The Franklin News-Post
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310 Main Street, SW
Rocky Mount, Virginia 24151
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StaffﾠPhoto by Morris Stephenson:
Representatives of the six Franklin County musical locations on The Crooked Road who received affiliated partner banners and officials of The Crooked Road took time for a photograph Thursday morning at the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum on the Ferrum College campus. |
Monday, September 21, 2009
By MORRIS STEPHENSON - Staff Writer
The dreams of organizers of six musical events along The Crooked Road in Franklin County became an "official" reality Thursday.
The addition of six new venues to five existing ones gives Franklin County the most musical events of any location on The Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail.
In a setting of the Blue Ridge Institute on the Ferrum College campus, the six full-color "affiliated partner" banners were presented by Crooked Road officials.
Approximately 35 people, including members of The Crooked Road board of directors, were on hand.
A special guest at the meeting was Joe Wilson, a co-founder of The Crooked Road along with Todd Christensen.
Wilson, a folklorist who now lives in Fries, last week received the "Living Legend" award from the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.
Before the presentations were made, Wilson praised Keith Holland, a Franklin County native and former Rocky Mount town manager, for his instrumental roll in getting the economic project off the ground.
Wilson said Holland helped get all the county governments, cities and towns along The Crooked Road actively involved in the project.
"It couldn't have been done without him,"ﾠWilson said.
Roddy Moore, a director, also had praise for Holland saying that it was he who got the original five venues on the list of affiliated partners.
"There's music in Franklin County almost every day or night of the week. And all of the music is 'home grown,'" Moore continued.
Banners, along all the benefits of being a Crooked Road musical venue, were presented to Sheriff Shively's Country Store and Mini Museum at Crossroads, Pigg River Community Center's gospel sing in Rocky Mount, Warren Street Festival in Rocky Mount, Waidsboro Ruritan Clubs Jam, Crossroads Ruritan Club's jam and the 77 Restaurant's Monday night jam at Ferrum.
Making the individual presentations were Ron Flanary, past chairman of The Crooked Road board, Moore and Jonathan Romero, interim director of The Crooked Road.
Sheriff Shively's Country Store and Museum on Route 40 at Crossroads received the first banner.
Sue Justice, who had the idea of converting the old store, which was constructed in the 1920s, into a musical venue, accepted the banner along with representatives of the Franklin County Historical Society who assisted.
Justice said she came up with the idea about three years ago and she praised the historical society for its assistance and thanked Bobby Radford and Morris Stephenson for their help.
"I'm so proud we finally got it,"ﾠJustice said.
Florella Johnson represented the Pigg River Community Center and accepted the banner for the gospel sing held at the center the second Saturday night of each month.
"This is the third anniversary year of the center and lots of groups are featured performing gospel music," she said. "We are all very excited about this."
Darlene Swain and Joan Pilson accepted the banner on behalf of the Warren Street Festival, which celebrated its 10th year last month.
The Pigg River Community Center and Warren Street Festival are the only two African-American sponsored venues on The Crooked Road.
The women expressed their pride in being honored. "We are really proud," Pilson said with Swain noting that the festival has always tried to offer something for everyone in all kinds of cultural music.
Garland Shively, who spoke for a group from the Crossroads Ruritan Club, said, "It's an honor to be on The Crooked Road. We've been doing a program for about four years and it's an honor to be a member."
B.W. Wright and Glenn Cannaday represented the Waidsboro Ruritan Club.
Wright said Holland was instrumental in getting the club involved in the concept. "He was a member of our club at the time and I thank him for helping get us started," Wright said.
He noted the programs on the first and third Thursday nights of the month attract between 15 and 25 musicians and about 125 to 150 people nightly.
Bobby Radford accepted the banner on behalf of the 77 Restaurant's Monday night jam sessions at Ferrum. He pointed out he was also accepting for Brad Dalton and the Dalton family for allowing the sessions to be held at the facility.
"We are proud to be a part of it," he said.
Moore said the county needs to get a nice brochure printed containing a map of the venues, along with the days and times of each musical event.
Flanary told the newest affiliated partners that the board does not take being a partner lightly.
"We take this very seriously," he said, noting there are standards that must be met.
Following the presentations, the board of directors gathered for lunch and a business meeting, the first one to be held at the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum. |
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