Memories of Campground
I have recently obtained a "pamphlet" that appears to have been originally written in 1952, by Mrs. Eula Bailey Dunn. I think it was reproduced some years later as it has some modern photos of the church in it. I am going to copy the contents of Mrs. Eula's narrative.
History of Hillabee Campground Church:
In the late 18th century, the white people began coming into this country among the indians.
In the year of 1844, John Milton Bailey, Grandfather to the writer, entered a section of land west of Hillabee Creek, and in 1847 he donated five acres for the purpose of building a church and holding a camp meeting, and it was named Hillabee Campground. At the same time John Dunn father-in-law to John M. Bailey, entered a section South of the Campground and donated two acres.
Indian cabins dotted the country here and there. The white people hired them to split rails to fence in the plantations and help till the soil. The first meeting was held at Hillabee in the woods with a bush arbor over the pulpit.
John M. Bailey and brother-in-law Joseph Dunn cut the first logs to build a church and built it of split logs. Slaves occupied the back pews, as they belonged to the church with their owners.
John M. Bailey's father occupied the first six feet of ground in the new cemetery.
L. R. McDanel was the first presiding elder, and John W. Braxon the first preacher in charge.
The first camp meeting was held in 1847, under a brush arbor and tent holders camped in cloth tents. The arbor was lighted with candles made by the hands of the tent holders, run from pure beef tallow. Light stands were built on the four sides of the encampment, dirt was thrown on these and a torch light was kept burning until services closed. Afterwards a wooden structure was built for an arbor. The seats were made of split logs set on pegs. Wood en tents were then erected of such material as they had around the sides of the arbor, making it four square.
In the Fall of 1850, John M. Bailey sold half of his section of land to C. C. Polk, known then to all by the familiar term of "Uncle Charlie." He built his home in sight of the church, and was one of its faithful members.
The first tent holders were: John M. Bailey, John and Joseph Dunn, C.C. Polk, Billy Rogers, Buck Winslet, Peter Penegar, Jonathan Wolf, Sam and Billy Becket, Sammie Hancock and Robert Lumpkin, father of our faithful steward who died only a few years ago. Sammie Hancock and Sam Becket were local preachers, and had a regular appointment at Hillabee Church. At one service one would preach and the other would exhort; the next time they would change.
There was great rejoicing when our forefathers met to worship with sincerity of purpose and God would meet with his people. In 1852, a new frame church was built by Sandy McKinnon. Bill Hackney, for whom our little village was named, sawed the lumber and hauled it to Mr. McKinnon, and hauled away the rubbish. John Dunn subscribed $50.00 for the building and painting the church.
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In 1860, the church contracted a Mr. Dingler to build and arbor with an immense seating capacity. Each year, just before the camp meeting, the people would gather and clean and sweep from under the arbor, cover the ground with wheat or oat straw, and fill it with benches, carrying them from the church and supplementing with the log benches.
Mr. Dingler and family camped in "Uncle Charlie" Polk's tent while building the structure.
Willis D. Matthews, grandfather to Rev. K. N. Matthews of the North Alabama Conference, was one among the first presiding elders. Harry Starnes was among the first preachers. His last text before leaving the charge was "Quench Not the Spirit." It would require the talent and pen of angels to record the blessings that God in his all-wise providence poured out on his people in those ancient days. The old frame church stood until 1898, when it was torn away, and the present building was erected, and stands today as a monument of the great efforts of our ancestors. Yes, old Hillabee Church stands today the house of God, where children sought and found their Father's and Mother's God, the writer being one of that number. Their bodies lie moulding beneath the sod in yonder sacred cemetery, but thank God their spirits are looking down from the grandstand in Heaven over those who are still running the race for the Kingdom of God.
Grandmother Bailey, known to all by the familiar of "Aunt Harriet", lived to see three churches built on the same plot of ground. Her children carried dinner and water to the hands that did the first work, among whom was my own precious mother, who long since went home to join the "Choir Celestial." She was born, lived and died near the scared spot.
In 1873, though the faintest gleam of the writer's memory. L. R. Bell was Presiding Elder, W. D. Nicholson, P. C. One of Bro. Bell's texts was Rev 21:4 "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any pain; for the former things have passed away." One of Bro. Nicholson's texts was John 14:27 " Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth give I unto you." In 1875 M. L. Whitten was P. E., W. T. Patillo, P. C. One of bro. Whitten's, John 9:25 "He answered and said whether be he sinner or no I know not; one thing I know that whereas I was blind now I see." One of Bro. Patillo's was 26 Psalm, Verse 1st. "Judge me O Lord! for I have walked in mine integrity; I have trusted also in the Lord; therefore I shall not slide." Then came dear old Bro John B. Stevenson, father to Dr. C. M. Stevenson, of the North Alabama Conference, who always came with a message fresh from the throne of grace.
In 1879, Jones was preacher in charge, and some of the following were" R. W. Coons, T. K. Tierce, who only stayed one year, but I shall never forget the impression he made on my childish mind when he preached from Dan 6:10 "Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his window being open toward Jerusalem, he kneeled up on his knees three times a day and prayed, and gave thanks unto his God as he did afortime." Then N. H. Self, G. G. Smith, H. S. Matthews W. F. Herndon, E. D. Emerson, G. W. Hall, W. T. Daniel. Some of the Presiding Elders were,V. O. Hawkins, L. M. Wilson, L. A. Dorsey, . A. Timmons. But we might go through the whole category of preachers, Presiding Elders and tests, but will wait until the complete record is read in Heaven.
During the camp meetings, we had the best talent the Conference afforded, also the good old-fashioned local preachers such as John B. Guthrie and Uncle Jack Ingram, as he was familiarly called. Such songs as: "The Old Ship of Zion," I am Bound for the Promised Land," etc., would fill the atmosphere. There were times when it seemed that Heaven and earth would blend, shouts of new-born souls and shouts of victory would ascend, and the angels would take up the chorus and waft it up to the throne of God and to the Lamb, and "There was rejoicing in Heaven o'er the saved ones on earth." Today, when memory carries us back over the sacred place of dear old Hillabee, we see so many missing faces, so many voices have been stilled and as we look out over the dear old place we see a few of those who were children then, are sitting here and there, their once jet locks have turned to gray, and we are reminded that we are "traveling home to God in the way our Fathers trod." But we are assured of the fact that when we by faith look beyond "the veil that intervenes between the fair city and me, " we see not a feeble and scattered company, but the faces we miss and the voices that here have been stilled have accomplished their earthly task and have passed in through the Pearly Gates, and walking before the throne in splendor of that sinless and eternal day, and they wave palms of victory in their hands as they sing, "Salvation unto our God that sitteth upon the throne and unto the Lamb."
Some time in 1901 the camp meeting ceased - another reminder that we are but passengers from time into eternity. But old Hillabee Church still stands, and we are glad to say it is yet alive. Some of our recent pastors who have served us faithfully, and moved on to other places of services, but whom we still love and cherish their memory, are L. D. Adkins, A. E. Doyle, J. F. Peek, L. P. Martin, C. M. Pinkard, L. J. Lankford, Gladden Vickers, and we have with us Bro. C. L. Cash, who is serving his first year. We trust that Hillabee Church may live for many years to come, and from its sacred desk the messages from God's Holy word may still be proclaimed, and all who pass this way may find joy and peace in Him who said "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
For we are sailing, sailing over life's great sea
And port to which we are destined is eternity;
And the savior is our pilot, and he watches o'er.
He will guide our frail ark safely to the Heavenly shore.
We are sailing, sailing, while the waves run high,
And the thunder of the tempest shows the storm is nigh;
But the Savior watches o'er us, tho' the sky is o'ercast,
He will guide us , safely guide us to the port at last.
We are sailing, sailing, and we are homeward bound,
Where no earthly storm, or tempest ever shall be found;
We shall make the journey safely, tho' the storm runs high,
For the Savior is the pilot, and is ever nigh.
Mrs. Hattie McKemie Baker
Route 3
Alexander City, Alabama
(1935)
Memories of Camp Meeting and Other Services at Hillabee Campground
As has already been recorded, in the year of 1847, my grandfather John Milton Bailey, donated five acres of land for the purpose of building a church and holding camp meetings, and John Dunn, father-in-law Joseph uncut the first logs to build a church and built if of split logs.
The Baileys and Dunns were some of the first settlers in this country, and they had large families and all took an part in the work of the church.
My mother carried me to church when I was six weeks old. She said I would hum hymns before I could talk. Some of my earliest memories were of going to Campground on Saturdays when my older sisters would clean the church. I would pick up hickory nuts and go to the big rock above the church. The rock was used for cracking the nuts, and resting before walking the mile and a half back home. Hickory nuts have never tasted so good as then, and no place was more beautiful than this spot.
This big rock was once used by ladies to mount their horses when they rode to church in this way. I have heard my grandmother tell how the women would get off or on at this rock. They always rode on a side saddle and wore wide riding skirts to protect their dresses.
When cleaning the cemetery and church, we always took with us a basket of food and at noon-time would spread it under the arbor along with our many neighbors and friends. Before leaving for home we went into the church to sing favorite songs and to have prayers. There was always left a clean cemetery, church and grounds.
Some of the things I remember about camp meeting days cover the social activities as well as the spiritual. The young people had much pleasure in visiting the different tents, as well as the preachers' tents. Some of them were so jolly and told many interesting stories and jokes. Many girls and boys had their first dates walking to the arbor for evening services.
It was a pleasure to meet new people and to entertain them in our tents. The beds were made on a long high frame, with straw on them for a mattress. Sometimes as many as four or five, 10 or 12 or more people could sleep on the big bed. Most of the tents had tow big rooms - one for men and one for women, and there was a smaller one for the mothers and babies. There was an open hall. The cook stove and dining table were under an open shelter. People had lots of beef and chickens, some fresh pork, and lots of food was cooked before moving. Fruits and vegetables were usually plentiful. Every tent holder would have the best Negro cook that could be found.
The big church arbor was lighted with home-made tallow candles. For outside lighting around the arbor and tents there was a large table on each side of the arbor, and this was covered with dirt, and on top of this was a big pine-knot which was kept burning. This made enough light to see around all of the tents as well as the arbor.
The men wore long, frock-tail coats, high standing collars, derby hats, stiff bosom shirts and tight-legged pants. Later they wore "Bell Bottom" pants. The women wore long skirts, big bustles and hoop skirts, and big puffed sleeves. They wore corsets very tight in order to make the waist appear small. Shoes were high buttoned or laced, and very narrow toes.
Just about sunrise a trumpet was blown for all who would to come to the arbor for prayer services. Then at 8 o'clock, the trumpet would blow again for preaching, and again at 11 o'clock, 3 p. m., and 7 p. m. Just before twilight, we would go to the Grove Meeting - the women on the North side, and the men on the South side. Some good person would be appointed to lead prayer services. Many would get happy in those meetings - some from singing good old songs which were very sacred. My Grandmother, "Aunt Harriet Bailey," as she was called, would not leave the tent until she saw that everyone was going to the arbor for preaching service. Many of the older members did the same from their tents.
People came to camp meetings for miles around the country. They traveled in wagons, ox-carts, and on horseback.
Not only during camp meetings was this church active in its work, but there were varied programs carried on all during the year. There was prayer meeting on Thursday nights, and Epworth League on Sunday nights. There was preaching service every Saturday morning and once a month on the
The only wedding ceremony performed in this church was that of Adam McKemie and Josephine Bailey. They were married in 1863
The Methodist Church at Hackneyville was organized in 1928 (approx). A number of the members at Hillabee Campground Church moved their membership for the reason that it was more convenient to attend services in Hackneyville.
Hillabee Campground Church today is in good shape, having been reroofed with aluminum roofing in 1947 and painted on the inside a beautiful and restful shade of green in 1949. All of the pews were painted at this time and the piano, pulpit, and altar rail were refinished. New light fixtures were installed. Today it stands as one of the most beautiful rural churches.
Worship services are held two times a month - on the 2nd Sunday morning and the 4th Sunday night of each month. The church has cooperated with Hackneyville churches for all special services for Christmas, Easter, Mothers Day, Armed Forces Day, Father's Day and Rural Youth Sunday.
The Church was reorganized in February 1947 and the following have served as Superintendents: John Raymond Dunn, Carey White and Mrs. Annie (Reid) Nelson.
A Women's Society of Christian Service was organized in the summer of 1948, with Mrs. Eula Dunn as President, 1949 - 1950, and Mrs Inez Dunn, President 1951 - 1952.
A homecoming at this church was held in the summer of 1950. Plans have been made for another homecoming on the 2nd Sunday in July, 1952.
Mrs. Eula Bailey Dunn
July 1952