Possum Trot Church

Title

Possum Trot Church

Artist

Priscilla Burgers

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

Image is a digital painting of the Possum Trot Church, located on the campus of Berry College in Rome, Georgia. The Possum Trot Church is often known as the "cradle of Berry College." It was first built around 1850. The old church was appropriated by Martha Berry for the Possum Trot Sunday School in 1900. Possum Trot was a school from 1900-1954. The needs of the people at Possum Trot and places like it inspired her to build the schools to help the local children learn how to use their talents and resources better. Miss Berry's title, "The Sunday Lady of Possum Trot," originated from her teaching Sunday school at the church. In the early 1930s, three schoolrooms that matched the rustic setting were added and the grammar grades were moved there from the log cabin area on the main Berry College campus. Children of faculty and staff and the Possum Trot children attended classes together. Miss Berry didn't have Bibles for the children. Instead, she painted murals on the walls. To this day, the walls still proclaim, "The eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good." During World War II and for a short period following, from 1942-1948, the Possum Trot school was closed. It reopened in 1948 and stayed open until the school was closed in 1954. One of the classrooms was renovated by the Berry College Student Government Association as a Mountain Day American Bicentennial project in 1976. Student interest in Possum Trot has remained high over the years; and in 1984-85 and 1985-86, the Student Government Association assisted through volunteer work in the full restoration of the buildings. With the assistance of the physical plant of Berry College and with alumni volunteers led by Newton Wagner, a Possum Trot graduate, the safety and preservation of this historic complex have been assured. Possum Trot Homecoming is held each year on the third Sunday in September with "dinner on the grounds" between "preaching" at 11 a.m. and "singing" in the afternoon. The public is always welcome to bring their own dinner and participate in this event. There is a small log house located behind the church. It once served as the home economics department and as the kitchen and dining hall for the Possum Trot School. This cottage had started to fall apart due to lack of use until it caught the eye of an enterprising industrial education student, Robert Plank, from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, who offered to restore it in exchange for its use as a residence for himself and his wife until he graduated. His offer was accepted and upon his graduation in 1976, it became staff housing.


SOLD:
- A 8" x 5.5" matted and framed print to a buyer in Columbia, SC on 12/4/2020. Thank you!
- A 14" x 14" throw pillow to a buyer in Grand Rapids, MI on 5/19/2019, Thank you!
- A 30" x 19.875" luster photo to a buyer in Nashville, TN on 9/12/2017, Thank you!

FAA JUST COUNTRY CHURCHES Contest-11/06/2013
Tied with Third Place


FAA Featured Photo:
Christian Art and Photography-9/08/2013

FAA Featured Photo:
Expired Architecture-9/08/2013

FAA Featured Photo:
Versatile Photography-9/08/2013

FAA Featured Photo:
Excellent Self-taught Photography Group-9/08/2013

FAA Featured Photo:
Women Photographers Group-9/09/2013

FAA Featured Photo:
Country Churches Group-9/9/2013

FAA Featured Photo:
Memories and Nostalgia Group-9/11/2013

FAA Featured Photo:
FAA Featured Images Group-9/19/2013

FAA Featured Photo:
Christian Theme Artwork Group - 8/28/2015

FAA Featured Photo:
Wisconsin Flowers and Scenery Group - 8/28/2015

FAA Featured Photo:
Country Life Group - 9/6/2015

FAA Featured Photo:
Churches Group - 3/13/2018

Uploaded

September 7th, 2013

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Viewed 2,968 Times  -  Last Visitor from Cambridge, MA on 04/28/2024 at 2:17 AM

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