The following is a summary of the many events and activities the past few months at Red River Meetinghouse in South Logan, the site of the Great Awakening in Logan County over 200 years ago.
ANNUAL ASSOCIATION MEETING was Sept. 8, 2019. Dinner was delicious and well attended as people came for the meeting. Bro. Jim Woodard, pastor of Hopewell Baptist Church, Springfield, Tenn. was the speaker and music was led by their music leader, Randy McMoran. A special presentation of “Down to the River to Pray” was presented by the Hopewell choir accompanied by various stringed instruments. It was wonderful! Sept. 13, 2020 will be the next annual meeting.
24th ANNUAL PRIMITIVE CAMPMEETING AND RENDEZVOUS was October 11-13. Attendance was low due to dry conditions but the camp was joyful and the auction went well. Laura Gove, Alan Leeke and Robert Operia were the speakers. October 9-11 will be the next primitive camp.
30TH ANNUAL SCHOCHOH CHRISTMAS PARADE AND 11TH ANNUAL CANDLELIGHT SERVICE was Dec. 1. RRMH reenactors rode on the trailer provided by the Sons of the American Revolution group who held flags and marched in the parade. Derek Guyer was in charge of the Christmas program which was beautiful with lovely music and a packed house. We appreciate the festive decorations provided by Darlynn Moore and Diane Krulik. The next Christmas service will be Dec. 6. Parade will be at 2 p.m. and RRMH candlelight service follows at 4 p.m.
Join us for 1st Sunday service and fellowship every month at 3:00 p.m.
FUN STORY: When the Ruleys were selling tickets to raise money for the restrooms, a man was looking at the RRMH self-guided cemetery tour and stated that Marion Brown was his ancestor. He had a story he wanted to share: Marion went to the creek to answer the call of nature. A cannon ball hit the creek bank and he ran back to camp without pulling up his breeches. Marion was the last Nashville veteran from the Spanish American War.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you want to add beauty to your loved one's marker please regard this advice from the Kentucky Historical Society and Preservation: Do NOT plant small trees or shrubs near tombstones because they hold moisture and will accelerate the rate of decay to the stone.
ONE OF OUR OWN: Jane Sanford entered into eternal bliss in early December. She was very involved with RRMH and we will miss her a lot.
SPECIAL GROUPS AND VISITORS: Sept. 22, the children from Adairville Baptist Church had a picnic lunch at RRMH. Sept. 24 a senior adults church group from 1st Baptist in Franklin had a picnic lunch and service on the grounds. Sept. 26 students from Lewisburg Elementary toured, ate their lunch and used our restroom facilities before they toured the nearby Robey Farms. We are pleased to be able to provide a beautiful place for groups to visit. We are very close to having enough money to build a picnic pavilion that will be attached to the restrooms that will be more comfortable and convenient. If you would like to contribute to the Pavilion Fund, please write it in the memo portion of your check.
Oct. 19 Jessie Hankins married Ethan Johnson on the grounds. RRMH is a beautiful place for weddings.
The group from “We Pray 40” consisted of people from eight various denominational churches in Bowling Green. They came to pray on Oct. 20 as part of their 40-Day Prayer Vigil.
Evelyn Richardson and Darlynn Moore met with the Leadership Logan adult class on Oct. 22. Mrs Richardson spoke on the history, and Darlynn updated the group on current events at RRMH. Activities at RRMH were discussed and the need for more permanent markers for the self-guided tour in the cemetery. A member of Leadership Logan said she would take care of this need.
The Leadership Logan youth class came two days later on Oct. 24 and met with Evelyn Richardson for the history and Darlynn Moore for current activities.
Robert Mitchell, a writer for SA Connects (magazine for the Salvation Army) came from New York City to visit RRMH on Jan. 29. He was referred to us by Steve Bussey, who visited here a few years ago. Richard Moore, Frank and Carol Jarboe, Tom and Dreama Ruley met with Mr. Mitchell at the meetinghouse to share the history. The group met with Darlynn, who was also interviewed by Mr Mitchell. Mr Mitchell is working on the connection of the Salvation Army with the great revival of 1800, the Methodist participation and the brush arbor revivals in Texas. If you have information that may help us, please contact robert.mitchell@use.salvationarmy.org or redrivermeetinghouse@logantele.com.
CLEAN UP DAY was Nov. 16 and very well attended. About 31 volunteers from Leadership Logan, Grace Recovery, reenactors and friends of the meetinghouse worked very hard clearing the fence row that had grown so much some of the tombstones had been hidden for years. LuAnn Ferguson cleaned many tombstones with the D2 formula and they are so much easier to read now. Much thanks to all the volunteers who provided lunch. Angela Robertson surprised everyone and especially Richard and Darlynn Moore with a presentation of permanent metal stakes to replace the other non-permanent markers in the cemetery. This was made possible by the Leadership Logan Adult class and H&H Sheet Metal. We are so grateful and thankful for their generosity.
The self-guided tour is available anytime of the day by taking a pamphlet from the wooden kiosk or from our website www.rrmh.org. If anyone has any information on individuals buried in the cemetery, please send it to redrivermeetinghouse@logantele.com or call Darlynn Moore at 270-539-6528.
We are so proud of the work that was accomplished on Nov. 16 and appreciate all who participated. Also we appreciate Adam Scales, with assistance from Richard Moore, David Wilkins and John Oakes, repairing the meetinghouse roof that was damaged back in the summer. David also walked around on the roof blowing leaves off to help them in the repairs and spent several days afterward cleaning up as weather permitted. We appreciate the use of William Davenport's trailer that was used to haul brush. The next weekend was a planned continuation cleanup day. but weather prevented it.
The next clean up day will be on March 21 and March 28, from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. Lunch will be provided. David Wilkins is planning to assist and add his expertise on tombstone repair. We hope to be able to clean and restore some tombstones so they will be easier to read. If you are interested in helping, please contact Dreama Ruley (270-586-7632) and we will keep you informed if weather will be a problem and cancellation necessary.
INTERESTING TIDBIT: A visitor in November wrote on the visitor sheet that Lydia Ayers Doss was married to Zachariah Doss, a Revolutionary War soldier, and she is buried at RRMH. The visitor said that Lydia marched two British soldiers to General George Washington's camp. Lydia is listed in the Logan County Archives Cemetery 2000 book but this person couldn't find her actual grave marker. We will be looking for Lydia's stone but if you find it before we do, please call Darlynn Moore at 270-539-6528.
NEW THINGS: The association has its own email address. It is redrivermeetinghouse@logantele.com. Please send queries and information to this address.
You can donate through Amazon Smile, a website operated by Amazon that will allow its customers to enjoy the same benefits as on Amazon.com. When you shop on smile.amazon.com, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5 percent of your purchase price to a charitable organization of your choice. Please choose Red River Meeting House.
Contributions can also be made to Red River Meeting House through Benevity.com. Many companies are part of the American Online Giving Foundation and allow their employees and customers to make contributions through them. See if your company is part of this program and they may also be able to donate matching funds.
Special thanks to all the churches and individuals who support RRMH. Your contributions are greatly appreciated. Your funds go a long way with keeping up the grounds, repairs and improvements. Thank you SO much!
SPRING CAMP: There was a new event planned for May 23, but due to a lack of volunteers and not enough time to finish the research, we are postponing it. However, since many people have already reserved this time for RRMH we will have a living history camp (May 22-24, 2020) for relaxation and fellowship like we did last April. Modern campers and visitors are always welcome. We will further discuss the cemetery tour and how we can make it happen next year. If you are interested in helping with the cemetery tour, please let us know at redrivermeetinghouse@logantele.com.
BLESSINGS FROM THE PAST: Several people have called and informed us about certain items they have or have found and would like to donate to RRMH as a fundraiser or just for safe keeping in hopes that someday there will be a museum/archives to display it in. One item was the original ornament made by Logan County Chamber in Russellville. This is a true treasure! We have newer ornaments for sale of $12 each or 2 for $20. They are available in red or white. Someone else had a framed print of RRMH that they no longer had need of and knew their children wouldn't want. We appreciate people that help in various ways such as this to let us know about RRMH items. BUT the biggest surprise has yet to be revealed. We are anticipating visiting the home where an old painting resides and talk with the owner. We will share this in a future newsletter.
RESEARCH PLACES WHERE RRMH INFO CAN BE FOUND: Kentucky Museum at WKU in Bowling Green, Filson Historical Society in Louisville, Kentucky History Center & Museum in Frankfort; Logan County Archives and the genealogical section in Logan County Library in Russellville.
TO USE OUR FACILITIES: This is a busy place and a beautiful setting. It is also a favorite destination for prom and graduation photos. If your group or church would like to use the restroom facilities, the policy is $100 to rent; and a $100 cleaning deposit which you will get back if facilities are clean upon inspection. Please write two separate checks to Red River Meetinghouse. Contact Richard Moore at 270-539-6528 for more information.
BOOKS FOR SALE: Camping Memories at the Red River Meetinghouse is a book centered on how the fall campmeetings began and how God has worked in many situations with the meetinghouse and the campers throughout the twenty plus years. You can contact Dreama Ruley at 270-586-7632 for a copy. Books with black and white photos are $15. Books with color photos are $25. All proceeds will go to the pavilion fund.
The Waking Up, a historical fiction with the setting of the great revival that occurred in 1800 is available through it's author, Melanie Meadow (931-980-5721) or Darlynn Moore (270-539-6528). It is a very exciting and wonderful book that you will enjoy. If you live close by, you can purchase these books and other RRMH memorabilia Wednesdays through Saturdays at The Grapevine (270-539-2055) in Adairville.
PRESIDENT'S CORNER: 2019 was a busy year and ended with an amazing cleanup day in the historic cemetery. It was such a privilege to work alongside so many people, thirty-one to be exact. It was an excellent day weather-wise, people-wise and work-wise. Actually by noon, 90 percent of the work had been done and it was the best organized event I have ever seen for that many people and the concentrated work that was being done in the fence row. I can't say enough on behalf of RRMH to express my gratitude and thankfulness to all who were involved to make such a huge improvement in the cemetery. I know that from beginning to end it was not only good, but it was great!
Let us look with anticipation what 2020 will bring with willing hands and open hearts to move this historical place into the next decade of further greatness so others will be blessed beyond measure.
Richard Moore