Opened on 21 February 1929, the Hotel Ware contained 110 rooms, all with private baths, which was a luxury at the time. When I was a boy, my father, who worked for CSX (Seaboard Coast Line in those days, and Atlantic Coast Line before that), stayed at this hotel, along with the many other railroad men who worked out of Waycross. I well remember the poor condition of the rooms and the dangerous old elevator, but I also fondly recall the coffee shop with its heavy china and short order cooks. There was a true sense of community in the place, and when I photographed the Ware a little over a year ago, I was so worried that it was bound for the wrecking ball. I am glad that Waycross has chosen to save this iconic structure, which will soon become a residential apartment building.
