The Haw Pond School building is briefly referenced in Crisp County’s History in Pictures and Stories, second edition, published by the Cordele-Crisp County Historical Society in 1978. On page 468, the book states: “Haw Pond Baptist Church was constituted in the old school house, which joins the church property today.” This confirms that the building was indeed used as a school and had been there for some time. The minutes of that meeting indicate the date was May 10, 1925, during a period when many small schools served rural communities before larger school buildings were constructed at Arabi, West Crisp, and East Crisp. The history records that, “Prior to this day, going back several years, Brother George Hobby traveled from Rebecca by walking or horse and buggy to preach for the community. At this time, these services were held in the original schoolhouse. The land that the school house was on belonged to W.B. Pate; later, the church was built.”

Haw Pond Church was named for the ponds on the property, surrounded by a bountiful growth of Mayhaw trees. These trees produced millions of berries each May, giving the pond—and eventually the church—its name. Each year, Bennett Pope and his wife, Maude, invited neighbors from miles around to gather Mayhaws for jelly and jam. The largest of these ponds was known as Haw Pond, famous for a yearly phenomenon that drew attention from across the state. Each year, an underground river would “claim” the pond, draining it completely. Members of the Pate family kept watch to know exactly when it would “go out.” When the water was low enough, neighbors would wade in to catch fish in abundance, sharing the catch with the community. Sometimes, nets were placed over the hole where the water escaped, though the strong suction made this a risky endeavor.

Churches like Haw Pond were the heart of rural communities, their histories intertwined with the daily lives of the people they served. While the old schoolhouse is almost gone, Haw Pond Baptist Church lives on—a reminder of the generosity, fellowship, and traditions of days past.