Special to the
Opelika Observer
The Lee County Historical Society will host a fall museum sale inside the old Fred’s Feed and Seed Store in Loachapoka on Nov. 9.
During the years, the LCHS has accumulated many antique and heirloom items that cannot be displayed in the museum. Some of these items were part of the old Fred’s Feed and Seed Store.
All proceeds will be used in the restoration of the old warehouse barn into a new community music center to be named, “Fred’s Music Hall” after the late proprietor, Fred Lord, who was also an accomplished musician.
Items for sale will include several musical instruments, including three pianos, large tool collections, furniture, old records and more. After browsing the sale, guests are encouraged to visit Pioneer Park next door to enjoy its Second Saturday activities. Teresa Paglione and friends will be helping visitors create their own holiday wreaths out of muscadine and kudzu vines and also crafting wreaths made from local greenery.
There will be a basket-making group that enjoys sharing their skill with visitors. Guests can also visit any of the five gardens at Pioneer Park, see blacksmiths working at the forge. Spinners and weavers are in the textile center and other activities can be found throughout the park.
All venues are open and free to the public. At noon, someone will be cooking a 19th century meal in the Cook House and all visitors are invited to join. Pioneer Park is located on Alabama Highway 14 in Loachapoka and is an outreach project of the Lee County Historical Society whose mission is historic preservation, presentation and education.
‘A-O Men’s Camellia Club to host fall show’
The Auburn-Opelika Men’s Camellia Club will host its 60th anniversary Fall Camellia Show and Sale on Nov. 9 at Loachapoka’s Pioneer Park. The club has been promoting the culture of these easy-to-grow, flowering shrubs for 60 years.
Normally, most camellias bloom in the winter and early spring, but club members have been treating their camellias in order to get earlier, larger and more spectacular flowers in the fall. The show will begin at 9 a.m. and end around 4 p.m.
At the same time, the club will have a selection of prize-winning camellias for sale. These selected varieties range in color from pure white to crimson red and in size from one-inch blooms to more than six inches, and have been nursery-grown just for the Auburn-Opelika area. Club members present will be able to talk about the culture and beauty of Alabama’s State Flower. While at Pioneer Park, guests may visit the Heirloom Camellia Garden that features dozens of camellias that were grown in Alabama more than 100 years ago.
For more information, like and follow the historical society’s Facebook page or visit www.leecountyhistoricalsociety.org. The park is located at 6500 Stage Road.