Sunday, June 30, 2024–6:31 p.m.
-Michelle Mills, Rome News-Tribune-
This story is possible because of a news-sharing agreement with the Rome News-Tribune. More information can be found at northwestgeorgianews.com
The Lindale community sparked to life in early celebration of Independence Day on Saturday. Families, entrepreneurs, old timers, and motor enthusiasts gathered to swap stories, rev engines, and participate in the car show, parade and festival.
Eye-catching cars lined the parking lot, and motorcycles and historic fire trucks paraded the street. Participants were serenaded by the BBs — locals Barry Gable and Brenda Roberson — singing classics by Elvis, Dolly Parton and more. Attendees wandered through booths manned by vendors promoting their goods and creations, many of whom were local to Lindale.
State Rep. Katie Dempsey said she wouldn’t want to be anywhere else to kick off the Fourth of July.
“Lindale is not only a huge part of my district, but it’s a huge part of my heart,” she said. “It’s such a wonderful community filled with true patriots and great Americans.”
Tim Reynolds and his organization, Restoration Lindale, hosted the event. Reynolds has strong ties with the town’s history and a passion for the people of its community. He was the fifth generation in his family to work at the Pepperell textile mill, the core of the Lindale community until it closed in 2001.
Reynolds said that from the closing until 2013, the pride and heart of the town still existed, but it was somewhat lost until Restoration Lindale stepped in. They started with cleanup days, which brought pride back into the community and instilled a sense of unity.
“The mill used to do that, and we lost the heartbeat in a way,” Reynolds said. “But even though the mill is gone, we’re all still here. The people are what made it special — it was the people before the mill and it’s the people after the mill, and we’re just continuing to move on.”
He said events like the Independence Day festival give people a reason to call Lindale home, even those who may have moved on after the mill closed.
“I look around now and see people’s faces that my dad went to school with, just right here in town. That does give a sense of security, because you look forward to seeing these people,” he said.
“Lindale is special. We may not always get good news publicly a lot of times; but really and truly, if you could unzip the cloth and pull it back, you would see the hearts of these people is special.”