CARROLLTON – The annual Carrollton Pilgrimage and Pioneer Day was deemed once again at success.
According to Carrollton Mayor Pam Lee, who also serves as chair of the event, the event drew people from a local region and those traveling from as far as Wisconsin to tour the town’s historic homes, churches, and buildings.
“Once again we had a great Pilgrimage and Pioneer Day Festival, in spite of COVID,” Lee said. “Our numbers were down a little; but the quality of arts and crafts, of music and of hospitality was very good.”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pilgrimage Committee elected to hold the event this year, although strict safety protocols were taken and adjustments were made to ensure the safety of guests and homeowners. Instead of the traditional tours, the seven homes participating this year – The Doll House, Lum Reek, Wayside, the Old Carrollton Hotel, Fairview, and Cotesworth -- held “porch parties,” with guests invited to “sit a spell” with the homeowners to learn more about the history and architectural relevance of the homes.
“Homeowners Rob and Denise Grones, Amanda and Keith Ferguson, Tommy and Libba Goodman, Barry and Debbie Bordelon, and Jeff and Jeri James had their homes looking great and were gracious hosts and hostesses,” Lee said.
The Pioneer Day Festival drew hundreds to the Carrollton Square with vendors selling everything from hotdogs to handcrafted wooden bowls. Live musicians entertained the crowd throughout the day, with Benny Rigby serving as emcee. Toad and the Good Ole Boys, the Cobbin Brothers, the Cuomo Sisters, Bear Marsh M.B. Church Choir, and Dolinda Malone performed on the courthouse lawn.
“Cathy Whitefield and her assistants pulled off another wonderful festival,” Lee said. “Benny Rigby did a great job with the music and opening speakers.”
This year, in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the filming of “The Help,” the movie based on the bestselling book of the same name by Kathryn Stockett, “A Taste of the Help” allowed fans of the movie to experience it first hand with visits to Skeeter’s home, Hillie’s home, and Celia’s home, which is known locally as Cotesworth. Lee Ann Flemming, food stylist for the movie, spoke at Cotesworth Saturday afternoon, where she shared her memories from filming and recipes used in the movie. Lee said guests received a handcrafted cookbook of recipes used in the movie and were entered for a chance to win “Minnie’s Chocolate Pie” -- Flemming’s chocolate chess pie.
Saturday night, a viewing of “The Help” was shown in the courtroom of the Carroll County Courthouse.
“The Cotesworth [Culture and Heritage Center] board had Cotesworth dressed for guests for the pilgrimage tours as well as “A Taste of The Help,” a special package that included the homes of Jack Johnson and John and Jeanne Gewalt in Greenwood, a presentation by Lee Ann Flemming discussing her experiences cooking the food seen in the movie, and a handcrafted “Tastes from The Help” cookbook,” Lee said. “It was so interesting to see the homes that were used and hear Lee Ann's stories and then to watch the movie Saturday night. Maybe we can partner with Greenwood in the future and do a more in depth tour.”
Lee said Cotesworth t-shirts and “A Taste of the Help” cookbooks are still available and can be purchased at Carrollton Town Hall.
Also, Mark Smith, a native of Carrollton and owner of Bowlweevil Woodturning, handcrafted wood bowls from a tree from the Cotesworth grounds that were downed in a storm last spring. He created 10 bowls from the tree, and they were sold during the pilgrimage.
Smith is the brother of Dr. Timothy B. Smith, who published a biography on J.Z. George in 2012. Timothy B. Smith is a historian who is a professor at the University of Tennessee in Martin.
The commemorative Carrollton Christmas Ornament, featuring the Carroll County Courthouse, sold out. However, Lee said a second order for 44 more ornaments that were pre-sold at the event has been ordered. No additional orders for the ornament will be taken, however, the Pilgrimage Committee plans to have a new commemorative ornament each year that will feature the historic homes and buildings in Carrollton.
“On behalf of the Pilgrimage Board and the Antiquities Board, I would like to thank the many, many, many volunteers who made the event possible,” Lee said. “We could not have done it without you!”
