Friends of Historic Woolsey

09/03/2026

We are deeply grateful to the Fayette County Development Authority, in partnership with the Town of Woolsey, for their generous grant supporting the restoration of Historic Woolsey Church.

This investment in our community means so much as we work to preserve this special place and its story for generations to come. We are thankful for their belief in the importance of Historic Woolsey Church and for helping us move one step closer to bringing this historic landmark back to life.

Follow along for updates as the restoration continues! We are excited to share this journey with you.

The Fayette County Development Authority has announced the recipients of its FY27 Partners in Success Grant Program, awarding $1.5 million to five projects across the county. The matching grants of $300,000 each will support taxiway connectors at Falcon Field, a new Fayetteville Visitor Center, continued restoration of the historic 1889 Woolsey Church, Launch Fayette's workforce development efforts, and the countywide Fayette Forward initiative. Now in its fourth year, the program has awarded more than $3.7 million to date.

Link to the article in the comments.

09/02/2026

Recently, Landmark Preservation strengthened and improved the 136 year-old brick piers that support the church around its perimeter. Originally, these masonry piers were set directly in the dirt. The structural engineer for the project wanted to make sure they lasted for another hundred years, so the church was raised slightly using jacks and wood blocks, and each pier was deconstructed by hand. The historic bricks from each pier were cleaned and stacked separately. 2‘ x 2’ footers were dug, poured with concrete and reinforced with stainless steel. Then, the original bricks were reassembled in the exact configuration, in the exact same location. This marked the final stage of the current structural stabilization of the church.

Photos by Ryan Arvay © 2026

08/26/2026

Faces of Woolsey: Bobby Jackson ❤️

This photograph of Bobby on his bicycle in Woolsey is one of our favorites!

There’s something special about seeing Woolsey through the eyes of those who lived here. Photographs like this give us little glimpses of everyday life and help us remember the people who made this community what it is.

Thank you to Jennifer Jackson for sharing this special photograph of her dad with us.

08/13/2026

We are honored to receive a historic landscape preservation grant from The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc. to help take care of the historic oak trees on the Historic Woolsey Church property.

More than just part of the landscape, these trees have witnessed generations gather, worship, and share in the life of our community. We are deeply grateful to The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc. for helping ensure these living landmarks remain part of Woolsey’s story.

Cheryl Briscoe, Chairman of the GCG Historic Landscape Program 2025-2027, said:
“The Garden Club of Georgia is so pleased to offer support to the Historic Woolsey Church through our Historic Landscape Preservation Grant Program. We hope the work you do allows current and future visitors to enjoy the beauty and history of the oak trees on the property for many years to come. Congratulations and thank you for recognizing the importance of the over 100 year old trees on this historic property and for sharing them with visitors to your community.”

Photo by Allen Moscon © 2026

08/07/2026

Landmark Preservation recently uncovered a sealed window that once stood between the back doors of Historic Woolsey Church. Hidden behind the walls for decades, it hadn't seen the light of day since the 1950s!

It is truly amazing to think about the generations who saw that exact window before it was closed up. Discoveries like this connect us deeply to the church's rich past, reminding us that every layer has a story to tell.

Stay tuned as we continue sharing more incredible moments being revealed during this restoration. Have any memories or family connections to the church? Please drop them in the comments below!

Photo by Ryan Arvay © 2026

07/29/2026

A glimpse back to 1889 at Historic Woolsey Church.

As part of the restoration of Historic Woolsey Church, Landmark Preservation carefully removed the 1960s windows. These windows had replaced the original historic windows but were noticeably smaller than the original openings.

Once the 1960s windows were removed, the original window openings were revealed, allowing us to see the same architectural proportions and views that those who worshipped here in 1889 would have experienced. Discoveries like this provide valuable insight into the church's original design and help ensure the restoration remains historically accurate.

Every step of this project brings us closer to restoring this more than 137-year-old landmark for future generations.

Thank you to Landmark Preservation for their craftsmanship and commitment to preserving Georgia's historic places, and thank you all for being a part of our story.

Photos by Ryan Arvay © 2026

07/26/2026

We Need Your Help! Please Look Today!

We're making the final decision on the restored windows for Historic Woolsey Church soon, and we need your help.

We're searching for pre-1950 interior photos of the old Woolsey Baptist Church that show the original windows or the type of glass that was installed.

Please check family albums, scrapbooks, old photo boxes, and framed pictures. Even if the windows only appear in the background of a wedding, funeral, church service, or family gathering, they could provide the clue we need.

Please also ask family, friends, and neighbors with ties to Woolsey or the church. The photo we're looking for may be in someone's attic or family collection.

If you find anything, please message us as soon as possible.

The attached photo shows the original 1889 window openings. Identifying the original glass will help us faithfully recreate this beautiful historic feature.

Please help us solve this mystery and restore Historic Woolsey Church for future generations.

07/22/2026

Every historic building has a story. Historic Woolsey Church has generations of them.

On August 26, 1888, Harmony Grove Missionary Baptist Church began with twenty-three charter members gathering in a small store on the east side of the Southern Railroad in Woolsey, Georgia.

Led by Dr. Isaac Gray Woolsey, the congregation built a permanent sanctuary that was dedicated on March 3, 1889. On October 2, 1904, Harmony Grove Missionary Baptist Church officially became Woolsey Baptist Church. For more than 137 years, these historic walls have witnessed generations of families worshiping, celebrating milestones, and creating memories that became part of Woolsey’s story.

In 2023, Friends of Historic Woolsey adopted the name Historic Woolsey Church to honor the original 1889 sanctuary, preserve its connection to the community’s past, and prevent confusion with the newer Woolsey Baptist Church.

Today, restoration efforts continue to protect this treasured landmark, not only as a historic building, but as a tribute to the stories, traditions, and memories of the generations who built it, loved it, and made it part of Woolsey’s history.

Photo Courtesy of the Fayette Co. Historical Society

07/18/2026

Progress continues at Historic Woolsey Church!

Architect David Hill of INNOVA and Structural Engineer Stephen Grant of CCCS International recently visited the site to continue developing the plans for our restoration project. Their work is moving us closer to a complete set of plans needed to restore this historic 1889 church.

We are thankful for their expertise and dedication as we work together to preserve the history of Woolsey for generations to come.

Photo by Ryan Arvay © 2026

07/17/2026

Look at this wonderful photo shared by Bill Ballard!

This photograph captures the Lottie Moon Christmas play in 1958 at Woolsey Baptist Church.

Photos like this help preserve the memories of the people who worshipped, served, and created community inside the historic church. Thank you, Bill, for sharing such a wonderful photo with us.