Interest high for Pilgrimage
Published 12:36 am Thursday, March 15, 2012
The annual Selma Pilgrimage begins this weekend and, as usual, a group of Pilgrimage hostesses will be greeting visitors at many of the houses and venues on the tour. Pictured above are many of the hostesses participating. Those pictured include: Angela Yoder, Anna Kate Mock-Jordan, Brooks Leech, Emile-Reed Ratcliff, Emily Kaitlyn Edwards, Gracie Colley, Hannah Creech, Holly Peyton Jones, Jamie Horton, Katelyn Little, Kellee Scheer, Kenzie Horton, Kinsley Gillie-Anne Mott, Lauren Barnes, Madison Dearman, Madison Hulsey, Mary Claire White, Meredith Smith, Millie Motes, Morgan Elizabeth Krumnow, Peyton Williamson, Regan Hewitt, Taylor Ellis, Veigh Kaye Spencer and Anne Claire McMillan. -- Tim Reeves
The annual historic Selma Pilgrimage is just days away, and organizers are excited about introducing the public to 1860s South, with horse-drawn carriages, hoopskirts and antebellum homes.
With the addition of homes and sites in Orrville, Cahawba, Molette’s Bend and Selma, this year’s Pilgrimage promises to immerse visitors in a total cultural experience through its many activities on March 16 and 17.
Event chair Jacque Johnson said already, there’s an outpouring of interest — especially on Pilgrimage’s Facebook page, for the weekend event.
“We’ve had lots of calls from locals and others,” Johnson said. “Visitors to Pilgrimage are used to seeing our beautiful southern belles in antebellum dress. I think they will be pleasantly surprised to see 1930s attire and vintage vehicles appropriate to the Skinner/Holly House (a featured home) and Bonnie and Clyde, when they tour it; it’s a beautiful 20-room tudor mansion that shouldn’t be missed!”
There will be so much to see, Johnson said, during this year’s Pilgrimage.
“In the morning, visitors will be treated to the sight of an old-time buggy, drawn by Welsh ponies at Old Cahawba,” Johnson said. “Folks can visit Heritage Village in the afternoon — for free — and see craftsmen making soap, quilts, pots and baskets, as well as see how you can keep goats and chickens to have a backyard farm and live more organically.”
Orrville Mayor Gene McHugh said he’s looking forward to showing off his city to visitors.
“We’re really excited about it,” McHugh said. “We have so many homes down here (and) I’m anxious to get people to look at them. We’re offering lunch, which is also nice.”
While touring sites, McHugh hopes the public can also see the nice things Orrville has to offer.
“I hope people can see a nice community,” McHugh said. “It will be nice to see people in the community to tour the homes. I’ll be at one of the homes, looking forward to seeing people and welcoming them to the town.”
A variety of ticket options are available. Daytime tickets are $50, package tickets are $60, child daytime tickets are $25, single daytime tickets are $10 and evening house tour and reception tickets are $15. Kenan’s Mill, participating museums and workshops are $5. Discount prices for groups are also available. Call 412-8550 for ticket and tour information, or purchase tickets from the Pilgrimage Headquarters, located at 109 Union St., from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the days of Pilgrimage.
