Hey y’all,
On the latest Monroe Today episode, my good friend Gilda Stanbery hosted Mayor Lynn Miller and Councilwoman Dr. Margie Bryant. They work for the beautiful City of Culloden and came on the show to share information on excitin’ upcoming community events. Now, sit back and relax while I give y’all a rundown of everythin’ new that’s coming to Culloden.
A Backstory on Our Guests
Like any good host, Ms. Gilda started the episode by askin’ about Mayor Miller and Dr. Bryant’s ties to Culloden. Mayor Miller shared that she moved to Culloden when she was just a little girl, left for 18 years and then came back to the city. She was asked to run for city council and after servin’ for several years she decided to run for mayor! One of the most important things to Mayor Miller is that she serves as the voice of the people. In her own words, “Whatever they want to see happen, we go for it.” Isn’t that just spectacular to hear?
Dr. Bryant, an educator and Culloden City Council Representative, was born in Culloden and truly believes it is a great place to live. Her priority is gettin’ the residents excited by bringing new things to them. Whether that’s a fun event or a way to bring the community together as a whole, she’s makin’ sure it happens!
Quick History of Culloden
For those who may not know, Culloden was settled at the crossroads of two Native American trade trails. It’s a historic town full of charm. Ms. Gilda shared that for her, Culloden feels like that soft light when you drive under a canopy of trees. It’s that relaxing and comfortin’ feeling that makes the community so special. The town was originally called Cullodenville in honor of William Culloden, a Scottish merchant who settled there in the 1780s. By 1834 the name had been shortened to “Culloden” and it was incorporated as a city in 1887.
Ms. Gilda brought up an excellent point that Culloden has undergone a huge transformation with the restoration of Starr Public School. It was an African American school back in the day. It closed its doors in 1956, transferrin’ the local students to Hubbard Elementary and High School as the public schools centralized their operations to Forsyth. Mayor Miller and Dr. Bryant both expressed how important this project is to them and how they were pleasantly surprised by the support from community members who wanted to see it succeed and come to life. Another early project by the team was giving the local Slave Cemetery the identity it deserves by installing new markers, puttin’ up a fence, and just makin’ sure the history and people were well preserved and respected as they should be.
Community Involvement
Culloden’s leadership supports community involvement and connections. There are a couple of unique events coming to Culloden soon. They aren’t hosted by the city directly but by community members. There’s gonna be a Middle Ga Dukes & Boots Field Festival on July 19th from 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. This concert is sponsored by a local named Dentavious Traylor and is sure to be a great night of Southern Soul and R&B!
Then, on September 13th, Ms. Mary is hosting the 10th Annual Sunset Blues Festival. This festival will feature local artists includin’ “Fresh Boots on the Ground” and more! Tickets can be bought at Habersham Records in Macon or at the gate upon arrival.
Independence Day Celebration
With that bein’ said, Culloden will be kicking off area 4th of July celebrations by hosting their own on June 28th! It’s goin’ to be a true family-friendly event with tons of activities includin’ live music, fireworks, line dancing, a kids’ zone, and food vendors! I’ll let y’all in on a little secret, Tara’s Pound Cakes & Bakery will be there and man do they make some delicious treats.
According to Mayor Miller the line dancin’ group is real good at drawing folks onto the dance floor so I expect everyone to wear their best dancin’ shoes or boots! The celebration kicks off at 6:00 pm with “BMuzick Band” taking the stage at 7:00. “BMuzick” brings such a dynamic and fun vibe to any event. The fireworks show will start at 9:00 pm for a spectacular end to an incredible day!
And there’s more…
Before I’m done talkin’, I’ve got one more secret to share from Mayor Miller and Dr. Bryant. They’re working on transformin’ a historic building into an antique mall for starters! It’ll be a place to give people the ability to display, share, and sell their local treasures.
If you want the latest information about the City of Culloden’s excitin’ new happenings, make sure to follow their Facebook. There’s so much to explore this summer. Even if you aren’t a local like me, you should come on out, slow down, and have some fun!
Listen to the full Monroe Today episode below!
‘Til Next Time,
Your Storyteller
