EUTAW-The annual pilgrimage for the City of Eutaw will begin this morning featuring tours of selected antebellum homes and churches. Antique shops will be open on the downtown square, which is also home to the historic Courthouse Complex, now in the process of being restored.

Twin Oaks is one of many antebellum homes to be featured on the tour. Twin Oaks owner David Harmond said he has been working very hard to get his home in top shape for the tour.

“We have stayed pretty busy getting things together and getting the house ready,” Harmond said. “We have been pressure washing and doing lots of work on the grounds for the last six to eight weeks to get things ready.”

Getting the homes ready for the annual tour takes a lot of preparation. Harmond said some of the process had been disturbed by heavy winds sustained in late August. However, he said things are back on track.

“We have done a multitude of things,” Harmond said. “We just want to make the house look the very best we can. We didn’t get a lot of help from the hurricanes, but compared to New Orleans, we are in pretty good shape.”

This years pilgrimage is an especially exciting event for Harmond because it is his first. Harmond said since moving to Greene County he has looked forward to this day.

“This will be our first one,” Harmond said. “We just moved here in February and we have been excited about participating ever since.”

The annual tour has always been a huge event. Two years ago the pilgrimage drew around 600 people. However, last year the numbers were a bit lower because of stormy weather. This year the forecast looks good and the hopes are to see the numbers back up to the 2003 mark.

Event coordinators have done a lot of advertising to get the word out in Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Meridian and through television. Harmond said he has begun to realize just how important this event is as the day grows closer.

“When we first moved here and found out about this event we knew it was something we wanted to be a part of,” Harmond said. “We feel that this event helps the community and the antebellum home owners can really do a service to the community by taking part. We are extremely excited about it.”

Harmond said it has not been easy to get everything in order, but is glad to be a participant. Harmond said the event is a great way to keep the spirit of the historic buildings alive.

“It takes a lot of effort to make your home as presentable as possible,” Harmond said. “But it is worth it. We are just happy to still have these houses around and hope we can do our best to preserve them.”