Eufaula Pilgrimage opening ceremonies

Talk about good timing.

Several days of rain ended just in time for the 44th Annual Eufaula Pilgrimage. There was plenty of blue sky and sunshine for pilgrims and local residents attending today’s opening ceremony at Shorter Mansion.

“In spite of the storms that we just experienced this week, your sun is shining again,” Rev. Willie White, pastor of St. Luke AME Church, said in his invocation.

White was one of several individuals participating in the opening ceremonies. Eufaula City Council President Jim Martin, who attended on behalf of Mayor Jay Jaxon, offered an enthusiastic welcome to all pilgrims.

“This has turned into a celebration for our city, and we are happy that you are here to join us for that celebration,” Martin said.

“We have several hundred volunteers every year that help us get ready. The homeowners are ready. The art show is ready. The antique show is ready. The entertainment is ready. And we are ready for you to have a good time in Eufaula.”

Two events signified the opening of Alabama’s oldest tour of homes - the cutting of the ribbon by Miss Fonnie Strang and Pilgrimage Queen Laura Storey, and the firing of the cannon at the Petry-Honan Home on nearby Cherry Street.

Just after the beginning of the Pilgrimage, which continues until Sunday afternoon, the 13-member Pilgrimage Court posed for a group photo before heading to the respective homes and gardens they will volunteer at this weekend. Eufaulian Glenn Kasper, one of approximately 700 Pilgrimage volunteers, walked down North Eufaula Avenue with approximately 15 pilgrims. Serving as a tour guide, he told pilgrims about the history of the Foy-Beasley-Hamilton Home.

One street over on North Randolph Avenue, artists participating in this weekend’s art show were still setting up their displays. No doubt, many were delayed because of Thursday’s inclement weather. (Less than 24 hours earlier there had been a tornado watch in effect for Barbour County.)

However, earlier rains could not keep away tour groups from Clanton, Carrollton, Ga., Louisiana and other parts of the Southeast, along with hundreds of other guests who are expected in town today and throughout the weekend.

A 32-page special section of this year’s Pilgrimage is available in this weekend’s edition of The Tribune.