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Sam's Rocket
The historical society has had a couple of starts, but is well on its way to serving the county, especially the education of our children about our county's history. Mr. Earl Varner was a leader in collecting farm implements for the collection. Included in this large array of materials are a two wheel and an eight wheel log cart. They both need repair and the society is looking for additional log carts to help refurbish the two on hand. One goal is to have a first rate forestry exhibit. The items used in running a household of a century ago are collected along with the names of local families donating the items. From quilts to cradles there is a large selection of home materials. A school child of today would wonder what is an ice pick? They have probably never seen a large block of ice. They have probably never thought about how meat and foods were kept cool before electricity. Among the more interesting items on hand is a large still for the manufacture of moonshine. This also is a part of our county history. Thunder Road was not only in north Georgia; we had it in certain parts of Emanuel County. No kid from the 1960's can ever forget Sam's Drive-In. Friday and Saturday nights before and after the Record Hop cars drove around and around the drive-in. Some parked to order milkshakes, hotdogs, etc. Others just parked. Sunday afternoons were just the same, often with WJAT setting up outdoor broadcasting from the drive-in. It was difficult to be anonymous when the DJ would call out who was passing by. In a sale several years ago various pieces of memorabilia were sold from the window trays to the old menus. The most spectacular reminder of the drive-in was the advertising sign in the form of a rocket. It was given to the historical society and is one of the prizes of the museum. In retrieving it from the site of Sam's it required the help of many volunteers, cranes and the construction of a steel support to hold it up (or at an angle as it is now). It has a motor to rotate the rocket and the rocket is painted with the Sam's Drive-In logo and covered with lots of neon tubing. One day someone will come up with the funding to refurbish this gem. Wouldn't it look great outside the museum building, shining, moving and blinking! On the grounds of the museum is the beginnings of a village. Already in place are a working blacksmith's shop, a log cabin from the Garfield area, and a one-room school house. The John Ivey Brinson family donated the Coleman Academy and several years ago it was moved into place in the museum village. Soon it will contain the large collection of Swainsboro High School class composites, a collection the society has restored and preserved. As a past president of the society and as a board member I know that the current President, Gloria Mason, and her board are working hard to make improvements. New bathrooms are on tap along with a new roof for the Coleman Academy. School children get visits to the museum and the public is invited during special occasions. Come to the next opening and enjoy what has been accomplished and join in to move the work forward. Meanwhile, I am still trying to make up my mind what to order from this Sam's Drive-In menu.--Jack Atkinson is a guest columnist and resident of Garfield.
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