Elwood Community

Elwood Community

Just five miles west of Quitman over the Chickasawhay River, is the community of Elwood. In 1897, the Post Office was established and three names were submitted for this community to the postmaster, John C. Carson. The postal authorities chose the name for this area of Clarke County. The post office closed eight years later in 1905.

Around 1845, John Adams built a one room cabin out hewn logs. Additions were added on through the years, and Mr. Adams’ niece, Gertrude McRae, who tended to him in his elder years, acquired this house. Mr. Adams’ home has remained in the family through the years.

The first school was built on land donated by Reuben Taylor, and a second was built a few miles away. With the consolidation of the schools, Mr. Taylor gave the land in order to build a third with the schools emerging. With time and the consolidation with Quitman School, the Elwood School was renovated for the use as a parsonage for Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in November 1952.

The three schools were just part of this community along with a few stores, the post office and four churches, a grist and syrup mill.