecture. In 2014 we will welcome David Fulmer and his lecture on Statesboro musician Blind Willie McTell.

And there was much more. Michael McDougald entranced us with his stories of growing up in Bulloch County, our puppet show thrilled hundreds of Bulloch County 3rd grade students, planning is well underway for a new puppet show on the history of Georgia, we preserved the Bulloch County Courthouse clock tower replica built for the 1990 National Championship game at Paulson Stadium and so much more.

Our Tales from the Tomb II was a huge success; our work on a Downtown Statesboro Walking Tour is nearing completion – including a self-guiding map and booklet. And, working with the Boy Scouts, we continue to clean and document many Bulloch County cemeteries.

Your officers and directors are continuing to look for new and expanded ways to preserve our history, to interpret and educate our community and to publish important books and stories about our past.

Thanks for your support of these and many other efforts!

Happy New Year,

Joe McGlamery