TJOURNAL.COM • Website of The Tri-County Journal & Chattahoochee Chronicle

The Tri-County Journal
& Chattahoochee Chronicle
PO Box 850,
71 Webb Lane
Buena Vista, GA 31803
229-649-6397
tjournal@windstream.net

View a list of archived online articles about Marion County.
 
PASAQUAN
Buena Vista's 'world famous secret'
to open for tours this Saturday

By RICHARD HARRIS
(From the April 4, 2007 issue)
   The Pasaquan Preservation Society will open the gates to perhaps the best kept “world famous secret” this Saturday, April 7, when the home of the late Eddie Owens Martin opens for public tours for the first time in 2007.
   Despite the fact that this strange and colorful place tucked away in the pines on a rural road a few miles outside of Buena Vista has been described as an “internationally acclaimed visionary art site” and featured in scores of national and international publications, efforts to

 
   
         
           
preserve it have been a challenge. That’s partly due to the simple fact that it will take a significant amount of money, but also partly due to the controversial nature of the site’s creator, the late Eddie Owens Martin.
   Martin, who called himself “St. EOM,” espoused his own religion, which he claimed		  
Google
 
Web www.tjournal.com
   
   
  came to him in a series of visions from extraordinarily tall people from the future. These “visitors” were from a place they called “Pasaquan.” Members of the Historical Society, however, say they in no way seek to promote Martin’s visions as religious fact, but rather as an interesting claim by a very interesting man who created some very interesting art. They believe the art is worthy of efforts to preserve it, regardless of what one may think of its inspiration.
   Those efforts are beginning to bear fruit. The Marion County Commission recently agreed to serve as the “fiscal agent” for the Preservation Society, increasing the number of grants for which the society is eligible. The first “Artists for Pasaquan Day” was held last November and drew many interested people and was a successful fundraiser.
   Pasaquan supporters hope the current series of monthly tour dates will evolve into an actual museum with regular, permanent hours. For now, the site will be open on the first Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with an admission of $5 per person (children 5 and under free).
   Local resident, artist and ‘folklorist’ Fred Fussell said the Preservation Society hopes to raise around $2.5 million over the next three to five years in order to completely restore the structures of Pasaquan, to construct a visitor’s center with adequate restrooms and a small gift shop, and to hire a staff to establish a variety of educational programs and special events, manage the facility on a daily basis and maintain the buildings and grounds.
   “If we can get one or two major funding sources, it’s possible,” said Fussell.
   Only time will tell if they will be able to successfully woo those responsible for rewarding such significant grants, but it seems to be becoming more and more plausible. The group’s goal is to have the site open on a regular basis by July 4, 2008, which would have been Eddie Owens Martin’s 100th birthday.
   Many art critics agree that Pasaquan is a site worth preserving. New York Times art critic John Russell wrote, “(Pasaquan) was, and doubtless is, an astonishing sight.”
   Still, the Preservation Society has a challenge to make sure the “is” part of that quote remains an accurate description. The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation named Pasaquan to its 2006 list of “Ten Places in Peril,” and described it as a threatened state resource.
   The local Historical Society also sees it as a resource in more ways than one. In addition to simply preserving the art for the sake of the art, they believe it can be developed into a resource for tourism that will positively affect the local economy.
   For more information about Pasaquan contact Dr. John Rogers at 229-649-7513. Much more information about the site and its history may also be viewed at http://www.pasaquan.com.
               

WHY SUBSCRIBE to the NEWSPAPER?
Below are headlines of articles that only appeared
in this week's print edition of the newspaper.

LOCAL NEWS
* Preston, Weston, Webster residents invited to hearing on consolidation
* No. 2 ranked SCHS Wildcats win big region game against Chattahoochee
* Recreation fields draw closer in Schley County
• Local residents’ art to be featured in Lucky 13 Gallery Stroll
• Chattahoochee fathers enjoy ‘Donuts for Dads’
* Habitat founder to speak at rescheduled ‘Kick Off’ in Buena Vista
* Endlessly Unique Tanning opens in Ellaville
* SCES raises $10,888 for American Heart Association
* Info sought on local servicemen in Iraq
* Habitat for Humanity Bake Sale set in Preston
* Keith Austin & Friends to perform at Relief Concert
* BV Police Chief attends Chief Executive Training
* Artist offers painting lessons in Ellaville
* Marion High hosts huge Forestry Field Day
* Parent Support Group to meet in Buena Vista
* Cusseta VFW: Parties and a Garage Sale
* Schley students earn Mathematics Mastery Awards
* MMS baseball team defeats Webster County
* LK Moss announces Honor Roll
* Webster County School News
* Marion County students honored at State Agriculture Day
* Young Eagles play tough against top region teams
* MMS archery team attends 1st Annual Georgia Fun Shoot
* Cookin’ In the Community: Breakfast in a Loaf
* Notes for turkey season
* MMS places 2nd in track meet
* Art Family Night coming soon at LK Moss
* Marion County 2nd graders publish history book
* LK Moss Primary celebrates Exceptional Children’s Week
* Historic wedding reenactments to take place in Westville
* MCHS Horticulture Department has big plant sale
* Webster promoting after school program
* Phillips teaches Schley kids about quilts, cloth-based art
* Area kids invited to Pitch, Hit & Run Competition
* Hooks presides over Legislature
* Area farmers reminded of acreage reporting deadline
* Middle Flint’s unemployment rate drops
* Knight is LK Moss Student of the Week
* Wells is MMS’ Student of the Week
* Counselor’s Award Day held at LK Moss Primary
* Williams celebrates 1st birthday

Opinion
* Would the USA be better with 5th graders in office?
* Potential tragedy causes ‘turning of the lens’
* Water supply and the growing population
* The healer of broken dreams
* Trusting in God

* PLUS church news, advertisements, and a sale flyer
Learn How To SUBSCRIBE By Clicking Here!