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Homecoming means Picnicin the ParkThis year’s campaign of the Alabama Department of Tourism is called Small Towns and Downtowns of Alabama, and Geraldine has been chosen as one of the honorees.The state has given our small town a historical marker, which is to be placed in front of Geraldine Town Hall, and one of the requirements to receive this honor is to have a community celebration for the unveiling.And so it is. Saturday is to be the Geraldine celebration, and I have the honor of being one of the storytellers for this event. My time is scheduled for 3 p.m.It’s a bring-your-own-chair thing to be held in the Geraldine Town Park and begins at noon with a drive-through of the antique cars that have been attending a show at the Geraldine First Baptist Church that morning.For many years, Geraldine had a Labor Day Celebration, and the late Buckle Richey always served pinto beans (cooked in a black wash pot) and combread.This year his daughter, Carol Hawkins, will carry on that tradition in memory of her dadL The town is furnishing barbeque, potato salad, baked beans and chips (from James Barbecue) with the councilmen grilling hot dogs as well. So there will be lots of food.And as I understand it, some old quilts will be on display, too.Other storytellers include Karl Marie Abies and Dr. Paul Spence. All the storytellers started school in the First grade and graduated from Geraldine.Mrs. Abies (graduate of1944) and I (graduate of1945) live in the community, while Dr. Spence (graduate of 1942) lives in Birmingham.I plan to include a little history of the area and tell about life in the 1930s and ‘40s.I plan to talk about a time when modem meant what Pa had done to the hay fields -he mowed 'em.Jean Chadwick is another local on the program. Mrs. Chadwick writes children’s books about a family of mice who live in Farmer Brown’s bam, and she will be reading to the children.Musical entertainment for the afternoon also includes Geraldine’s own. Singers will be Leslie Sisk and Erin Berry. One featured artist is Geraldine native, Pat Upton. Upton, along with his band The Spiral Staircase, had one of the biggest hits in 1969, More Today Than Yesterday.”Another local band to perform is The Back Woods Revival Band, a well known group that sings and plays a combination of bluegrass and bluegrass gospel - with Stanley Rucks as the leader.It promises to be a special time of fun, food, fellowship and entertainment. Don’t forget to bring your own lawn chair, sit under the beautiful oak trees, learn what makes Geraldine a special place and enjoy this style of country living.aBillieCrumlyCountryLiving
Newspaper Details
Fort Payne Times Journal
Fort Payne, Alabama, US
Wed, Jul 07, 2010
Page 11
Full Page
Clipped by
Broc R.
USA 16 Jun 2024
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Fort Payne Times Journal
