DEL.ICIO.USFor the Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/14/06
Spivey's Corner, N.C. — At least as far back as the 1700s, men rafting logs down the rivers to Wilmington would use an almost melodic form of vocal expression to communicate.
 Gene Stafford | |||
| Jordan Worley of Clement, N.C., won last year's teen division of the National Hollerin' Contest in Spivey's Corner, N.C. | |||
 Gene Stafford | |||
| A gospel group warmed up the crowd at the National Hollerin' Contest last year. The annual event began as a fund-raiser for the Volunteer Fire Department. | |||
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| Elvis, aka Andy 'Captain Woody' Woodall, performed last year. 'We always fill up the day one way or another,' said Janice Edwards. Her husband, Wayne, is lead coordinator. | |||
 Gene Stafford | |||
| The contest at one time attracted as many as 10,000 to the town of about 200 residents. Crowds peaked in the 1990s, when major media outlets reported the outcome. | |||
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MOST POPULARKnown as hollerin' in North Carolina and elsewhere, the practice was carried on in the operation of farms and fields in later years.
By the 1960s, the skill of hollerin' — not to be confused with plain old hollering or yelling — was beginning to fade. But an annual "hollerin' contest" created to raise funds has, 37 years later, become a national institution.
Yellin' for a reason
When a local church suffered a destructive fire in the fall of 1959, the residents of Spivey's Corner determined that they could no longer depend on fire departments from other towns. As related in the definitive book on the subject, "Hollerin' Revived at Spivey's Corner" by Ermon Godwin and Oscar Bizzell, "often by the time the firetruck arrived there was nothing left to save."
The community decided to establish its own volunteer fire department. A used firetruck and a donated small building started the job, but when the idea of a contest to revive and protect hollerin' was born, the Volunteer Fire Department became the beneficiary.
Today, after successful hollerin' contests that at one time attracted as many as 10,000 enthusiasts to a town of 200 residents, the VFD has a large building of its own with paid-for pumpers and a spread of land adjacent to and behind the building.
Although the crowds at the contests peaked in the 1990s, when major media outlets would report the results of the competition, this very family-friendly gathering continues to bring hollerin' purists and first-timers together each year. Though you quickly learn that many of the contestants don't know what hollerin' is, everyone shows acceptance. The gathering really is about having fun while providing support to local firefighting.
Local talent
In 2005, the contest organizers presented a series of hollerin' competitions on a sunny Saturday afternoon in June.
Out in the field facing the stage, those in the know had their own folding chairs, blankets and even beach umbrellas for protection from the sun. In a U-shape around the outer fringes of the field, a series of booths — local services, food, drink, crafts and more — provide additional dining and entertainment options.
You can find hot dogs, funnel cakes, nachos, kettle corn, homemade ice cream and lemonade if you come empty-handed. It's OK to bring coolers and carry bags, too, but leave your alcohol and weapons at home. Signs indicate that carried items may be searched to keep activities family-friendly.
This friendly and patient crowd not only enjoys the truly talented hollerers but puts up with the contestants who make that mistake of confusing hollerin' with screaming. It doesn't take too long for even a novice listener to discern local talent such as sisters Brooke and Saralyn Michelle Beatty in the junior category and Jordan Worley in the teen competition. Clearly, these youths have grown up experiencing traditional hollerin'.
Look at the records over the years, and it becomes obvious that families connect to this annual event. The 2005 men's national champion was five-time winner Larry Jackson. The first winner in 1969 was a Jackson, as were several other champions over the years, chiefly hailing from the same nearby small town.
You can also study the styles of hollerin' if you wish. Not that you have to, of course — you can just go to Spivey's Corner (named after John Thomas "Judge" Spivey, a timber buyer who may or may not actually have been a judge, but often acted like one) and have fun.
If you choose to listen, the four basic styles of hollerin' will emerge. Cast your mind back to times before fixed and portable telephones. Hollers were used as a vocal means of communication, with a strong caller having his or her voice carry as far as two miles.
Four types of calls
"Hollerin' Revived" outlines the distress, functional, expressive and communicative hollers. Many of them will be represented onstage when the real pros approach the microphone.
Distress calls, as you might expect, are clearly calls for help, "usually done in a falsetto tone and urgent-sounding voice." Functional calls, sometimes misnamed "hog calling," can bring animals but also might say "all is well" to a neighbor, that dinner is ready or that a water bucket refill is needed in the field.
Expressive calls "fall in the category of loud social conversation," often made just for the fun of it, or to fill in singing when lyrics are unknown. And finally, the communicative holler might be used by someone who had worked alone for a time and simply wanted to communicate with another human being in a nearby field.
Variations on these themes get an airing each year, mixed with a range of live entertainment and fillers when a competition isn't as time-consuming as anticipated. In 2005, for instance, no one signed up for the conch-blowing contest. Music took the stage instead.
There's music, too
"We always fill up the day one way or another," said Janice Edwards, whose husband, Wayne, is the lead coordinator for the event. "In 2005, we had a gospel group, an Elvis impersonator and other music. The 2006 contest will have different performers but, again, there won't be much downtime from 11 a.m. until the men's contest ends in the evening."
By midafternoon last year, some 500 people had arrived to take in the atmosphere and the hollers. By the time the adult women and men came on in the early evening, that crowd had grown and cars were still pulling in to park.
"Although it's not the same size crowd as in some earlier years, it's holding up pretty well after 36 years," said Robert McNeill, covering the 2005 event for the Dunn Daily Record from 12 miles west. "The crowd tends to start light and get larger and larger as the big event [the national men's competition] draws closer."
Saving the ancient skill has a level of importance each year. "We are serious about hollerin' and try to portray the old-time hollerin', " said Sheila Frye of Lillington, 2005's ladies' callin' contest winner. "I am committed to keeping the tradition alive."
But in a lot of ways, the annual Spivey's Corner hollerin' contest imitates an overgrown picnic to raise money for a good cause, with some very interesting, and different, sound effects. There's no need for a distress call, but for a unique Saturday afternoon on June 17, take a trip to the Corner.
IF YOU GO
Getting there
• Flying: The nearest major commercial airport to Spivey's Corner is Raleigh-Durham (code RDU); expect to pay about $200 round trip. Major rental car firms are represented at the Raleigh airport. From the airport, follow I-40 east to I-95 south, then take the Dunn/U.S. 421 exit eastbound. Follow U.S. 421 about 10 miles southeast to Spivey's Corner, turn left and follow U.S. 13 a short distance to the Volunteer Fire Department building on the left. Total distance is about 65 miles.
• Driving: From downtown Atlanta, it's about 370 miles. Take I-20 east past Augusta and through South Carolina to I-95 north. Follow I-95 north into North Carolina and to the Dunn/U.S. 421 east exit. Follow U.S. 421 about 10 miles southeast to Spivey's Corner, turn left and follow U.S. 13 a short distance to the VFD building on the left.
About the contest
37th annual National Hollerin' Contest,
June 17, benefiting the Volunteer Fire Department, Spivey's Corner. Parking and admission: $5 per person (preschool children free). Gates open and entertainment begins at 11 a.m.; contests begin at 3:30 p.m.; national male competition at 6 p.m. Food and drink available for purchase from vendors; crafts and other displays on the grounds. 910-567-2600, www.hollerincontest.com or e-mail holler@intrstar.net.
Where to stay, eat
The nearest motels and restaurants are in Dunn. For a hotel list, see www.dunntourism.org/Hotels.asp.
For a list of restaurants, www.dunntourism.org/Restaurants.asp or call 910-892-3282.
Slightly farther afield to the southeast is Clinton, N.C., which also has several chain motels and restaurants.
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