The Woolfolk Murders

A little known fact about myself, as a writer and a local history researcher, is how I started researching history in the first place. Well, in this time’s Houston History Files, we cover the tragic yet fascinating true-crime story out of Macon known as “The Woolfolk Murders” and how it connects to Houston County. From the surface, it appears to be an “open and shut ” case of a mass murder. Of course, the killer, Tom Woolfolk, is the center of the entire event. If you peel the layers back, however, you’ll find yourself immersed into a rabbit-hole of conspiracy, history and research. That is exactly what happened to me, at least. I spent many hours at the library and eventually I walked into the Perry Area Historical Museum and the rest is history (no pun intended). Keeping all of that information in mind, what caught my attention was its connection to Houston County, which is where the sorrowful saga came to an end. I must warn you, some of what you are about to read may be a bit disturbing to some.

The official story, in a nutshell, states that on the morning of August 6th 1887, Tom Woolfolk brutally murdered 9 members of his family with an ax. If you read “Shadow Chasers: The Woolfolk Tragedy Revisited” By Carolyn Deloach, you’ll find that there is just enough evidence to make you wonder if Tom was framed or not. For example, later on, in South Carolina, there was a man that was found with a note in his pocket confessing to the Woolfolk Murders, long after Tom had been executed. You can learn a lot about the circumstances of the deaths in the previously mentioned book. If you want my summary of the events, you can visit my website at haunted-history.org. From there, just click “case collection” and go all the way to the last story titled “The Woolfolk Connection.” So, how does this relate to Houston County, you may still be asking? Well, after 2 appeals, he was convicted in Houston County and put to death in Perry.

In the Georgia Encyclopedia, it says: “Woolfolk was hanged in front of a crowd of 10,000 people on Wednesday afternoon, October 29, 1890, in Perry. The site of the hanging was the usual place of public execution in those days in Perry, a natural valley where Big Indian Creek joins the Fanny Gresham Branch, about a quarter mile west of the Houston County Courthouse. While on the scaffold Woolfolk disappointed the crowd by once more professing his innocence.”

Immediately, you wonder where this “usual place of execution” may have been. Diving further into this paragraph, it does give us some clues. First, there is a hint at a “natural valley” or as it’s said in other sources a “natural amphitheater.” There’s also mention of the area being where “Big Indian Creek joins the Fanny Gresham Branch.” Finally, it states that it has to be an area big enough to host over 10,000 people.

Although I could never prove it, my running theory is that this spot rests in what is now known as Rotary Centennial Park, in Perry. The descriptions of the body of water gave it away, to me. There is a natural valley there as well, with Evergreen Cemetery sitting on the top of the hill. I have brought this question to the Historical Society, and although we do not agree on the exact spot, it is definitely in the same area. Next time you visit the trails there, imagine what a public execution with that many people may have looked like. Some accounts even say there were food vendors selling things like “‘possum sandwiches” during these hangings.

Nonetheless, Tom Woolfolk was laid to rest in Orange Hill Cemetery, Hawkinsville. His grave can be found in the back left portion of the cemetery, from the front entrance. Interesting to note, some of his relatives are buried all over Middle Georgia, including Evergreen Cemetery in Perry. I encourage each and every one of you to read Carolyn’s book for the full story. I didn’t even scratch the surface in this body of writing. Once you do, let me know if you think he was innocent or not. You can find me at hauntedhistory@protonmail.com, and yes I do respond! I want to thank you all for reading and please, if you have any suggestions or areas in Houston County you’d like me to check out, don’t hesitate to email me. Next time, on Houston’s History Files, we will explore what is known about those little white crosses in the back of Evergreen Cemetery. See you next time!

Note: Rotary Park is a beautiful place, perfect for a stroll through nature with the family!

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