By Wainwright Jeffers - bio | email
NEWTON, GA (WALB) - One of the largest public commercial kitchens in the Southeast opened for business in South Georgia last year.
It's in a historic school and they recently opened up a museum to document the history of what is now the East Baker community center.
At one point before it became the old Baker County Elementary School it was the home away from home for black students in Baker County.
Davie Cowart walked the halls starting in seventh grade in 1957.
"This was black, only black," said Davie Cowart, Former Student & E. Baker Community Center Pres.
The East Baker historical society bought the building in 2002 and turned it into a community center.
"This is a work in progress," said David Milliner, Commercial Kitchen & Business Incubator Dir.
Work has progressed; the building is now home to a museum detailing the history of this place.
"We wanted to show there's a museum dedicated to the pioneers that blazed trails before any of us did, and we want to keep East Baker on everybody's mind," said Milliner "newspapers and little things that reminds you from days gone by."
"And they're still working on it we have people from DC who are sending stuff in," said Cowart.
They want the community to know this center is here and has a lot to offer.
"It's an impoverished area we wanted people to know they have the opportunity to raise their income level educational status and begin a business that can be long lasting," said Milliner.
There's a commercial kitchen to help put people in business selling their own foods.
"This is a local pepper farmer, he has his own farm, Johnny Freeman, this is his Buck's Pepper Sauce," said Milliner.
The center helps with labeling packing and marketing.
It has helped about 40 businesses within the last year with project management.
Together they've posted profits of roughly a half a million dollars.
To find out a lot more about the center and museum click here.
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Shirley Bradley shows Baker County Head Start youth an old fashioned lantern.
More than 40 youth visited the East Baker Historical Society’s museum.
Mrs. Crumbley and several students tour the East Baker Historical Society museum.
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