Continued from the last two weeks:
Of those who participated in the 1934 pageant, those still living are: Amelia Berry Herrington, Alice Rhoda Gnann Ferrell, Juanita Carr Edwards, Dorothy Carr Adams, Gretchen Mingledorff Thompson, Wilma “Cheetie” Eleazer, Pauline Gnann Seckinger, Frances Helmly Gnann, Malcolm Marchman and Frances Shearouse Fielding. Bim Mingledorff and Ola Mae Kessler Heidt each had a speaking part in the pageant, and they are also still living.
On Labor Day in 1934, the Lutheran Southeastern Synod Convention being held in Savannah at the time greatly increased the crowd on hand for the Bicentennial Celebration of the Salzburgers. The pageant was also performed in the Municipal Auditorium in Savannah sometime after Labor Day, although the newspaper article documenting this in a GSS Scrapbook was not dated. The play was also presented for a third time at Ebenezer.
The following account is from The Springfield Herald dated Friday, Sept. 28, 1934:
Church Convention in Savannah
“The ninth biennial Convention of the United Lutheran Church in America will be held in Savannah October 17-25. The meeting is being held in Savannah at this time to honor the 200th anniversary of the landing of the Salzburgers in Georgia. On Saturday afternoon the 20th of October the delegates and visitors of the convention will make a pilgrimage to Ebenezer. At this time the Salzburger Pageant will be repeated. After the pageant a barbecue supper will be served to one thousand or more visitors. The barbecue is being sponsored by the Salzburgers of Effingham County and they are looking forward with much interest in having the privilege of sharing in this large and important convention.
This will be a wonderful opportunity for the people of the county to see and meet many of the leaders of the Lutheran Church and you are invited to come and bring your lunch and spend the entire afternoon with these churchmen.
The executive committee for this entertainment is composed of Rev. T.W. Shealy, Rev. F.B. Counts, Rev. L.O. Dasher, and Messers J.H. Shearouse, P.H. Zipperer, and G.W. Seckinger. The following men have been appointed by the committee to prepare the barbecue: Messers F.B. Gnann, Homer Helmly, Jesse Groover, Earl Jaudon, S.L. Waldhour, Edgar Waldhour and Holland Zipperer.”
Historic Effingham Society congratulates the Salzburgers on their 275th Anniversary to be celebrated during Labor Day Weekend. On Monday, the festival begins on the grounds at 9 a.m. with services in Jerusalem Church beginning at 10 a.m. A statue of Rev. Boltzius will be dedicated during the many activities planned for the day. Everyone is welcome to attend and take part in this historic anniversary.
This article was compiled with files and photographs from the Georgia Salzburger Society, Norman Turner and Historic Effingham Society by Susan Exley. If you have photos, comments or information to share, contact Susan Exley at 754-6681 or e-mail her at: susanexley@historiceffinghamsociety.org.
