The Gospel According to
"Saint Jack!"
Bringing History Alive...

The following articles and editorials were written by our very own Jack Mays, (unless otherwise noted) Charlton County Historian and former Mayor of Folkston. All articles are © 2000 - 2009.

This site was created and is maintained by Tara D. Fields and is part of The Crypt.

If you have any questions or comments you can either address them to me or you can send them directly to Jack Mays at: maysj@charltoncounty.com or:
Jack Mays
PO Box 777
Folkston, Georgia 31537

Article Index:

1. Roddenberry Hotel on Folkston's Main Street, 1910. (Photo.)
2. HOMELAND'S PALMETTO HOTEL DATES BACK TO 1908. By Austin Hickox.
3. Alex S. McQueen Wrote the History of Charlton County in 1931, While Creating His Own Chapter As a Popular Attorney.
4. Bud Cantrell's New Restaurant, built by mistake inside the Folkston City Limits in the 1950s, proved a disastrous blow.
5. The Rodgers Building, Housing Folkston Pharmacy, Has Seen Rich History, and Much More, Under Dr. W. D. Thompson.
6. McDonald House Hotel Avoids Burning as Did Arnold, Roddenberry, and Central House
7. Folkston's Two Drugstores Were Headquarters for War News in 1944.
8. Shannon, Former Prison Guard, Ran Successful "Jot-Em-Down" Store.
9. Bank Fights For Survival
10. Charlton County Hotels
11. Dr. J. W. Buchanan Arrives With Plans for a Recreation Area for Charlton
12. Folkston's Three Movie Theaters, The Paxton, Ritz, and Topper, Kept Charlton County Entertained.
13. Depression-Era Faith Healer Finds Success in Folkston
14. Movers and Shakers Meet at Stapleton's Drug Store
15. Charlton Gets Its First Bank!
16. Rainroads Tie Charlton County Communities Together.
17. The Folkston Barbershops of Pete Stroup and O. W. Layton in the 30s and 40s Had Charm, Character and Gossip.
18. Could the "Lost Patrol" have Crashed into the Okefenokee in 1945?
19. Businesses Suffer Through Depression
20. Depression Hits Charlton County Hard
21. Stanley Mattox, Sheriff in 1903, Hanged Two, Bringing An End to Outdoor Public Hangings in Georgia.
22. Hanging at Traders Hill
23. Pratt Mizell Murdered!
24. Murder in the Okefenokee!
25. Main Street, Folkston, Georgia (Photos)
26. Movie, Swamp Girl, premiered at Folkston's Topper Theater in 1971.
27. During WWII, Young Charlton Boys and Girls Had to Grow Up Quickly.
28. Folkston, At the End of World War I, Fought For Progress.
29. City of Folkston took pride in its Volunteer Fire Department in the 1950s.
30. Railroad Strikers Make Lemonade of Lemons In the 1920s.
31. World War Two draftees left from Folkston bus depot, dozens at a time.
32. Star Trek Creator, Gene Roddenberry, had Charlton Roots.
33. Did O'Cain Leave Behind Buried Treasure?
34. McDonald Pushes for Armistice Day Celebration.
35. Shriners' Parade A Hit With Local Residents.
36. Dr. Fleming Finds Joy in Medicine and Amaryllis Garden.
37. Homeland, Begun in 1906, Enjoying Renissance.
38. W. H. Mizell, Charlton Sheriff, Did His Job the Hard Way.
39. Charlie Passieu created a legacy as Mayor of Folkston from the 1920s until the 1960s.
40. Bitter School Bond Issues Passed for a New High School in 1953.
41. Charlton Courthouse was once the place to be on election night.
42. Folkston City Government, in the 1960s, Pushed Through a City Sewer System, Despite Voters Wishes.
43. John Harris, "Playing Politics" to Benefit Education.
44. Olliff Works to Get County Seat Moved.
45. Christmas, 1941, Charlton County Changed to A War Mode!
46. The Home Guard Was Ready to Defend Charlton During WWII.
47. Kamikaze planes sink the USS Barry with Dr. Jackson aboard!
48. Battle of the Bulge May Ruin Christmas, But Won't Destroy the Spirit of Charlton County Natives!
49. Bennett Finds Adventure, and Heroism, In War
50. Wildes Served With Distinction
51. C. L. Passieu Received Distinguished Flying Cross Medal After Heroic Missions Over Japan
52. Mrs. Winnie's Wartime Scrapbook: A Mother's Treasure.