50 years ago – December 23, 1975: Wynn’s give bright gift

Dublin Courier Herald

The lights are burning again at the E.C. Wynn house, their gift to the children of middle Georgia.

The holiday spectacle , which attracted more than 600 cars on Christmas Eve last season is even bigger for 1975.

Thousands of multi-colored lights, nearly $2,000 worth, Santa Clauses, reindeer, snowmen, angels, wise men, Christmas trees, toys, and tinsel make a Christmas display untouched for exuberance in middle Georgia.

And it’s all for children.

“If it weren’t for the children, we wouldn’t be doing this,” Mr. Wynn says.

The lighting project, first started in 1974, takes twelve months to plan and more than a week to erect.

Wynn, a rural letter carrier, and his wife did it all – the wiring, the poles to hold the hundreds of strings of lights, the motorized Santas on see-saws and swings.

It’s their way of giving little ones a little fun at Christmas, but the older ones are known to gawk at the array themselves.

Since the Wynns lost two sons in automobile accidents, they have lived to see the amazed faces of children staring at the wonders of their Christmas menagerie.

The Wynn’s unsurpassed gift of Christmas is on Georgia 29 between Dublin and Soperton in the Rockledge community.

CARNEGIE LIBRARY BUILDING OPEN

“Ye Olde Carnegie Library Building,” situated in the well known triangular mall in downtown Dublin, will again the center of interest this Christmas season when citizens of middle Georgia and visitors are urged to participate in a nostalgic trip to the enchanting era of yesteryear – and in the “Spirit of ’76” and the Nation’s Bicentennial Celebration.

The Laurens County Historical Society and the Dublin Garden Club are co-sponsors of a “Colonial Christmas” in the old library building.

Many of the hostesses are wearing quaint and charming costumes of the 18th century. 

The two groups have worked for months researching and reproducing the various rooms to be on display.

Holiday Baked Foods for sale will be found on the “groaning board” of the Bake Shoppe, including home-made breads, baked pies, cakes, cheese straws, and candies. This area is under the charge of Mrs. Carl Williams, Mrs. James Rawls, Mrs. Don Johnston, Mrs. John Bell, and Miss Ann Johnson.

Near the entrance of the library will be a Williamsburg Parlor, featuring Chippendale and Queen Anne furniture, complete with a fireplace bedecked with garlands of natural greenery. On the mantel and at the windows will be wreaths in the tradition of the early settlers.

There will be a Christmas tree topped with a huge red bow, hand-strung ropes of cranberries and popcorn, gilded nuts, and calico cornucopias.

Other ornaments – handmade needlework and home-baked animal cookies a well as various bread-twists made of real dough and candles – will highlight the tree.

Assembling this lovely parlor and decorations are Miss Martha Hooks, Mrs. Allen Thomas, Mrs. Lester Porter, Mrs. Al Lamb, Miss Louise Buchan, and Mrs. H.C. Waldron. 

The dining room, with Mrs. Bob Shuler, Mrs. R.C. Garrard, and Mrs. John Bell in charge, contains Hepplewhite furniture with two Chippendale arm chairs from the home of Mrs. Bell’s mother, Mrs. W.R. Brigham. Hurricane lamps with candles are on the credenza with an antique tureen filled with fruits, nuts, and greenery on the dining table. There is a stylized Christmas tree covered with greenery and love apples on the server.

The bedroom features a Jenny Lind bed and coverlet, which is a handmade quilt made by the grandmother of Mrs. Howard Waldron, a hand hooked rug, an old refinished chest, and a pitcher on a washstand. A grandmother rocker, Empire and ladder-back chairs are also used here. Garlands of holly decorate the room, under the hostesses, Mrs. Clifton Wilkinson, Mrs. O.W. Lindsey, Mrs. Howard Waldron, and Miss Louise Buchan.

The pioneer kitchen, done by Mrs. Eubergene Nicholson, Mrs. Steve Mercer, and Mrs. Danny Hogan, uses furniture that is strictly functional and not designed for comfort. A quilting frame with a quilt – in the making – is featured. There are reproduced 18th Century utensils for cooking with pewter pieces.

The Historical Society and the Dublin Garden Club share in sincere appreciation to the Dublin High School Coed Y, which cleaned the library windows, and to Brown Furniture Company and to Ray Lord of East Dublin Upholstery Company.

Donations of $1.00 for adults and 50 cents for children made be made.

HESTER WINS CHRISTMAS TOURNEY

Melvin Hester, winner of several other tournaments at the Dublin Country Club in recent years, took another title over the weekend as he won the Christmas Tournament by shooting 74-76-150 to finish one stroke ahead of Larry Thigpen’s 75-76-151.

Third place went to Tom Rhea, who posted 79-74-153, while the other three winners in the Championship Flight were Joe Durant with 75-80-155; Roger Lunsford, 79-79-158; and Henry Cantera, 81-78-159.

Other flght winners included:

First Flight – Jim Hawkins, 83-75-158

Second Flight – Gene Scarboro – 84-80-164

Third Flight – Woody Sullivan – 93-87-180

Special prizes went to the following:

Melvin Hester, a putter for medalist honors

Danny Moore, Golfer of the Day, a putter

Tournament chairman Henry Cantera said that first place prizes were Motorola “Quasar” television sets.

Second place prizes were canvas suitcases and duffle bags.

Third place prizes were Green Joy golf shoes.

Fourth place prizes were golf umbrellas.

Fifth place prizes were golf gloves.

Sixth place prizes were three golf balls.

CHRISTMAS PLAY AT LIBRARY

The Peter Pan Players of the Laurens County Library will present the one-act play, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” on Tuesday night at 8:30 and on Wednesday afternoon at 4:30 in the Laurens County Library Auditorium. 

The play is adapted from the book, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” by Barbara Robinson. This book is a nominee for the 1975-76 for the Annual Georgia Children’s Book Award, sponsored by the College of Education, University of Georgia. 

Janice Anderson will be the Assistant Director.

The cast consists of the following:

Annette Brown

Tina Cherry

Dori Davis

Scott Hagler

Mike Horton

Owen Howell

Mark Johnson

David Killingsworth

Kelly Matthews

Dawn Rogers

GRANT GETS AWARD

At the regular meeting of the Laurens County Board of Education on Thursday, Hugh Grant was awarded an honorary life membership with the Georgia School Board Association as a token of his distinguished service with the Laurens County Board of Education.

He has served for 12 years and was honored at the Georgia School Board’s annual convention banquet on December 5th in Atlanta.

Members of the present administration of the Laurens County Board are Jimmy Kemp, Chairman of the Board; Roger Lord, Tony Johnson, and LaRue Fountain. 

The current Laurens County School Superintendent is William P. Johnson.

COMMUNITY CHORUS CONCERT

The Dublin Community Chorus presented a concert at the First Baptist Church on Monday evening at eight o’clock.

The Chorus is composed of musicians from Dublin and the surrounding area.

Mr. Nat E. Frazer, Chairman of the Music Department of Middle Georgia College, is Director of the group.

Mrs. Nancy Jenkins Claxton, an accomplished concert pianist, is the accompanist. She also presented several solo selections on the program.

The program was a varied one, ranging from Randall Thompson’s “Alleluia” and “Last Words of David” to Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein’s “The Sound of Music.”

Also included were several madrigals and spirituals.

Officers of the Dublin Community Chorus are Dan Doster, President; Mrs. W.H. Champion, Vice President, and Howard Cordell, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer.

Other members of the Chorus are June Bowyer, Roberta Day, Rita Hall, Betty Parker, Lattie Price, Carolyn Register, Vera Smith, Martha Strickland, Bobbye Yauck, Sheryl Askew, Katherine Frazer, Rose Rhodes, Cheryl Rutlandr, Juanita Tucker, Thelma Byers,

Lila Frazer, Bunny Hatchett, Karey Kennedy, Catherine Wooddy, Jean Rogers, Belton Hammond, Guy Ingram, Jr., Carey White, Bowman Barr, Charles Caster, Prentiss Green, Jr., and Bob Proctor.

KIWANIS HONORS WINNERS

The Dublin Kiwanis Club honored the winners of its annual High Yield Corn Contest on Thursday at a lunch meeting of the group.

Andy Cook of Montrose, a West Laurens High student, claimed first place in the FFA contest division for his yield of 120 bushels per acre.

Jeff White of Cedar Grove, also a West Laurens student, won the first place award for the 4-H division with his production of 109 bushels per acre. 

 Runners up in the FFA division were Raymond Joyce of Brewton, East Laurens High, 93 bushels per acre; Leland Chafin of Rockledge, East Laurens, 86 bushels; and John Johnson of Minter, East Laurens, 83 bushels.

In the 4-H division, the runners-up were Roger White of Cedar Grove, Southwest Laurens Elementary School, 94 bushels per acre; Sam Braswell of Dexter, West Laurens, 85 bushels; and George Coleman of Cedar Grove, West Laurens Junior High, 79 bushels.

Cash prizes of $50, $25, $15, and $10 were given to the first, second, third, and fourth place finishers.

Plaques were awarded to the two first place winners.

Julian Reynolds, Kiwanis chairman for the contest, praised the competition, saying, “In this corn project, they can study just about anything they want – chemistry, physics, and agricultural practices.”

J.D. Brown, Laurens County Agent, noted that the corn contest was especially appropriate for Laurens County which cultivates more certified seed corn than any other county in Georgia.

“There are more Laurens County farm acres – between 55,000 and 60,000 acres – planted in corn- more than any other crop.” Brown also observed that the 4-H Club had its beginning as a corn club in a Georgia high school.

The Kiwanis Club has sponsored the High Yield Corn Contest since 1971 and has honored eight to ten young farmers each year.

This year the contest was co-sponsored by Farmer’s Mutual Exchange, Dominy Oil Company, Dublin Seed Company, Southern Peanut and Storage, and Lovett and Brinson.

Virgil Pearson, West Laurens Vocational Agriculture teacher, and Jimmy Herring, East Laurens Principal,  attended the meeting with their students and thanked the Kiwanis Club for their support of the agriculture programs in the county schools.

ENGAGEMENT

Mr. and Mrs. Ray Wyatt of Route 4, Dublin, announce the engagement of their daughter, Judieth Kay Wyatt, to George Ellis of Milledgeville, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene A. Ellis of Milledgeville.

The bride-elect is a graduate of Dublin High School and of Georgia College in Milledgeville. She is presently employed at Laurens Memorial Hospital.

The groom-elect is a graduate of Baldwin County  High School and of Georgia Military College. He is presently attending Georgia Southern College in Statesboro and is employed with the Georgia State Patrol.

The wedding will take place on January 24th at 6:00 p.m. at Jefferson Street Baptist Church.

Friends are cordially invited to attend.

VA RETIREE SERVICE

The Dublin VA Center ‘s Dietetic Service honored 1975 retirees from that department at its annual Christmas party.

Mrs. Willie B Harrington retired after 30 years of service.

Mrs. Johnnie S. Watson retired after 5 years of service.

Mrs. Louise J. Whitney, Chief of Dietetic Service, was also honored at the service prior to her transfer to the VA Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri.

LOCAL ARTIST WILL EXHIBIT

Thelma Fowler, prominent Dublin artist, will have an exhibit of serigraphs, oils, watercolors, and colored drawings at the Laurens County Library Auditorium during the month of January.

The show is sponsored by the Dublin Association of Fine Arts. The opening of the show will be from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. on January 4th and will remain in the Library Auditorium through the month of January.

Mrs. Fowler is a native of Florida, and she and her husband, K.M. (Mac) Fowler have lived in Dublin since 1961.

She studied at the Norton School of Art in West Palm Beach and is a graduate of Terry’s Commercial Art School in Miami. She also studied art with Bill Hendrix at the Island Art School on St. Simons Island and print-making with Glynn Chestnut at Middle Georgia College.

Mrs. Fowler is a talented craftsman who makes inventive use of color in her work. Because of her technical efficiency and exceptional use of color, she has won special awards and honors too numerous to list. Some of these are Purchase Awards and Merit Awards.

She has won twenty print-making awards within a period of three years and recently exhibited in the Walt Disney Art Show in Buena Vista, Florida – a distinct honor since only 211 exhibitors were chosen from 1700 applicants.

She has had many one-man shows throughout the Southeast.

She is affiliated with several galleries in Georgia and South Carolina and as far away as Dallas, Texas, and Detroit, Michigan.

The Dublin Association of Fine Arts invites the public to attend this monthly exhibit.

HONOR SWEATERS AWARDED

Dublin High School principal Walter Foy recently awarded honor sweaters to the seniors who have maintained a scholastic average of 90 or above for the first three years at Dublin High School.

Receiving sweaters were 

Judy Griner

Jo Ellen Lowery

Bo Edwards

Diane Hammock

Eloise Rozier

Vicki Browning

Marlene Sculati

Linda Jones

Craig Williamson

Jan Kibler

David Smith

CHURCH CHRISTMAS PROGRAMS

Dexter Choirs

On Sunday evening, December 21, the youth and children’s choirs of the Dexter Baptist Church will present John Peterson’s new Christmas cantata, “Christ is Born.”

The worship period begins at 7:30.

Mrs. Bufford Raffield is the director, and Mrs. Danny Hogan is the organist.

Mt. Green A.B. Church

There will be a candle light service and a Christmas program on Thursday, December 25th, at 7:00 p.m.

You are welcome to take a part.

Rev. L.F.Smith, Pastor

Brewton Baptist and Methodist Churches

The Sanctuary choirs of Brewton Baptist and Brewton Methodist churches will combine to present their annual Christmas Cantata. This year it is

Ellen Jane Lorenz’ “Carol of Love.”

The Minister of Music for the performance will be Jay Stuckey, Jr., and the accompanist will be Michael Hester.

We extend a cordial invitation to the public to join us at Brewton Methodist Church at 7:30 p.m. for this program.

Rice Hill Baptist Church

Friday evening, December 26th, at 6:00 the youth department will present a Christmas program.

Preaching at 7:00 by Rev. Enis Locke

Everyone has a cordial invitation to attend each of these services.

GRANT SOUGHT

The City of Dublin and the Dublin-Laurens County Development Authority have reached second base in their attempt to extend water and sewer service into a 447 acre industrial park located between I-16 and Industrial Boulevard.

A formal application package has been prepared and submitted to the Coastal Plains Regional Commission for a supplemental grant of $150,000, the Heart of Georgia Area Planning and Development Commission (APDC) reported.

The application has been prepared for submission to the Economic Development Administration (EDA), but awaits concurrence by the Environmental Protection Division before it is actually submitted.

The total project will consist of a basic grant of $350,000 from EDA, a supplemental grant of$150,000 from Coastal Plains, and $200,000 in local funds.

CHURCHES CONTRIBUTED TO CHILDREN’S HOMES

The churches in the Laurens County Baptist Association contributed more than $42,380 in cash, clothing, food, and toys to the Georgia Baptist Children’s Homes in Baxley, Palmetto, and Meansville. 

Jefferson Street Baptist Church led the way, giving $4,056 in cash, and $5,470.68 in produce in this annual Thanksgiving Drive.

The 41 churches, and one Macon church, gave $15, 399.16, in cash, and the other gifts were listed as “produce.”

Beeman C. Keen, Sr., Wilbur S. Jones, Grady Cullens, Roger Powell, and Horace L. Stripling formed the committee in charge of collection and delivery.