Birthday Bash brings in Bicentennial

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  • Rabun County Bicentennial Bash
    Rabun County Bicentennial Bash
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 CLAYTON— Rabun County brought in its year-long bicentennial celebration with a birthday bash at The Rock House on Saturday, Dec. 7.

“This is the culmination of 30-plus events that we’ve had this year,” said Stephen Arbitter, commissioner and chairman of the Bicentennial Committee, at the kickoff of the event.

Arbitter thanked everyone who worked so hard on bicentennial events throughout the year, and specifically recognized the Rabun County Chamber of Commerce and the Historical Society for their contributions.

“Working on this bicentennial committee has been amazing,” Arbitter said.

He spoke about the time capsule, which will be opened in 2119, and said that he hopes in 100 years the people will get an accurate picture of what life is like in Rabun County currently.

The Time Capsule headstone was displayed for everyone to see and noted “Time Capsule, December 21, 2019, To commemorate the Bicentennial of Rabun County. To be opened December 21, 2119.”

City of Clayton Mayor Jordan Green gave remarks at the event as well.

“I’m very proud to be the mayor of the county seat,” Green said. He said that he takes pride in what he does for the citizens of Clayton.

“I think Scott Dills needs to be recognized,” Green said. He mentioned how instrumental Dills was in planning the events while on the bicentennial committee.

Rep. Matt Gurtler read a proclamation for Rabun County and began by expressing his love for his county.

“Rabun County is a wonderful place to live and grow up and raise kids,” Gurtler said. He then read the proclamation aloud.

A portion of the document states “A resolution recognizing and congratulating Rabun County on the grand occasion of Bicentennial Anniversary; and for other purposes. Whereas Rabun County was established on December 21, 1819 and was named after William Rabun, who served in the Georgia General Assembly as president of the Senate; he was elected as Governor in 1817 and died in office in 1819; and whereas once heavily populated by Cherokee Indians, this area of the Appalachians was often called the Cherokee Mountains and beginning in 1820, the land in Rabun County was given to settlers through a state lottery system…whereas today, tourist destinations to Rabun County include Tallulah Gorge State Park, Black Rock Mountain State Park, Rabun Bald Trail, and Moccasin Creek State Park, where guests enjoy hiking, camping and rafting most of the year…”

After the reading of the proclamation representatives from the county, cities and residents of Rabun County sang Happy Birthday and cut the cake to toast 200 years of Rabun County.

The cake was made by The Picnic Basket Café.

Attendees enjoyed face painting, cake, cupcakes, popsicles, craft accessories for sale and samples of bourbon from Moonrise Distillery as they celebrated and topped it off with the Christmas Parade, “200 Christmases in Rabun County.”

 

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