Preserving a Vital Historic Landscape
 

Our primary focus centers on the comprehensive preservation of the Historic Woolsey Church, the Historic Woolsey Cemetery, their surrounding acreage, and the 100-plus-year-old oak trees that define the character of this landscape. By partnering with local government, community members, friends, supporters, businesses, and various funding partners, we are working to protect this significant cultural resource.Together, we look forward to sharing its distinct architectural features, ancient canopy, and rich local history through educational and cultural opportunities for all generations.

The Heart of Our History

The historic landscape of Woolsey is a place where family, faith, and literature intersect. Our story begins with Dr. I. G. Woolsey, our community namesake and founder, whose early vision established the foundation for the landmarks we preserve today.

This rich heritage is further immortalized through the work of Dr. Ferrol Sams Jr., a Georgia Writers Hall of Fame inductee who grew up in the shadow of this history. In his novel, Run with the Horsemen (1982), Dr. Sams provides a firsthand account of the rural traditions and customs that anchored the Woolsey congregation during the early 20th century.

Furthermore, his work Christmas Gift! captures the significance of the adjacent cemetery, transforming it into a site of active folklore and memory. By grounding his stories in this specific geography, Dr. Sams established the Historic Woolsey Church and Cemetery Property as the physical touchstone of his literary identity, a legacy we are proud to honor as we continue the work started by Dr. Woolsey so many years ago.