The Lincoln County Historical Society enjoyed a full day of the past and present during a tour of historic sites in Thomson, Ga.

Twenty-three society members toured the classic southern 1810 Winery, the Thomas E. Watson Homes and Hickory Hills Farms on May 3. The day began at 1810 where the society learned about wine making from the grape vineyards to a wine tasting for those so inclined.

Lunch in the 1810 restaurant overlooking the vineyards and the grounds of the 200 year old estate gave the group a chance to catch their breath before heading over to the Thomas E Watson historic sites.

At Thomas Watson's birthplace, a modest cabin, all were entertained by stories of Watson's rise to prominence as a Georgia author, statesman and lawyer. The cabin seemed a long way from the stately Hickory Hills Mansion where Watson, a naturalist, planted hundreds of trees and shrubs many of which thrive today. The banana shrub was in full bloom and its blossoms smelled just like ripe bananas. On the grounds is a giant magnolia described by the University of Georgia as the biggest every recorded in Geiger.

The Society enjoyed a docent guided tour of the Hickory Hills mansion, one of the first in Georgia to have electricity. Every room of the mansion has been painstakingly restored by the Watson Brown Foundation to the way it was decades ago.

The books that Thomas Watson wrote and his personal library were shared with the group. Truly one of the great minds of the twentieth century, Watson would serve Georgia as congressman and senator. He was also his party's candidate for vice president and president as the south emerged from reconstruction. Watson died in 1922 in Washington, DC and was brought home to Georgia and honored with the largest funeral held up to that date in the state.

A full day of walking, listening, food and fun gave the Historical Society members much to remember and think about.