A STEP BACK IN TYME…
Clouds, humidity and big gnats greeted early visitors to the Spring Into Living History event at Historic Richland Church on Saturday, April 9. By noon, you could hear the hallelujah chorus as the gnats and clouds drifted away leaving a warmer than normal spring day for visitors coming to see Amanda Beckam and Miss Isolene, dressed in their finest, standing beside their graves and telling stories seldom heard.
Merrymakers sang, danced and mixed with visitors to make the day a memorable one. James Tapley, from Ola community of Henry County, Georgia provided wagon rides down Old Richland Road, the same road church members traveled 200 years ago.
A simple lunch fare of blackeyed peas, streak-o-lean, cornbread and cupcakes reminded us that lunch actually can be more than an Applebee’s.
Inside the church building, visitors witnessed the Ladies Willing Workers Society roll and prepare bandages for troops fighting that awful war of misunderstanding.
Others took a seat in one of the hand built pews to relax and enjoy the breezes forever moving thru the sanctuary of the old meeting house. Many remained outside bidding on those homemade cakes that have become famous among locals.
Unfortunately, the Confederate regiment scheduled to be present with their encampment was not present due to the death of a fellow re-enactor on Thursday. Services, conducted Saturday in Savannah, reminded us once again that our lives and our plans are merely tentative.
Attendance was light but for those who came, merriment was plenty.
Spring 2011
RICHLAND RESTORATION LEAGUE TRUSTEE ROSE LANE LEAVELL designs Plate and pin for Macon’s Cherry Blossom Festival……
SPRING INTO LIVING HISTORY
The year 2011 marks the 200th year of Richland Church. As part of the bicentennial celebration, the Richland Restoration League is sponsoring, on Saturday April 9, Spring Into Living History
NOTICE: A CALL FOR OLD PHOTOGRAPHS ……..
Susan Burford, President Richland Restoration League, is requesting old photographs from those who had friends or families that attended Richland Church when it was functioning as a church or pictures from the annual October reunions held since restoration efforts began in 1948. Photos will be used in a presentation being prepared for the 200th Homecoming Celebration in October. Contact Buddy Faulk at 478-290-5655 for further instructions.
December 2010
Keeping Christmas At Richland Church … A Huge Success
“It was the best yet”, “It gets better every year”, “It was our first, but it won’t be our last”, “I look forward to this each Christmas season”, “This is a wonderful presentation and the church was decorated so beautifully”, and “The Confederate soldiers added so much to the program”, are just a few of the comments from some 350 patrons attending.
December 2010
Town & Country Garden Club Decks the Halls
The 2010 Keeping Christmas at Richland Church will showcase altar and sanctuary decorations provided by the Town & Country Garden Club as a community service project. Club President, Suzanne Huffman and garden club members will recreate a period 1850s celebration using native greenery and seasonal berries. A tabletop evergreen tree, like the one described by Robert E. Lee’s daughter Elly in her diary from West Point Academy in 1853 will be placed on the church’s square grand piano.
The Christmas tree will be decorated with sugared fruit, strings of popcorn, silk ribbons, spun glass ornaments, and silver foil curls, all traditional decorations for the period.
The generous talents and volunteerism of Town & Country will provide the perfect backdrop for this year’s Madrigal Holy Day Celebration. [Darrell Faulk]
