https://johnsonvilleschistory.org/files/original/f2ea60fdcddb092d1d93e39f35fcebb5.pdf a8c4dcd1528dbaa01de6b91967077682 PDF Text Text ... • ., " . ., , ,...-.. r~ , ·"'~ Stone Home ' I Ii was to this home on Mill Branch near Johnsonville, the birthplace of the late Hilburn Stone, that he returned In mid-December 1917 to cut a cedar for bis last Christmas tree. The wooden blocks uQder the house have been replaced with cement blocks, the barn and stables have disappeared. as has the picket fenc~ bat much about the old Austin Stone house remains unchanged and it Is one of only a few that has survived the elements of time and nature. . Going Home • ns as • • ra itton There is much said at the }loliday season about "going }lame." It will never be known if it was coincedence which took the late Hilburn Stone back to the place of his birth ... back home .•.to cut the tree for the last Christmas he was to enjoy with his family, or if he had a foreboding that, indeed, this would be his last Christmas, and if perhaps, he just wanted to ... go home. Be that as it may, he went home to Mill Branch on a late Saturday afternoon just before Christmas, 1977, and cut the Christmas tree which would adorn the den of his home that ast Christmas. J. Hilburn Stone was born on of that Christmas with us, how they, with a disabled father, or those who had lost their father, had a joyful Christmas Day because of the santa without a beard or reindeer who paid them an unexpected visit. When Hilburn and his wife were blessed with their first c hild, Charles Willis, his father, still with the love for Christmas and it's true meaning , Hilburn wanted his son to have a Christmas tree with lights. This seemed impossible since there was no electricity in the rural area where he then lived back at Mill Branch. But Hilburn put his mind to working art'li came up with an idea for the lighted Christmas April 12, 1912 to the late Roline and Meddie Dennis Stone in the home of his paternal grandparents, Aaron Austin and Sally Marsh Stone. The home is located on S.C. Road 21-1331, approximately one-half mile south of Johnsonville, known then as the Mill Branch area. The home at that time was a sturdy frame house, built very high off the ground amid large oak and hickory trees which provided shade for the large yard of almost snow white sand. The yard was enclosed with a white picket fence and not a weed or blade of grass was allowed to grow on it. "Grandmother Salley", as Mrs. Stone was affectionately known, kept the yard (and even wider the house) swept clean as if it had been the floors of the house. In the left corner of the yard near the steps to the porch grew a huge gardenia bush that spread it 's fragrance all around the place. Close to the back gate was a tall lilac tree which added to the uniqueness of the yard. Also in the back yard was a very deep well which provided water for the tone family and their vestock, as it still provides - water for the tenant who occupies the house today. Outside the huge white yard were the barn and stables where the mules and horses were kept, along with the corn and hay produced on the farm for their food. There was also a place for the cows, chickens and guineas which provided milk, butter and eggs for the family as well as meat. Adjacent to the yard on the east side was a large garden where vegetables were grown for the family's use. tree. He purchased tail light bulbs for an A-Model Ford and soldered them to wire used for automobiles. He then attached the wire to an automobile battery, and to make the lights colored, he cut off the ends of small assorted colored balloons and put one over each light. Charles, being a mischevious little one-yearold, the tree was placed on the porch just outside the window. That way Charles could stand inside and look at his tree with the pretty lights and not be exposed to a shock from the battery. _ _ -years went on and Christmases came a nd 'Nent, but al ways the tree was a n important part of the preparations for the Christmas holidays. A little later the family was blest with a little girl, Lou Ann. Her passing at three years of age left a tremendous scar in the heart of her parents. But Christ still lives and it was because of Him that \Ve have Christmas, so the Stones continued the celebration annually in His name. They were again blessed with an addition to the family, a son, Kenneth Hilburn, his father 's namesake, came to the family and then they had an infant son and a nine-year-old to enjoy Christmas with. Before long the boys were old enough to help cut and bring in the Christmas tree. They enjoyed helping to decorate the tree until they got old enough to feel that was for mama and daddy if he wanted to help, but it was a little too much for their masculinity. Wrapping gifts was absolutely out of the question for them. When Hilburn was a small boy his parents built a home 09}y a few hundred yards to the east of his grandparents' and be lived there until he became a Yowig man and was married to the former Blondell Dennis. They moved to town in a house on Pine Street just across from the site of his last home. Hilburn was a very thoughtful person and seemed ~ always put others before himself, and Christmas time was one of the seasons when he Ahowed his concern for P~lclren and the elderly most. Time passed swiftly, the boys married and now have their own homes anf families. The grandchildren, as they came along, added to the joy of the Christmas season. In early December, 1977, a large artificial Christmas tree was erected in the living room of the Stone home. With a tree trimming set for a special night, to make it a special occasion for the five grandchildren, Hilburn bought paper cups, plates and napkins with a Christmas decor . Hot chocolate and sandwiches were served the grandchildren as they labored hard to trim the One Christmas prior to his ~rriage he played Santa B Us to the children on Mill l"ancb. Some young people in our area could share the story tree. That would have been sufficient for any family except that this family spent most of their time in the den and could not see the tree in the living room As the middle of December approached, Hilburn decided he would get a live tree for the den. He wanted a cedar, but where could he get one? Then he thought of the cedars near HOME, although he had been away from his birthplace for many years and it no\v had another owner. It was getting late on Saturday afternoon and he wanted the tree with lights shining before Sunday. What could he do·? He called the home of the owner of the fann where he- was born, but no answer. He could find her nowhere. He decided to leave a note in the door telling her he was going to get one of her trees and would pay her soon. On the way he met her, and after sharing a good laugh at the difficulty he had in finding her, he was on his way with Mrs. Stone beside him. Once at Mill Branch, he hurriedly went into the mass of trees where he cut one down. His wife, knowing of his illness, took the tree and carried it to the pickup, much against his will. It was taken home, trimmed and enjoyed until Hilburn was hospitaliz.ed on December 22. He was away Christmas, but whe Hilburn arrived home on Tuesday night he was greeted by the entire family and around that tree . .. his tree ... gifts were exchanged and it was as if it was Christmas and homecoming all wrapped up into one big happy occasion. Isn't it wonderful that the precious Babe of Bethlehem whom Hilburn had honored all those years, had made it impossible for him and his family to know that he had gone " back home" for his last Christmas tree? His death came suddenly on December 31, 1977. May be yours tbrou~ holiday season MOORE & � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Weekly Observer Description An account of the resource The Weekly Observer was published out of Hemingway, SC from 1973 until printing ceased in 2012. The paper continues as an e newpaper on scnow.com Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1973-2012 Subject The topic of the resource Local Newspaper covering the Johnsonville and Hemingway communities. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Weekly Observer Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Hilburn Stone Returns to His Old Home on Mill Branch Road Near Johnsonville, 12-20-1979 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 12-20-1979 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Weekly Observer