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| At least 27 people attended the Spirit of 76 Celebration volunteers' meeting Monday night at Junction Station. |
Volunteers planning the Spirit of 76 Celebration held their final meeting Monday night at Junction Station, reviewing the schedule and ironing out final details.
Air-conditioned churches: With hot weather in store, some of the most welcome informtion at the meeting was that the two churches holding events, Seventy Six Baptist and Mount Union Christian, are air-conditioned and will provide a respite from the heat Friday and Saturday. Seventy Six Baptist has several speakers scheduled to discuss the families and history of the community, but all are welcome to come share what they know.
At Mount Union, Rodney Piercey Jr., better known as "Buz," will be dressed up as Benjamin Franklin to discuss the founding father and his role in our nation's independence. "He's researched Ben Franklin from day one," said his sister, Faye Piercey Dalton. She and her sister, Phyllis Amonett, are the Mount Union organizers; their sister Vickie Piercey May will spin wool on their grandmother's spinning wheel, restored by their brother Terry, who will display and discuss his Native American artifacts, which he has collected since he was a small boy. "Indian-artifact people I've talked to say he knows more about them than anyone around here," David Cross said. He said there were no natives on Indian Creek when settlers arrived, but there was so much evidence of them that the stream was named for them.
Take a walk: The activities will begin at noon Friday, when Rudy Thomas will lead a walking tour from the 76 Falls parking lot to Mount Union, discussing "The Importance of Place." The afternoon will end with showing of the documentary about Medal of Honor winner Murl Conner and a panel discussion led by Luther C. Conner Jr., better known as "Hoppy," with a panel including state Treasurer Mark Metcalf, retired Col. Brack Flanagan of Creelsboro and Al Cross, executive producer of the documentary. All activities at Mount Union on Friday will be repeated on Saturday.
Athletics: Dee Soma reported that 28 runners have signed up for Saturday's 7.6-mile race from 76 Falls to Albany, and he expects more. The race will begin at 8 a.m. and end at the square, where the Clinton County High School Alumni Band and some current student musicians will play from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Thatg will be the only public event in Albany for the Celebration, which focuses on Seventy Six.
Matt Brewington of the 76 Falls Country Club reported that 56 golfers have signed up for The Spirit of '76 at 76 tournament, which will be held Saturday and limited to 76 golfers. (Friday afternoon, the club will host a "shootout" tournament.) Matt showed the committee how the golf course and the rest of the county-club campus will be used for the Friday night and Saturday night concerts. Parking will be directed by attendants, he said: "You won't park unless somebody tells you where to park," and parking will not be allowed until late afternoon, to avoid overlapping with the golf tournaments.Also, no tents will be allowed.
The country club will be collecting donations for flood victims and running its own application process for people who want help, Matt said.
Concerts: Colton Bowlin of Albany, a rising star in country music, is expected to draw a large crowd Friday night. David Cross said Chris Knight will probably play for 90 minutes Saturday night and the county's biggest-ever fireworks show will follow immediately.
