Written by Clarence Walker and Edited by Scott Slay and Amanda Jordan
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The Oak Grove community is voting precinct No. 45 in Escambia County, Florida. Before 1850, the area was mostly a pristine forest of virgin timber of very tall southern yellow long leaf pines. The people of the area were Indians and a few whites who were not of a nature to settle down and form a community. Most of the land was owned by large timber companies that were interested only in timber. After 1850, a few settlers that we refer to as pioneers began moving in as land became available. Many "homesteaded" one hundred and sixty acres. Under that program they were required to build homes and clear farm land. Others just "squatted" on land, built log houses, split rails for fences and reared families without ever buying the land. Some of these pioneers were the Jake A. Godwin family, the Bud Hall Family ( actually "Bud" Hall’s father, Clemson, settled here before 1850, but Bud’s family was the one to influence the community), the Jesse Lee family, William C. Vickery family, the John W. O’Farrell family, Tim Wiggins family and the Jim Merrit family. These pioneers were soon followed, in the latter part of the 1800’s or early 1900’s by what we call "early settlers:" Jake L. Godwin, Jasper Buchanan, Jesse Steele, Bud Eddins, Charlie McCall, Lee Rigby, Martin Rigby, Lark Robbins, Sam Jones, Willis Agerton and Jim Milstead. With that influx of people, all rearing large families, pretty soon they had a "community" with a church, school, and cemetery. The school was established about 1890. The Baptist church, in the same location today, was established in 1833. The cemetery was started in 1906. The land for the church, cemetery, school, and the community center was donated by Jake A Godwin and his heirs. |
The Oak Grove community was not called Oak Grove until its first school was built. Before then the area was known as Wiggins because Mr. Wiggins had a little store where a stage coach would leave the mail for the area. The first school was a typical one room building. A "new" brick 4-room school was built in 1914-15, for grades 1 -8. This school was sadly closed in 1949. Luckily the building was converted to a pavilion in 1978. The pavilion and the community house were voted upon in 1931-32, are now known as the Oak Grove community center, and are managed by a board of elected, non-paid trustees. These facilities are open to the public, without charge, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on a " first come first served basis." The center is used for many, many purposes but mostly for public meetings and recreation. Mrs. Louise Godwin was primarily responsible for the initial construction of the community house. Clarence Walker and Mrs. Godwin are often considered the two center stones of the community center that we call Oak Grove today. Oak Grove has been and remains today a nice-quiet place to live, to raise a family, and to appreciate the beauty of earth still somewhat untouched. Mr. Clarence has some wishes for this beautiful place, the most important: He wishes for help from young people on work days to improve the facilities. Click here to find out about the Oak Grove Community House
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Historical facts: 1.Oak Grove Baptist church was the first church built in the area. 2. The chance to earn a good paycheck with turpentine brought the first Blacks into the community. |
Geographical facts: 1. The Oak Grove boundaries are across the creek on 164 that goes beside the water tower. It follows Hwy. 99 South to Walnut Hill, and zig zags west to Sandy Hall-Gobble Rd. 2. State Road #97 on the west boundary of Oak Grove was paved in 1933. No other road in the community was paved until 1954. |
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Clarence Walker has been keeping up the Oak Grove Community Center and insists that he is nothing special. But he is. He is the reason that Oak Grove is remembered and cared for. |
See the Genesis and Progress of Walnut Hill, Florida. |