Georgia Magazine - January 2022 - 4

MailBOX Comments from our readers * Compiled by Jennifer J. Hewett
My GEORGIA
By Roger Bevels
Support for the star
I would like to express my deepest appreciation
N
to Georgia Magazine for publishing the My Georgia
essay I wrote. [See " Lindale's star between the
stacks, " December 2021, page 20; bit.ly/lsbts.]
The tradition means a lot to me, as it does to so
many in the Lindale community and afar. In fact,
Tim Reynolds, founder of Restoration Lindale,
received donations for bulbs in honor or memory
of someone from as far away as Hawaii!
The star was raised between the stacks on
Nov. 27 and officially lit for the season on Dec. 4
after a fun, small-town Christmas parade and
Lindale's star between
the stacks
estled in the foothills of the
Appalachian Mountains in
Northwest Georgia is a small
community called Lindale, which formed
around the Massachusetts Cotton Mill, a
textile mill built in 1896. Over the years,
the mill changed ownership, first becoming
Pepperell Manufacturing Co. and
finally Greenwood Mill.
In 1931, Capt. H.P. Meikleham, mill
agent, commissioned some employees of
the mill to build an 11-foot wooden star
and line it with lights on both sides so
that it could shine bright at night.
This 450-pound star then was raised
between the two smokestacks, starting a
cherished tradition for the Lindale
community and beyond.
My father, Edward " Ed " Bevels, went
Choosing a college or university can
to work in the mill in 1962 at the age of
19, first in the cloth room and then as an
electrician in the mechanical department.
Along with his other duties, he became part of the crew
that raised the Christmas star each year just after Thanksgiving.
In 1982, he was promoted to shift supervisor of the
Members of the " star crew " fi nish installing bulbs on the Lindale star before it is raised
between the mill's smokestacks.
mechanical department. As part of his responsibilities, he
ordered new bulbs each year for the star. One of my most
cherished childhood memories was my dad driving my mom
(Ann), my sister (Renee) and me to see the first lighting of the
star each season. As we rode by the mill, he would point to the
star and tell us that he put a bulb in for each of us. Looking back,
I realize what a blessing it was to see the star as a reminder of
the love of both a heavenly father and an earthly father.
Even though the mill shut down and it is now an event
space, the " star between the stacks " remains a valued tradition
thanks to Tim Reynolds, a former employee of the mill, and
his founding of Restoration Lindale Inc., a group dedicated to
preserving area history and traditions. The original wooden
star, which now hangs on Eden Mountain behind the mill and
still shines each year, has been replaced by a slightly lighter
aluminum star.
For the last few years, my family and I have traveled to
Lindale to be a part of the " star crew " to help raise the star. We
do this in memory of my father, who passed away in 2002. To
20 Georgia Magazine December 2021
20_My_GA_1221.indd 20
11/10/21 11:41 AM
continue my father's tradition and to honor him, my mom,
sister, brother-in-law (Brad), nephew (Eli) and I now put in a
bulb for my dad each year.
Tim also began a new tradition in which people can donate
a bulb in honor, memory or celebration of someone. The
Christmas in Lindale event each year features a parade and a
market as well as the official lighting of the star for the
Christmas season. Before the star is lit, the names of those
honored on the star are announced. This year will mark the
90th anniversary of " the star between the stacks. "
Roger Bevels of Stephens is an instructional technology
specialist and assessment coordinator for Oglethorpe County
Schools. He is a member of Rayle Electric Membership Corp.
For more information
* Restoration Lindale Inc., (706) 252-1918, restorationlindaleinc@
gmail.com, facebook.com/restorationlindale
* The Lindale Mill, (404) 919-6119, lindalemill.com
To see a video of the 2017 raising of the Lindale star and learn
more about its history, see bit.ly/2017lindalestar. This year's
Christmas in Lindale event is scheduled for Dec. 4.
be a daunting task. There are so many
things to consider that it's sometimes
hard to keep them all straight. Students
often narrow down their list of schools
by focusing on academics, but there are
many other factors that make up a
fulfilling college experience.
This month we've put together
festival with a record number of vendors in attendance. Just prior to the lighting, local
radio personality Randy Quick read the names of those honored, memorialized and
celebrated by bulbs on the star. And once again, we counted down to the official
lighting for another year of special memories.
I did want to note that the stacks are more than 100 years old and are showing
their age due to the elements and lightning strikes. It is not known how much longer
the stacks can safely support the star, but the tradition will continue should it get to
that point. Shine on, star between the stacks!
-Roger Bevels, Stephens
Correction:
In our December 2021 Georgia News article " 5 drive-thru holiday light shows, "
the height of the lighted Christmas tree at Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Resort and
Gardens in Pine Mountain should have been listed as more than 10 stories, making it
the tallest in the South. We apologize for the error.
Share your thoughts. Email us at magazine@georgiaemc.com. Please include your name, address
and phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity and space.
Find it this month!
Want to win a $25 gift card?
Are you a resourceful reader? One lucky reader who fi nds and submits
the correct answers to these trivia questions will win a $25 Target gift card.
All answers can be found in this month's issue.
1) What country did Jimmy DeLoach Jr. visit in memory of his daughter?
2) Jeffrey Watkins describes two Shakespeare plays as " real hard Bard. "
Name one of the two plays he mentions.
3) Sarah Miller has a special place in her heart for which type of stingray?
4) How many years ago did Chef Rossano Case Jr. move to Georgia?
5) What does Walter Reeves say to use as a " digital water meter " ?
How to enter:
Send an email to trivia@georgiaemc.com with
the answers to all five questions by Jan. 31,
2022. Be sure to include your name, address
and phone number. (If more than one person
answers all the questions correctly, we'll draw
from among all correct answers to determine
the $25 Target gift card winner.)
4 Georgia Magazine January 2022
some tips and resources that can make
the school search easier. For help with
starting the process, keeping it on track
and selecting-and paying for!-the
institution of higher learning that's right
for you, see " Countdown to college, "
starting on page 16.
It has been almost seven years since
Abbie DeLoach and four of her fellow
Georgia Southern University School
of Nursing classmates died in a sevenvehicle
accident on Interstate 16 outside
of Savannah. To honor her memory,
family and friends worked together to
establish the Abbie DeLoach Foundation
(ADF), which supports individuals and
communities with a focus on education,
athletics, world missions and nursing.
Since its inception in 2016, the
foundation has awarded more than
$1.25 million in scholarships and funding
for local and international outreach.
Read " Continuing the good works, "
starting on page 20, to learn how the
ADF embodies Abbie DeLoach's spirit
and drive while encouraging others to
" live inspired. "
Finally, we tell the tales of two
coffee shops. Brewable Café in
Alpharetta offers not only a cup of joe
but also training and jobs for individuals
with special needs. Turn to page 28
to learn how this volunteer-driven
operation is serving both the community
and its employees.
The other, 1828 Coffee Co. in
Zebulon, is proof of the axiom " everything
old is new again. " See page 24 to
find out how a former art teacher has
brought new life to an old building on
the downtown square.
Happy New Year!
Laurel George
Editor
From THE EDITOR
ANN BEVELS
TARGET
gift card
$25

http://www.bit.ly/lsbts

Georgia Magazine - January 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - January 2022