The coming week is full of patriotic events beginning with Election Day on Tuesday when the 46th U.S. president, state and local political candidates will be elected to office, and concludes with the annual observance of Veterans Day on Friday, Nov. 11 with several events planned.
Thrown into the mix is the general meeting of Sumter Historic Trust (open to the public) at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Lee Council House, featuring an interesting recap of the Trust’s first annual History Camp last June, an educational and entertaining day camp focusing on local history for fifth- and sixth-graders that will be held again next summer.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Trust board members Kim Christmas, history camp director, and Meredith Owen along with Bryan Parkinson, lead educator and GSW professor of history, will give an interesting power point presentation on the first day camp made possible by the generosity of the Mix Foundation and the Charles R. Crisp Preservation Trust.
I encourage you to attend and hear about the history camp – besides the Trust will elect new officers and board members and delicious refreshments will be provided by board members.
The history day camp was amazing and packed with daily activities. It included a study of Native Americans, our first residents; the Civil War era specific to Sumter County; tour of historic Andersonville and pioneer village; a day devoted to studying varied architecture in the historic business and residential districts; tour of South Georgia Tech’s aviation department and Souther Field where Charles Lindberg soloed and the major role the site played in World Wars I and II; a segment on Sumter’s agriculture, past and present, and tour of Leatherbrook Holstein Dairy on U.S. Highway 19 South. The finale was the SAM Shortline train excursion from Lake Blackshear to Leslie to tour the Telephone Museum and to Plains where Lee Kinnamon, history teacher, was tour guide. Each day concluded with unique hands-on activities that coordinated with the subject they studied.
Because the event was such a success, Kim says many people have requested having something on that order for adults, perhaps a series of local history discussions monthly or quarterly on Sunday afternoons dubbed, “Sumter Sundays.” I’m hoping this can be successful put together.
With the joint sponsorship of the Mix Foundation and the Charles R. Crisp Preservation Trust, we will be hosting our inaugural History Camp this summer. Kim Christmas, History Camp chair, along with the committee is hard at work planning an entertaining educational experience for the campers!
Out and about: Halloween was so much fun — we helped neighbors Frank and Sarah Darden hand out candy to the parade of costume characters traversing South Lee Street. The Dardens are hosts extraordinaire to the trick or treaters as well as their guests serving up delectable treats; meanwhile, Bulldogs are moaning UGA’s loss to the Florida Gators, longtime football rivals, in Jacksonville last Saturday. It was a long ride home for Dog fans attending, especially Dr. Lou Riccardi and Candy, Dan and Mary Torbert, Gwynn and Bill Morton, Dr. Alex Riccardi, Jimmy and Morgan Whaley, Hulme and Janet Kinnebrew, Burton and Elaine Thomas, and Joe and Jarrett Hooks; however, enjoying the win were Gator fans Charles and Kim Christmas, who not only liked the final score but a reunion with Charles’ cousins from South Florida. Elsewhere, Dr. Schley and Karen Gatewood are home after an extended trip to the Greek Islands and the Holy Land, visiting Israel, Jerusalem, Nazareth and Galilee. Also, touring another part of the world recently were Wes and Jean Wheeler and Ben and Tommye Easterlin, former residents, who traveled to South Africa for photographic safaris in Botswana and Kruger National Park outside of Cape Town; elsewhere, January bride-elect Ansley Ragan was on a pre-nuptial party merry-go-round last weekend. She was honored guest for “brunch and bubbly” at the home of Kelley Kinslow. Other hosts: Tricia Blount, Carla Cook, Mary Davenport, Gail Davis, Laura Faircloth, Cherilyn Guth, Susan Lashley, Christy Lightner, Terry Maxwell, Lynde Parker, Candy Riccardi, Lori Shivers, Betty Ann Slunt, Meg Usrey, and Carol Wiggins. That afternoon Ansley was center stage at a beautiful tea at the home of Lori Perry. Other hostesses were Michelle Andrews, Susan Bruns, Jennifer Buford, Beth Carroll, Gaynor Cheokas, Sarah Darden, Beth NeSmith, Patty Perles, Vangie Perry, Andrea Thomas, MaryLen Walker, and Lynn Wheeler.

Leila Sisson Case lives in Americus.