GROVETOWN MUSEUM AND MEMORIAL PARK

"To my knowledge, there is no other Grovetown in the United States" boasts Charles Lord, a local historian responsible for preserving much of the bygone days of this small country town. Many residents revel in the distinction. Located adjacent to the golf mecca of Augusta, GA, Grovetown still maintains a small town feel despite its recent popularity as a hot spot for new home construction.

In the midst of this small city, a tall white plantation style home with a turquoise tin roof sits unassumingly along a well-traveled road close to the train tracks. A 30 foot flagpole waves the Georgian and American flag on its manicured front yard. A recent heat wave has browned a usually lush green landscape; however, one can notice the care taken to keep the grounds well maintained. At the edge of the property, a slightly rusted black lacquered sign shows the effects of the hot Georgia summers. The words underneath the single horse pushing a two wheeled buggy display the purpose of this historical building: Grovetown Museum.

The historical building almost did not come to be. The 1990s saw Grovetown’s census numbers steadily rise. As the town developed, city officials determined it was necessary to build a City Hall. According to The City of Grovetown website, the land that the town purchased had an empty, dilapidated 19^th century home resting on it. The mayor proposed to have the property destroyed. Lord, with the help of a retired schoolteacher named Rosa Lee Owens, proposed a better idea for the old house. They saw the historical relevance of this old home and proposed that instead of destroying it, the city move it to another part of the property and use it to preserve the growing city’s history. Rosa Lee and Charles remained persistent, and the mayor eventually supported their request. In March 2000, the first city museum in Columbia County, Georgia was opened to the public.

The museum feels like an old country home, with its well-traveled wood panel floors, its flat white walls, and its white, floral patterned curtains. Once inside, visitors are greeted by the soothing Southern voice of Cheryl Maddox, the museum’s guide. Cheryl allows her guests to wander around and explore, but she remains available for any questions they may have. “We always have people who come back to Grovetown to visit for the first time since childhood,” Cheryl says. “This place always brings back good memories. School kids love to come here on field trips and learn about the old days in Grovetown.” Old-timers can view the model of the old Grovetown Train Station and reminisce about the times they hung around tracks in the hot Georgia sun while passenger trains hurried residents along the Augusta-Atlanta line. Newcomers can learn about the exploits of famous residents such as post-Civil War era poet Paul Hamilton Hayne and early 20^th century funnyman Oliver Hardy. 


The city’s connection to the United States military is also on display inside the museum, as mannequins wear military uniforms almost as proudly as its original owners. “The Military Spirit is Alive!” flaunts a sign in the middle of the display. That indelible spirit is most greatly exemplified once the visitor exits the museum and enters the meticulous grounds of Grovetown Memorial Park.

The city unveiled Grovetown Memorial Park in May of 2007. The park features an active bronze fountain, a gazebo, an olive drab-colored Howitzer cannon, and six barren flagpoles. The Grovetown Memorial Wall is the centerpiece of the garden. The double-sided serpentine wall is made of polished gray marble and encased in old fashioned red brick. The marble sections contain the names of Grovetown’s fallen heroes, as far back as The Civil War. On any given day, members of the community can come pay homage to old friends, family or ancestors who all paid the ultimate price for our country. The park holds special Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day programs that brings the community together in remembrance. The Columbia County News-Times chronicled the unveiling of this patriotic monument.

Grovetown Memorial Park offers open access to the public anytime, day or night. The Grovetown Museum is open Fridays from 10 am to 4 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 1 pm to 4 pm. The admission is free. The memories are timeless! Whenever you are in the Augusta area, stop by 106 East Robinson Avenue in Grovetown, and have Cheryl take you on a journey through small town history. Click here to visit the city’s Facebook page.