J.R. Dick Dowdy Park

J.R. Dick Dowdy Park, known colloquially as Dowdy Park, is a park in Summerville, Georgia located on Highway 27. The park hosts many events throughout the year.

Notable landmarks

Couey House

The park is known for being the site of, or near, many historic landmarks. The Couey House is the oldest of the landmarks, having been built in the early 1840s by Andrew McSelland Couey and his sons. ^[1] They were one of the first families to settle in Chattooga County. The house was originally made out of logs that were cleared from the land on which the house was built. However, Dowdy Park is not the original place where the house was built; it was moved there in the 1990s due to highway construction.

Dowdy Park is also notable for being near the Summerville railroad turntable and train depot. The depot was constructed in 1889 and added to the Georgia central railroad system in 1901. The depot was used in the filming of the film Warm Springs in 2005 ^[2] and a TV miniseries adaptation of the novel Mama Flora's Family in 1998. ^[3]

The park is also home to various statues, such as The Doughboy Statue ^[4] , The Child Abuse Memorial Statue ^[5] , and others.

Annual events

Dowdy Park hosts many events annually. ^[6]

• Relay For Life - This event is held annually on the fourth Friday and Saturday in May. It is the American Cancer Society's rally for cancer research.
• Sum-Nelly- An October celebration to welcome the fall season with locals showcasing and selling arts, crafts, and entertainment. ^[7]
• Finster Fest- An event hosted by the Paradise Garden Foundation in May. It is an annual art and music festival. ^[8] It has been held at Dowdy Park in the past, but is now often held at Paradise Garden itself.
• Chili & Stew Cook Off- A cooking competition in which contestants prepare various chilis and stews to be judged.

References

1. "The Couey House: A Historic Gem in Chattooga County". Tennessee Valley Railroad. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
2. Lamar (November 2, 2013), Sumerville Depot used in "Warm Springs Movie Set---Summerville, Ga. , retrieved September 7, 2025
3. Mama Flora's Family (TV Mini Series 1998) - Filming & production - IMDb . Retrieved September 7, 2025– via m.imdb.com.
4. "Summerville, Georgia Viquesney Doughboy Statue". The E. M. Viquesney Doughboy Database. Retrieved September 7, 2025.
5. "City Of Summerville GA | Summerville GA Things To Do". www.coachinnsummerville.us. Retrieved September 7, 2025.
6. "Chattooga Chamber Of Commerce: Annual Events". www.chattooga-chamber.org. Archived from the original on October 21, 2008.
7. "Things to Do | Chattooga County, GA". www.chattoogacounty.gov. Retrieved September 7, 2025.
8. "Paradise Garden Foundation | Finster Fest 2025" . Retrieved September 7, 2025.

34°28′42″N85°20′49″W / 34.47833°N 85.34694°W / 34.47833; -85.34694