Franklin County begins celebration for 200th year

By Special to The Democrat | The Natchez Democrat

Published Monday, December 14, 2009

MEADVILLE — The Franklin County bicentennial committee announces plans for upcoming events and the availability of specialty merchandise available for purchase to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the founding of the county.

Franklin County was officially founded on Dec. 21, 1809, some eight years before Mississippi became a state. The Franklin County board of supervisors will join the bicentennial committee in hosting a ceremony at the Franklin County Courthouse at 10 a.m. Monday. As the official beginning of the celebration. The bicentennial activities are scheduled to conclude during a four-day festival in Roxie, Meadville and Bude, to be during the first weekend of March 2010.

At the Dec. 21 event, a first offering will be made of the committee’s history book titled “Franklin County remembers 1809-2009,” a compilation of submissions by various past and present Franklin countians.

This book is an 8 1/2 by 11 inch hardbound book of more than 500 pages containing histories of families, churches, businesses, communities and organizations, suitable for coffee table display and gift giving. The book is priced at $30. Due to production costs, only a limited number of these books will ever be available.

Also offered is a cookbook titled “recipes and remembrances,” a re-compilation and reprinting of approximately 20 cookbooks previously printed by various churches and other organizations in the county. This book is printed on 8 1/2 by 11 inch pages in a sturdy d-ring binder for ease in removing individual recipes for use in the kitchen. A limited number of cookbooks are available now for Christmas presents. Special orders will be taken for later distribution. The price of the cookbook is also $30.

Prepaid orders for the history books may be submitted to the Franklin County bicentennial committee, P.O. Box 400, Meadville, MS 39653-0400.

When the books arrive, they will be available for walk up purchase at Tyson’s in Bude during regular business hours. The cookbooks are currently available at Tyson’s. All mail orders should include $5 per item shipping and handling.