Sunday, December 27, 2015

Randolph County Extension Homemaker Clubs Celebrate Christmas, 1984

“Christmas in Randolph” by Louise Kearns, from the Tar Heel Homemaker, January-March, 1984




THE LAST TOUCH—Louise Kearns, chairman of Christmas in Randolph 1983, puts the finishing touch on the old-fashioned tree decorated by one of the local EHAs.

CHRISTMAS AT HISTORIC SITES—Members of Friendly EHA in Durham County play an important role in Christmas programs at three historic sites in Durham each year. Above, Ouida Currin, kneeling, Doris Hargis, left, and Mable Jeffries decorate the tree at Bennett Place where Gen. Joseph E. Johnson surrendered nearly 90,000 soldiers to Gen. William Sherman. EH decorated the old kitchen and the “big house” in the 1860 theme and on Sunday wore period costumes and served hot apple juice and ginger cookies at the site’s open house. They also assisted Mrs. Jeffries, who works full-time at Duke Homestead State Historic Site, in making cookies and decorating for the farm house’s Christmas open house and made corn shuck dolls in 1790 costumes for display during Christmas at the Stagville Preservation Center.

HOW IT’S DONE—Jewel Rich, left, and Clara Bulla demonstrate candy making during the Randolph County Fall Festival. EH netted $1,500 in their “Granny’s Candy Kitchen” booth.

EH DECORATE CITY’S TREE—Members of Mount Holly EHA in Gaston County were requested by the mayor to decorate the city’s tree of county municipalities for the county History and Art Museum Christmas display. Using handmade items depicting local heritage. Mayor Charles B. Black gave a hand to EH Frances Black, Blanche Talton and Lucy Cloninger, president, in the project.

Draws Thousand to Mall

“Christmas in Randolph 1983” is a lovely memory as we recount Nov. 3 4, and 5 at Randolph Mall. Days in which the Randolph County Extension Homemakers, as their Christmas gift to the community, shared ideas with countless numbers who came by to browse among the trees, the exhibits, and to observe the on-going demonstrations presented for their enjoyment—all with a Homespun flavor and with best wishes for the happiest of “Homespun Christmases!”

A tour with us would have taken you through a Christmas wonderland of doors, trees, tables, walls, windows and settings of a great variety of handmade wreaths, ornaments, garlands, scenes and other decorations of greenery, corn shucks, stenciling, cross stitch, matching clothes and napkins, antique lace, dried flowers, punched tin, Christian symbols, grapevines, creative gift wrappings and many other items and wrappings.

There was something special for children, young people and adults of all ages. Randolph EH spent months preparing for the event, and the warm response from the public made it all worthwhile.

In the sunken area at the center of the mall, five tables were set up for on-going demonstrations for the three days. The demonstrations were wreaths of fresh greenery and bow making; creative gift wrapping; pierced tin; pine cone decorating; and decorating with corn shucks.

Extension Homemakers, acting as hostesses, dressed in long calico skirts, and wearing miniature grapevine wreaths with calico bows for corsages, were on hand at all times to answer questions and give tips.

At each of the two entrances, information tables were set up, where nearly 1,000 persons stopped by to register for a door prize of one handmade ornament from each tree. Of that number, nearly 200 expressed an interest in becoming an Extension Homemaker member.

This was our first experience at the mall, as well as our first time to offer demonstrations. What a challenge! We are grateful to everyone who came and helped to make this a most successful venture!

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Candy Kitchen Popular

“Granny’s Candy Kitchen” has become a tradition at the annual Randolph Fall Festival held each year during the first weekend of October in downtown Asheboro.

The candy kitchen, sponsored by the Randolph County Extension Homemakers, involves hours of pre-preparation in local and county workshops to make peanut brittle, fudge, coconut bon-bons, and pulled mints for the sale. During the two-day festival, approximately 50 EH participated by selling candy and demonstrating how to make peanut brittle.

Randolph EHA Council Mildred Spencer reports that $1,000 of the 1983 proceeds from Granny’s Candy Kitchen was donated to Randolph Hospital for two “Lifeline” units. Lifeline is a personal emergency response program that allows elderly and handicapped persons to live more independently. The remaining $500 proceeds were used by the Randolph County EHA to present the Ninth Biennial “Christmas in Randolph” exhibit which was held at Randolph Mall, November 3-5.

Co-chairmen for the 1983 Granny’s Candy Kitchen were Lela Ann White and Lib Thompson.

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