Stepping Back in Time

Stepping Back in Time. . , The site that Chason Park sits on has played a significant role in the history of the southern United States. Some of the historic places in and around Bainbridge still exist and can be visited today. , 1540 , De Soto Trail , Hernando de Soto and his army traveled through Bainbridge in 1540 and are believed to have crossed the Flint River at what is now Chason Park. This was part of an expedition commissioned by the Spanish government to explore the interior of present-day Florida and Georgia. , 1760s - 1810 , Trading Post , A frontier trading post was set up by European trader, James Burgess, in what is now downtown Bainbridge, and continued to operate until his death. Frontier trading posts served as centralized hubs for trading goods, services, and information. , 1778 , Pensacola – St. Augustine Road , This was one of the oldest known roads in the region that connected the capital of British East Florida (St. Augustine) and British West Florida (Pensacola). crossing the Flint River at present-day Chason Park. The route was first mapped in 1778, and utilized portions of Native American trails, roads used by colonial traders, and sections of an old Spanish trail. , 1817 , Fort Hughes , Built by US forces after the Battle of Fowltown, Fort Hughes was named for the first US casualty of the Seminole Wars that was killed in battle - Aaron Hughes. The site is located in present-day Chason Park, and archaeological research continues to uncover artifacts from the battles fought here. , 1816 , Fort Scott , Fort Scott was built in 1816 by the US army to use to patrol the US-Spanish border, and later served as command post for US operations during the First Seminole War of 1817-1818. After the war was over, the army retained a strong presence at Fort Scott for many years until the transfer of Florida from Spain to the United States had taken place. The site Fort Scott was located roughly halfway between Chason Park and the confluence of the Flint and Chattahoochee Rivers. , 1817 , Battle of Fowltown , This battle ignited when the United States demanded residents of the village of Fowltown leave the area after signing the Treaty of Fort Jackson, where the Creek Nation ceded most of southwest Georgia to the United States. Because the village chief had not signed the treaty, he refused to be bound by the agreement. The Battle of Fowltown marked the beginning of the Seminole War. , 1820 , Camp Recovery , Camp Recovery was established as a temporary hospital base to send soldiers from Fort Scott to recover from malarial outbreaks. Because of Fort Scott's location surrounded by swampland, malarial outbreaks were common and devastating occurrences for the infantry, and in 1820, nearly 800 men fell ill, resulting in 32 deaths. The site is located about 21 miles southwest of Chason Park, near the present-day community of Recovery. , 1827 – 1930s , Steamboat Docks , The arrival of steamboats on the Flint River helped transform Bainbridge from largely wilderness when it was founded in 1823, to one of the largest cities in southwest Georgia by the 1860s. Steamboats carrying passengers, bales of cotton, turpentine, and other goods passed through the docks at what is now Cheney Griffin Park. The docks secured Bainbridge's position as one of two inland ports in Georgia, and had an enormous economic impact on the city well into the 20th century. , 1852 , Oak City Cemetery , Formerly part of the Lower Creek village of Pucknawhitla, this site was established as a cemetery in 1852. The west section of the cemetery was deeded to Temple Beth-El in 1878, and became one of the first Jewish Cemeteries in south Georgia. Notable residents include Miriam Hopkins, famous actress from the early 1900s, and Marvin S. Griffin, 72nd governor of Georgia. , 1913 , Bainbridge Trestle Bridge , Located at the edge of Cheney Griffin Park and spanning the Flint River, the Bainbridge trestle bridge was initially built for the Seaboard Air Line Railroad. It is a swing span bridge, which operates as a traditional bridge in its closed position, allowing train traffic to cross the river. However, when large boats need to pass through, the center of the bridge will rotate along a pivot, allowing passage. , 1921 , J.D. Chason Memorial Park , The historic park was 2 acres in size, and located at the historic site of Fort Hughes, the De Soto Trail, and El Camino Real. It was presented to the city in 1921 by the family of Dr. J.D. Chason, a prominent Bainbridge resident and physician who helped make Bainbridge a medical hub for southwest Georgia. An expansion to Chason Park, completed in 2023, added 6.4 acres of greenspace, additional park amenities, and better connectivity between the Flint River and downtown Bainbridge. , 1922 , Memorial Bridge , Located where the Flint River crosses Calhoun Street, just north of Chason Park, the Memorial Bridge was dedicated to the memory of those who lost their lives fighting in World War I. Construction began in 1922, as Federal Aid Project 201. and was completed in 1926. Torn down in the 1970s, a new bridge stands in its place today. , Find the engravings in the ground that match the local landmarks shown here to see where they are located in relation to Chason Park.