By Mark Millican

markmillican@daltoncitizen.com

SPRING PLACE — The hand-tufting of bedspreads will be a premier attraction as the Spring Place Festival recalls a bygone era on Saturday.

The 11th annual event takes place at the Old Spring Place Methodist Church just off Highway 225 South at its juncture with Smyrna Spring Place Road.

Co-sponsored by the Spring Place Ruritan Club and the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society, the one-day fest begins at 8 a.m. and commemorates local heritage while raising funds for the continuing preservation of the old church.

Erected in 1875, the church is the oldest structure designed for public use still standing in Murray County, said historian Tim Howard. Attendees will be able to tour the church and see items for sale inside, including new and used books, collectibles, glassware and Christmas decorations.

“We usually plan for around 300 or 400,” Howard said. “We’ve had as low as 200 and as high as 500. It depends on the weather.”

The festival will feature a “spreadline” of chenille bedspreads reminiscent of Dalton’s Peacock Alley along Highway 41. A raffle for one of the bedspreads will conclude the day’s activities.

The largest fundraising event is an auction at 10:30 a.m. The auction will include chenille bedspreads, artist prints, gift certificates to area businesses, savings bonds, coins and coin sets, rugs and books.

Howard said the festival begins to shut down around mid-afternoon after the auction is over, usually around 1 or 2.

Another highlight will be the official presentation of local historical paintings by Crandall artist Erik Gallman that portray the Murray County Courthouse at Spring Place, Lucy Hill Institute, Spring Place Grammar School and Methodist, Baptist and Presbyterian churches.

Voter registration forms will be available at the Ruritan table. Parking is available across from the Spring Place Inn on Elm Street, as well as across the street from the old church.

For more information about the festival, call Carlton McDaniel at (706) 695-2110, Pat Bridgman at (706) 695-6655 or Howard at (706) 695-2740.