It was an evening of jigs and reels, home cooked food and good old time music at the Pine Mountain Settlement School in Bledsoe recently.

“We organized this event for the Pine Mountain community,” said Judy Lewis, community coordinator for the school. “We’ve got potluck and folk dancing for everyone to enjoy. We have a good turnout and we’re excited about the event.”

Approximately 60 people gathered in the Laurel House on the campus. Students from Cowan Creek Mountain Music School were there to provide entertainment. A group called “The Passing from the Pick & Bow Cowan Youth String Band” played old time music while members of the community square danced.

“I’m glad to see so many here,” said Erin Stidham, a Whitesburg resident and square dance caller. “I’ve been calling dances for about six years now. I was an intern of Charlie Whitaker’s for about one year. Anybody that has been around square dancing remembers Charlie. He was one of the best callers around. I’m excited to be here tonight.”

Lewis said Whitaker was a school teacher at Pine Mountain when it was a public school. She said Whitaker passed away on his 80th birthday at Alice Lloyd College.

“His grandson is here tonight, James Boggs,” said Lewis. “He will call one dance in honor of his grandfather. It will be the first dance he has ever called, so this will be a treat for us.”

Lewis said the Pine Mountain community came together and cooked foods from the gardens they had grown themselves.

“We’ve got fall beans, corn bread, potatoes, corn, pumpkin pie, just about anything you can think of to eat,” said Lewis. “There are a lot of children here tonight, and I wanted the children especially to come out and see the students from Cowan Creek Mountain Music School here playing their instruments. It will inspire them to pick up a fiddle, a guitar or a banjo and learn to play as well.”

Maxine Turner, a Bledsoe resident, said she was there to get a good meal and dance a little.

“This is wonderful for our community,” said Turner. “I love it. I’ve got my three great-grandchildren here with me tonight.”

Carolyn Lewis, also a Bledsoe resident, said she loved everything at the school and tries to attend all of its events.

“I love the atmosphere,” said Lewis. “It makes my fall and Thanksgiving to come over here and eat with my friends and neighbors. It makes you feel close to people. You get to know everybody and you have a great time together. I just love the feel of it all.”

Jason Johnson, from Atlanta, said he was working as a sustainability intern at the school, dealing with food and energy issues on the campus.

“I love this good country cooking, and I love to dance,” said Johnson. “I’ve not been to a good folk dance in a long time. I’m just glad to be here to enjoy it all.”