Press release for Watkinsville Bicentennial celebration
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For more information, call 706-769-5161
Watkinsville Celebrates its 200th Birthday on Nov. 24
“Artland of Georgia” will offer commemorative postal cancellation, re-enactments, and more
WATKINSVILLE, GA., Nov. 13 – While shoppers around the state hit the malls, citizens of at least one thriving Georgia town will celebrate a different kind of milestone on November 24.
The Northeast Georgia city of Watkinsville will celebrate its 200th birthday on Friday, November 24. Beginning at 9:00 a.m. ceremonies will be held at the Eagle Tavern, located at the intersection of Main and Third Streets in downtown Watkinsville.
“Our citizens are excited about this celebration, and I anticipate a large crowd to help us start our next 200 years off right,” said Luken. “It will be a fun-filled morning with ample doses of history, humor, and honor for our citizens and guests.”
After decades of mystery, the city learned earlier this year the exact date of its anniversary thanks to research from staffers at The Oconee Enterprise. Enterprise General Manager Maridee Williams is chairman of the Bicentennial Birthday Party committee.
“This is an exciting time, and cooperation between the county officials, city hall and downtown businesses has been exceptional,” said Williams. “The birthday party will include an Eagle Tavern replica cake with 200 candles, and 200 balloons will decorate the grounds.”
“After the ceremony,” added Williams, “we hope people with stay downtown
and enjoy the shopping.”
Many of the downtown businesses are participating in the Main Street Bucks promotion. Shoppers will be given a card with a list of stores to visit. Each store will stamp their cards. Completed cards are to be turned for a drawing at 5:00 p.m. that day. Several prizes will be awarded starting with $250 and going down to $25. These are the "Main Street Bucks," certificates that can be spent at participating stores until January 31, 2007.
-more-
Watkinsville – Page 2
From 9:00 to 9:30 a.m. long-time Watkinsville resident Ben Bridges will entertain the crowd with trivia questions and door prizes. At 9:30 a.m. a ceremony will include the reading of several proclamations and a replica of the original incorporation document will be presented. Girl Scouts Troop No. 2112 will perform a US Flag ceremony. A special commemorative edition of Main Street Revisited written by the Girl Scouts in 1983 has been updated and will be given out free while supplies last. The class of Colham Ferry Elementary School teacher Candy Hoard will bury a time capsule that will be opened for the tri-centennial in 2106. The ceremonial portion will end at 10:00 a.m. with the cutting of the cake.
Afterwards, in the Eagle Tavern, a special bicentennial postal cancellation will be offered from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free tours of the historic tavern will be given, and weavers, spinners and potters will be on hand for demonstrations. A free horse and wagon ride is available.
A planting of an anniversary tree is also planned, and a re-enactment of the Civil War’s Stoneman Raid will be from approximately 11:00 to 11 30 am.
A side saddle demonstration will be at 12:00 p.m. and again at 2:00 p.m.
Watkinsville’s well known Main Street will be open for shoppers looking to begin their holiday shopping with creative flair. Watkinsville is home to a thriving retail business, restaurants and arts community. There are 10 restaurants and coffee shops to choose from.
The Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation’s Holiday shop will also be open.
Throughout the year, the city has celebrated its anniversary in a variety of ways. Bicentennial banners hang from telephone poles throughout the city. More than 250 trees have been planted along the city’s streets to help beautify it for the future. A bicentennial bike ride took riders into the nearby countryside. A dance was held at Historic Rocket Hall.
Originally a part of Clarke County, Watkinsville is the county seat of Oconee County, and is approximately 60 miles Northeast of Atlanta, located between Madison, Greensboro, and Athens.
For a full history of Watkinsville, feel free to visit: http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-2285&hl=y.
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Watkinsville Celebrates its 200th Birthday on Nov. 24
“Artland of Georgia” will offer commemorative postal cancellation, re-enactments, and more
WATKINSVILLE, GA., Nov. 13 – While shoppers around the state hit the malls, citizens of at least one thriving Georgia town will celebrate a different kind of milestone on November 24.
The Northeast Georgia city of Watkinsville will celebrate its 200th birthday on Friday, November 24. Beginning at 9:00 a.m. ceremonies will be held at the Eagle Tavern, located at the intersection of Main and Third Streets in downtown Watkinsville.
“Our citizens are excited about this celebration, and I anticipate a large crowd to help us start our next 200 years off right,” said Luken. “It will be a fun-filled morning with ample doses of history, humor, and honor for our citizens and guests.”
After decades of mystery, the city learned earlier this year the exact date of its anniversary thanks to research from staffers at The Oconee Enterprise. Enterprise General Manager Maridee Williams is chairman of the Bicentennial Birthday Party committee.
“This is an exciting time, and cooperation between the county officials, city hall and downtown businesses has been exceptional,” said Williams. “The birthday party will include an Eagle Tavern replica cake with 200 candles, and 200 balloons will decorate the grounds.”
“After the ceremony,” added Williams, “we hope people with stay downtown
and enjoy the shopping.”
Many of the downtown businesses are participating in the Main Street Bucks promotion. Shoppers will be given a card with a list of stores to visit. Each store will stamp their cards. Completed cards are to be turned for a drawing at 5:00 p.m. that day. Several prizes will be awarded starting with $250 and going down to $25. These are the "Main Street Bucks," certificates that can be spent at participating stores until January 31, 2007.
-more-
Watkinsville – Page 2
From 9:00 to 9:30 a.m. long-time Watkinsville resident Ben Bridges will entertain the crowd with trivia questions and door prizes. At 9:30 a.m. a ceremony will include the reading of several proclamations and a replica of the original incorporation document will be presented. Girl Scouts Troop No. 2112 will perform a US Flag ceremony. A special commemorative edition of Main Street Revisited written by the Girl Scouts in 1983 has been updated and will be given out free while supplies last. The class of Colham Ferry Elementary School teacher Candy Hoard will bury a time capsule that will be opened for the tri-centennial in 2106. The ceremonial portion will end at 10:00 a.m. with the cutting of the cake.
Afterwards, in the Eagle Tavern, a special bicentennial postal cancellation will be offered from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free tours of the historic tavern will be given, and weavers, spinners and potters will be on hand for demonstrations. A free horse and wagon ride is available.
A planting of an anniversary tree is also planned, and a re-enactment of the Civil War’s Stoneman Raid will be from approximately 11:00 to 11 30 am.
A side saddle demonstration will be at 12:00 p.m. and again at 2:00 p.m.
Watkinsville’s well known Main Street will be open for shoppers looking to begin their holiday shopping with creative flair. Watkinsville is home to a thriving retail business, restaurants and arts community. There are 10 restaurants and coffee shops to choose from.
The Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation’s Holiday shop will also be open.
Throughout the year, the city has celebrated its anniversary in a variety of ways. Bicentennial banners hang from telephone poles throughout the city. More than 250 trees have been planted along the city’s streets to help beautify it for the future. A bicentennial bike ride took riders into the nearby countryside. A dance was held at Historic Rocket Hall.
Originally a part of Clarke County, Watkinsville is the county seat of Oconee County, and is approximately 60 miles Northeast of Atlanta, located between Madison, Greensboro, and Athens.
For a full history of Watkinsville, feel free to visit: http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-2285&hl=y.
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