Historic Effingham Society is proudly celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Effingham Museum. It all started with an obsolete jail building that was used to store old furniture.

A group of members approached the Effingham County Commissioners and requested the use of the old jail as a museum. These open-minded and far-sighted leaders agreed it would be a good use of the building. They granted the use of the living room and hall of the sheriff’s quarters and one cell in the jail for displays with use of the restroom and kitchen.  

Once we obtained use of the building, the next question was, “What will we put in the museum?” We were fortunate to have Richard Loper and Eddie Browning in our membership. Eddie has been collecting since he was 8 years old. He and Richard generously donated enough artifacts to fill eight displays cases from pre-historic bones and fossils, Native American, colonial and revolutionary periods and five display cases in the Civil War Hall.    

After searching for display cases, sorting, cleaning, and labeling everything, the Old Jail Museum opened in November 1994.            
One by one, the other rooms were released to the society until now there are displays of Effingham County events and everyday usage in the entire building. An 1800s cabin, one room school house, UDC room, Veterans Room and the 1935 kitchen displays all came about through the generosity of members and citizens who came to the museum and brought donations to enhance each display. The cells of the Old Jail upstairs are a real boon to the museum. Everybody wants to see them and tell their own family stories.

Did we have big dreams when we opened the doors in November of 1994? Well, no. We were looking for a home to display the items and books we had been given to preserve Effingham history. Maybe space for a little office for the Society and a small library. We are proud to have evolved into an interesting, unusual, one of a kind museum that takes you on a journey through Effingham County from even before 1734 to only 50 years ago with items you will not see anywhere else!

In 2004, the Historic Effingham Society gained access to adjacent property owned by Effingham County and the City of Springfield to open the Living History Site with our very first self contained building, the Seckinger-Bridgers House. Currently we also have the Morgan Barn, Gnann Summer House, Herman and Ruth Gnann House, and our latest building, the Zittrouer-Seckinger House under restoration.   

Each year the Society presents a calendar containing photos of Effingham County more than 50 years old. The 2010 Calendar has brides and grooms and wedding parties. It is truly a beautiful collection. Each year we also offer a Christmas ornament with a sketch of an Effingham County building of importance in our history. This year’s selection is the Effingham Academy of 1911.  The sales of these items help operate the office of the Society and our growing history and genealogy research library.  

Publications and maps for sale in the Museum Gift Shop are “River to River, the History of Effingham County,” “Images of America, Effingham County,” “Those Gallant Georgians Who Served in The War Between the States,” and “War Stories and School Day Incidents for the Children,”  “John Adam Treutlen.” The latest book is “The History of Medicine in Effingham County, Georgia,” the 40th anniversary publication in honor of the Effingham Hospital.  

In January 2010, we will have a membership drive to get more people involved with our efforts to preserve the past and prepare for the future in Effingham County. Come and join in the fun with us.

Historic Effingham Society opens its Effingham Museum and Living History Site free of charge as the showcase for the annual “Olde Effingham Days Festival” in April and on Super Museum Sunday each year.  But don’t wait until then to come to see us.  We’re located just across the street from Courthouse Square in Springfield.               

This article was written by Betty Ford Renfro of Historic Effingham Society. If you have comments, photos or information to share contact Susan Exley who compiles the column at 754-6681 or e-mail: susanexley@historiceffinghamsociety.org