Take a trip along the highways and back roads of western Nassau and its small town neighbor in this five-part series: Traveling Western Nassau. Visit Boulogne, Hilliard, Callahan, Bryceville and St. George, Ga., highlighting the area’s history while telling today’s story.
Kathie Colgrove
NCR Reporter
Florida’s State Road 2 connects travelers to St. George, Ga., via the A.E. Bell Bridge that spans a section of the St. Marys River dividing Nassau and Charlton counties.
Past the river, highways 94 and 23/121 intersect with a caution light governing traffic and creating a main thoroughfare within the small community.
The area was established in 1904 when Indianapolis editor P.H. Fitzgerald purchased 9,000 acres of land, according to Lois Barefoot Mays, who posted the information at http://www.charltoncountyarchives.org/saintgeorgehisto.html.
Land surveyor Ed Mahan laid out the town with “1,900 small lots for businesses and 2,000 residential lots.”
Included were 265 5-acre lots enclosed by 128 40-acre tracts. The deeds were allotted during a public drawing held in St. George in February 1905, attracting residents from various parts of the U.S., including northern states. This was partly due to published advertisements in Fitzgerald’s newspaper, Mays notes.
Woofy Wagon is one of the locally owned businesses that attracts area residents, tourists and truckers today.
“You meet a lot of new people,” said Sarah Thompson. “A lot of truck drivers stop, because they can call it in.”
The 17-year-old works out of the food trailer, taking payments and handing out food and drinks. Sister Destiny, 14, lends a hand while Richard Davis prepares menu items cooked to order. Parents Travis and Brandy Thompson purchased the business in April from original owners Gene and Elaine O’Steen.
Since purchasing the operation, picnic tables have been added underneath a metal roof to provide seating. The roadside eatery is open Mondays through Thursdays from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., serving Philly cheese steak sandwiches, burgers, fried chicken tenders, smoked sausages and other fare.
Destiny Thompson likes working with her sister, saying, “It’s really fun. I’m learning new stuff. It’s helping me with my math and handling money.”
Hilliard truck driver Tommy Steedley stopped by to pick up two ham and cheese omelets. His work route takes him from Fargo, Ga. in neighboring Clinch County to Fernandina Beach.
“They are good,” he said. “I drive a log truck and drive by here four or five times a day.”
Juno Beach cyclist Frank Wagner rode through the intersection on two wheels, making his first ever visit to St. George on his way to Newland, N.C. The Holy Spirit Lutheran Church pastor was participating in a crowd fundraising project for the construction of a zip line at Camp Lutherock. The camp celebrates 60 years Friday. His goal is to raise $60,000 to cover the project costs while riding 900 miles within 13 days. Wife Martina Wagner drove a support van closely behind. He had already completed more than 300 miles when he spoke to the Record Aug. 11.
“It’s been fantastic, riding through rain and sunshine,” Wagner said, still seated on his Trek bicycle.
Wagner began cycling 10 years ago, just after his 50th birthday. By Tuesday morning he had raised $6,701 toward the fundraising goal.
Across the highway from Woofy Wagon, Paul Suggs sells tomatoes, squash, peaches and bottled cane syrup from a roadside stand three days a week. He selects the vegetables and fruit from a produce market in Jacksonville, drawing several regular customers who drive up, pay and drive away with their bounty.
“He’s got the best peaches in town,” said Jim Howell. “In St. George, anyway.”
The Hilliard resident frequents the stand.
“It’s very convenient about 10 minutes (away),” he said. “My wife is hooked on them.”
Customer Harvey Bohanan arrives by pickup to purchase tomatoes, “every time we get a chance,” he said as wife LaTrelle Bohanan sat next to him in the cab. “Every time he’s here. I love them. I like tomatoes.”
During a nearly two-hour span, timber trucks, dirt haulers, cars and pickups passed through the intersection. A retired trucker, Suggs figures there must be at least 200 truckers a day,adding to the existing traffic. Rebeka Hicks enjoys small town life in St. George too. She moved to the area in 2006.
“That’s why I love it here,” the U.S. postal worker said. About 1,700 residents and businesses are served by the post office. “Everybody’s my neighbor.”
St. George also has several establishments joining Woofy Wagon including St. George Elementary School, Canaday’s Grocery, Rook’s, Dollar General, K and C Oak Tree Café, Shelton Roofing, Volunteer Fire Station 2, the Cherokees of Georgia Tribal Council, First Baptist Church of St. George, New Life Baptist Church and St. George Church of God.
Though Suggs prefers living in the country, he lived on Jacksonville’s North Side for 40 years before relocating to Georgia in 2008. He would like to see additional commerce.
“We need a few more businesses,” he said. “It’s good and peaceful. It’s quiet. We don’t have no big troubles around here like Jacksonville.”