History of the Palestine Gardens - Part 1

By Don Bradley; adapted from the Mississippi
Rural Electric News May 1961, Laurel Leader
Call April 14, 1964, Mississippi Power and Light
Vol. XXV No.2 1977, and George County Times:
March, 1960 & October 6, 1994,and some additions
by myself. Used with permission

These words were planted into the mind of a young man-attending Seminary that was to cultivate into a vision, leading to preparation for the next thirty years, before his, and the same dream shared by his wife at his side, was to come to fruition. The year is 1930, Dr. W.T. Ellis, returning from the Mid east, challenged members of his class at Columbia Seminary, Atlanta, of which the late Reverend Walter Harvell Jackson and his wife Pellerree, were in attendance, "to study the Bible as a 'place book' ".

As an ordained Presbyterian minister in 1933, he began to serve churches in Kentucky, North Carolina, Alabama and Mississippi - while ever mindful to look for available land that would meet the requirements of the right topographical dimensions for "the land of the Bible." A sixteen-year search ended when he was shown the present site in 1953. With their lifetime savings, the forty-acre land was purchased, just as his years approach retirement.

With limited resources, spade and wheelbarrows (and no shade for most of the pines had been previously cut for lumber) Reverend Jackson began the project to bring the dream to reality. A dam was put in to make the Dead Sea. (Quite an undertaking when you see firsthand the area developed and upkeep required). Telephone service was yet to come. A dirt road led to the Gardens for many years after.

Having no or limited masonry experience, using ordinary concrete, and corner concrete and half concrete blocks, and a lot of imagination, the cities of Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jericho, and others took shape. Seven years later that dream experienced 3,200 visitors with it's opening the first year in 1960. Visitors today see the very same buildings except, in the early years, the buildings were painted white. Today they are colored the beige color of the limestone of the land in Israel.

Visitors, at first, were local folks. However, the Guest Registry recorded, in the first year, guests from states reaching to New York, California, Michigan, and Canada. Today many return because they had visited with their parents as children and now are returning again with their children. It is not uncommon to receive as many people outside the tri-state area as within. This includes the other five World Continents; but no one from Antarctic as of yet! The registry even records a little boy (at the age of eight) on June 13, 1965, coming with his mother, brother, and grandmother. (Who I can tell you remembers a nice lady who loved kids.) Although the boy knew of Jesus, a livid memory of a place "where the Bible comes alive" would later influence his desire to bring others to have more than a knowledge in Christ - but to have a living relationship with Him.

Click on Founders to see a larger picture of the late, Reverend and Mrs. Walter Harvell Jackson.

With the retirement of Master Sergeant Jim Kirkpatrick from the U.S. Air Force, having over twenty years of service to our country, Jim returned with his wife, Jackie (Rev. and Mrs. Jackson's daughter) to the site to aid and be a part of the ministry of Palestinian Gardens. With this help in 1971, the site continued to be expanded with the addition of the Mediterranean Sea, Sea of Galilee, and additional cities until the expansion of 200 miles was represented; one yard equating to one mile. The sites were landscaped with dwarf evergreens, wild azaleas, hidden lilies, camellias, and mountain laurel. Over the years, some changes have been made. The entrance path no longer takes you down a long hill, something like the Jericho Road. For it is much easier to go down from Jerusalem to Jericho than from Jericho up to Jerusalem. The old path can still be seen with abandoned fountains and Azaleas no longer tended but growing and still flowering.

The ministry flourished and continued - in spite of the storm of Hurricane Fredrick. Eventually the years of life came to failing health for Reverend Jackson and his wife. They passed out of this life to be in the presence of Jesus for eternity in June, 1992, and June, 1993, respectively. Though heartbroken, the Kirkpatricks continued in faith what was started by the Jacksons. They themselves a vibrant part of the ministry for twenty-three years. Expectantly and with due understanding to the stringent physical labor associated with the daily tasks, they made the decision their health would not allow for them to continue. In 1994, it was time to seek someone or a church organization to pass the torch to.

Click on Curators, to continue the history with the new owners, Don and Cindy Bradley.

Here are some of my favorite links about Reverend and Mrs. Walter Harvell Jackson and Master Sergeant and Mrs. Jim Kirkpatrick :
Mississippi Scenes: Notes on Literature and History tells us more about the Jacksons and Palestine Gardens.
Harvell and Pellerree Jackson honored on September 13, 2006.
Harvell and Pellerree Jackson Sandhills Preserve in George County, Mississippi, is adjacent to Palestine Gardens.

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