Historic Oglethorpe County

Ronnie Boggs (left) looks on as Tom Gresham uses a soil probe at Beth-Salem Presbyterian Church and cemetery last week. The probe helps determine whether a burial may be present in a specific location. (Photo/Molly Moore)

Ronnie Boggs (left) looks on as Tom Gresham uses a soil probe at Beth-Salem Presbyterian Church and cemetery last week. The probe helps determine whether a burial may be present in a specific location. (Photo/Molly Moore)

Gresham’s work with grave sites helps unearth history, culture

Molly Moore
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
Tom Gresham has devoted his life to uncovering the hidden histories of Georgia, spending nearly four decades at grave sites and historic cemeteries to document lives that might otherwise have been forgotten.  His work bridges science, history and ethics, offering insights into the state’s past.
Mamie Hillman, founder and director of the Greene County African American Museum, speaks to about 20 people at the Historic Oglethorpe County meeting at the Oglethorpe County Library on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. The museum opened in October 2021. (Photo/Susanna Johnson)

Mamie Hillman, founder and director of the Greene County African American Museum, speaks to about 20 people at the Historic Oglethorpe County meeting at the Oglethorpe County Library on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. The museum opened in October 2021. (Photo/Susanna Johnson)

Mamie Hillman speaks on Greensboro's Black history museum at meeting

Susanna Johnson
Thursday, October 30, 2025
Mamie Hillman has been working to “unearth the narratives” of Greene County’s Black heritage for more than 25 years.  And Oglethorpe County residents are interested.
Rubble sits outside of 112 W. Main Street on Sept. 3, 2025 in Lexington, Georgia. The downtown commercial core is a part of Lexington's Downtown Master Plan aimed at revitalizing the city. (Photo/Mia Fishman)

Rubble sits outside of 112 W. Main Street on Sept. 3, 2025 in Lexington, Georgia. The downtown commercial core is a part of Lexington's Downtown Master Plan aimed at revitalizing the city. (Photo/Mia Fishman)

Lexington’s master plan reveals blueprint for revamping notable properties

Mia Fishman
Wednesday, September 10, 2025
 CORRECTION: Information was incorrect about which organization had invested funds into the restoration of the Historic Oglethorpe Jail in the Sept. 11, 2025 print edition of The Oglethorpe Echo. The correct information is in the story below.
Leslie Whitehead O'Neal, Penny Miller, and Ed Smith rehearse "Love Letters." The play will run from Feb. 20-22 at the Historic Crawford School. (Jet Rawls/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Leslie Whitehead O'Neal, Penny Miller, and Ed Smith rehearse "Love Letters." The play will run from Feb. 20-22 at the Historic Crawford School. (Jet Rawls/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Arts!Oglethorpe kicks of 30th year with "Love Letters"

Jet Rawls
Thursday, February 20, 2025
The Historic Crawford School will host a story spanning over half a century as Arts!Oglethorpe kicks off its third decade of operation with a production of A.R. Gurney’s “Love Letters” Feb. 20-22.
Greg Yoder reports on the discovery of 42 water mills around the county at the Historic Oglethorpe County's September meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. Yoder and Tom Gresham's research is part of the Atlas Project. The slide on screen shows a map of Watson Mill Bridge State Park. (McCain Bracewell/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Greg Yoder reports on the discovery of 42 water mills around the county at the Historic Oglethorpe County's September meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. Yoder and Tom Gresham's research is part of the Atlas Project. The slide on screen shows a map of Watson Mill Bridge State Park. (McCain Bracewell/The Oglethorpe Echo)

From grist to glory: Historic group documents mills in OC

McCain Bracewell
Thursday, October 24, 2024
 Other than one wild goose chase in a 100-acre beaver swamp, Greg Yoder said he and Tom Gresham have had “darn good success for a couple of retired guys.
John Fortuna receives a certificate from Kathleen deMarrais, presi- dent of Historic Oglethorpe County after receiving the annual Historic Oglethorpe County Annual Award at the organization’s banquet on March 1. (Photo/Izzy Wagner)

John Fortuna receives a certificate from Kathleen deMarrais, presi- dent of Historic Oglethorpe County after receiving the annual Historic Oglethorpe County Annual Award at the organization’s banquet on March 1. (Photo/Izzy Wagner)

Fortuna recognized for historic efforts

Izzy Wagner
Thursday, March 7, 2024
A heavy, wooden plaque, engraved with award recipients dating back decades, made its way around the table. Attendees of the Historic Oglethorpe County Awards Banquet carefully held it in their hands before passing it to the person beside them.
James Wettstaed shows pictures of a Stephens County excavation site he worked on during his presentation at the Historic Oglethorpe County meeting on March 28. Volunteer excavations that spanned from 2014 to 2018 unearthed two distinct hearths, proving that one house had been there in the early 1500s, and another in the late 1500s. (Photo/Maddie Daniel)

James Wettstaed shows pictures of a Stephens County excavation site he worked on during his presentation at the Historic Oglethorpe County meeting on March 28. Volunteer excavations that spanned from 2014 to 2018 unearthed two distinct hearths, proving that one house had been there in the early 1500s, and another in the late 1500s. (Photo/Maddie Daniel)

Archaeologist draws packed house

Maddie Daniel
Thursday, April 6, 2023
The meeting was standing-room only, with nearly 70 attendees gathered in the Oglethorpe County Library.    “I think we’re gonna have to expand the parking lot out there!” Historic Oglethorpe president Kathleen deMarrais joked.   The reason for the unprecedented turnout?