Overflow crowd for Sunday DAR dedication of Patriot Park
The Reverend John Andrew chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution dedicated the new Patriot Park in Watkinsville Sunday before an overflow audience of several hundred people in the side yard of Mike Thornton's property just across the business route of Highway 441 where it connects with State Route 15.
The local chapter of the DAR is the youngest in the state, and at least 17 American Revolutionary soldiers have been identified with Oconee County ties, including a distant relative of mine in John Harris, buried on Barnett Shoals Road in Oconee County. Names such as Elder, Fambrough, Haygood, and Nunnally are represented on street signs, historic markers and the cemeteries all across Oconee County, Georgia and coming out of the town once called Big Springs coming from Creek Indian territory and home to Eagle Tavern and Elder Mill Covered Bridge, here honored in a duplex bird house to hoisted upon the small parcel of land soon in yet another wonderful award from the DAR in the ceremony.
I was also very happy to have a cousin of mine Walker Chewning dressed in period wear and carried the Georgia flag. Walker and his wife Jo An Chewning traveled to Watkinsville for the event along with veterans and patriots from all over Georgia for this event and even brought their pooch along for the journey. Everyone from motorcycle riders to elderly people in the newfangled stroller chairs dotted the peripheries.
Lots of children were in attendance as well and some ran up to play on the lovingly restored vintage 1938 filling station on the Thornton family property.
Coincidentally there once was a gas station on the exact triangle of property where the Patriot Park is was once a filling station as well, making the switch to a park all the more involved and expensive. The EPA still has to take readings four times a year on the property, which is not adorned with a big granite monument and white flowering dogwoods, knockout roses, October Glory maples, hollies, gardenia and Virginia Sweetspire. Work has been going on since 2008 on the transition and cost nearly $15,000.00.
Brigadier General Maria L. Britt spoke about women in history and her family and received an award. Watkinsville Mayor Joe Walter addressed the audience about the evolution of the small space in very short time frame. Oconee County Board of Commissioners chairman G. Melvin Davis welcomed the audience and recognized dignitaries in the audience. Revered Larry Davidson received an award for community service and Rodger Carroll received a Community Patriot Award. Elected officials including State Senator Bill Cowsert and members of the BOC including John Daniell, Margaret Hale, Chuck Horton. Several members the Oconee County Board of Education and Watkinsville City Council were in the audience as well.
The local DAR chapter has also been cleaning up and indexing the cemetery in Watkinsville and will be conducting a $15.00 tour March 20 led by Melissa Piche of North Georgia Tours. They are also supporting the Boy Scout Troup 537 and their 3rd annual Flag Retirement Ceremony from 7:00 to 8:30 pm at Briarwood Baptist Church.
They are accepting applications for new memberships at http://revjohnandrew.georgiastatedar.org or you can email danadar@bellsouth.net for more information. Or you can check out http://www.dar.org for more information. The Oconee County Historical Society was also in attendance and you may find out more about them at http://www.oconeehistory.org.
For more photos from the event please check out my facebook page, linked at the top of the blog.
Lots of children were in attendance as well and some ran up to play on the lovingly restored vintage 1938 filling station on the Thornton family property.
Coincidentally there once was a gas station on the exact triangle of property where the Patriot Park is was once a filling station as well, making the switch to a park all the more involved and expensive. The EPA still has to take readings four times a year on the property, which is not adorned with a big granite monument and white flowering dogwoods, knockout roses, October Glory maples, hollies, gardenia and Virginia Sweetspire. Work has been going on since 2008 on the transition and cost nearly $15,000.00.
Brigadier General Maria L. Britt spoke about women in history and her family and received an award. Watkinsville Mayor Joe Walter addressed the audience about the evolution of the small space in very short time frame. Oconee County Board of Commissioners chairman G. Melvin Davis welcomed the audience and recognized dignitaries in the audience. Revered Larry Davidson received an award for community service and Rodger Carroll received a Community Patriot Award. Elected officials including State Senator Bill Cowsert and members of the BOC including John Daniell, Margaret Hale, Chuck Horton. Several members the Oconee County Board of Education and Watkinsville City Council were in the audience as well.
The local DAR chapter has also been cleaning up and indexing the cemetery in Watkinsville and will be conducting a $15.00 tour March 20 led by Melissa Piche of North Georgia Tours. They are also supporting the Boy Scout Troup 537 and their 3rd annual Flag Retirement Ceremony from 7:00 to 8:30 pm at Briarwood Baptist Church.
They are accepting applications for new memberships at http://revjohnandrew.georgiastatedar.org or you can email danadar@bellsouth.net for more information. Or you can check out http://www.dar.org for more information. The Oconee County Historical Society was also in attendance and you may find out more about them at http://www.oconeehistory.org.
For more photos from the event please check out my facebook page, linked at the top of the blog.
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