Ebenezer, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Ebenezer Townsite and Jerusalem Lutheran Church
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Jerusalem Lutheran Church
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 Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Location in the United States
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| Location | Effingham County, Georgia |
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| Nearest city | Rincon, Georgia / Springfield, Georgia |
| Built | 1767 |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000674 |
| Added to NRHP | December 4, 1974 |
Ebenezer, also known as New Ebenezer, is a historic ghost town in Effingham County, Georgia. It is located near Ebenezer Creek and the Savannah River. Today, it is recognized on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places as the Ebenezer Townsite and Jerusalem Lutheran Church.
Contents
The Story of Ebenezer: A Historic Town
How Ebenezer Began
Ebenezer was founded in 1734 by about 150 Salzburger emigrants. These were Protestant refugees. They had been forced to leave their homes in the Catholic Archbishopric of Salzburg (which is now part of Austria). This happened because of a rule made in 1731 by Prince-archbishop Count Leopold Anton von Firmian.
With permission from Governor James Oglethorpe, the town of New Ebenezer was moved in 1736. Its new spot was closer to the Savannah River. In this new location, many silk mills were built. The Salzburger's pastor, Reverend Johann Martin Boltzius, hoped to create "a religious utopia" in Georgia. This meant he wanted to build a perfect, peaceful community.
A Thriving Community and Its Church
For a while, the idea of a religious utopia worked very well. The town's economy grew strong. The Jerusalem Lutheran Church was finished in 1769. This church is very special for several reasons:
- It is the oldest church building in Georgia.
- It is the fourth-oldest building of any kind in Georgia.
- It has the oldest continuously active Lutheran church group in the United States.
Challenges and Changes
However, Ebenezer faced big challenges. In 1778, during the American Revolutionary War, British forces invaded. The town was badly damaged and never fully recovered.
Even so, Ebenezer briefly served as the capital of Georgia in 1782. It also became the county seat for Effingham County in 1797. But just two years later, the county seat moved to Springfield. This meant much of the county's official business left Ebenezer. By 1855, the town was abandoned. It covered only a small area, about one-quarter of a square mile. The Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church is one of the few buildings that still stands in Ebenezer. Its congregation continues to be the oldest active one in the state.
A Difficult Time: The Civil War
During the Sherman's March to the Sea in the American Civil War, a difficult event occurred near Ebenezer Creek. Union General Jefferson C. Davis was involved in a situation where many formerly enslaved people, who were seeking freedom, were left in a dangerous position near the creek. This event had a tragic outcome for many of them.
Preserving Ebenezer's History
The Ebenezer Townsite and Jerusalem Lutheran Church were officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 4, 1974.
In 1977, the New Ebenezer Camp was established in the area where the old town once stood. Since 1987, the LAMAR Institute has been studying Ebenezer through archaeology. They have found many interesting things about the town's past. You can find reports from their research online.
One important person from Ebenezer was John A. Treutlen. He became the first state governor of Georgia.
