Excelsior was the cultural center of Bulloch County in the late 1800s before it became part of Candler County. Founded in 1875 on land donated by Jimerson Kennedy, Remer Franklin, W.W. Olliff, Dr. Jeff Williams, and John G. Jones, it was established so a good and permanent school could be built for their children. Excelsior Academy stood in a place regarded as the town square and was surrounded by oak and pine trees. It attracted students from nearby areas, who boarded with community members during the school term, and its teachers were often affiliated with the Baptist church in town. The academy drew newcomers to Excelsior, which grew after its establishment. The Excelsior News, founded in 1877, became the first newspaper in Bulloch County and also served people in neighboring areas. Olliff’s General Store on the outskirts of town was another community staple. After nearby areas grew because of railroad construction in the early 1900s, they drew away Excelsior’s population, and the academy became a primary school in a sparsely populated town.