Newspaper Page Text
Page B6
Lake Oconee News
Friday, December 22,2017
Warming up on the chilly morning are, from left, Mary Simmons, Ronald Linch, Anne Lott and Mule Brown.
Stepback Open House warms the heart
Those of us who are lucky
enough to have family and
friends come to visit during
the holidays spend hours get
ting ready. Cleaning, cooking
and preparing decorations
for our homes to make our
visitors comfortable. One of
the high points for some of us
is the Christmas open house
at Stepback.
Located just minutes from
downtown Eatonton, we are
transported to a time that
is long gone, but thanks to
Roger Pierce’s vision and
dedication, not forgotten.
While we are dusting, he is
putting down gravel on his
mile-plus drive into this
re-creation of a time past,
chasing squirrels out of the
rafters of his mills and pick
ing up debris from storms
Virginia Linch
Guest Columnist
so that total strangers can
enjoy their time at this spe
cial place.
His family and friends
share his generous spirit and
spend days, not hours, clean
ing up each of the amazing
buildings he has built and
furnished.
Not just a wreath or two
decorate his vision, but cedar
boughs and ribbons adorn
each and every building,
thanks to his daughters and
grandchildren, including a
tiny birdhouse waiting for
spring.
This chilly 2017 day
(Saturday, Dec. 16) brought
rain and fewer visitors than
usual. Averaging about 350
people for the last several
years, the numbers who
braved theweathermay have
been fewer, but none have
been more fascinated than
those who arrived this year.
Between the wonderful
musicwrungfromtheweath-
er-beaten piano in the chapel
by Pastor Ron Drawdy and
his wife, Joyce, the quiet
SEE STEPBACK » B7
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• Glassware, Flatware
China
• Bar Equipment
& Supplies
• Cookware & Utensil
• Commercial Cookin
& Refrigeration
Equipment
Entire
Purchase
Cash & Carry only
Good for the entire month of December!
‘Discount applies to In Stock merchandise only. Must present this ad to receive discount.
Online code: MANNING10. Expires 12/31/17.
Visit our showroom or shop online at www.manningbrothers.com
210 Sandy Creek Road • Athens, GA
706-549-7088
PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY VIRGINIA LINCH
The Annual Christmas at Stepback Open House allowed visitors to literally
step back into simpler times Saturday. Stepback is a complete village of
1890-1920 era buildings and a population of one — Roger Pierce, who
constructed the community, which is located on Dennis Station Road in
Putnam County.
Stepback Mayor Roger Pierce, right, and his daughter, Sandy Pierce Denham, greet
visitors and hand out walking-tour guides at the entrance of town.
"I want to invite you all to join me and my family there to celebrate the Season with
your families, friends and neighbors. My wife and I are so excited about the party, we
have sponsored a Kid Zone which will have a bouncy house and pizza for the kids. So,
bring your whole family and we will see you there."
Mayor Walt Rocker, Jr.
We appreciate the generosity and support of the sponsors,
including, Mayor & Mrs. Walter Rocker, Jr., Joe's Roofing, Walt & Tara Rocker III,
Tytan Pictures,The Eatonton Kiwanis Club, The Farmers & Merchants Bank and Publix
