On a day full of sunshine, good food, and entertainment, residents and visitors celebrated the bounty of the season and the heritage of the Alderson area.  On Saturday, October 6, 2007, a variety of activities were held in the Historic Business District of Alderson as a part of the Fall Heritage Festival.  Sponsored by Alderson Main Street, the Festival seemed like a big town party with neighbors visiting up and down Railroad Avenue.  Chaired by Neta Roush and Judy Lewallen with the able assistance of Tom Roush, all of the set-ups went smoothly. 

The Alderson Volunteer Fire Department kicked off National Fire Prevention Week with information about fire safety and “Fire Chief” hats for the children.  They were also selling 100^th Anniversary throws from their big birthday last year. 

Several community groups including the Alderson Women’s Club, the Alderson Community Center for the Arts and Humanities, the Democratic Executive Committee, the Monroe County Senior Center, the Alderson Bridge Trust Fund, and the Greenbrier Historical Society provided information and sold goodies and raffle tickets.  The Alderson branch of City National Bank had information, free popcorn, and a raffle. 

The “Double B Stage Coach” gave free rides through the Historic Business District to adults and children.  Bobby and Judy Hoover sold tasty hot dogs for Alderson Main Street. 

The Old Greenbrier Baptist Church and Caravan Club offered sandwiches, full lunches, and apple pie on a stick.  The Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church had chili, sour dough bread, and caramel covered apple slices.   

Jill Highlander offered her beautiful photos of flower, animal, and country scenes for sale.  Becky Bartlett had rag quilts and Kool-Aid purses.  Ronald Stroupe air brushed t-shirts and Melanie Austin offered Premier Design Jewelry.  Kadee Ratliff provided Beauty Control products.  Fonzie Fitzwater had distinctive bowls, lamps, and candle sticks turned from a variety of woods including some from the huge oak tree taken down this year on the grounds of the Old Greenbrier Baptist Church.  Charles Richmond soon sold out of his honey.

Ruth Allen’s brightly colored Apple Dumpling stand was a hit and the smell of those cinnamon apples complemented the aroma of coffee coming from the stand of Rick and Donna Simms.  Regular, cappuccino, and espresso coffees were all available along with fruit smoothies.  Travis and Elizabeth Copenhaver cooked tasty waffles, hamburgers, and french fries.   

Susie Gore’s House of Hair offered tapestry purses and many decorative fall and winter items.  Frank and Barbara Tuckwiller of Watt’s Roost Winery provided samples of their wines so that customers could choose their favorites. 

Entertainment was provided from the Tom Housby Memorial Gazebo in Alderson Alumni Park and included the Red River Drum Corps and the Country Classics Band.  The Red River Drum Corps, under the leadership of Larry Two Rivers Brown,  demonstrated a women’s traditional dance, a men’s traditional dance, and a dance that portrayed the hunt from locating and tracking the animal to honoring the animal for giving its life for their nourishment.  The Country Classic Band, known for its traditional country and rock ‘n roll music, was composed of Valerie Smith, Bobbie Smith, and Charlie Mitchell.  They entertained the crowd with their excellent sound and made everyone happy by playing their requests. 

Alderson Main Street staffed a table where they sold a large print cookbook, “Love in a Loaf Pan”, the “Porches of Alderson” poster, and “bricks” in memory of teachers, friends and loved ones to be placed in the walkway in Alumni Park.  They also held a drawing for a gift basket from Alderson Country Mercantile and a framed “Porches of Alderson” poster.  Jack Still of Alderson won the poster and Rada Morgan of Gap Mills won the gift basket. 

Mayor Luther Lewallen said, “I really like the feel of this festival.  People are visiting, talking, and having a great time.”       See photos.