Ashland Speaks by Lula Anderson - 24 June 2026

Graduation Weekend is upon us.  May we extend our most sincere congratulations to the high school graduating class of 2026.  May you never lose the enthusiasm for life that you had during your high school years, and especially your senior year.  Such a special time in your life, with great anticipation of the years ahead, entering the life of a real grown up.  Travel, expand your horizons, try your wings while you remember your roots.  Life is not a spectator sport, it's an experience that we all go through with trial and error.  Learn from your mistakes, we're not perfect and if we don't fail occasionally, we don't learn.  I graduated in 1948 with a class of 24 and only 2 are still living, but I remember the day as if it were yesterday as will you.  Best wishes and happy memories.

Craft classes for WAJPL Seniors started last week with a great group of attendees.  Most wanted to work on stained glass with Albin, some still finishing up projects from last year.  This year he's trying pressed flowers in acrylic.  A long curing process, but this week they'll be good to go.  We had a mother/daughter team come for ceramics.  Mom got a chance to see how talented her grown daughter is, while getting social stimulation.  It's always a good time for socialization whatever you are working on.

The retirement party for Pastor Amy Royal will be this Friday the 26th in Lexington, starting at 6pm.  Bring a covered dish to share.

Save the date for the Jewett Fire Department annual Brooks Chicken BBQ which will be held on August 15th.  The Ashland Community Church will be hosting a bake sale, if anyone wants to sign up to bake, it'd be greatly appreciated.  The JFD serves over 600 dinners and many are looking for something for later, or a breakfast bread/muffin to take home.  If you would like to donate baked goods for sale call Shannon at 518-929-5786.  

Prayers and get well wishes for WRIP morning host Joe Loverro who has been in the hospital.  We miss you and hope to hear your voice waking us up soon.  

AS I REMEMBER IT

This past Saturday we went to the 200th anniversary celebration of the North Settlement Church.  Larry Tompkins had a great slide show which began on the turnpike from Durham and over the mountain.  It's always remarkable to me that many of the roads back then were toll roads.  Someone manning the barrier over the road which was turned when the traveler paid a toll to pass.  Once up the mountain- Mount Pisgah, Larry had pictures along County Route 10 of the different school houses, churches and the original houses along the way.  The farmers used horses, of which there were many pictures, and each family had many young people.  The families all got together to help when and where help was needed.  The underlying theme of the day was "community."  How each member of the family helped out as well as each family helping out their neighbors.  Pictures of carriages pulling into the churchyard, so it got my sons asking what they did with the horses while in church.  There was a picture of a carriage house, and I explained that each church also had a carriage house to stable the horses while the families were in worshipping.  As a community, the men got together to make sure there was always hay for the steeds, as well as helping to muck it out each week.  As previously mentioned, each church had a work bee day when all the men chopped and split wood for the winter, as well as keeping up on the painting and repairs of the church and grounds. The women scrubbed and cleaned the interior of the church, waxing and polishing the pews, wooden fixtures and the floor.  'Windows were washed, Altar linens were checked for damage and were taken home to be mended, washed, starched and ironed.  It was a time for gossiping and friendship.  The men, finished with their jobs, would soon set up trestle tables and benches where the women would put out the food that they brought to share.  A good, productive day would come to an end, much work done, but many friendships rekindled.  Larry's pictures always bring out the memories of my childhood, as well as memories of the stories that my family has passed down to me.  A return to days of sharing and caring.