FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jan. 14, 2011
Contact: Daniel Groce Tel. 478/742-5084 E-mail: dgroce@historicmacon.org
HISTORIC MACON FOUNDATION CELEBRATES SIDNEY LANIER’S 169TH BIRTHDAY (Macon, GA) Before Otis sat on the dock of the bay or the Allman brothers rambled their way to Macon, Sidney Lanier led central Georgia as a musical pioneer. Born Feb. 3, 1842, Lanier wrote music and poetry until his death in 1881. He is most famous for his poem The Marshes of Glynn, written about the open salt marshes of Glynn County, Georgia. On Sunday, Feb. 6, from 2:00pm until 4:00pm, Historic Macon Foundation will celebrate the life of Sidney Lanier and his 169th birthday at the Sidney Lanier Cottage, his birthplace. “It is vital to our mission to celebrate the mark Sidney Lanier left on Macon,” said Josh Rogers, Executive Director of Historic Macon Foundation. “We look forward to having a large crowd join us for this historic event.” The event will take visitors back to 1935, when Dolly Blount Lamar wrote a brief urging Sidney Lanier’s induction into the Hall of Fame of Great Americans. In 1944, Lanier did receive the prestigious honor, becoming the only Georgian to have ever been inducted into this particular Hall of Fame. Free and open to the public, visitors are asked to RSVP to jhaley@historicmacon.org for the event. The Sidney Lanier Cottage is located at 935 High Street in Macon. Champagne and cake will follow the festivities. Historic Macon is a nonprofit organization that advocates for Macon’s historic and architectural heritage and facilitates preservation efforts in the community, revitalizes Macon’s neighborhoods and cares for the Sidney Lanier Cottage. For more information, visit www.historicmacon.org or call 478.742.5084. ###