‘The Way We Worked’ exhibit, Pilgrimage highlight April events

“The Way We Worked” a Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition, will highlight a month of activities sponsored by the Marengo County History and Archives Museum and the Marengo County Historical Society.

The Museum and Historical Society, in cooperation with the Alabama Humanities Foundation, will explore the professions and the people that sustain American society through the exhibit, and the groups have added an exhibit detailing the way Marengo County worked in years past.

The exhibit will be on display at the Marengo County History and Archives Museum – in the Rosenbush Building in downtown Demopolis – from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. from April 6 through May 6. A grand opening reception will be held on Thursday, April 9 at 6 p.m.

Another highlight of the month’s activities will be the Spring Pilgrimage, scheduled for April 11-12. Six historic homes will be a part of this biennial event, including four private residences and two historic house museums – Bluff Hall and Gaineswood. Tours will take place on Saturday, April 11 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, April 12 from 2-5 p.m.

Gaineswood will be open on Saturday from 10-3 and Sunday from 2-5.

The Pilgrimage will also feature Alabama Humanities Scholar Christopher Long, who will present “Antique Alabama Furniture” at Lyon Hall, 102 S. Main, at 1 p.m. on Saturday. His presentation will focus on Alabama cabinetmaking, and will include a display table with show-and-tell itmes including antique woodworking tools, samples of woods and cabinetmakers’ design books.

Another feature of the Pilgrimage will be an exhibit of agricultural equipment on Saturday, April 11 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The equipment will be on display in the vacant lot catty-cornered from the History and Archives Museum on Walnut Ave.

Tickets for the Pilgrimage are $20 and include access to all six sites. Tickets can be purchased at Bluff Hall, 407 N. Commissioners Ave., leading up to and the day of the event.

Other historical events in coming weeks include (all of the following events are free unless otherwise noted):

• “Addie Pray”, a discussion with Bert Hitchcock at noon on April 17 at the Demopolis Public Library
• Alabama Readers Theater, with Don Noble, at the Demopolis High School Theatre at 6:30 p.m. on April 17, followed by a showing of “Paper Moon” at 7:30 at the DHS Theatre
• “Rock in a Weary Land” presentation/talk with Richard Bailey and Eddie Griffith at 2 p.m. at Morning Star Baptist Church
• “The Glass Managerie” by Tennessee Williams, presented by the Canebrake Players at the Old School at 7 p.m. on April 24, 25 and 27, and 2 p.m. on April 26. Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for students.
• “Place In Art and Design: Influences from Home” presentation/talk with Mark Abrams and Carolyn and Rusty Goldsmith at the Marengo County History and Archive Museum at 6 p.m. May 1.

For more information, call 334-289-9644 or e-mail marengohistory@bellsouth.net