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OLDE
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September 15, 2001 Dear Diary The most special thing that I will record in my Dear Diary letter, about today, September 15, 2001 is the friendships shown to us, not only today, but to record again for history’s sake that our greatest treasure is the love and support of friends GOD continually sends to the OLDE WYTHE COUNTY POORHOUSE FARM. The annual Heritage Festival was held at Foster Falls State Park today, THANK YOU GOD for giving us the gorgeous September weather, and our life at the Poor Farm to share with dear friends, family and the no longer strangers, who came to see the LIVING HISTORY BOOK display of the Poorhouse Farm established in 1858. Many commented on the HISTORICAL REVIEW published by the Wytheville Historical Society, in July 2001. Betty Crockett, laughingly said the Historical Society should put something about the Poorhouse Farm in every issue. It has been a ‘sell out’ and they have only a very few copies left. Copies of the HISTORICAL REVIEW can be purchased at the Boyd Museum in Wytheville, Virginia for $5 while supply lasts. I have purchased several copies and mailed them to out of town family, friends, and museums and have been sincerely thanked for my thoughtfulness. Next GOD, I want to thank you for sending dear friends, our way today during the festival. They were all full of smiles as they spilled compliments on Junior and me for our Patriotic and History filled displays of the centuries of Wythe County History, Genealogy, Poorhouse and Bethel School History. Friends, like Nancy, A.J., and Vivian Hawk, Bill and Sue Crigger, Anne B. Crockett Stark, Charles and Betty Crockett, Susan Thigpen, Juanita Stroupe, Till Astin, and their special Mom, Dessie Peak Moore, from Max Meadows, Bill Knutson, Doris and John Fontaine, Becky and Alex Crockett (Crockett’s Cove Family and brother to Charles), Mary Ellen Blair, Sara Klultz, Doris Daugherty, Annie Ayers Reynolds, Delores Byrd, Charles and Martha Cox, Reverend Rick, Carol and Josh Lindamood, Glenda Crockett, Sherrie and Justin Doss, all showered us both with kind words and gratitude. Many relatives and cousins to Abner Jr. and I like Clyde and Dianna Ryan, Sam Slemp, and the Spencer and the Dalton Family, Jack Cox, shared Graham family history and his Dad’s Poorhouse Farm memories with us and made the efforts of days of work all worth while. I told folks it was much easier to see centuries of history at 248 POOR HOUSE FARM LANE than it was to try and load it up into a car and truck and haul it to the park. We did meet many new and interesting folks at Foster Falls and have heard very pleasant feed back from some including, Peter and Ingrid Gorgas. Including our friends and family we had more than one hundred to sign our HERITAGE FESTIVAL GUEST BOOK. The winning name was taken from page 88 of the guest book. Our POORHOUSE FARM in Wytheville, and the SAMSONITE TRAVEL STORE at Fort Chiswell Mall donated the many nice gifts and Joshua Lindamood won them. It will take many long days to put the large display of pictures, albums, flags, tables, black boards, fire place screen, freestanding displays, antiques and the wagon back into the LIVING HISTORY at the OLDE WYTHE COUNTY POORHOUSE FARM. Without the help of Viv and Nancy Hawk and their seemingly endless trips of carrying and hauling the huge amount of history and Patriotic items the day would have been impossible for us. I am suffering with herniated, budging, and spurring discs in my lower back and was advised to not even attempt the work filled day. I have been often told; I am the worst patient…. wonder why? A favorite album to some visitors was one made up of the pictures, articles, papers and stories that resulted from the Poor Farm’s participation in the Heritage Festival held last year at Foster Falls. Several lasting friendships resulted from this event, for example, the special friendship with the editor of the MT. LAUREL! I have documented this in some of my other memory filled articles and letters. Many of our friends openly expressed their gratitude to Junior and me for saving the Poorhouse’s History from being lost. I tell them that I feel that GOD chose us for this important historical task and he graciously provides everything we need to do a good job of it! Some of my beloved memories of September 15, 2001 that will linger long after this day has faded ….the two blankets signed and held high while we snapped pictures to be sent to New York and Washington, DC, the countless displays of our colors, red, white and blue, the gifted voice of Sherrie Doss as she sang the words of the hymn Amazing Grace….. And the many patriotic phrases that echoed from our beautiful hillsides of Virginia, USA …….GOD BLESS AMERICA, and STAND BESIDE HER……… Only memories are truly left behind………let us pray that the kindness of the Wythe County Poorhouse and its endless history will forever shine! Dear Diary, September
15, 2001 by Sarah Helen Johnstone Graham Dean Family Genealogy
Site at http://home.att.net/~deanfamilyresearch/
OLDE MEMORIES OF BETHEL COMMUNITY’S POORHOUSE FARM August 22, 2001 Dear Diary,
Elizabeth Mary Jane Settle Simms today, August 22, 2001 shared more interesting
details of her memories of Bethel Community, Mudlick Hollow, Peppers Ferry
Road, Lovers Lane, Maykensaw and Wythe County Poorhouse Farm History with
us. My Dad and Johnstone aunts had told me many years ago that his
Dad, John William ‘Will’ Johnstone, Senior had brought a young Parkie Bell
Astin from Millers Creek to help his mother, Bessie Topham Johnstone with
the Johnstone children who were being born in Mudlick. Perhaps because of
this rapid growth of the Mudlick Hollow, Topham/Johnstone family the history
of the Astin/Settle and Settle/Simms family was pulled into the web that
would reach into a new century and I, Sarah Helen Johnstone Graham would
sit at my computer today and type into this letter notes from my Dad, Bill
Johnstone and Elizabeth and recapture more historical memories of by gone
days…. To record more family stories and their connections to the historic
Wythe County Poorhouse Farm, established in Bethel Community in 1848. Many
of my poems and stories are recorded on the Internet now on Mary Waltrip’s
Dean Reseach Site, http://home.att.net/~deanfamilyresearch/sarahstories.html
and in the on line site of the MT. LAUREL at http://www.mtnlaurel.com/poorfarm/poorfarm.htm.
The Wytheville Historical Society featured the Wythe County Poorhouse Farm
in their Wythe County Historical Review, Number 60, July 2001. It is a ten-page
article with pictures about the Poorhouse with an additional article and
picture of the Morris Family’s
Bishop Settle became Parkie’s husband and they lived and worked at the Wythe
County Poor Farm, which was just over the hill from the Johnstone Farm where
Parkie first helped out my future ‘Granny’. Being a hard worker, Parkie’s
reputation and responsibilities spread and grew from Mudlick Hollow.
Parkie became an excellent cook and worked for the Wythe County owned Poorhouse
Farm for many years. She was often responsible for cooking the meals for
the Wythe County Board of Supervisors after their monthly meetings. The
large dining hall on the back of the overseer’s home at the Poorhouse Farm
was a favorite meeting place for the Board. Jake McGavock’s name came
quickly to mind for Elizabeth as she recalled some of the Board Members
in the good old days. John Raper, another member’s picture is displayed
at our LIVING HISTORY BOOK, Elizabeth’s parents, Parkie Bell Astin Simms and Bishop Jackson Settle lived in the tenant house along Shoestring Bottom and both worked for Wythe County. Many others like Elbert Cannoy, Jim Grey, Eunice Hayden Sawyers, Will Crigger, Jim Crigger, John Ballou, Bill and John Jackson, Saferights, Cassells, Rings and Kincers and my own granddad Will Johnstone, according to his 1908 day account book ‘hauled brick’ and worked at times for Wythe County. The County Farm was a good place to work I have often heard from descendants of many Wythe County families. Dan Porter, on June 16, 2001 at the unveiling of the Historical Highway Marker for the Wythe County Poorhouse Farm on Peppers Ferry Road shared memories of his ancestors on the Wythe County Board who had shared details of meetings at the Poorhouse Farm’s large dining room where they often shared a meal after holding their meeting, http://www.zwire.com/news/newsstory.cfm?newsid 38363&title=Porter%20family%20has%20helped%20to%20shape%20Wythe%20County&BRD 81&PAGF1&CATNAME=Community%20News&CATEGORYID@3 ! Other names are linked to this history because of past overseers, like Hurt, Shaffer, Crenshaw, Crigger, Spence, Buchanan, Hale, and Thomas. Many names to numerous to mention surface in the records of the Wythe County Board of Supervisors’ minutes like Funeral Directors, Porterfield of Wytheville and Armbrister of Max Meadows. VA. The old Wythe County Board records and accounts, documented in the ENTERPRISE, also brings many of the local stores names into our history records such as the BLUE GRASS HARDWARE where County Farm supplies were sometimes purchased. This store now is known as KINCER-MILLER HARDWARD CO. Even today the store building has the beautiful original oak display cabinets and cases and has many historical pictures to see hanging on it’s old walls. One of my favorite is one of the Coleys and their make shift, lean-too home. The Coleys are Wytheville’s ‘Famous’ Mountain Men who lived at the Poor Farm during the winter months only! As soon as spring came they would head for Sand Mountain, living on roots, nuts and berries. Lizzie Coley, born in 1851, lived at the Poor Farm year round. Her father was William Coley. Lizzie died on December 8, 1922 and is buried at our Poorhouse Farm Cemetery. William Allen Crenshaw was the overseer of the Poor Farm ant the time of Lizzie’s funeral. Grubb Funeral Home and Wytheville Monument Company recently donated a cemetery monument to the Poorhouse Farm and The Grahams “ GIVEN JUNE 16, 2001 TO HONOR THE NO LONGER INVISIBLE PEOPLE.”
Elizabeth recalled that her family lived along Shoestring Bottom in the early 1940s. Elizabeth said when she married Rudolph Simms, on October. 7, 1944 their home was in Shoestring Bottom. Frances Cannoy Cline, pictured at http://www.poorhousestory.com/GRAHAM_PHOTO_ALBUM.htm has previously shared her wonderful memories of her life in this rustic rural home place with us. Frances’s Dad was known as ‘Eb’ Cannoy and he worked for the Wythe County Farm most of his life. T.A. Turley told me he often watched as Eb did the Poor Farm’s blacksmith duties in the back of the olde rustic washhouse in the 1950s. Elizabeth had one brother, James William Settle. James was a veteran in the Infantry during World War 11 and then later joined the USAF and retired as a Sergeant. We shall add his name to our growing list on our Veterans Wall of Honor. Elizabeth attends the Bethel United Methodist Church and has written the newsletter for many years. She said the tables once used in the Poorhouse Dining Hall are in the basement at Bethel Church. Thank you GOD for sending Elizabeth our way! Today will now, for History be an unforgettable day! Sharing memories, recording history… Memories from Elizabeth Simms, and the many other Wythe County Families mentioned, as told to Abner, Junior and Sarah Helen Johnstone Graham, Wytheville, VA. By Sarah Helen and the
Whisper of Angels August 23, 2001 Dear Diary Today, a special friend sent me these 1920 Topham Family, Wythe County, Virginia Census Records via electronic mail. The bright yellow highlighted records brought special memories to mind in the wee hours this morning of my Topham and Johnstone family. Of course, friends that truly know me realize yellow is a favorite color of mine. I still have the long yellow dresses five-year-old flower girl, Candy and I wore at my sister, Debby's wedding in 1976. Today as we talked, Debby, my baby sister shared with me the pleasure she got as she looked at her beautiful old antique yellow bed spread now at her own lovely home. Debby and I shared many special memories as we reminisced about our own Mom and this yellow spread and about Dad, a lifetime farmer, and our dear Cove Creek Farm family from the Mudlick Section of Wythe County, Virginia. Debby and her boys have such beautiful horses and they are so photogenic as they ride the hills between the Poorhouse Farm and the Mudlick Farm. They brighten their Aunt Sarah and Uncle Junior's day as they stop for a soft drink and usually are detained for another and another picture. We both enjoy the boys so very much. They both bring back childhood memories for me as their deep brown eyes and facial expressions mirror past reflections of their Mom and uncles as youngsters riding on this same rural farmland. 
Sarah Helen Johnstone Graham and daughter, Candice Renee Graham, September 1972 The Belle is this section of 1920 census data most likely is Isabelle Brown Umberger Topham, my great grandmother. Isabella's parents Solomon and Alpha Kegley Umberger lived in the beautiful brick home known as Rockdale in Wytheville, Virginia. Isabella married George Topham. George was born in 1861 in England, the son of Joseph Henry Topham and Ann Jefferies Topham. He and his brother Benjamin had a store, TOPHAM BROTHERS, in Wytheville in the late eighteen hundreds and early nineteen hundreds. I have their family tree proudly displayed in our home and I gladly share it with family and friends. Thank you Aunt Jo for helping me with it. On Saturday, August 18, 2001, we shared a tour of the Poorhouse Farm and memories with visiting Topham cousins from different states. They had traveled to Wythe County for the annual Topham and Johnstone family reunion held at Rockdale. Stephen, Luther, Edith, and Arthur Topham listed on the 1920 census are my grandmother Bessie Frances Topham's, brothers and only sister. My grandmother married in 1914, John William Johnston Sr. and moved to Mudlick. This family farm joins the Wythe County Poorhouse Farm where Bessie Vance Johnstone Crenshaw married since 1903 happily lived with her husband William Allen Crenshaw, caretakers of the Poorhouse Farm. John Topham, another brother of Granny’s apparently by this Census Record had already moved from home also. My Great Uncle Stephen Topham drove my Mom, Helen Peary Johnstone and my Aunt Dean Johnstone Stephens to the hospital in Smyth County on August 27, 1945 from Wytheville. I was born on Uncle Stephen's birthday, (August 27, 1891) and Aunt Dean my Dad's sister sent the telegram to California where Dad, John William Johnstone Jr. was stationed happily telling him of the birth of his first-born daughter. Dad was in the US Marines and his signature and picture now are probably displayed with other Veterans in our LIVING HISTORY BOOK'S Memorial Room at the Wythe County Poorhouse Farm. Edith Topham was a schoolteacher. One of the many memories Bill Crigger, born in 1910 near the Crenshaw's home, laughingly shared with me was that Miss Topham was his first teacher. Bill said Miss Topham "took me by the hand" and said, "you come too" as she walked from Mudlick where she stayed with her sister, Bessie while she taught at the near by Bethel Community School about 1915. My Dad said he could remember his Aunt Edith grading school papers when he was a little boy. He liked to watch her. She was a very sweet gentle lady like my Granny. Edith much later married John Umberger. The olde Topham home where the 1920 Census Taker stopped at is very beautiful and one of my favorite features of the home is the large wrap around front porch. It was such an intriguing spot for a wee youngster in the 1940s as my Aunt Frances and I skipped along the rock walks between her Madison Street Johnstone home and this Topham ancestral home on Railroad Avenue. There are so many memories to share and how can I possibly even mention the Topham and Johnstone family homes and Madison Street without a flood of hugs, and best wishes surrounding me by our family friend, teacher and neighbor, Willie Grubb Umberger and her husband, Trinkle Umberger. Mabel Jo, their only daughter, was named after my own Aunt Josephine Johnstone Slemp. In 1940, Mr. Trinkle sat with my Granddad Will Johnstone, the night he died. One of the noted pallbearers in 1931 at Isabella Brown Umberger Topham, my great grandmother's funeral was J. Lindsay Almond who would become in later years the Governor of Virginia. I can remember as a student in grade school how proud I felt to have a cousin, if only my marriage who was the Governor. I shared this information with few classmates fearing they would never believe that my family had been invited to Governor Almond's inauguration. What wonderful memories, these bright yellow census records flashed in front of my dark brown Johnstone eyes today.....the deep pain in my lower back forgotten for a short time because of the thoughtfulness of this new friend from Northern Virginia. What wonderful memories, these bright yellow census records flashed in front of my dark brown Johnstone eyes today.....the deep pain in my lower back forgotten for a short time because of the thoughtfulness of this new friend from Northern Virginia. Thank You Jennifer ONLY MEMORIES CAN BE LEFT BEHIND! THESE MEMORIES NOW WILL FOREVER SHINE. Dear Diary Letter, written by Sarah Helen and the Whisper of Angels
1920 TOPHAM FAMILY, WYTHE COUNTY, VIRGINIA CENSUS RECORDS - THE FAMILY OF SARAH HELEN JOHNSTONE GRAHAM
May 20, 2001 Re: Abraham Johnston Family Connection to the Historic Wythe County Poorhouse Farm Dear Diary This may not be one of my longest letters but it will most definitely be one of my most historic. It may be the letter that reaches around the world. It will with certainty reach in the past and will most certainly stretch into future. Now to my first decision, when do I start and where and how do I begin? Dear LORD, again pass your wisdom onto to me! Should I quote Reverend Bob Carbary, pastor at the Cedar Hill United Methodist Church here in Wytheville, Virginia who I heard today for the first time because of these special Johnston/Johnson, Poorhouse Farm visitors? Do I go back and tell HISTORY about “our dream”, do I “share our vision”, as the pastor, suggested today to his congregation? Do I try and tell everyone about the limitless details involved in restoring the Poorhouse Farm? Do I write about the many wonderful folks we have met along the way as we brought the Poor Farm back to life, from ruins, and neglect and animal pens to the National Register of the United Stares of America…. What a memorial day we do have to celebrate. How truly blessed we are in our beautiful old home. Lord do I start with some of my own special Cassell, Dean, Johnstone, Topham, Umberger, Kegley, Sharitz and Peary family? First I just must tell history about my partner, my other half, the sharer of my dreams and my visions. Where do I begin this history love filled story? I just must write that book that I promised my Dad I would write. He enjoyed my letters, poems and my short stories so very much. We miss you Mom and Dad. Mom, you taught Jr. and I to respect and appreciate the history of every piece of old glassware, old furniture, picture, paper and book. Dad, you spent countless hours passing on memory filled history-making stories of our special Mudlick family and Poorhouse Farm’s historical connections. Dad, you were perhaps mine and Jr.’s biggest fan in our attempts to restore the Poorhouse and folks tell me even today how you said “you just got to go down there, you won’t believe what they have done, you got to go see for yourself”. Dad, we have a wonderful family don’t we? We knew how special the Poor Farm would become to everyone and how important to Wythe County History. LORD, on a snowy
night in 1995, you helped me write “A LOVE STORY”. Dad said it was my best
one. I know it is one of my favorites. My dreams are to make it into a book.
THE TOMBSTONE written the summer of 1995 may be my most mysterious short
story, Bill Crigger, old friend you helped me with that one. Thank you Mt.
Laurel for adding it to your site. This Dear Letter Story, a modern Internet
Story will perhaps have the most impact on future history….Abraham Johnston,
listed on our Poorhouse’s 1860, 1870 Wythe County Census, you may become
our most remembered guest at this beautiful home supported by Wythe County
for 99 years. PAGES IN TYME Last summer, I received a telephone call from Susan Thigpen, whom I had never met. She requested that my husband and I bring some information about our Wythe County Poorhouse Farm and our “LIVING HISTORY BOOK” and come to Foster Falls State Park, along New River for Heritage Day. Please share your history, family stories and your genealogy research with others at Heritage Day she softly said for history’s sake. Anyone that knows me, will tell you that my mind works fast to meet challenges and decisions had to be made now as to just what to take to the Park! With the help of my dear husband, my childhood sweetheart, we loaded our car with albums, pictures, easels an antique fireplace screen and every item that was free standing and could hold history. We happily shared our heritage with many visitors that warm day last summer that included a rainstorm along the historic banks of New River. Several weeks later, Susan visited the Poorhouse Farm for the first time. She asked if she might be allowed to write an article about the Poorhouse and us. We agreed. Susan wrote an interesting and complimentary article about us, the Grahams and the Poorhouse and put it in THE MOUNTAIN LAUREL on the Internet. http://www.wythe.pcsos.com/poorfarm.htm This story, A PAGE IN TYME – 2001 that I am now struggling to write begins here with this article by Susan. A lady, from Texas, who we have since met and grown to love, spotted this article on the Internet. Janie posted questions to Susan in the form of electronic mail. Susan Thigpen passed her questions on to me at the Poorhouse Farm and this intriguing story A PAGES IN TYME begins. Johnson/Johnston cousins had found their ancestors living at our Wythe County Poorhouse Farm, Abraham Johnston, blind was included in the 1860 and 1870 Wythe County Poorhouse, Virginia Census. James B. Hurt, was the Caretaker, the overseer of the Farm… Thus this intriguing story begins. Janie Willard Parrish from Texas and I have exchanged many electronic letters in the last months. I sent her digital pictures of the snow covered Poorhouse Farm and the beauty of this picture of brotherly love that only GOD could paint consumed Janie and her other cousins. We shared our dreams and visions of many of the history making families that make up this LIVING HISTORY BOOK. Other Johnston/Johnson cousins, who had met over the Internet, were soon included us in their continuing search for descendants of Abraham Johnston. Many electronic letters flashed back and forth between this family and friends we had gathered along the way. Friends that never cease to amaze me when I flash a question and a please help me with this one their way in my electronic mail. You all know whom you are and some of your names are already written on our Wall Of Honor at the Poor Farm and all are written into our hearts. Thank you GOD for choosing Abner Jr. and I to be the ones to restore, protect and share the past of this olde farm with the future. When we checked the 1880 Wythe County Census, Abraham was not listed among Poorhouse inhabitants as he had been in the 1860 and the 1870. To history and to us this means, perhaps Abraham Johnston, suffers no more from unseeing eyes and he now rests peacefully in the Wythe County Poorhouse Cemetery on the beautiful green hillside in this rural uncluttered, unpolluted area of Wythe County, Virginia. How do I now tell history, how questions were asked, plans were made and on Saturday, May 19, 2001 and on Sunday, May 20, 2001 this Johnston family walked in the footsteps of their ancestors at the Wythe County Poorhouse Farm, found their roots and all of their lives became so intertwined that they will never be separated and another page is history is written. Series of events and interesting notes that led to this memorial, history-making day: In 1858, 340 acres of the Wythe County Poorhouse Farm was purchased for $7000 by Wythe County, VA The boundaries of the Poorhouse Farm join the boundaries of the lands of the Johnstone family farm where Sarah Helen Johsntone Graham and generation of Johnstone farmers loved their chosen profession and are still farming. In 1992, Abner Bruce Graham Jr. and Sarah Helen Johnstone Graham began restoring the Poorhouse Farm and moved in 1993 and the Poor Farm became our home. Johnston/Johnson family members, unrelated to me, Sarah Johnstone Graham, but definitely part of the endless Poor Farm Family met over the Internet in 2000 and a new century of history making events began this story, PAGES IN TYME. Abraham Johnston your footsteps will never fade from this beautiful valley and now will forever be recorded for history. One of my favorite quotes Janie, from Texas…. wrote, “I want to come to Virginia and the Poorhouse Farm and walk where Grandpa walked.” On May 19, 2001 and May 20, 2001, dreams became realities and the Johnson/Johnston Cousins spread their laughter, their joy in meeting each other, and their happiness and gratitude to my husband, Abner Jr. and I, Sarah Helen Johnstone Graham for restoring the Poorhouse Farm, and for sharing our home. Love echoed throughout the Mudlick Road Area, Bethel Community, Lovers Lane, Peppers Ferry Road and nearly all of Wythe County, Virginia was pulled into this web of events as these special descendants of Abraham Johnston, by car and plane traveled great distances from many states and areas to meet and dig for their roots at the 1858, historic Poorhouse Farm. Thank you GOD for special family and friends. Thank you God, Amen. By Sarah Helen Johnstone Graham and the whisper of Angels….
Dear Diary We are grateful and giving thanks to GOD and to all our guests for filling our Historic Poorhouse Farm full of laughter and fun. We had nearly 90 sign our guest list and God had decorated the Poor Farm with beautiful flowers blooming at their peak. 
Sam Slemp, from THE SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA ENTERPRISE was on hand to take pictures. I heard 92 year old Dessie Moore say it was her favorite newspaper and she read it every day all her life and now that she can't see to sew and read...she has someone read it to her. Dessie sported a beautiful bonnet that she "Made it myself"
Lots of prizes were awarded, many were purchased at the Samsonite Store at Ft. Chiswell Mall. They included calculators, wallets and book bags. Few left without a prize and all will become part of the history stored at the Poor Farm, A Living History Book Museum.
Two of our distinguished Wythe County Board of Supervisors enjoyed the open house and tours of the Wythe County Poorhouse Farm. It was the first visit for Anne B. Crockett Stark. She reluctantly left after a couple of hours vowing to come back soon with her husband and the rest of the Board. Susan and Bill Crigger, part of the special Poor Farm Family enjoyed their day. Bill's grandparents worked for the County Farm much of their life. Their lives part of the history stored and shared at the Poor Farm by us. Our Spring and Easter Celebration included the recent news that the Poor Farm had been approved by the Historical Board for a Highway Marker to honor the Poor Farm. The Poorhouse Farm has now earned all three available honors, including the Register of Virginia Landmarks, the National Register of Historic Places and recently Historical Virginia Highway Marker.
Tammy, our daughter and Andrew Akers, our grandson, with the help of Tammy's life long friends, Teresa Armbrister and Sandy Bass and Diane Bralley worked hard to make snow cones, provide games and serve the many refreshments. The home hot chili, nacho chips and Cheese along with the Oyster Chowder and Bunny Cake seemed to be a few of the favorites among the many guests.
Carol Lindamood and her team from the Max Meadows Methodist Church Circuit awarded prizes after hiding over 50 dozens eggs in the luscious green grass at the Poorhouse Farm.
Of course the egg hunt was the long awaited high light of the day for the youngsters. All that wore their Easter Bonnets received a prize. These youngsters and their joy and laughter will add to the history of the other happy youngsters from the 1800s and the early 1900s like the Johnstone, the Cannoy children and Little Ethel S. Crigger from 1908.....and her dear brothers..... Thank you GOD for each
word I did here say. Thank you GOD for this fun filled, memory making day. The Wythe County Poorhouse
Farm
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This collection is for private research only, and not for commercial use or sale. Copyright © 2001 Wythe County Poorhouse Farm 2001. |
