Scratching Post 2026
GCARES 5th Annual “Scratching Post” Special Event Station – K5K
On Saturday, November 14, George County ARES will operate the 5th annual Scratching Post Special Event Station, celebrating one of Lucedale’s most unusual and best-known local landmarks.
This year’s special event station will operate using the call sign K5K. Amateur radio operators can find additional event information and view this year’s QSL card on QRZ.com.
Whether you’re an experienced amateur radio operator or simply curious about ham radio and local history, you’re invited to stop by and join us.
The Story Behind the Scratching Post
The Scratching Post is a notched wooden post standing approximately eight feet tall in downtown Lucedale near the corner of Main and Mill Streets.
From 1937 until 1993, the site was home to the Coffee Pot restaurant, a popular gathering place for residents and travelers. The Coffee Pot became known for its traditional American menu, towering meringue pies, morning coffee gatherings, and the crowds that gathered there after local sporting events.
At the time, U.S. Highway 98 passed directly through downtown Lucedale along Main Street. Travelers headed toward Mobile and Florida frequently stopped at the Coffee Pot, which at its peak served customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Somewhere along the way, customers began using the wooden post outside the restaurant to scratch their backs. Enough people joined in that the post developed an identity of its own and eventually became known simply as the Scratching Post.
The Coffee Pot closed in 1993 after Highway 98 was rerouted around Lucedale, but the Scratching Post remained. Today it serves as a reminder of the former restaurant, old Highway 98, and an earlier chapter of life in downtown Lucedale.
Over the years, local accounts have associated the Scratching Post with a number of well-known visitors, including baseball players, entertainers, actors, and other public figures.
Come Join Us!
The Scratching Post Special Event Station is open to the public and amateur radio operators of all experience levels.
Licensed operators who would like to spend some time operating K5K are welcome to get on the air. Operators of all license classes are encouraged to participate.
Not a ham? Come by anyway. Special event stations are a great opportunity to see amateur radio in operation, meet local operators, and learn a little local history at the same time.
Please feel free to share the event with amateur radio operators, clubs, friends, family, and community organizations.
We hope to see you at the Scratching Post!
More Information
- K5K on QRZ.com
- See the event flyer for additional details.