Red River Awakenings
By Tom Ruley


Posted on January 24, 2015 10:34 PM



SEWING DAYS: JANUARY 24 AND MARCH 14: We are planning a couple of sewing days to be held at the Schochoh Community Center, 3720 Schochoh Rd, Adairville, KY from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.. While our primary focus will be reenacting garments and accessories, we will also be working on other projects that our community of reenactors will be bringing. Please join us as we visit and work on completing our outfits. Bring your sewing machine, patterns and extra period correct cloth you would like to share since we have some new families who could use a little help getting started. We will have a potluck lunch, so bring some food to share. Being wintertime; soup and sandwiches will be perfect. If you do not have a project to work on and do not sew, feel free to join us anyway as there are usually board games taking place around the room.

7TH ANNUAL BLANKET TRADE DAYS: April 10-12, 2015 Many living historians work all winter producing clothing and period correct items to sell, and our trade faire is their first stop of the season. Items for sale are not limited to just reenacting, we also welcome trade blankets with modern yard sale goods. You never know what you’ll find. Set up is Friday – all day. Saturday is Trade Day. Saturdaynight at approximately 5:00 there will be a potluck meal followed by a teaching on “How to Get Started in Living History on a Budget,” followed by a round robin trading session. Sunday is a period correct service led by Parson John (Frank Jarboe).

MISSING ONE OF OUR OWN: Rev. Richard Oldham, principal of Anchored Christian School, in Bowling Green, Kentucky, died Sept 8, 2014. He was definitely a fan of RRMH by making sure the high school students came every year to the meetinghouse to learn of their spiritual heritage and have a special time of prayer. He will be sorely missed.

WHAT'S ON THE INTERNET? Crystal Chapman has placed an extensive article to Wikipedia on the Revival of 1800, detailing the events in Logan County and at the RRMH. Please check it out and let others know about it!

Keep your eye on our website – rrmh.org – for current news and happenings. Thank you to Matthew Ruley for keeping it current.

65TH ANNUAL POTLUCK DINNER/ASSOCIATION MEETING SUNDAY: We were so happy to welcome many new faces to our annual dinner. It was a large crowd on Sept. 14, 2014, with more food than we could ever eat!! Martha Jane King surprised Richard Moore with the news that Governor Steve Beshear and Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes have bestowed upon him the rank of Kentucky Colonel for his 20 years of service as president of the Red River Meetinghouse and Cemetery Association. The rank of Kentucky Colonel is the highest civilian honor bestowed by the state of Kentucky. His wife, Darlynn Moore was also honored for her dedication and work as historian, record keeper, and promoter of the site. Moore's term is not over and we hope he will continue his presidency for another 20 years.

Greg Coker spoke on building cathedrals. Derek Guyer led us in worship and then preached a sermon about facing giants. Both speakers left us with much to think about and do! The weather was perfect and all seemed to have a good time. Thank you to all who attended.

FIELD TRIP FOR CPSSusan Gore, director and archivist for the Historical Foundation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America, with several members of the board of trustees and their spouses had a field trip that included Red River Meeting House and Cemetery on September 20, 2014. Melanie Meadow, author of The Waking Up spoke to the group. Her books are still available if anyone is interested in securing a copy. It is a historical fiction about the 1800 revival. You may contact Melanie atmelanie.meadow.825@gmail.com for more information.

OCTOBER 10-12 ENCAMPMENT: The rain and threat of more rain caused our event to be smaller than usual this year, but those who braved it had a wonderful time.
Our speakers, Bro. Robert Ambuske, Steve Vann, Harold Vann, Steve and Laura Gove were very knowledgable and interesting. Bro. Robert Ambuske spoke on our motivation and dedication to preserving the history of the meetinghouse. The Goves spoke Saturday morning on the Declaration of Independence and the beginning of the Revolutionary War. Steve Vann spoke on worship and hymns during the Frontier Revival. Harold Vann spoke on Being Joyful in the Face of Trials. We are very grateful to our speakers and their expertise.
The auction had many items and a good crowd showed up. Coy's Barbecue Grill on Wheels was our food vendor and his food is very delicious and affordable. We are so blessed to have him as part of our camping event. Thank you to the French Lick pickers for playing beautiful musicon Saturday for us and to Robert Operia for teaching on 18th century medicine.
Many ideas are flowing for next year which will be the 20th. We want it to be the largest yet with many exciting things going on. MarkOctober 9-11, 2015 on your calendars and make plans to attend. More information coming.

LOGAN COUNTY FIELD TRIP: Evelyn Richardson, retired regional librarian and now volunteer at the Logan County Library, escorted Darlynn Moore, Steve and Laura Gove on a very interesting educational field trip in Logan County. It included Rev. James McGready's three church sites; which consisted of Red River, Gasper River and Muddy River. They also traveled to Shakertown at South Union, Shaker Tavern, John Littlejohn Cemetery, Keysburg to see the natural bridge, one of George Washingtons' cousin's house in Dot, Jesse James' aunt and uncle's house, Jackson-Dickinson dueling ground house and farm, and some of the historic homes and places in Russellville. Because everyone had seen Peter Cartwright's boyhood home, it was decided to move on to other places. It was a wonderful all day learning experience. If anyone is interested in a tour such as this, especially the three church sites of Rev. McGready, please call (270) 539-6528 to express your interest. Hopefully one can be arranged for the near future.

STUDENTS AT RRMH: Steve and Laura Gove met with two 8th grade classes from Adairville School (Adairville, KY) on October 22. Laura spoke in much detail on the history and Steve brought his traveling museum which delighted the 8th graders. A highlight for the students was when Steve demonstrated his long hunter rifle. They were very well mannered students and a joy to be around.

VISITING CHURCHES: In the fall months, we have had several churches reserve the meeting house for their members to have a special place to pray and fellowship. One group came to pray for their upcoming revival and another came to have a staff meeting and prayer. Some come simply as a group of friends to pray. We welcome everyone, we just ask that you call 270-539-6528 or email atmoore@logantele.com with your date and time.

REGULAR SERVICES AT RRMH: Since 2008, services have been taking place at 3:00 p.m. on the 1st Sunday of each month. It is a time of prayer, devotion/preaching and fellowship at the Red River Meeting House. You may contact Tom Ruley 270-586-7632 or Richard Moore 270-539-6528 for further information.

Bro. Johnnie Baldwin started holding church services in September, 2014, at the meeting house on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month at9:00 a.m. For the winter months, his services have been moved down the road about a 1/4 mile to the Schochoh Community Center located at 3720 Schochoh Road. You may contact Bro. Baldwin at 270-847-5212 for further information.

*Both of these services are open to the public to attend at whatever time is convenient for the individual.

CHRISTMAS PARADE AND CANDLELIGHT SERVICE: Several reenactors rode on a float in the Schochoh Christmas Parade and represented Red River well, dressed in their period clothing. Later that evening, approximately 60 people attended the Christmas Candlelight service held at the meeting house. Bro. Robert Ambuske gave a true and simple message, the Guyer children sang, Gloria Ambuske played the psalter, Steve and Joyce Vann played zitters and led singing of the carols. It was a special time at the end of the service when the voices blended to make beautiful music, singing “All is calm, all is bright..” in the glow of the candlelight. Even though it started out as a cool evening, the fellowship with refreshments warmed the hearts for all those who attended.

THE WINNERS ARE: Larry Scott of Adairville, Kentucky, won the Hinkle maple rocker and Terry Ann Cawthon of Hendersonville, Tennessee, won the framed print of the Red River Meeting House signed by the artist, Rev. Alfred Bennett. Both of these items had been raffled this fall to help raise funds for the pavilion/bathroom project.

UPDATE ON PAVILION/BATHROOMS: Roger Putnam of All Things Construction has been notified to begin the construction as soon as the weather is suitable.

RED RIVER MEETING HOUSE AND MAULDING'S FORT STATE HISTORICAL MARKERS: There is a fund set up to replace the two historical markers that were on Highway 663. If you would like to contribute, please make your check payable to Red River Meeting House and Cemetery Association. Also, please designate which marker you are donating to in the memo section of your check. We currently have $150 for the Red River marker. The state markers are very expensive and our Logan County Representative Carl Foster is working diligently with the State on this matter for us.

GENEALOGYDarlynn Moore has had several people contact her lately about their genealogy and loved ones who are buried in the Red River Cemetery. She has three queries listed and would
like to encourage more people to submit theirs for future newsletters. She would like to have a section for queries where you give a brief explanation of who you are looking for, who you might be a descendant of, and your contact information. Hopefully someone who receives the newsletter might be able to help solve some missing pieces.

Would like to suggest to our interested genealogists that the Logan County Archives publishes a newsletter each month which highlights a particular building, place, or person that has Logan County connections. They have indexed the Guardian Settlement Book and Equity cases that have valuable information. A 12 months subscription is only $12.00. You may also buy past issues on CD. Membership for the new year is due now, but may be purchased at anytime of the year. Contact Judy Lyne at the Logan County Archives at 270-726-8179. The December, 2014 issue (40 pages) highlighted the Dr. James B. Bowling house in Adairville, KY. Dr. Bowling married Sophronia Ewing who was the daughter of Gen. Robert and Jane McLean Ewing. She is buried along with her parents at Red River Cemetery, but Dr. Bowling is buried in Russellville, Ky. This is a mystery wanting to be solved. That newsletter also gave information on the Ewing family.

CARMACK: Fred Jorgensen is seeking information on his great grandparents, Lemuel and Eva (Stroud) Carmack. Eva's death certificate indicates she was buried at Red River on 1/5/1914, but no tombstone has been located for her or Lemuel. Please contact him atfjorgensen@aol.com or call 775-727-6784 if you have any information regarding this. His mailing address is 6760 Sandpebble St., Pahrump NV 89061. Any information on the Carmack family would be appreciated.

BRIAN/BRIEN/BRYAN: Susan Brian Bodenner is seeking information on her great, great, great, great grandparents, James Boyd Brien, Sr. (1757-1815/1816) who was married to Ann Lytle, both buried in Red River Cemetery. You may contact her at sbodenner@gmail.com or call616-433-5400 with any information regarding this or the Brian/Brien/Bryan family.

EWINGS/TOWNSENDS/SOYARS/OFFUTTS: Margaret Townsend Beal would like to correspond with anyone connected to the Ewings, Townsends, Soyars, or Offutts. She has numerous kin buried in the Red River cemetery under these names. She is also searching for BAILEYS and CALLOWAYS that are connected to her family as well. If you have any information you would like to share, please contact her at searching.beal11@gmail.com or call 205-482-4571. Her mailing address is P. O. Box 505, Montevallo, AL 35115.

PRESIDENT'S CORNER: Well another year has come and gone and no pavilion/bathrooms have been started or finished. Does this mean we haven't been busy working on it? The answer is no. Different ones have diligently been pursuing the project and the good news is that when the weather is suitable, Roger Putnam of All Things Construction will start the project. Timing is everything as indicated in Ecclesiastes as we read there is a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to pluck up, a time to sit still and a time to get busy. Yes, a time to get busy. To get this much needed pavilion/bathrooms up and flushing! Please be in prayer as we start this new year undertaking this major project. Pray it may go smoothly without a hitch, so to say. If any of you would like to donate money for a sink, commode, door, or even a door handle, please contact me at 270-539-6528. Yes, this project has been several years in the making and we have had several individuals who have sold rifle raffle tickets on two different rifles over several years. We have had people donate items to sell at our auction each year in October, and we have had people give sacrificially from their hearts. To those and others, we say a big hearty thanks. Without the supporters of Red River, dreams and visions could not be met, but most of all, without God, to lead us on this incredible path, we would truly be lost. Thank you for allowing me to serve as your President for 20 years and together we will give all the praise and glory to God.

Richard Moore

Just a thought:Some people give every year on the anniversary of their loved one passing.

Thank you so much for your continued support.

Appreciation to Hillvue Heights Church in Bowling Green for the use of their copy machine.

Please note on your check what project you are donating to (pavilion/bathrooms, postage or meetinghouse repairs). You can also donate on the website www.rrmh.org through the Pay Pal account. Donations are greatly appreciated and are tax deductible.

Contact Richard Moore at 270-539-6528 or moore@logantele.com

Red River Meeting House Association

c/o Richard Moore

2459 Trimble Rd

Adairville, KY 42202


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