Special Projects
The Bulloch County Historical Society takes pride in restoring and sharing Bulloch County’s past. Oftentimes, the Society is made aware of historical artifacts or stories and does its best to facilitate and possibly fund the project.
Quick Jump to
JAECKEL HOTEL SIGN >
RENAISSANCE WEST JONES STREET PARK >
EASTSIDE CEMETERY >
FAMILY TREE — Eagle on Parade >
Do you know of a special project that the Society may be interested in? Contact us today!
JAECKEL HOTEL SIGN RESTORATION PHOTOS — Click on images for more information!
After being opened for nearly 55 years the Jaeckel Hotel closed and became home to City Hall in 1994. The beautiful landmark in the heart of downtown regained its infamous green and white sign.
The aged sign was found in an abandoned building by Bulloch County Historical Society member Virginia Anne Franklin Waters and unfortunately, due to limited Society funds it could not be purchased. With the help from the Jack N. & Addie D. Averitt Foundation, the Bulloch County Historical Society was able to purchase, restore and hang the trademark Jaeckel Hotel sign. As of June 2012, the restored sign hangs on the side of City Hall for everyone passing through downtown to admire.
Built in 1905, the Jaeckel Hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Classic Revival in style, it was designed by A.J. Franklin. Opened by German immigrant Gustave Jaeckel, this hotel was a showplace in early 20th century Statesboro, hosting celebrities like Henry Ford, William Jennings Bryan and Cornelius Vanderbilt.
JAECKEL HOTEL SIGN
LOCATED AT:
Statesboro City Hall, 50 E. Main Street, Statesboro, Georgia
The hotel sign was restored by Statesboro's Neon Design & Sign.
RENAISSANCE PARK DEDICATION PHOTOS — Click on images for more information!
Boys & Girls Club Choir singing at the dedication of Renaissance Park.
May 14, 2015
LOCATED AT:
Intersection of West Jones Avenue and Parker Street, Statesboro, Georgia
The Bulloch County Historical Society dedicated Renaissance Park on Thursday, May 14, 2015. The park is located at the intersection of West Jones Avenue and Parker Street.
Joe McGlamery, President of the Society, said, “We were pleased to have Rev. Craig Tremble of Second Saint John Missionary Baptist Church to deliver our invocation at 5:30 p.m. Entertainment for the event was provided by the Second Saint John choir and the Bulloch County Boys & Girls Club Chorus.”
Others who spoke at the dedication Mayor Jan Moore, Councilman Gary Lewis, Interim City Manager Robert Cheshire, Mical Whittaker, and BCHS Executive Director Virginia Anne Waters. McGlamery served as Master of Ceremonies.
Cheshire noted how the area that now contains the park was once an area of the city with poor drainage that often flooded. “We built a drainage ditch around the property and moved in dirt to build up the center for a level area that could be landscaped for public use as a park. The Historical Society has done an excellent job of adding attractive landscaping and an artistic and historical focal point for residents to enjoy.”
“The focal point of the renovations and plantings in the park is a metal sculpture of our Courthouse Clocktower that was used in the halftime show for the NCAA Division 1-AA National Football Championship Game played at Paulson Stadium in 1990,” stated Virginia Anne Waters, BCHS Executive Director. “We believe the iconic sculpture and the other improvements the Historical Society has made in Renaissance Park, will create a beautiful green space garden atmosphere to be enjoyed by residents of downtown Statesboro for years to come.”
A marker was placed upon a granite stone which will commemorate the park.
RENAISSANCE PARK DEDICATION
Bulloch County Historical Society Dedicates Renaissance Park
LOCATED AT:
Highway 80, Statesboro, Georgia
Finding a loved one’s grave in Eastside Cemetery is much easier since the BCHS completed a community improvement project to erect signs with street names on all the lanes. The Historical Society chose the project to aid the public in locating the graves of family members and for those doing genealogy research.
A total of 30 markers were installed by a City of Statesboro maintenance crew under the direction of Robert Seamans, Streets & Parks Superintendent.
“This has been a great partnership,” stated Seamans, “The City furnishes the labor to install the posts and the Quikrete, while the Historical Society furnishes the new posts and signs. It takes about ten minutes to install a single post.”
The posts are a black solid recycled plastic composite that measure 4” x 4” with white rectangular panels featuring clear black lettering. Street names are visible from all four sides. The signs are to be installed at the intersections of each crossroads.
“We’ve done 30 and we plan to do another 30 in the coming months,” said Seamans. He estimates there will be approximately 90 signs in all. “We want to have them from the ditch in back all the way out to Highway 80.”
The new signs will replace tiny wooden posts, many of which were broken or missing street names. Street names were researched by Historical Society members and the City using historical records, DAR booklets, old maps and old drawings.
Robert Cheshire, Deputy City Manager thought the project important enough to have the City do the installation. “It made sense to have our people do the actual installation so that we could be sure to avoid old water or power lines within the cemetery.”
Bill Waters serves as chair of the Cemetery Signs committee and coordinated the project with Cheshire and Seamans for the Historical Society.
Street name marker at Eastside Cementery, installed in 2015.
Crossroad Street Marker at Eastside Cemetery, Statesboro, Georgia
EASTSIDE CEMETERY SIGNAGE PROJECT
As part of the Betty Foy Sanders Department of Art’s Eagle Nation on Parade, Bulloch County’s Family Tree takes visitors on a tour of important people and places, including iconic figures Jack Averitt, Emma Kelley and Willie McTell, along with buildings and businesses such as Franklins Restaurant, the courthouse, Georgia Southern and the Statesboro Regional Hospital.
Located outside of the Statesboro Regional Library, Bulloch County’s Family Tree is a whimsical pictorial addition to Bulloch County Historical Society’s educational programming.
Statesboro Regional Library:
124 S Main Street, Statesboro, Georgia
Bulloch County’s Family Tree was created by local artist Scott Foxx.
Bulloch County's Eagle on Parade