Good Morning All,
It has been quite sometime since I have posted anything on the Amite Reunion site, but the Amite County Historical and Genalogical Society wishes to assure everyone that we have been hard at work in preparation for the Amite County and Liberty Bicentennial April 27 - May 2, 2009.
We are also preparing for an Amite County Style "Antiques Roadshow", on Saturday, June 14, 2008, 11:00 AM to 2:00PM - Conference Room of the Liberty Library. Local, regional and possibly one national antique dealer will be there for everyone to bring in their items for identification and appraisal. There will be NO charge for this service but donations will be accepted for the "Piper Fund" which has been established by The Society to bring a bagpiper in for the day, Saturday, May 2, 2009. This piper would play off and on for The Society on the grounds of the Little Red Schoolhouse, and perform at the Confederate Monument during the Wreath Laying service. We welcome everyone to attend this event. If bringing large items such as furniture, one must make all arrangements to move it to the location, furniture will be identified and appraised. Society members will not be able to provide help to move furniture. There will be at least one expert on early southern furniture at this appraisal.
On Saturday, September 13, The Society is scheduling a field trip to Rosemont, the boyhood home of Jefferson Davis. We will be leaving from the Liberty Library Conference room, approximately 9:30 - 10:00 AM - exact time to be announced later.
OPEN HOUSE for The Society is Saturday, December 6, 2008 at the Felder / Richmond Plantation owned by Jonah Ford. Dr. Ford has so graciously allowed us to use his home once before and now we make a return. The Society will offer for sale to its members at this time the limited edition (250) bronze doubloons depicting the Society's logo and the Little Red Schoolhouse commemorating the Liberty and Amite County Bicentennial of 2009. These are high quality. Society members are urged to purchase their doubloons that day as when these are sold there will be no more. Non members may purchase that same doubloon that day by becoming a member, after filling out an application and paying the dues, membership is instantaneous. An on site Live Auction is being planned for the event this day. Art work consisting of original 19th century framed steel engravings, and large super framed reproduction prints of famous 19th century paintings have already been donated to The Society. As items are donated to The Society for this auction, they will be catalogued and made ready. A brochure will be prepared prior to Open House and will give all details. Possibly there will be a raffle for a quilt.
Amite County Historical and Genealogical Society
Bicentennial Preparations
This is only a PART of what The Society intends to accomplish.
Prospectus:
Living History Amite County Historical and Genealogical Society Bicentennial
April 27 May 2, 2009
Civil War Era
Confederate encampment on the green in front of the LRSH
3 tents at present / one officer / 2 enlisted men
all accoutrements including period weapons both military and sporting
reenactors both civilian and military (composed of both Union and Confederate), dress will be period style for both men and women
This encampment will be authentic to the period of the War Between the States. The reenactors will be giving living history demonstrations, dispensation has been given by the Mayor of Liberty, Ricky Stratton to the Amite County Historical and Genealogical Society for these historians to give musket and sporting arms demonstrations with blank fire on the hour, during the Bicentennial event, on Saturday, May 2, 2009. It has been my experience when giving a Living History demonstration that this is an automatic draw for all ages. Many have never seen a period gun loaded and fired.
The Green of the LRSH (1853) is an ideal place for this Living History Display, as it is the sole surviving building of the Liberty Female Academy, when the complex of buildings owned by the Reverend Shirk was destroyed by the invading Union army.
There will be approximately 4 long tables (which will be needed with coverings) for the display of authentic weapons which were used in the Civil War by both the North and South. Note: These items are not reproductions. They will be on display only for Saturday, May 2, 2009. The public will be encouraged to ask questions about these items and it will be a learning experience for many. These items belong to local individuals and will be on loan for that day, they equal any found in a museum.
Scenes will be staged throughout the day, a musician will perform at random about the campsite much as would have been done during an actual encampment at this time.
Plater Robinson, Tulane University, Southern Institute for Education and Research, Education Director, has been contacted to present his lecture on the Battle of Liberty. Plater will be giving this lecture in the conference room of the Liberty Library. This lecture has been given at the Department of Archives and History in Jackson and is a super presentation. The Amite County Historical and Genealogical Society is honored to have Plater participating in the Bicentennial. (time to be worked out)
Saturday afternoon, May 2, 2009 (again time to be worked out), the Amite County Historical and Genealogical Society will sponsor a wreath laying (period wreath made and donated by Jimmy Honea) at the Confederate Monument to honor those killed from our county during the Civil War. This is in the planning stage, we plan for the Confederate Colorguard (reenactors) march from the LRSH in formation to the Confederate Monument, raising of the flag, short prayer and speech in honor of those that sacrificed their lives for that noble cause they believed in, history of the monument. A 21 gun salute given by the Colorguard and the playing of taps or Amazing Grace by a piper at present I am working on three piper contacts.
Amite County Historical and Genealogical Society
Wayne Parker
David Dreyer
Joey Wall
Dan Morgan
Greg Barron
Dawn Taylor
Wayne Anderson
Non Members
Shay Skinner
Hettie Skinner
+ others not named at present
Set up will begin approximately Friday, May 1, 2009
Items needed for this Living History Presentation
4 Long Tables with cloth coverings
bottled water and ice (stashed in the tents)
any other items will be provided by the contingent of Reenactors.
The Reenactors providing this Living History Demonstration and the Amite County Historical and Genealogical Society have invited a photographer using actual camera equipment from the 1850s, which produces a tintype or glass photograph, to come and practice his art on the grounds of the Little Red Schoolhouse, on Saturday, May 2, 2009. This is a rare opportunity to get an individual that does this work and it would be an asset just to have him there, he has been booked as of today. See Country Roads Magazine May 2008 edition ,
http://www.countryroadsmagazine.com/ViewArticle.php?articleid=681&ignoreDate=true
Mr. Schultzs web page,
http://www.tintypesforever.com/
We are all working together to make this Bicentennial of Liberty and Amite County a Success.
May God Truly Bless our Endeavor in the Preservation of Our History
Thank You,
William G. Barron,
Living History / Amite County Historical and Genealogical Society for the Bicentennial of Liberty and Amite County April 27 May 2, 2009.
The next speaking engagement that I have will be for the Friends of the Clinton Library, Clinton, Louisiana, Wednesday, June 11, 2008 topic The Bicentennial this will be the fourth function that I have been asked to come and give a presentation. Evidently the word is getting out and the technique of show and tell along with a good description of the events are resulting in great interest in southwest Mississippi for our Bicentennial.
