Photo by Sue WatsonHistoric Montrose was the setting for the opening ceremonies of the 82nd Holly Springs Pilgrimage, April 12. The Pilgrimage, organized Pilgrimage returns after five-year lapseby the Holly Springs Garden Club, open for tours of historic homes and places, and additional events, is used to raise funds for the upkeep of Montrose.
Pilgrimage returns after five-year lapse
The spirit of the Holly Springs Pilgrimage returned after a five-year lapse due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Program chair Stephanie Cavender welcomed the return of the Pilgrimage and thanked the community for all the hard work that went into return of the annual tour of homes and associated events after a five-year lapse.
“Holly Springs has so much to offer,” she said. “The best part about Holly Springs are you guys, the people, the most unique, kind, gracious people in the world.”
The Royal Court was selected from children of Garden Club members and presented three queens, two escorts and three flower girls.
Homes, museums and churches on the tour included Finley Place, Live Oaks, Hill Top, Burton Place, historic Christ Episcopal Church, Holly Springs First Methodist Church, First Presbyterian Church, Church of the Yellow Fever Martyrs Museum, the Ida B. Wells-Barnett Museum, the Marshall County Historical Museum, and the Kate Freeman Clark Art Gallery. Also featured were the Holly Springs Train Depot and Hill Crest Cemetery.
Associated activities included the Bank of Holly Springs Tour of Homes, Churches and Museums, Plant it Pink Luncheon, Evening Recital, Cemetery Ghost Tour, Artist & Enhancers at Montrose, Mint Juleps at Montrose, Southern Sunday Brunch at Montrose, the College Avenue Crawl and the Unity Bank Montrose Classic Golf Tournament. The proceeds from these events as well as ticket sales all go to the upkeep of Montrose, owned by the City of Holly Springs, and maintained by the Holly Springs Garden Club.