The Uncle Remus Museum in Eatonton, Georgia is near and dear to my heart. It's not just a place you should visit or a book you should read for me... for me... it's a personal journey. You see... once upon a time I was a docent at the Uncle Remus Museum. I started working with and for Mrs. Norma Wiliford when I was but a wee 12 years old. It wasn't the first place I ever "worked" but I guess the convenience store across the street when I was 8 where I got paid a quarter and a coke to pick up trash from the parking lot and bag groceries doesn't REALLY count.
Miss Norma was the first curator of the Museum, so I learned the stories from the best. She once told me she was the first woman in Putnam County to register to vote. I have a beautiful tea cup and saucer in my curio that she gave to me and a Joel Chandler Harris story book that she signed... Love, Ms. Remus.
My person connection with the museum continued after Mrs. Wiliford passed away and the reigns of the curator passed to her daughter, Mrs. Norma Watterson. I started working there in 1977 (yes, I just dated myself) and I worked there until November of 1992. For many of those years it was my second and even third job.
Then 10 years later in 2002 when my only daughter was 14 it became her first job. She worked for Mrs. Lanell Frost who is only the 3rd curator since the museum opened it's doors in 1963.
I've heard people say and I've read that "The Tar Baby" story is not politically correct and that's a bunch of hooey. It's a wonderful story and actually is African folk lore that was passed down from generation to generation. Joel Chandler Harris who was a newspaper columnist never claimed to have authored the stories, only to have written them down for all to read.
Things at the museum look a little different than in the picture above. There's now a second "brer rabbit" statue like the one at the court house made from the same mold on this location. The fence has been mended from time to time, an herb garden added, a "well house" put around the spicket and the beautiful large oak lost it's life a few years ago.
When you walk through the doors it's like stepping back in time. There are first editions of Harris' books on display, a sampling of the many languages these wonderful stories have been translated into on display, two wonderful originals from Song of the South signed by Walt Disney on display. In the front cabin there are three large picture windows that have murals painted behind them that show what the plantation would have looked like where "Uncle Remus" told the stories to the little boy. There are 12 shadow boxes with beautiful wooden carvings about some of the most famous stories. There's the wooden brer rabbit on the front door that my daddy made, there's the crocheted rug inside that my mama made. My family loves this place and I invite you to visit.
If you find that you just can not make it this way to visit this wonderful place then I invite you to read the stories. Or order them on tape and listen to them.
Don't not read these wonderful stories, for yourself or your children or grandchildren.
If you have problems finding the books, let me know and I'll give you a hand in getting one.
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