Friday evening, I went with friends, to the latest and regretfully, the last play for the Clinton Brick Street Players…. until the find another home….Mississippi College bought the old school, they are now using. They are searching for another location. No luck so far….
Merry Ellen Stockwell, a friend of mine, is in this production, she plays the part of the old lady, Merry Ellen in real life is a very attractive red head. But, I must say, she is very believable in her role as “mama“, costumed out in a grey wig, pink quilted robe, and bedroom shoes.
The play “The Watch They Keep” by Judy H Tucker a Mississippi playwright, is about an old woman who is in the latter stages of Alzheimer’s, and how her children are dealing with it. And the second act they are coping with death of their mother.
The premise of the play, adult, middle aged children dealing with their parents is so timely. They will be performing “The Watch they Keep” again this Friday and Saturday. April 16 and 17.
Saturday morning, I went to Raymond to participate in the Friends of Raymond, Park Day. It was an historic day for this organization….they installed ten, of 22 cannons that will ultimately be placed on the battlefield As I understand it, when all twenty two cannons are placed, Raymond’s Civil War battlefield will be the only one in the nation with it’s full complement of cannons.
It was fascinating to watch the men place the cast iron cannons…They used a backhoe to place the cannons ….you all, I have just about decided after years of observation…there in not much ,a team, of determined men can’t do if they have backhoe. And do it with precision!
The cannons were to be placed on three concrete pads, 2 for the wheels and one for the hitch. The three pads were not big, maybe a foot wide and 2 foot long. The cannons, full sized, constructed entirely of cast iron, were attached by chain and straps to the bucket of backhoe…were lifted off a flatbed trailer, and placed on the pads. You know it had to be done meticulously and gently …in order not to drop the cannon or crack the concrete… while placing the big guns
The men used hand signals to communicate….some of the moves were quite diminutive…at one point I saw a young man, hold up an arm, and using his pointy finger and thumb, he signified a move to the operator….and there was not but about an inch in the gap between the fingers….the move was executed with faultless accuracy and the cannon lower softly into position.
I have come to believe men from the time they are born they know how to speak “Backhoe” because all of this was accomplished…not by professionals …but by a rag tag team of doctors, lawyers, teachers, professors, college students etc. With a retired general, Parker Hill, directing the order of placement and a banker….Dick Kilby, he was operating the backhoe.
Over 50 volunteers came to work Park Day…. Much was accomplished besides10 cannons being placed, the walking trail was spiffed up….lots of weed eating and brush trimming took place….One cannon did get painted…before the work day ended.
This park is a jewel in Hinds county, Mississippi and the nation…..you do not have to be a Civil War enthusiast to appreciate the park…and it’s contribution economically and Historically to Hinds County.
call if you need me.
GloriaChristiansen@gmail.com
