I was only looking for a bathroom!
What has Chimneyville got to do with Starr Homeplace?
In December of 2000, I was returning from an extended stay in Georgia with Starr.
There were 525 miles between the two houses, and I had driven it dozens of times.
As I approached Jackson there was a pressing need for a stop. I saw the sign that
said Antique Mall and decided to stretch my legs there. Well, I missed the turn,
but I then saw a sign that said “Gun Show.” OK. Why not? But the parking lot
was full. I then rounded the corner and saw a sign that said “Craft Show.” At
this point, I was desperate.
There were 525 miles between the two houses, and I had driven it dozens of times.
As I approached Jackson there was a pressing need for a stop. I saw the sign that
said Antique Mall and decided to stretch my legs there. Well, I missed the turn,
but I then saw a sign that said “Gun Show.” OK. Why not? But the parking lot
was full. I then rounded the corner and saw a sign that said “Craft Show.” At
this point, I was desperate.
I had attended the American Crafts Council show in Atlanta not long previously.
Both Starr and I had a love of fine crafts. She originated and ran the Great North
Georgia Chicken House Festival for a number of years, until her health forced her
to stop. What I was expecting at this stop, however, was one of those traveling
craft shows that will take anything and call it arts and crafts: poured ceramics,
tongue depressor art, ply-board cutouts. etc. These things have so abused the
term “arts and crafts” as to give it a whole new meaning, one word of which is
indelicate.
Both Starr and I had a love of fine crafts. She originated and ran the Great North
Georgia Chicken House Festival for a number of years, until her health forced her
to stop. What I was expecting at this stop, however, was one of those traveling
craft shows that will take anything and call it arts and crafts: poured ceramics,
tongue depressor art, ply-board cutouts. etc. These things have so abused the
term “arts and crafts” as to give it a whole new meaning, one word of which is
indelicate.
When I had accomplished my primary goal, I thought, “OK, I’m here.” I paid
my money and walked into the Chimneyville Craft Show. It was like a lighting
bolt. I was stunned. I wanted Starr to be there so badly. Right under my nose,
two hours from home, was THIS! Fine, beautifully made, carefully crafted, cre-
atively imagined things of all kinds, rows, dozens, stacks, piles, whole booths, of
excellence! There were genial, artistic people to show them. The whole place
was amazing. I eventually tried to find one really tacky booth; I failed! It was the
inverse of craft shows with only one good one. I was so overwhelmed by all the
lovely things that I could not buy anything. I realized that some of the folks
were also from Louisiana, even closer to home.
my money and walked into the Chimneyville Craft Show. It was like a lighting
bolt. I was stunned. I wanted Starr to be there so badly. Right under my nose,
two hours from home, was THIS! Fine, beautifully made, carefully crafted, cre-
atively imagined things of all kinds, rows, dozens, stacks, piles, whole booths, of
excellence! There were genial, artistic people to show them. The whole place
was amazing. I eventually tried to find one really tacky booth; I failed! It was the
inverse of craft shows with only one good one. I was so overwhelmed by all the
lovely things that I could not buy anything. I realized that some of the folks
were also from Louisiana, even closer to home.
In the rear center was a booth of hand-wrought metalwork, made by a man
named Bennie Crevitts from near Meridian. I bought a couple of pulls from him,
and we visited about blacksmithing. I had always been interested in it. He invit-
ed me to come to the Mississippi Forge Council meeting the following Saturday. I
stayed at Chimneyville till folks were packing up. It charged my creative batter-
ies as few things ever have.
named Bennie Crevitts from near Meridian. I bought a couple of pulls from him,
and we visited about blacksmithing. I had always been interested in it. He invit-
ed me to come to the Mississippi Forge Council meeting the following Saturday. I
stayed at Chimneyville till folks were packing up. It charged my creative batter-
ies as few things ever have.
A friend called the following Monday. She had a new son-in-law who was a
welder. She said “He doesn’t know anyone and is driving us crazy! Would you
take him and do something with him?” So the next Saturday, we attended the
Forge Council meeting. I thought I would get him interested in doing blacksmith-
ing. He was having a ball while I hung back
welder. She said “He doesn’t know anyone and is driving us crazy! Would you
take him and do something with him?” So the next Saturday, we attended the
Forge Council meeting. I thought I would get him interested in doing blacksmith-
ing. He was having a ball while I hung back
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