December 15, 2008 – Preservation in Pink

Just when you think a particular small town has had its fill of parades, there is another one the following weekend. That’s right, here in Southern Pines we have a Christmas parade and a carriage parade, carriage being of the “horse and carriage” type. Southern Pines is known as the “Mid-South Resort,” dating to the early 1900s when trains traveled from New York to Southern Pines overnight and the wealthy came to relax in the Sandhills, breathing in the long leaf pine air and revelling in the warm temperatures. Due to the landscape, the climate, and the wealth, Moore County, North Carolina, became a great place for horse breeding, training, racing, and the equestrian lifestyle. Today, much of Moore County remains “horse country,” with some of the wealthiest horse owners just outside of Southern Pines. Each year they dress up their carriages and horses to parade through downtown Southern Pines. Once again, much of the county appears for an enjoyable parade. Here are a few photographs from the parade this past Saturday.