A union of local churches has organized a free tour of historic local sites in honor of Black History Month.
The event is scheduled for from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday,
“The tour will consist of old African American churches and schools,” said Eltha Booth, one of the organizers. “This is something that’s new that we want to make an annual event.”
The churches are all a part of the union planning the event. Booth said members of the union get together for fellowship every three months on the fifth Sunday of the applicable month.
The drive-by tour will start in Grimesland at St. Monica Missionary Baptist Church. Also on the tour route are Chocowinity’s Clay Bottom Missionary Baptist Church and Ware Creek Rosenwald School and Community Center in Blounts Creek.
The tour will end at Maple Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Chocowinity, where there will be historic artifacts on display.
“It’s old history. Pictures of the old churches and historical places in the community,” Booth said.
Food and entertainment are also on the agenda.
Booth said she is looking forward to sharing the history with her children and visiting the sites. She has been a member of St. Monica Church since she was 12 years old.
She especially wants to show her children a smokehouse. One will be on display at Maple Grove Missionary Baptist Church.
“When you tell them about smoked meat, they look at you like, ‘What are you talking about?’ They don’t know what a smokehouse is,” Booth laughed.
“I’m real excited about it because … it’s the first time it’s ever been done. It will really be an adventure,” she said. “I’m just excited to see the old exhibits.”
The event will be rescheduled if Saturday’s weather is bad. Anyone interested in attending may check with Booth by calling 252-946-3325 on Friday to see if the weather forecast changes plans.