Pebble Hill celebrates 40th anniversary, hosts free event to the public

Thomasville Times-Enterprise, Ga.
·3 min read

Sep. 19—THOMASVILLE- Pebble Hill Plantation, a historic 20th century sporting estate, is excited to celebrate its 40th Anniversary of being open to the public as a museum on Saturday, September 30th. This event is free to the public. The celebration will feature live music, delicious food, lawn games, wagon rides, a pet parade, caricature artist, face painting and arts and crafts activities for children, free abbreviated tours of the Main House and a drawing for door prizes. Self-guided grounds tours are available, including the newly-opened Kennel Cottage, which shares the stories of those who worked at Pebble Hill from the late 1800s to the 1970s. This celebration is a way of thanking the community for supporting the events, programs, and preservation efforts of Pebble Hill, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Gates open at 10:00 a.m., and the events of the day begin at 11:15 a.m. with a brief ceremony honoring those who have been a part of Pebble Hill during the past four decades. This ceremony will include a proclamation by City of Thomasville officials, presentation of colors by Thomasville High School's Jr. ROTC, an invocation delivered by Reverend James Thompson of Piney Grove Church, and remarks from Pebble Hill's Executive Director, Whitney White. Light refreshments will be served at the ceremony.

The fun continues immediately following the ceremony with activities in the Stable Courtyard and surrounding areas. In the spirit of community, several organizations are taking part in the festivities. These include the Thomasville Humane Society, Hands & Hearts for Horses, and Alex's Lemonade Stand for Childhood Cancer Awareness. Art students from Thomas County Central High School, Brookwood School, and Thomasville High School will be sharing their artistic face painting skills with visiting children. There will be pet adoptions, opportunities to pet ponies, and wagon rides around the grounds. Door prizes will be awarded at noon and include gift packages for the Pebble Hill Polo Classic, Astronomer Randy Rhea's "Sunspots and Solar Eclipse" live viewing program, tour passes, and more. Dogs wearing leashes are encouraged to attend for a pet parade in the Stable Courtyard, which will take place at 1:00 p.m.

Elisabeth "Pansy" Ireland Poe was the last mistress of Pebble Hill Plantation. She inherited the property from her mother, Kate Hanna Ireland Harvey, who died in 1936. Mrs. Poe married later in life and had no children, so with the future of her beloved home in question, she established the Pebble Hill Foundation in the 1950s. This action allowed for Pebble Hill to open to the public as a museum upon her death. She established the mission of educating the public on all aspects of a 20th century sporting estate. The Main House is filled with art and antiques and will be open for abbreviated tours free of charge during the celebration. The history of Pebble Hill is inextricably tied to the history of Thomas County and Thomasville, Georgia. The original founder, Thomas Jefferson Johnson, co-sponsored the legislation that led to the creation of Thomas County in 1825.

Mrs. Poe, or "Miss Pansy" as she was widely known within the community, passed away in 1978. Pebble Hill opened to the public as a museum in 1983. Miss Pansy loved animals—dogs and horses in particular, and she was a great supporter of many civic organizations in the community. Historic preservation was one of her greatest passions, and she was a tireless champion for Thomasville Landmarks, Thomasville History Center, Thomasville Garden Clubs, and the Thomasville-Thomas County Humane Society. She purchased and donated the property surrounding The Big Oak, which is one of Thomasville's greatest treasures, to the City of Thomasville.

Join Pebble Hill on this special day as they commemorate four decades of preserving and sharing their rich history.

Events will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and again, this event is free to the public. Visit pebblehill.com or call 229-226-2344 for more information.