|
Historical
Society publishes
"Vanishing Gwinnett II"
By
Elliott Brack
editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com
NORCROSS, Oct. 19, 2001 - - The sequel to a Gwinnett best seller
has arrived. It's "Vanishing Gwinnett II, More Scenes from
Bygone Days." Published by the Gwinnett Historical Society,
it's a large-format picture book, patterned after its predecessor.
It's chocked full of scenes from Gwinnett's past.
But this time, the book has more depth, with the longer annotations
of the historic aspects of those older days. It's to become, no
doubt, a most valuable addition to the local lore..
The author is Dorsey
Stancil, an eighth generation Gwinnettian. Mr. Stancil wrote
the text for the first "Vanishing Gwinnett," and was the
natural choice to produce the second book. He was president of the
Gwinnett Historical Society in 1981-82
As Bill Baughman, project manager of the book for the Society says:
"Dorsey takes his history personally, and with his phrasing
and these photographs, Gwinnett's history comes alive."
The book shows a far different way of life than today, with few
pictures of recent days. Most of the pictures are pre-World War
II vintage, and many date back to the time the camera became a popular
chronicler of scenes, more than 125 years ago.
The first "Vanishing Gwinnett" was printed in 1984. As
Mr. Stancil, who hails from Buford, says in the book: "It is
more photos of us in the happiest of times and the saddest of times,
with our work clothes and dressed for church, with shoes and without."
Mr. Stancil has worked on this particular book part time for 10
years. His "day job" is executive director of the Buford
Housing Authority.
Among the scenes we particularly were struck by in this book:
* The Bona Allen "Home Guard," the security detail at
the shoe factory in Buford during World War II, when the military
operated the factory, tells its own story of a nation on a war footing.
Especially in these days, it takes on more meaning.
* Some people living today are shown. For instance, there's a young
J.W. Benefield with his parents at their store in Dacula. Another
scene shows little Miss Mary Alice Juhan, maybe two years old, sitting
on the top step of the family house with its long porch and lush
vines for shade in Lawrenceville.
Other memorable scenes now captured for those interested in Gwinnett:
* Old-time baptisms in creeks and ponds, with water up past people's
waists.
* Old time ways: the cannery at Bethesda School; hog killing near
Dacula; a portable sawmill near Oakland community; and a pastoral
scene from the Neely Farm, with its rounded silo.
* The sheriff of the Sugar Hill militia district with his men busting
up a moonshine still.
* The five member boys basketball team, which won the state championship
in 1938, placing second in 1939.
* The family photos are often outside their homes, adding depth
to the history, as photographers had to use natural light for these
early-day photos.
"Vanishing Gwinnett II" is available from the Gwinnett
Historical Society, at P.O. Box 261, Lawrenceville, Ga. 30046 for
$45 plus $4 for handling. It would make a great gift for someone
interested in Gwinnett.
FEEDBACK
10/19: Likes idea of
medals for heroes of tragedy
Editor, the Forum:
I think the recent article by Joe Kirby on the honorary medals
for people associated with the recent terrorist attacks is a great
idea. Please submit it to people in Washington for action!
-- Courtenay Neff Brack, Charleston, S.C.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
"What do we mean by patriotism in the context of our times?
I venture to suggest that what we mean is a sense of national responsibility...a
patriotism which is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but
the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime."
-- Adlai Stevenson (1900-1965), U.S. Democratic
candidate for president in a speech, Aug. 27, 1952, to American
Legion Convention, New York, NY.
SEND YOUR FEEDBACK
Send your thoughts, pet peeves or comments on any
issue to Gwinnett Forum
for future publication.
-- 30 --
|
