The Trees on God’s Property at 1215 Fair Road
Photos of these wonderful trees and shrubs
Have you ever thought much about the trees on our church grounds? Let’s spend a few minutes thinking about the landscaping of God’s property at 1215 Fair Road.
When the construction of our church facility was completed in 1967, the only trees on the 8.9 acre lot were the big pines on the corner of Georgia Avenue, two pecan trees and a maple tree on the SW corner of the lot and the “Presbyterian Persimmon Tree” in front of the church.
In March of 1970, the Men of the Church, under the direction of Lem Nevil and Frank Pearson, planted 200 oaks, pines, dogwoods, redbuds, and other trees all over the grounds according to the original landscaping plan. The two beautiful dogwood trees that grow on either side of the front door of the sanctuary were given by Frank and Dot Pearson in 1970 in memory of Kenneth Odom. Don Bland, who owned the farm located between Robert and Martha Benson’s property and the college, gave a donation for the oak trees that are planed in our parking islands. (Mr. Bland later willed his property to GSC and it became the GSU Botanical Gardens after his death.)
A tornado that hit Statesboro in 1981 and another in 1984, damaged many of our trees. One of the storms destroyed the maple and one of the pecan trees. The remaining pecan was saved and produces pecans every year. (An interesting note: traditionally, the pecan crop has always belonged to the Pastor.) The storm also damaged some of the oaks in the parking islands, but thanks to Frank Pearson and others, who bolted the oak trees back together, they are flourishing today. (See if you can see where the first tree in the back island was bolted.) After the storm, Corlyn McCrosky planted many dogwoods to replace the trees that were lost. In the 90’s, when Bermuda Run apartment complex was constructed, the Men of the church planed a hedge of red tip along the western property line, and ran an underground water line to the back to water the hedge until it began to grow
The beautiful Bradford Pear trees in front of Carlton Hall were donated by Mr. and Mrs. Al Godfrey (Corlyn McCrosky’s daughter and son-in-law) in memory of Dr. Helen Reid Deal. And new this year – a row of beautiful oak trees in the parking lot and two near the pavilion, thanks to Ron McCrosky’s negotiations with Bermuda Run Apartments (Bermuda Run donated the trees)
My personal favorite tree is the dogwood tree planted by the birds in our Courtyard. It came up voluntarily in the middle of some shrubbery, and was cut down several times, but it kept coming back. Finally it was decided to leave it and just let it grow. Every spring it rewards us by blooming profusely.
Trees, gifts from God and Mother Nature, soften our landscape and warm our hearts at 1215 Fair Road, and we are so thankful for them.
Dot Odom,
FPC Historian