Festival revisits Oconee’s history - COME TO ASHFORD MANOR SUNDAY 1-5 pm





(Written by Michael Prochaska of the Oconee Enterprise newspaper).

Wedding photos inevitably outlive a marriage, if only because they outlive you.













Those photos of
grandmother in a gorgeous, white gown were meant to be passed on to
grandchildren and great grandchildren, said Dave Shearon, the host of
the third annual History on the Lawn Celebration.








Oconee residents are invited to bring historical
documents and share stories of their ancestors from 1-5 p.m. Sunday,
April 17 at Ashford Manor Bed and Breakfast.







Shearon established History on the Lawn
Celebration after people would come to him with black-and-white
photographs that were buried deep in a closet or attic or at the bottom
of an underwear drawer.







“We came here 19 years ago because we saw a small town that had a lot of heart and soul,” said Shearon.







The Oconee Historical Society partners with the
University of North Georgia each year to create an online repository of
historical documents. UNG students and Special Collections and Digital
Initiatives Librarian Allison Gallup will demonstrate how to digitally
archive photographs and recorded stories about Oconee’s history.







“I believe everybody will discover something they didn’t know before,” said Shearon.







Children can play with vintage toys or make
tin-can lanterns with the local chapters of the National Society of the
Daughters of the American Revolution or learn about rug weaving with
Bonnie Montgomery.







The Sons of Confederate Veterans with come dressed in period attire with muskets in hand.







Watkinsville Garden Club, Colonial Dames, Friends
of the Barnett Shoals Cemetery, Positively Oconee, Junior American
Citizens, Friends of High Shoals, Colonial Dames, Bogart Historical
Society and the Oconee Tourism Welcome Center will all be represented.







Throughout the afternoon, a panel of venerable
residents will share stories about Bogart, North High Shoals, and the
Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation.







For more information about the history festival, contact Shearon at (706) 372-8530.



Festival revisits Oconee’s history: Wedding photos inevitably outlive a marriage, if only because they outlive you.

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