Downtown abuzz with activity
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The 15th annual May Day Celebration, held at the historic Black House, will start the day running from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.
The event will include performances from local musicians, singers, and dance groups including singer David Moore, UDC Performance, Paula’s School of Dance, singer Maxine Weeden, the Clark United Methodist Choir and Men’s Choir, the WCHS Jazz Band, the WCHS String Quartet, Steve Phillips’ Dulcimer Group, WCHS soloists Jason Roberts and Bethni Spears, and WCHS band soloists Sarah Godwin and Jenny Jones.
Tours of the Black House will be available at $4 for 12-and-over, $3 for ages 6-12, and no charge for children under-6.
The Black House, located at 301 W. Main St., was built in 1825 by Jessee Coffee and was owned by Dr. Thomas Black’s family for over 100 years. Dr. Black’s granddaughters, Jean and Nancy Leonard, donated the house to the Eagle Fund, Inc. in 1984. The house was restored and is now listed in the National Historical Register.
For further information call 668-5050 or 635-2443.
Also on the agenda will be an Armed Forces Day event to honor the men and women of Warren County who are in active duty in the Army, Air Force, Marines or Navy. The event, sponsored by the McMinnville Evening Exchange Club, will run from 10-11 a.m.
The program will feature several local individuals and groups including Kirk Brothers of the Central Church of Christ who will give the invocation, followed by Ken Roberts, national president of the Exchange Clubs of America, who will act as master of ceremonies.
Next on the program will be local Boy Scout Troop 309 performing a History of the Flag Ceremony, after which there will be a gun salute by VFW Post 5064 and American Legion Post 173. The Warren County High School band and chorus will then perform a program of patriotic music and song.
The first of three featured speakers will be Colonel Craig Christen, director of operations at AEDC, followed by County Executive Carol Hamblen. The final speaker will be Colonel Terry “Max” Haston, U.S. Army National Guard Regimental Commander, stationed in Knoxville.
Finishing out the program will be a patriotic tribute performed by the award-winning Pioneerettes, followed by Jason Gillentine leading the national anthem.
The public is invited to attend and encouraged to contact Sandra at 473-6300 or Mary Jane at 473-4402 to provide the name, rank, and whereabouts of family members currently active in the armed forces.
The Evening Exchange Club is also announcing the opportunity to participate in its American Flag program where groups or individuals can purchase flags which will be displayed on Chancery Street on selected national holidays.
Contact any Evening Exchange Club member to reserve your flag, or call 473-6300 and ask for Sandra.
A Hebe fund-raiser will round out the day, beginning at 11 a.m. The fund-raiser, held in conjunction with Preservation Week and sponsored by Heritage Alliance and the Mini Standard, will be marketing works by local students featuring representations of the statue of Hebe.
Works by WCHS Art II students and members of the WCHS Photography Club will be on display at the law offices of Farrar, Holliman & Medley at 365 W Main St. These works are part of a contest sponsored by McMinnville Electric System. Art works by younger students will be on display at Magness Memorial Library.