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Joe White memorial lamp post to be dedicated Monday
Tuesday, August 2, 2005 9:25 PM EDT
Chatham's lamplighter, the late Joe White, will be remembered next week with the dedication of a memorial lighted lamp post in front of Chatham Town Hall.
A public ceremony will be held Monday, Aug. 8, at 5:15 p.m. at the town hall lamp post location. It will include recognition of Joe through comments by the mayor and representatives from the Pittsylvania Historical Society and Chatham First, and the unveiling of the lamp post.
Few noticed at the time, but now many people fondly remember how he quietly and meticulously kept the lanterns along Main Street glowing during the holiday season for almost 20 years.
It started as part of the Christmas in Colonial Chatham celebration with metal hooks dangling kerosene lanterns adding an historical tradition to the event.
At dusk, Joe started his rounds, pushing a wheelbarrow of supplies from lantern to lantern, trimming the wicks, cleaning the globes, filling the tanks, and leaving each with a flame burning brightly.
Then around 10 p.m., alone in the night, he moved silently along Main Street again, putting the light display to bed by extinguishing each lantern.
"The way Joe handled those lamps, one at a time, day in, day out, was fascinating to watch," said Henry Mitchell, the designer and artist of the memorial.
"I'm sure he didn't intend the process to be picturesque. He was just getting the job done. But it was so old-fashioned and nostalgic. I thought at the time that if Joe White had been in a tourist-packed place like New Orleans or Charleston, he would have been world-famous instantly."
His death in November 2003 created a void, a cherished Christmas tradition died as well. The lamps burned that December, but a little dimmer, and flickering often as if blinking back the tears of missing an old friend.
To honor his memory and dedication to a task that brought joy to many, Frances Hallam Hurt, Reba Motley and Mitchell set about to come up with a fitting memorial. What could be better than a lamp post silhouette of Joe lighting a lamp?
Lewis Turner at Danville Wrought Iron made Michell's design a reality. His craftsmen's wizardry kept the integrity of the design in Joe's image and made the lamp electrical.
The Pittsylvania Historical Society and Chatham First offered financial support and Chatham Town Council authorized placement in front of Town Hall.
"So many people responded with donations that the fund went over the goal," said Mitchell. "Then we had Mr. Turner re-work the design to electrify the kerosene lamp. Now it could become the main lamp along the sidewalk in front of Town Hall.
"This memorial to Joe is completely unique to Chatham and a lot of people have helped get the project completed. It was the right thing to do," added Mitchell. "Joe White gave a lot to this town. This lamp post image can be a reminder of his contributions and a challenge to all of us to do our best."
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