Liberty County, GA

Georgia’s Liberty County is a microcosm of American history. From Colonial days until now, this coastal area has been home to freedom-loving patriots who made their mark on the country—and left their mark on this land.

“During the American Revolution, this area was very highly in favor of independence,” says William Cox, a local historian and mayor of Allenhurst (pop. 788). “Georgia had three signers of the Declaration of Independence and two of them were from (this county).” Cox explains that after the war, all parishes were converted to counties, and this one—formerly called St. John’s—was given the name Liberty.

To celebrate the county’s historical significance, members of the Liberty County Development Authority (LCDA) have completed the first phase of an effort to link the area’s major historical, cultural, and ecological sites. A driving tour takes visitors to seven major destinations.

The oldest site on The Historic Liberty Trail is the Midway Church, built in 1756 (it was burned during the Revolution and rebuilt in 1792). The white-frame, New England-style church once boasted as many as 1,000 members, many of whom played important roles in the development of the country. Two of the early preachers were the Rev. Abiel Holmes, father of Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, the author, and grandfather of Oliver Wendell Holmes, the Supreme Court Justice; and the Rev. Jedidiah Morse, whose son, Samuel, invented the telegraph.

“Out of this church were four governors of Georgia, two U.S. senators, untold numbers of representatives, the first American ambassador to China,” Cox says. “Pretty good for a little country church.”

Another building distinguished in both local and national history is the Dorchester Academy National Historic Place. The Georgian Revival-style school was built after the Civil War to educate former slaves, and later became a community center. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. prepared here for his 1963 Birmingham Civil Rights campaign.

Two of the state’s most important military sites also are on the trail. The Fort Morris State Historic Site was a coastal fortification serving the area throughout the Revolution, War of 1812, and Civil War. The original earthworks—trenches and mounds for hiding ammunition—are still visible, but nowadays the mission is more about peace than protection. Visitors can sit on a swing overlooking the river and walk through a forest of water oaks, pine trees, hickories, dogwoods, and sweet gums.

Fort Stewart, home to the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) and the summer training grounds for the National Guard, has brought the area’s military involvement into modern times. “They’re trained for rapid deployment, specifically in desert warfare,” says Allen Brown, chairman of the LCDA. He notes that Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf commanded this post for two years in the early ’80s. “They almost always go on to big things from here,” he explains.

Other sites on the trail include Seabrook Village, a living history museum with eight 20th-century buildings, and LeConte Woodmanston National Historic Site, one of Georgia’s earliest rice plantations and now a nature preserve—which is fitting, since the founder’s son, John LeConte, helped establish the Sierra Club. The newest trail addition is Cay Creek Interpretive Center, which explores the environmental and ecological impact of the area’s wetlands.

Ron Tolley, president and CEO of the LCDA, says the Liberty Trail has produced a needed community benefit: “This process actually tied these sites together and created closer working relationships.” The group plans to enhance the trail by adding more sites and information kiosks and by lengthening a bike path.

“The local people are very, very proud of their history,” Tolley says. “They’ve always been very independent-minded, and they’re proud of that. They still have that strong liberty streak in them.”

Kara Carden is a regular contributor to American Profile.

Upload Your Own Stories, Photos and Videos

Every week, American Profile magazine brings you stories that celebrate the people and places that make America great. Now we want to hear your stories and see your photos, videos and even audio.

 Start Uploading Now!

 

Discuss this Article