By Jennifer Whittaker, Editor

Brenda Rowell is doing her best to bring the tranquil tradition of “taking tea” back in style.

The antebellum cottage housing A Time Remembered is the oldest home in Thomaston. Formerly the Sidney Baron House, this historic house served as a hospital during the Civil War.

Brenda opened A Time Remembered on November 1, 2000. As she approached her fiftieth birthday, Brenda says she decided it was time to leave the corporate world as a manager with BellSouth responsible for an eight county area.

“My mother was very ill, and I realized there were dreams she would never realize, so I decided to retire and follow my dream.”

Ladies who visit A Time Remembered will tell you that “taking tea” is an experience to be savored and shared with friends. As guests enter the antebellum cottage built in the early 1800s, they are gently guided to a table set especially for them, as all proper ladies know to call ahead to make a reservation. At their table guests may find fur stoles or black lace shawls draped over their chairs with gloves and a hat on the chair seat. If you’re lucky enough to be the only party in the house you have free reign to pick and choose your tea attire from any table. If not, there’s usually enough variety of style and sizes at your table so you can find something that’s just right for everyone in your party. Frequent guests have even been known to use coming for tea as an excuse to buy a new hat! Laughter ensues as guests don their attire, eager to play dressup and sip tea from china cups.

Gentlemen, don’t despair. There are even hats for those men adventurous enough to accompany their ladies to tea.

Brenda Rowell, standing center, serves tea to (pictured from 9 o’clock to 3 o’clock): Debbie Cooper, Rhonda Kelley, Karen Aromatorio, Arlene Stephens, Linda Davidson, Charlotte Collins and Suzanne Mason in the Ruth Rose Room.

Properly gloved, it’s time to get down to the real business at hand - selecting your tea. With 33 teas on the menu bearing exotic names like Evening Splendor, Baron’s Delight, Empress of Japan, Victorian Lace and Southern Champagne, choosing a tea might be overwhelming for a first time guest if not for a patient and delightful explanation given by Brenda or one of her hostesses. Brenda’s teas are specially blended for her so she gets the honor of naming them. Most of the teas come from India, a few from Japan, and the herbal Rooibos teas from Africa. If in doubt, pick a tea scented with your favorite flavoring.

While steeping your tea, Rowell gives her guests permission to chitchat, which, she explains, is referred to as gossiping in less civil circles. If you’re too polite to gossip, take a moment to explore the charming cottage. Before retiring, Brenda enjoyed traveling to state capitols where she visited tearooms and antique shops. Some of her finds on are display throughout the cottage.

Antique hats and tea accessories decorate each room of the cottage. Most of the bridal functions held at A Time Remembered occur in the Ruth Rose Room where a lovely crystal chandelier sparkles above the table, and a vintage bridal gown hangs in a corner. The Baron Library makes gentlemen visitors feel at ease. Younger guests find everything nice in Mollie’s Sugar and Spice Room. All of the tables are set with an eclectic mixture of china and silver that adds charm to the experience.

When tea is served, each guest gets a sugar cube decorated with a flower for their first cup.

“I call these pretties, and I give everyone at least one because some days it can be hard to find a pretty. This way everybody gets at least one,” Brenda says with a smile.

A Time Remembered offers several different tea services including a Cream Tea, Light Afternoon Tea, Full Afternoon Tea and High Tea. Reservations are required because Brenda prepares each tea just for your party. The Cream Tea service is only available for parties under four and is the lightest service. The Afternoon Tea is served on three-tiered trays filled with lemon curd; seasonal fruit; Southern-style blueberry, chocolate and cream cheese scones reminiscent of miniature biscuits; an assortment of finger sandwiches and three types of delectable sweets (buckeyes, orange crisp cookies, cream puffs and orange sponge cake). All tea services include mock Devonshire cream. The Full Tea also includes an entree. High Tea adds an entree and a dessert for evening guests.

Brenda changes the items served to give her frequent guests variety, but if you visit often enough you’ll get your favorites. Her cucumber sandwiches, which come wrapped with a pink ribbon, are her signature item.

“If you go anywhere in the South for tea and they don’t offer you a cucumber sandwich, you had best be investigating,” Rowell says.

Brenda also offers breakfast teas, special occasion teas for baby showers, children’s birthday parties, graduation celebrations, bridal showers and anniversaries. A full line of teas and tea related gifts are available in the tearoom gift shop.

During the past five years, Brenda has had the opportunity to touch the lives of her customers. She’s organized a reunion tea for sisters who hadn’t seen each other in years and made a wonderful memory for a six year old girl whose young mother was dying of cancer.

“It’s been wonderful meeting the people who have come here for tea,” Brenda says. “God gives you three times what you’re looking for.”

A Time Remembered is located at 505 Stewart Avenue, Thomaston, Ga. Tea services are offered Wednesday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Evening tea services are available for groups of six or more from 5 to 7 p.m. Reservations are required for all services. Visit www.atimeremembered.net for more information. Call (706) 647-9405 to make reservations.