Jarrell Plantation celebrates an Ole’ Time Fourth

INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION

  • The wood stove cook at Jarrell Plantation cooking up some food during the Ole’ Time Fourth event.
    The wood stove cook at Jarrell Plantation cooking up some food during the Ole’ Time Fourth event.
  • Two children at the Ole’ Time Fourth event at Jarrell Plantation playing a fishing game.
    Two children at the Ole’ Time Fourth event at Jarrell Plantation playing a fishing game.
  • A boy at the Ole’ Time Fourth event at Jarrell Plantation playing a game of toss into glass bottles.
    A boy at the Ole’ Time Fourth event at Jarrell Plantation playing a game of toss into glass bottles.

    Jarrell Plantation hosted an Ole’ Time Fourth event over the weekend, where guests stepped back in time and celebrated Independence Day in a different way.

    Derek Jackson, interpretive ranger at Jarrell Plantation, said guests took a walk back in time to see what Jarrell was like in the 1800s while having old fashioned family fun.

    “We had our Ole’ Time Fourth event, and it’s a time where we like to have lots of things for families to do,” he said. “We had bluegrass music played by the Young American Music School, a wood stove cook who cooked cornbread and vegetables for people to test, a blacksmith who did different projects, a weaver and spinner who did some projects on blankets and other things.”

    He said the children could engage in carnival games, and they held a reading of the Declaration of Independence during the event. He said they had lots of things for people to do in Jones County’s Jarrell Plantation and engage in throughout the day.

    “I think this was a great time for families to come out and have fun, but also a time to reflect on the history of the country.

    This is pretty unique for this area, to show people how you can celebrate in a different way. We don’t do fireworks here, but we cut fresh watermelon and people can learn about the history of Jarrell Plantation,” Jackson said.

    The interpretive ranger said Jarrell Plantation was a cotton plantation that started in the 1850s. He said John Jarrell started the farm, but his son came back later and bought land at Jarrell Plantation. He said John Jarrell’s son industrialized things.

    “My favorite thing about Jarrell Plantation is how we have these two distinct time periods and can talk about the transitions and the histories between those two different time periods.

    It gives us a chance to talk about this community and how it changed over time,” he said.

    Jackson said his favorite thing about the event was the reading of the Declaration of Independence. He said it was a great time to reflect on the past, but having the games and races reminded him of the fun to be had.

    “People seemed to enjoy themselves, but it was a hot day. It’s July in Georgia, so we can expect the heat,” he said. “It was a shady site and there was lots for people to do, so I think visitors had fun. We will do our Ole’ Time Fourth event again next year.”