Good turnout for Atlanta Founder’s Day Festival
By Emily Sanders
Atlanta citizens converged on Hiram Street Saturday in honor of the town’s 150th birthday, which was celebrated with a parade, cake, games, contests, giveaways, time capsules, and more.
“It was on this site right here in 1872 when a man named Preston Rose Scott donated 111 acres for the town,” said Kate Stow, chairperson for the Founder’s Day Committee. “Our current mayor, James Brooks’ ancestors actually named the town ‘Atlanta’.”
The Founder’s Day Festival was celebrated Saturday for the first time in 50 years. The last Founder’s Day was in 1972 when locals celebrated the town’s centennial with a festival and the burial of a time capsule that was dug up Friday before another was buried in
Two Youngins channeled their inner Texas Ranger as they hitch their cart and pony and gallup downtown to see about the ruckus. See more photos on pages 2, 11 and 12.
its place on the grassy knoll near the police station at the corner of Louise and Allday streets.
The 2022 capsule is expected to be opened in 2072–50 years in the future.
Though they were able to salvage some of the contents of the ‘72 capsule, much of it had been badly damaged and waterlogged.
“We dug up the vault… we were all excited,” Stow said. “Then they opened the lid and it was full of water. Mold. Bacteria. Mush. But fortunately, we were able to salvage some to put on display at the old Miller School for public viewing.”
Atlanta Miller Grade School was opened up to the public to view the capsule contents as 903 Artisans also held an Art Expo. The expo awarded outstanding art on display from youth and adult categories and featured various mediums like photography and painting and centered around themes of Atlanta township. Most, but not all of the art was listed for sale in a silent auction and showcased some of the area’s finest artists.
Some citizens paid a visit to the old schoolhouse— which is currently being renovated— so that they could reminisce about the old days at the school when classes were held.
The contents that were salvaged and on display there included many things to mark the age. A vinyl record titled ‘Jimi Hendricks Experience’ stood out in that way.
More common items included letters written from parents and grandparents to their children and grandchildren, family photos, postcards, and other miscellaneous items like coins, $2 bills, Texas currency from the civil war era, jewelry, and various trinkets.
Mike Hanner, with Hanner’s Funeral Service, donated a vault for the items that were being gathered for a new time capsule–just as his grandfather Hershel himself had done 50 years ago.
“Mike Hanner did that for free, he took up that mantle, thank him,” Stow said. “His grandfather had put the original one in the ground. Fortunately, we have the means to keep the items we bury more protected this time around.”
Kate said, half-joking, that they would be utilizing things that weren’t available in the 70s to secure the new vault.
“We will be placing (items) in Ziplock bags, we will use duct tape. We will then put those bags in a container with a lid before placing that container into an extra strength hefty bag,” Stow said.
A 10:00 a.m. parade kicked off with veterans from JE Manning American Legion Post 258, followed by 2022’s Miss Atlanta Greta Feimster as she led the way for the younger Miss Atlanta winners who floated through the parade.
Paradegoers were treated to an entourage of classic cars and a number from Atlanta High School’s prestigious, award-winning marching band.
Area businesses weave through, such as Kelly Cox insurance on his tractor, pulling a scarecrow on a small bed of hay, perhaps hoping for that cool crisp fall air to come soon. River Valley Tractor, of Queen City, waved and smiled as he pulled a couple of hay bales through on his Kubota tractor.
Two adorable little Texas Rangers hitched their wagon and took the ponies through while they stroked their mustaches, no doubt curious about the ruckus downtown. Close behind, a young man reminiscent of Huck Finn strode by in his 1870s getup; White and blue striped denim overalls, well-worn boots, and a homemade bamboo fishing pole to finish the look. Beside him, his mother pulled a wagon.
More ponies pranced through downtown and a group of female riders, also dressed in lovely late 19th-century regalia seemed to take Hiram Street back to simpler times. One wore an elegant, yet simple riding skirt that seemed designed to be as practical as it was pretty. The long flowing fuchsia pink skirt spread elegantly over the side and back of her horse, accentuated by a couple of inches of ruffles in the same pastel color at the hem.
The female equestrian’s look was tied together with a soft, cornflower blue, long-sleeved blouse, with white buttons that came to a slight ‘V’ at the neckline that kept the rider covered, but also left the room for her to breathe, unlike the stuffy styles that predated it. Ruffles of the same powdery cornflower blue circled the tops of her shoulders and traversed slightly down her side to give the look a more elegant feel.
Several other men and women dressed up for the occasion, reflecting the late Victorian period on the cusp of the Edwardian era, which began in 1901 and in which women began shedding unnecessary layers and drab colors in favor of pastels and colors that gave more individualized looks—Pretty and practical seemed to be the motto of the era.
Stow even donned period regalia as she rocked a soft, powder blue dress, with ruffled sleeves, complemented by her grandmother’s blue and pink pastel bonnet that tied together the theme. She is well known in her hometown where she recently returned and works as a freelance writer, and photographer and is involved in various area publications, along with being a member of Atlanta Area Rotary, among other things.
Stow worked with area volunteers such as 903 Artisans and the Founders Day committee to organize this special event as a personal labor of love for her hometown. Stow said she had been dreaming about this event since January.
The day was chock-full of fun and entertainment. Afternoon music from Charles Lawrence was a joy. A“Liars Contest” was won by costumed cowgirl Chloe Williams while a BBQ contest judged by Casey Sullivan, Caleb Sherman, and Mayor James Brooks, saw Mayor Brooks award Logan Moore and Randy Blades with $150 for their tasty recipe. Paul Cothren won an award for best beard.
A $500 scholarship was awarded to Miss Atlanta Greta Feimster by Atlanta Rotary Club.
Festivities came to a close for a street dance Saturday night when popular local Captain Joe Band took to the stage as the crowds cheered.
Stow said she spent a year researching and planning the Founder’s Day 150 event and couldn’t be happier with the turnout.
“As a child, I watched with wonder as my hometown came together to celebrate the Centennial in 1972. My (late) mom (Jean Stow Cotten) was part of that and my favorite memories were made there,” Stow said.
“Coming home in the midst of a pandemic made me nostalgic and I wanted so much to honor the date on the time capsule monument that I bugged the city until they gave me the green light.”
Stow said she hopes the new generation looks back as fondly on Saturday’s event as she did the 1972 Centennial.
“I love seeing so many people out and about playing and laughing together and I’m excited for the memories this generation is making,” Stow said. “I love this town, the people, and our legacy.”
Stow said she poured both heart and soul into the Founder’s Day celebration and hopes that it shows.
“May this event be my legacy,” Stow said. “If I’m remembered for nothing else, I’ll forever be the ‘150th Birthday Lady’. In that case, I will go home tonight happy, and I’ll drift off into retired cat lady land knowing I gave something back to my community.”