Founders' Day showcases town, talent

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Annette Yates, left, and Ally Sims monkey around Saturday at the Holly Pond Founders’ Day centennial celebration. BENJAMIN BULLARD

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September 23, 2012

Founders' Day showcases town, talent

By Benjamin Bullard The Cullman Times The Cullman Times Sun Sep 23, 2012, 05:31 AM CDT

HOLLY POND — Holly Pond’s year-long centennial celebration kept rolling Saturday as residents commemorated Founders’ Day, an annual homage to the way life was a full century ago when the town got its official start.

Held at the Holly Pond Lions’ Club park, the nine year-old festival welcomed locals, while calling home those who’ve lived in Holly Pond in years past, as well as those with family ties that run throughout the town’s long history.

As at so many other of this year’s Holly Pond centennial celebrations, the old-time pageantry was hard to miss. With front-porch bluegrass providing an all-day soundtrack, women wore elaborately-crafted period clothes representing their local ancestors’ Sunday best.

As with other locally-made goods on display at Founders’ Day, the clothing — like the music, the crafts and the food — was authentic in its making; in the way it reflected local traditions and skills, honed over decades by folks proud to hail from Holly Pond.

“I made the dress I’m wearing today,” said Holly Pond Homemakers’ Club honoree Annette Yates. “When I was asked to represent the Homemakers’ Club for the centennial, I decided that I wanted to try to resemble the memories I have of my grandmother. She died in 1964, but she was just a good example of a good community person; someone people really loved and respected.”

In similar fashion, the day’s other offerings frequently represented local talent.

“We started with the music at 9:45 this morning, and they’re all pretty well local groups, from right here in the community, or from elsewhere in the county, but with Holly Pond ties,” said entertainment coordinator Gladys Wisener. “I always try to ask local people to come and play our music, and the response has always been great.”

Holly Pond, one of the county’s oldest communities, indeed had founders to celebrate. The area was settled two decades before the Civil War, and — as the story goes — drew its name from the proximity of natural ponds and holly trees in the area. Before it even incorporated, Holly Pond had a post office, businesses, medical care and a school.

Through the years, the town hasn’t lost touch with its roots. Founders’ Day coordinator Walt Floyd said the event has gained in popularity, and organizers hope to keep it growing as they make their plans for next year.

“Absolutely, we see it getting bigger,” said Floyd. “We moved Founders’ Day this year from August to September, and the weather couldn’t be better on a day like this. This year has been our centennial celebration, and we’ve planned for some kind of event, including this one, just about every month. It will be great next year, when we have everybody together to plan for Founders’ Day as its own event. I think you’re going to see it grow.”

* Benjamin Bullard can be reached by e-mail at bbullard@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131 ext. 270.

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Founders' Day showcases town, talent

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