  |
Thanks to a grant
from the Mississippi Humanities Council, Como and surrounding towns will
be able to reacquaint themselves with native Stark Young. Stark Young was
a man of many accomplishments, yet in today's world he is almost forgotten.
The grant will allow for a book discussion and movie showing of So Red
the Rose, a walking tour of Como to see architectural influences and a
discussion of letters written to locals in the community. This grant will
help the citizens of Como keep his memory alive and viable for future generations.
Stark Young, accomplished author and drama critic, was born in Como in 1881 and spent his first fourteen years, surrounded by Como relatives that influenced his work. Although he traveled the world and lived in New York City he always considered Como his home. He returned in 1963 to rest in Friendship Cemetery amongst his parents and favorite aunts. The Stark Young Celebration will actually begin the first day of July. Anyone interested is encouraged to dust off copies of So Red the Rose and begin reading. The Como Public Library will provide 50 books to anyone needing a copy. "These books are no longer in print and a print-on-demand order was made through the grant," states librarian Maggie Moran. "We also have copies available for check out." Dr. Kathryn McKee, McMullan assistant professor of Southern Studies and assistant professor of English, has agreed to lead the So Red the Rose book discussion August 8 at 6:00 p.m. Dr. McKee was suggested for this project because she teaches Southern Literature at Ole Miss and has won many teaching awards. When contacted for the project Dr. McKee expressed an eagerness to study Stark Young and his many works. Saturday, August 9th, will be busy with three different Stark Young events. A walking tour of the town of Como will be given at 10:00 a.m. that morning, beginning at the Como Public Library. The tour features homes, commercial buildings, and churches that were thriving in Stark Young's lifetime. All properties on the tour are listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. At noon the library will host an encore performance of Dr. John Pilkington's speech. Because Dr. Pilkington is unable to travel to Como the prerecorded speech from the Center for the Study of Southern Culture will be shown. The speech was presented at the Oxford Conference on the Book this past April 11, 2003, and is an extensive account of Stark Young's life. Robert Canon and Martha Frances Garrison will read Stark Young Letters to an audience 6:00 p.m. that night. Stark Young was a prolific letter writer and many area residents received
correspondence from him. The discussion leaders will be using letters from
the two volume Stark Young: A Life in the Arts by Dr. John Pilkington.
This discussion should prove to be lively with locals recalling their Stark
Young stories. The finale to the weekend celebration will be a matinee
showing of the movie So Red the Rose, Sunday August 10th at 2:00 p.m. The
Como Public Library will host the event complete with popcorn. The movie
directed by King Vidor stars Margaret Sullivan and Randolph Scott and opened
in 1935. After the feature, Robert Canon and Martha Frances Garrison have
agreed to lead a critique of the movie and a comparison with the book.
"This weekend will be a welcomed chance to read and discuss Stark Young
and So Red the Rose with the community," says Maggie Moran. "I look forward
to the spirited discussions and sharing that will occur." The library meeting
room is handicapped accessible and Stark Young events are free to the public.
|