Page 2 - Wednesday, July 19, 2023
The Jenkins County Times
j enkinsc ountytimes .com
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JA Taste of Louisiana
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By Sam Eades, Publisher/
Writer
for
The Times
Wayside Home
This week I would like to tell you about the Wayside Home
in Millen for Confederate Soldiers.
You see, sometime during 1861, the patriotic women of
Burke County established the Wayside Home at Millen. Which
at the time was the main railroad junction of the county.
The ladies fixed up a large house with a spacious dining
room, bedrooms and a kitchen with pantries. They collected
food, clothing and medicine to serve brave soldiers when they
were traveling through on the Central of Georgia railroad.
Often, most soldiers would have about an hour to eat and
relax before they had to travel on. Some of course, would stay
overnight.
There was a volunteer staff of ladies headed up by, Mary
C. MacKenzie, which was the home's founder. A Miss Annie
Bailey from Savannah was the matron of the house and with
the help of three other cooks, they prepared meals on a daily
basis for the soldiers. Each team of ladies were relieved by
another team every three days and nights.
Some other ladies would tend to the sick and wounded. They
would cut unifomis and other articles of clothing to make flags,
socks, slings and scarves for the soldiers that would come in.
It seems the most enthusiastic worker was, Mrs. Lewis. She
would take off every day to canvas the area and town folk in
her carriage to keep the home supplied with goods necessary
for the comfort of the soldiers. Especially, bed sheets and table
linens.
I am sure that only a few of you even knew about this
wonderful home created by the ladies of Millen. The home,
built by help from the public was destroyed by Sherman's
army as they went through Millen on their march to the sea.
However I am sure veterans of the county remember it well
with fondness and greatfulness. There is a monument of
the Wayside Home near our museum. There is also another
monument located on the Court house grounds.
I will see you next week as we continue to uncover or share
the history of Jenkins County.
Funeral Home & Crematory
Locally Owned & Operated
nderson
Locally owned and operated.
From soothing rooms to acres of nature, Joiner Anderson
Funeral Home is a scenic place to be. Visit us to pay
respect, celebrate life and enjoy the environment. We hold
community events ranging from healing workshops to
cemetery tours. You’ll find memorials dating back to the
late 1800's, branches offering broad shade and peaceful
corners for reflection. Visit to honor memories. Visit to
learn the landscape. Visit to find quiet joy.
(9_U)_5A4jl7.715.
p hit g@joineranderson.com
202 S Ennis St Sylvania, GA 30467
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The Times Printing Services
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• • •
An Introduction to Country Life -
By Tracey Pruitt
Special to
The Times
Quidwu
SMADCIS, and
more Snakes
I have been aware
of snakes my whole
life. I was always told you
could identify a poisonous
snake based upon the
shape of their heads. My
husband (the country boy)
says poisonous snakes
around here have a defined
head but not all snakes
that have defined heads
are poisonous such as the
banded water snake, red
belly mud snake and a
hog nose snake. He also
added that a coral snake
is poisonous but does not
have a defined head and
you should utilize the
methodology that “Red to
black is a friend to Jack,
red to yellow will kill a
fellow”.
I have had a life-long
intention to stay far
enough from snakes to not
be acquainted enough to
identify the shape of their
heads or their colors. I can
never remember the above
sayings under pressure!
In the words of my sweet
momma, “Treat all guns
like they are loaded and
all snakes like they are
poisonous”.
Snakes and I have
managed to co-exist for the
last six years of me living
on the farm. Though I
have found the occasional
snakeskin in my herb
garden at the end of the
summer season, I have
been blissfully unaware of
their close proximity. All
of that changed several
weeks ago when I literally
came face-to-face with my
neighbors.
I have found that
growing an herb garden
is therapeutic in several
ways. Growing plants
and working in the dirt
are good for the soul
and the soil. I have been
growing both culinary
and medicinal herbs for
several years. This year,
I doubled the size of my
garden and added cypress
mulch for both aesthetics
and pest control. As I sat
in my rocking chair at the
almost finished garden,
something caught my eye
swaying in the breeze
above my head like a flag
on the Fourth of July.
I felt a tightening of
apprehension as I looked
up at what appeared to
be a snake’s skin in the
large oak tree above my
beautiful herb garden. I
brought it to my husband’s
attention whom confirmed
it was indeed a six to
seven foot snake based on
the shed. He added that it
was probably an oak snake
and must have been living
in the tree for quite some
time.
One week later, my
husband and I were
leveling the last of the
galvanized herb beds
and filling them with
rich, black dirt. While I
was working blissfully
in my herb garden, my
neighborhood snake
decided to procreate with
another snake. Due to
their interactions, they
lost their balance and
fell within a few feet of
my head! Please note
my interpretation of
their proximity and my
husband’s differs greatly.
I am not going to lie.
My first thought involved
a death sentence. From my
perspective, I was minding
my own business when
my snake neighbor and
his friend attacked me. At
the very least, I felt that it
should be deemed assault.
My husband, with logic
and reason, persuaded
me to rethink my first
reaction. We chose to
relocate the loving couple
so that we could all “live
and let live”.
Living the farm life has
taught me to expect the
unexpected or at the very
least, to wear a helmet!
Debbie Heam that works with us at the papers is orginally from
Louisiana. She thought she'd share the recipe for the Infamous
Natchitoches Meat Pie in honor of the Jenkins County Players
beginning practices for the September debut of Steel Magnolias at
the PAL theater. (The movie was filmed in Natchitoches)
It is definately up to you on how spicy you want to make it. She
says she can't do the heat but loves the flavor of a good meat pie.
It's alittle time consuming but so worth it.
This recipe makes enough for about 15-20 depending on the size.
Natchitoches Meat Pie
Meat Pie Filling
1 teaspoon shortening
1 pound ground beef
1 pound ground pork meat
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1 pod garlic, minced
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
Salt, black pepper and red pepper to taste
1 tablespoon flour
Meat Pie Crust
1 quart plain flour
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 eggs
1/2 cup shortening + IT
1 cup milk
Instructions
Meat Filling:
Melt shortening in heavy pot. Add meat. Cook until pink
is gone.
Add vegetables and season to taste. (Season well, as
meat will lose seasoning during frying.)
When meat is completely done ana vegetables glazed,
remove from heat and drain excess liquid.
Stir in 1 tablespoon flour.
Crust:
Sift dry ingredients together.
Cut in shortening.
Beat egg and add to milk.
Work gradually into dry ingredients until proper
consistency to roll.
Break into small pieces and roll very thin.
Cut into rounds using a saucer as a guide.
To assemble:
Place a large tablespoon of prepared meat along edge and
halfway in the center of round dough.
Fold the other half over, making edges meet and seal with
water. Form edges with fork.
Drop in deep oil and cook until golden brown.
Drain and serve hot.
