Holbrook Campground History

 

In 1838, a group of people, who were probably members of Andrews chapel, Birmingham, Cane Creek, Macedonia, Midway, Orange, and Pleasant Grove Methodist Episcopal Churches, began holding camp meeting.  It is impossible to say exactly where they held their camp meetings in 1838, and 1839.  Hearsay information contends camp meetings were held in these years on the same grounds, where we meet today.  When something is repeated a sufficient number of times, people begin to accept it as a fact regardless of its validity.  The deed to this land where we hold camp meeting indicated that camp meeting was held on this site for certain in 1840.

 

Legend says that Jesse C. Holbrook received this land as payment for shoeing a horse, and that he donated it to the Methodist Conference to be used as a campground.  The deed clearly stated that the Methodist Episcopal Conference paid Jesse C. Holbrook the sum of twenty dollars for this land.  A provision in the deed says that if camp meetings ever cease, the land is to be sold.  The money obtained from the sale of this land to be used to buy another campground.  It is called Holbrook Campground in honor of Jesse C. Holbrook, who was apparently dedicated to helping spread the gospel in his own day, and all the days, that were and still are to come.

 

The campers used to come in wagons and bring their cows and chickens with them.  They would come in July or August and stay from Wednesday through Sunday.  As time passed some of the people began to build “tents”, which were made of wood and often had straw, shavings or sawdust floors.  Some hearsay information indicates that in 1889, there were only three “tents”.  A family Bible belonging to some of Miss Estelle Holbrook’s relatives gives some information about the locations of some of the early “tents”.  Peter Cobb had a “tent” on the spot, where 44 stands now.  Sam Holbrook “tented” where 43 is now.  Until four or five years ago John Neals’ “tent” stood where 41 now stands.  “Tents” 34, 35, 38, 41, 43, 45 and 46 all branched out from the John Neal “tent: and each one houses his descendants.  Newt Harrell, Newt Harris and Wilkes Harris had “tents” on the hill in front of the cemetery near the spots of “tents” 34 and 35.  Dr. J. T. Hunter’s “tent” stood where 40 stands.  At some unknown place in these early years John Francis, Carter Francis, John Releford, Jimmy Neal, Lon Smith, John Smith and the Hamby family tented at Holbrook.

 

The “tenters” have upon occasion brought women to cook their meals so that the ladies could enjoy the meetings.  They slept on the straw covered with bedding brought from home.  They brought dishes and cookware from home.  Thomas Virgil Armstrong, a nearby resident in these early years, would kill a beef each August and peddle it to the tent-holders.  There were outside privies, one for the ladies and another for the gentlemen.  They got their water from two well, one was near tent #1 and the other was near tend 39,also some got water from the spring which was somewhere close to where tent 9 now sits.  The wells and spring were attractions to visitors especially young sweethearts.  On Sunday crowds milled about the campground and people came from far and near to visit friends and relatives, or just to enjoy the meeting.  They used oil or kerosene lanterns for light.  Each of the tent-holders took turns feeding the guest camp meeting preachers and this is done even now.  It is probable that these early campers regarded camp meeting as a time for spiritual renewal and physical relaxation from the daily routines.

 

The whole camp meeting is centered around the  church services, so this is why the place, where the services are held is and always has been in the center of the campground.  The tents encircle the meeting place.  In the very beginnings, the services were held in the open under the trees.  Later a brush arbor was constructed but it was soon too small as the attendance at Holbrook grew continually.  Next, a gable type arbor was built and it was blown away in a storm in 1889.  In 1889 the present arbor was constructed but it was not used for services until 1890.  The men who helped build this arbor according to hearsay information were Alfred Holbrook, John Neal, Thomas Virgil Armstrong, Lewis Hawkins, Tom Wilson a Mr. Harrell, some Mr. Harrises and probably many others who were not mentioned.  The 1889 arbor is still in use but if Holbrook’s present rate of growth continue a larger arbor will soon be needed.

 

In these early years the Presiding Elder of the Methodist Episcopal Dahlonega District was in charge of the comp meeting services.  He presumably conducted the services himself or asked a guest minister to preach.  According to tradition the pastor of the circuit helped to host the services.  There were generally three services each day as far as can be determined.  Throughout the years the men have met in the cemetery for prayer services just prior to the evening services.  The women used to meet after the afternoon services.  The basic format of the camp meeting services has varied little.

 

The early years were years where one could see the spirit moving.  Men were not afraid to say “Amen” and women were not afraid to shout.  According to legend, there was casting out of demons and miracle healings.  The singing was led by some of the tent holders and for many years Mrs. Laura Hunter who had gold rods in the back played the piano and Mrs Lelia Cobb played the Bellas Organ.  Ther services were bright with spirit while the artificial light was provided by lanterns which Mr. Sim Puckett brought each night.  As an amusing side light, it is said that in about 1896 the meeting was going rather poorly and the minister during the afternoon service said if the tenters did not let the spirit move lightening ought to strike and it did soon after the service.  It struck a tree around which Nellie Neal and Herman Hollbrook were playing.  No one knows if it helped the services or not but one can guess it might have.  It is virtually impossible to know anything about the guest ministers prior to 1933.  But hearsay information says that Rev. Frank B. Pinn, Rev. Pierce Nesse, Rev. Groover, Rev. Hunnicutt, Rev Ledbetter, Dr. Young, Rev Nathanial Thompson, Rev Eugene Scott, Rev. Gima, and Rev. Forrest King were preachers.  A List of pastors of the Liverpool and Holbrook circuit from 1848 to 1970 follows.  By way of information it is necessary to explain that the Liverpool Circuit was comprised of Andres Chapel, Birmingham, Cane Creek, Macedonia, Midway Orange and Pleasant Grove.  Holbrook Circuit was comprised of Big Springs, Birmingham, Can Creed, Macedonia, Orange, Pleasant Grove and Shiloh.  Later Cane Creek and Shiloh became inactive and Big Springs was placed in another circuit.  Bethel View and Union Hill were once part of Holbrook circuit.

 

Information about Holbrook before 1933 is hard to get but one truth that time has proven is that there is and abiding faith passed from generation to generation which permits camp meetings to continue.  It is a faith so strong that camp meeting survived a civil war, two world wars and even the depression of the thirties in order to grow bigger and bigger with the passage of time.  Evidence of this strength and growth is the fact that the tenters in 1933 voted to begin holding camp meeting for ten days beginning in 1934.  From 1934 to 1968 camp meetings began on Friday before the third Sunday in August and lasted through the third Sunday.  Today there are well over seventy tents with one or more families in each tent.  The arbor and the worship services held in it continue to be the heart and soul of camp meeting.  The format of camp meeting has changed little.  The changes that have taken place are that a ladies prayer service is not any longer held although it has been replace by a mixed prayer service at which all are welcome.  This service is held at ten o’clock in the morning in Macedonia United Methodist Church.  In 1950 children services were organized by the late Mrs. Loyhce Bennett Barton and Miss Kate Smithwick.  These services continue today.  Some few years ago, youth services for young people ages twelve to twenty-one began being held following the evening service.  As far as the services there as not been any basic change, except that the Methodist conference does not any long demand control camp meeting services.  The services are now coordinated by the tent holders themselves.

 

Even as in 1838, today the primary ruling body is the board of trustees rotation with three being replaced each year.  Aside from the Board of Trustees, there are these committees, Treasurer, Secretary, Finance, Publicity, Superintendent, Youth Building, Prayer Service, youth, children, ushers, Music, Preachers, Grounds, Preacher’s tent, Arbor Cleaning, Social Flowers, Ice and Garbage, Law and Order and By-laws.  The committees are filled by the process of a nominating committee selecting nominees and the tent holders approving them by a democratic vote.  The terms of service are at least one year and not more than two consecutive years.

 

Along with the spiritual growth at Holbrook Camp meeting a process of physical growth and modernization has taken place.  The number of tents is twenty five times what it was in the beginning.   Tenters now have electricity and water in their tents.  In 1936, new benches were brought for the arbor.  Most tenters do not any longer sleep on straw beds but have mattresses.  The long Georgia beds are not any longer used but individual double beds are used.  Wood burning stoves have been replaced by gas or electric ranges.  The old time ice box is used by few but most have refrigerators.  Plans began in 1960, for a youth building.  Construction began in late 1963 and it was first used in the camp meeting of 1964.  The pastor who helped to make his dream a reality was Rev. John Ozley.  This building, it is hoped, has and will continue to help to lead young people to camp meeting and to Christ.  It is certainly evident that great things can and have been accomplished when people trust in God.

 

The services at Holbrook are still much like they were in the beginning with just as dedicated Christians leading and participating now as then.  There are those from the past who stood out amoung our ancestors and there are those today who have or continue to stand out.  Few people of our time have stood out like the late Mr. E.M. (Marvin Lathem who was the one tenter who was not timid about asking for donations to continue camp meeting.  Then there are those who served in a quieter but just as important way like the late Harry Powell who helps to continue camp meeting even after death.  There are the living that serve in ways which seem unimportant but when they are gone it well be realized just how important they were.  In future years such people will be historical figures.

 

Two events which have occurred since the turn of the century that are well worth recalling in this history for future generations are in 1938 the centennial celebration and in 1968, the visit by the Honorable Governor George Lester Maddox to Holbrook.  The centennial celebration was a time for recalling those of the past who had meant so much to Holbrook.  Mr. Julius Hendrix explained at the service about how a preacher used to read a line of a song and then the congregation would sing it.  The title of the sermon at this service was “Salvation Through Tribulation”.  There were many flowers in the Arbor and the service was climaxed by a candle lighting ceremony wherein the lights were turned out and Mrs. E.J. Hamrick helped to light the candles of representatives from the churches of Macedonia, Longstreet, Hickory Flat Pleasant Grove, Midway, Cumming, Liberty Grove, Hightower, Union Hill, New Harmony, Bethel View and Canton.  These people formed a procession.  Since the beginning Holbrook has welcomed all faiths.  On August the 11^th 1968, Governor Maddox spoke to an overflowing crowd at the three o’clock service and following the service he demonstrated his famous bicycle act.  It would be impossible to recall every significant occurrence at Holbrook since its beginning therefore only the most outstanding could be mentioned here.