Prayers

The Advance would like to tout the “Power of the Press” and take credit for the rain that followed last week’s front page report on the local drought conditions, but we know there is a higher power that controls all things. Chris Hopkins, local farmer and businessman, provided information for last week’s story and commented jovially after Thursday’s downpour that he wished we had done the story two weeks prior before it got so bad. Hopkins told The Advance, “Thank God for the rain!”

Rain gauges on his farm registered 5 inches by Monday and gauges in other areas documented from 1.2 inches to 7 inches of rainfall from Thursday afternoon through the weekend, which provided welcome relief from the hot dry conditions.

After the rain hit this past Thursday afternoon, local businessman and history buff John Ladson brought to our attention a fitting anecdote about drought conditions from the past. His recollections come from a conversation he had with Homer Vandiver, longtime Director of the Chamber of Commerce many years ago. The story goes that, in a summer of the 1940’s or 50’s, Toombs County was in the grips of an extreme drought, and at that time the local economy was driven largely by agriculture, although the sewing industry was just beginning to develop during this time. The drought had everyone extremely worried so the Vidalia Chamber of Commerce led an effort to raise money to hire a Rainmaker. The drive was successful and the Rainmaker was engaged.

“I do not recall if he employed mortars that fired into the heavens or used continued from page

an aircraft to “seed” the clouds, and I do not recall his success; but I think maybe some rain did arrive whether or not related to the Rainmaker’s efforts,” Ladson remarked.

We have done a cursory search through The Advance archives but were unable before press time to find a news story documenting the Rainmaker. It would be interesting to know the exact details surrounding the Chamber’s hiring of a Rainmaker, but it happened so long ago those memories are probably just that, memories. If any of our readers have more information about Vidalia’s Rainmaker, please contact The Advance office at 912.537.3131 or email wfladvance@gmail.com.