Pictured above - Hannah and TC standing with Hannah's family in front of the King family tent during the 178th annual camp meeting.

Marietta Camp Ground and The Arbor

Established 1837

In the early history of Methodist churches there was only one preacher, known as the "Circuit Rider," to serve many churches. Preaching services were few, travel was difficult and often dangerous, for the Cherokee Indians were not removed until 1838, and wild animals still roamed the woods. The sturdy pioneers were loyal to their God and were not willing for their children to grow up without the blessing of their church. And thus the Camp Grounds came into being, where all might gather together "to refresh the souls of the saints and call sinners to repentance."

In 1837 the Marietta Camp Ground was established. The first meeting was held under a brush arbor. At this meeting the men carried guns to protect themselves from the ruffians who declared they would drive out the worshippers.

The second year in 1838 the tent holders met according to custom on the last Thursday in July to clean the encampment and get the tents in readiness to occupy. The men came together, cut the oak trees, hewed the logs and the boards for the tabernacle, called "The Arbor." The marks of the axes are still seen on the beams. A tin roof replaced the original covering. In 1957 a cement floor was poured to replace the wood shavings annually hauled in to cover the dirt floor.

For months before each camp meeting, the "tenters" were busy preparing for

campmeeting. Homemade water buckets were scoured with soap and sand until they were bright and the brass hoops looked like gold. White-oak chairs were also scoured until they looked like new. Corn and wheat were carried to the mill. Pickles and preserves were made. Beans, corn and tomatoes were gathered from vegetable gardens; they had been planted at the right time to be ripe for camp meeting. Cakes and pies were baked. Finally, they tied the cow behind the wagon to furnish fresh milk and collected the chickens to provide fresh eggs. Water was supplied from the springs. Pine-knot fires made the lights.

The tenting was kept up each year by these families. As the older ones passed away, their children and grandchildren continued the custom.

(Above history excerpted from article in The Marietta Daily Journal in 1937).

TC and his groomsmen will dress in the King family tent.

Hannah's great great grandfather D.B. Brown built their first family tent in 1920. The family has been coming to Campmeeting for five generations. The current King family tent was built in 1969 by Hannah's grandfather Jerry King on the site of the old D.B. Brown tent which passed through his daughter Essie May Brown King's family. Numerous family photos and the wall where children penciled in how much they had grown each year tell a story of love, fun, and family.

Memories of Campmeeting for Hannah revolve around her great grandmother Mrs. Essie May Brown King endearingly called "Mama King." There was (still is) no air conditioning but plenty of food and fun at the annual reunion for siblings, cousins, tent neighbors, and new babies or beaus. Kids played ping pong on an old plywood table notched by paddles with both victory and defeat slaps and baseball in the yard. They rode their bikes 'round and 'round the gravel road behind the tents, and tossed horseshoes in the cabin front yards. When it got too hot they splashed in the cool water in the spring still on the property. In addition to Bible studies children had crafts – Hannah can still show you the rock she painted blue under one of the big trees and there is a rumor that dried fern leaves stripped by Hannah and her cousin Savannah are still tucked away in the cabin drawers. At night Hannah and her brother Jeremy tossed paper wads at their cousins in the bedroom on the other side of short bedroom walls. Mama King and Daddy King's bedroom was downstairs. All the rest of the family – parents and kids – slept upstairs. Mama King made sure everyone had plenty to eat. Her sweet potato pies and cooking were legendary – yet she rarely shared her recipes with her kin and when she did she always omitted a secret ingredient so their versions were never as good as hers. Hannah Joy however figured out the secret ingredient and today her sweet potato pies would make her great grandmother proud and one of the things that won over TC.

The King family says that a new boyfriend or girlfriend has to pass two tests – come to campmeeting in the hottest part of the summer and camp out at the family land in north Georgia also at the height of summer. As one who enjoys air conditioning TC -- for love -- passed his first camp meeting in 2015 but torrential rains kept that Eagle Scout from passing the second test. Love conquers all and Hannah said "yes."

Hannah and her bridesmaids will dress in The Schoolhouse before the wedding.

Built in 1891 on a site located on Roswell Road Marietta Campground Academy was a two story building housing a larger school on the first floor and a Masonic Lodge upstairs. The original building was destroyed by fire and rebuilt in 1895. Shortly afterwards it was moved, or rather rolled on logs and pulled by a team of mules to its current site. It was public school for children grades 1-7 until 1935.

Each year when the great bell at The Arbor rang campmeeting children gathered at the schoolhouse for Bible study and activities. Hannah's mother Lisa King has been teaching Bible school for the children at Marietta Camp Meeting for 20 years since 1996.

Family members will enjoy dinner after the Sunday wedding at The Historic Strand Theater overlooking The Historic Marietta Square.

The Historic Marietta Square is another wedding venue full of Hannah's family memories. Hannah's great grandparents Buren Blen or "B.B." and Essie May King had a grocery on the Square in Marietta. B.B. also established Jackson and King Real Estate Company which remains the oldest real estate company in Cobb County. Hannah's mother's great grandmother Irma McRae Latimer had a fancy dress and hat shop "The McRae Latimer Style Shop" on the Square from the 1930s until she passed away in 1965. Mrs. Latimer designed and made the hats. Her family recall that she was always dressed in hats, heels, and stylish outfits whenever she went out. She would approve of beautiful Hannah and handsome TC!

Further information on the history and present use of Marietta campmeeting can be found on their website www.mariettacampmeeting.org