this place.

just amazing.

 

the stories. the people. truly powerful.

 

i stopped by on Sunday--late morning and happened to find 3 women leaving the church next door.

 

i talked to one of them--Linda--for a long time. she was something special. and i didn't make her a "stranger", if you can believe that.

 

i told her my friend kim (Landgon) here on flickr had told me a bit about these camp circles...and i was so intrigued and just had to know more.

 

Linda took her time. she told me stories. we discussed that there is still so much segregation in this area, and in the south in general. heck-probably everywhere. Linda's church is a " black" church...not because whites aren't allowed--just because they choose not to attend. hmm.

 

so we talked about the "camp" and i fell in love w/ the history. we exchanged email addresses, she invited me to their celebration on sunday (which i'm sad to say i won't be able to attend...outta town)... :( but, from Linda, i learned a TON. i am hoping to meet up w/ her again this week sometime and hear more. she also has some old pics of the place to share. keep your fingers crossed for me please. :)

 

www.catawba.k12.nc.us/campcatawba/campgrounds.htm

 

History of Motts Grove United Methodist Church Camp Meeting

 

To understand the History of our Camp meeting we must not forget the Heritage of our ancestors who so willingly embraced Christianity. The exact date of the inception of Motts Grove has not been recorded. However after the Civil War our freed ancestors were no longer allowed to worship at the white churches and camp meetings but as a people who were so deeply rooted in their spiritual beliefs our ancestors congregated wherever possible to worship and sing praises to God. Motts Grove’s history begins somewhere around 1872 when Rev. J. W. Wells, a black circuit preacher from Cleveland County and some of this area’s founding fathers built a brush arbor, across from where Motts Grove UMC sits today, as a place of worship.

 

During this time, Dr. John J. Motts a physician, business leader and politician who later became a leader of the Republican Party, while riding through the country side would hear the preaching and singing from our ancestors. Dr. Mott was so inspired,

 

he donated the land so the worshipers could have their own place to worship and sing praises to God. Rev. J. W. Wells named the property Motts Grove. MOTTS in honor of Dr. John Motts. GROVE for the many pine trees that graced the land.

 

During the 1880’s a number of tents were constructed around the Arbor. Hence, this was the beginning of “Annual Camp Meeting.” In early August Families from the surrounding communities would pack up their personal belongings and move into their tents for a three-week revival. The month of August was chosen because the children were out of school and the farmers had completed their harvests. It was a time of rest, relaxation and for the entire community to give thanks to God for all his blessings. This revival consisted of Vacation bible school, evening services of singing and worship and fellowship with neighbors and friends.

 

The original tents were one to two room structures with dirt floors covered with straw. The kitchen area had a corner where the wood stove was placed for cooking the family meals, and a curtain (sheet) was draped across the living area to partition off the sleeping area. The mattress on the bed was made of sheets sewn together and filled with straw for padding. As the nights were cool the bedding consisted of hand made quilts and sheets. There was no indoor plumbing. A communal wooden structure outside the circle was constructed to meet sanitation needs.

 

A day at Motts Grove camp meeting began around 6:00am when the mothers and grand mothers would rise and fire up the wood burning stoves (brought from home), put on coffee and make a breakfast of biscuits, ham and eggs. Following breakfast the children attended Vacation Bible School. The men went off to their jobs (some to their workplace, some home to tend to the farm), the women cleaned out their tents and visited with each other. Every evening everyone gathered under the Arbor for a service of singing, praise and worship. After service the young children played various games inside the circle, while the young people gathered in their circles and laughed and talked and the adults watched over all while sitting on the benches outside his or her tent or the tent of friends.

 

At the beginning of the third week venders from miles around would come and set up camp to sell their wares; These vendors sold ice cream cones, snow balls, cotton

 

candy, trinkets, fresh fried fish, and of course the guy with the picture stand who at the time took pictures in sepia.

 

That third week was always festive because the children realized they would soon be returning to school and the adults returning to their mostly remote lives on their farms or homes throughout the countryside.

 

The tents and arbor have been destroyed by fire twice over the years. The current tents and facilities are a far cry from those of our ancestors. If you walked inside a family tent at Motts Grove Campground today you would find a kitchen with modern appliances, bathroom complete with tub and shower, one to three bedrooms, some with upstairs and balconies and air conditioning.

 

The facilities may have been modernized, the length of stay has lessened but what has not changed is the meaning of Motts Grove Camp meeting and that is THE GATHERING OF FRIENDS, FAMILIES, AND NEIGHBORS, OF DIFERENT RELIGIOUS FAITHS TO FELLOWSHIP WITH EACH OTHER AND THE NIGHTLY SINGING, PRAISE AND WORSHIP SERVICES.

 

Time Line:

* 1880’s Wooden arbor erected; but destroyed by fire

* Mid 1880s family tents erected forming a circle around the arbor.

* 1950’s - The wooded arbor was partially destroyed by fire and restored

 

Done