JARRETT GOODMAN
Staff Writer
Commissioner Beth Duggar of South Pittsburg recently presented the idea of potentially bringing new, history-themed activities to the community as part of the 250th birthday of the United States.
During the meeting, Duggar explained, in the wake of nationwide celebrations and themes dedicated to the nation’s 250th birthday, she felt the South Pittsburg community should also participate in celebrating the nation’s birthday through its own way. She shared interest into establishing a new committee filled with non-profits banding together to make the activities a reality, such as working with the South Pittsburg Historic Preservation Society (SPHPS), a local organization dedicated to the preservation of South Pittsburg’s deeply rooted history.
“There can be all kinds of ideas,” said Duggar. “We just want to have a great celebration all through the year. Not just for the 4th of July.”
One idea presented is to possibly bring back a program centered around American history and culture titled, “I Hear America Singing” to the Princess Theatre. Because of the Princess Theatre’s ongoing rise in visitations and activities, Duggar felt the historic structure would serve as an ideal hub for the program. Additionally, she reached out to Hamilton County Historian Linda Moss Mines about potentially participating in the historic program at the Princess Theatre following the South Pittsburg Rotary Club’s recent meeting she attended.
“She walked and talked for 40 minutes it seemed like without taking a breath, just expounding the history of the United States and also Tennessee,” said Duggar. “So I asked her to see if she could maybe come down and participate.”
While no official motion was made to have a concrete event set in motion, ideas are nonetheless still open to be shared among South Pittsburg’s Board of Mayor & Commissioners as the nation soon turns 250-years-old on Saturday, July 4.