Meldrim Memorial Park

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In memory of those who lost their lives in the June 28, 1959 train disaster.

The History of Meldrim Memorial Park

(The following is a speech that was given by Mr. J.M. Stegin at the original dedication of Meldrim Memorial Park in 1961)

"The Meldrim Memorial Park began one night when Mrs. Helen Stegin had one of her sleepless nights. She began to think of some kind of a memorial for the loved ones who lost their lives in the tragedy of last June. Also something that would be a benefit to the community. The next morning Mrs. Stegin was telling Jeane Meador of her dreams for a playground for Meldrim.

The first problem was a lot for the playground and this problem was taken to Mr. I.C. Kennedy, Superintendent of the Ogeechee Circuit of the woodland division for the Union Bag Camp Paper Co. She asked him if there was any possibility of securing the "Hotel Lot" for this purpose as it was the ideal place for a playground, and is owned by the U.B.C.P. Co. Mr. Kennedy was very interested and advised her to get the people of Meldrim to form a Civic Club which would undertake the park as their project and then he would see what he could do to help.

Cards were immediately mailed to each family in Meldrim asking the ones who were interested in forming the club, with the park as their objective, to meet. It was on a very cold Sunday afternoon, January 31, 1960 that 16 people met at the home of Mr. Bill Meador to elect officers and make the first plans. We were very proud to have Reverend Jody Robertson with us at the first meeting. The following officers were duly elected:

President                             Mr. Bill Meador
Vice President                      Mr. Elton Wise
Secretary                            Mrs. Jeane Meador
Treasurer                            Mrs. Julia Sanders

A Letter was then immediately written to Mr. Kennedy telling or our progress and he in turn presented the letter to Mr. B.E. Allen. It was then that we received our go ahead signal for some positive action. Many thanks to these men, will Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Allen please stand?

The first action taken by the club was a Bar-B-Q supper with the proceeds going toward purchasing some equipment for the playground. Thanks to Mr. E.R. Collins, Mr. Wendell Lovett, and Mr. Corbin Zeigler who donated the hogs for the Bar-B-Q and to many others who helped. The Bar-B-Q was a great success and we were $286.99 richer. With this money and the money we were paying as dues to the club we began purchasing our equipment. The swings, walking bars, see-saws and a basketball goals you can see on the grounds, we also have tennis racquets, balls and net, volley ball and net, badmitten set and horse shoes.

The first work was not begun on the park until July 30 (1960), when men, women, and children met with the large swing set to erect and lawn mowers to begin the cleaning of the lot. This was just the beginning of the work because next we began work on the fence, which encloses the lot and the lighting of the park. We are most proud of these two things and we owe our thanks to three companies for giving the pipe. At this time I will express our thanks and appreciations to Continental Can Co. Also, Certain-Teed Roofing Co. and Union Bag Co. for the donation of the pipe used for the fence.

Mrs. Helen Stegin then contacted the families who lost their loved ones in the disaster and asked if they would like to place tables or benches on the park in memory of them. Everyone was very interested and we now have 5 tables and 19 benches on the park. These tables and benches were given by the following:

Mrs. J.C. Hales gave one table in memory of:

Miss Barbara Hales Mrs. Margie Hales Smith Mr. James Smith

Timothy and Wayne Smith

Miss Helen Dixon, Kenneth Dixon gave one table in memory of:

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Dixon Mrs. Elizabeth Barnes and Ted Barnes

Mr. Larry Barnes gave one table in memory of:

Mrs. Elizabeth Barnes and Ted Barnes

Mrs. Bertha Carpenter gave one table and two benches in memory of:

Mr. Phillip Carpenter and Charles Carpenter

Mr. and Mrs. R.E. Bland gave one table in memory of:

Michael Bland

The following persons have given money on benches:

Mrs. Barnard Clanton Mr. and Mrs. Elton Wise

The Mattox Family Mr. and Mrs. E.R. Collins

Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Morris Mr. and Mrs. M.F. Hales

Mr. and Mrs. F.D. Royer Mrs. Barbara Brinson

Mr. and Mrs. Wendell Hodges Mr. and Mrs. J.P. Mew

Mr. Jim Hales Mrs. Lois Rice Miss Cletis Denmark

Mr. and Mrs. Hobson Royal Methodist Youth Fellowship

Mr. Penn Waller H.M. Gardner Mr. and Mrs. Tarlton Denmark

Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Stegins Mr. and Mrs. J.J. Dixon

Mr. and Mrs. W.L. Meador Mrs. Rossie Zittrouer

Mr. and Mrs. E.G. Hammock Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Coleman

Mr. and Mrs. B.E. Tillman Mr. and Mrs. C.M. Sanders

Mr. and Mrs. E.A. Royer Mr. and Mrs. Bob Green Mrs. M. Green

Mrs. Jimmy Denmark Mr. and Mrs. Billy Royal Mr. Cavatt

Leslie Thompson Funeral Home Jones Grocery Store

Mr. and Mrs. Tal Smith Mr. Paul Butler Derst Baking Company

Bill Redding Mr. and Mrs. Odom

Mr. J.H. Hester & The office force of Seaboard Railroad

We certainly want to say thank you to Mr. Cowart of Pembroke who has made these tables and benches for us.

This is the history of the Meldrim Memorial Park. It is impossible to mention each person who has helped to make this dream come true. But we will ever be thankful for their help. To the ones of us who have worked and dreamed here it has not been hard work, but a labor of love for the ones who are no longer with us, and a place for fellowship and happiness for the ones who remain and the ones who will follow us.

It has been a wonderful experience for all, working together with our friends and neighbors has surely drawn us all closer together as a community and we will not stop dreaming and working when this park is finished, but will then continue to work together on something else that will benefit the community. So we feel that the tragedy, which was so terrible, has now placed a ray of sunshine in our midst, and for this we will ever be thankful.

I thank you."

Mr. J.M. Stegin