2010 April 13, Tuesday, Indian Mound, Train Tressel and Singing River Park

Tuesday, I took two of my grandsons to the Indian Mound Museum, where we saw on display a collection of American Indian relics dating back over 10,000 years. There were several display cases full of arrowheads that interested my grandsons. The Cherokee, Chickasaw, and Creek once lived in this area until the Trail of Tears. 
We also watched a short film.

Indian Mound Museum 

The curator said we could walk or take the stairs to the top of the Indian Mound. She said to beware of the snake in the grass. She said it was not poison. 
The cost was two dollars each. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.

The Indian Mound Museum closed in 2015. The building was small and dilapidated.
Can you access the mound until the new building is built? 
The new building is due to open in October 2016. The artifacts that were once on display are being filtered through. They are only keeping the most important ones. A sash worn by Chickasaw Chief George Colbert will be on display. I'm eager to see the new one open. 

Historic Marker

There is a historic marker telling information about the mound. 
Prehistoric Mound (Probably Built between 100 B.C and 400 A.D.)
This is the highest domiciliary mound in the Tennessee Valley. It was built between 100 B.C. and 400 A.D. by a prehistoric people of the ancient Woodland Culture. Such mounds served as bases for ceremonial temples or the houses of chiefs. This mound, encircled initially by an earthen wall, contains no burials. It is 43 feet in height. Its base measurements are 310 feet by 230 feet. Its flat top measures 145 feet by 90 feet. Evidence indicates that nearby there were two smaller mounds, villages, and cultivated fields.

Climbing the many steps to the top

Port of Florence

The boys and I climbed the many steps to the top.  To the left, we could see the Tennessee River, O'Neal Bridge, and the old train trestle. To our right, we could see the Port of Florence.
We could see barges being unloaded with palettes of goods being delivered to Florence. 
We saw train cars that were no longer used on the now-disused train tracks that once crossed the Tennessee River. The steps leading to and behind the museum were the Co-Cop.
We waded through the tall grass, hoping not to see the friendly snake. 
After taking a few pictures, we walked back down the steps.

We crossed the Tennessee River and stopped at the location of the old train trestle on the Colbert County side. 

Walking Trail of the Train Tressel

The Tressel is now a walking trail.
My grandsons and I walked to the end of the trestle and back. 

The Gate is locked where once trains traveled across the Tennessee River

We walked to the car and crossed the Singing River Bridge back to Lauderdale County.
We stopped at Singing River Park, which was filled with blooming dogwoods.
This park features a newly built restroom that is open to the public, except during winter months when it is locked. 

Sun Dial 

At the bottom of the park is a concrete slab, almost like a sundial, where you can set and watch the barges go up and down the river. 

My grandsons and I walked down the many steps to the banks of the Tennessee River. It is also handicap accessible. 

Steps and a handicap walkway

There are so many fun things you can do with your children and grandchildren. Teach them to love the history of the area where they live. 

2010 April 11, Sunday, History is fun with Grandkids

Sunday morning I took four of my grandchildren to town. It was a beautiful spring day with flowers blooming every. 
We stopped at Wilson Park, the trees were filled with beautiful full pink flowers. 
Water was spouting into the air while droplets were falling back into the fountain. When the wind blew the water would fall on us. 

Wilson Park Fountain

Granddaughters near the flowering trees

Grandson at the Bank 

We walked across the street to take a picture of the Bank that was built as a replica of the Forks of Cypress. My grandson posed for me as I told them about the history of the Forks of Cypress.

We walked down Mobile Street stopping to look at the display window The House of Heroes, a comic book store. 

The House of Heroes

We continued walking down South Court Street stopping in front of the Courthouse.

Grandsons at Courthouse

We walked up North Court Street stopping to take a picture of the horse sculpture

 horse sculpture

We continued walking up North Court Street stopping to take pictures.

Measuring the width of the tree

Stopping for a picture

Finally, we reached UNA and walked across the bridge just off Pine Street.

Crossing the bridge

The grandkids joined arms together and begin singing Follow the Yellow Brick Road. 

Follow the Yellow Brick Road

We stopped to see the sculptures of Romeo and Juliet.

My grandson with Juliet 

We stopped to see the lions UNA and LEO.

Leo & UNA 

We walked to the entrance of UNA and then walked back to Wilson Park.

The University of North Alabama 

We loaded into the van and rode to Spring Park in Tuscumbia where the grandkids enjoyed feeding the ducks. 

Grandkids feeding the ducks

They played on the playgrounds.

Playing on the equipment on the playgrounds

Grandsons at Stage Coach Stop 

We walked down to the waterfalls so the kids could play in the water and to take a few pictures.

Grandson at the falls

Grandkids playing in the water
We walked up to the Stage Coach Stop at the top of the hill of Spring Park a historic site

View of Spring Park from the top of the hill.I had a wonderful time with the grandkids. We went to Wilson & Spring Parks, we walked in downtown Florence to UNA and back to Wilson Park.
Learning can be fun. 

We went home and I grilled hamburgers. 

2010 ~ Sunday, May 23, Bridge Street Centre with granddaughters

I took off two of my granddaughters, Sierra,& Madison, to Bridge Street Centre. 

I parked near the Red Robin Restaurant. 

Bridge Street is beautifully laid out and has a fountain, flower gardens, a variety of stores, a theater, restaurants, a bowling alley, and a hotel. The girls posed for several photos. 

Granddaughters posing for a picture

Granddaughters posing at the fountain 

Standing outside of the NASA store was a spacesuit from NASA. Each one of us put our faces inside the mask of the space and made pictures. 

We went inside the NASA store and looked around at the displays and we talked to the people in the NASA Store. 

NASA Suit 

The man inside the store said in August there will be a day where you can visit NASA.
There were many hands-on displays that the girls enjoyed.

Granddaughter with hands-on displays

We walked to the Apple store and we played on the new IPAD.

We stopped to use the restroom and check out the Station No 2 & The Melting Pot Restaurant.

The girls playing on the escalator 

The girls at the Station No 2 & The Melting Pot Restaurant

Standing at the gate of the Westin Hotel 

We walked into the Black and White Store.

We went to Barnes and Noble where I bought a book to take with me on the plane on my trip to California. (The Time Travelers book one of the Gideon Trilogy.) 

The girls at PF Changs

We went to the Chocolate Crocodile, we each bought a soda. 

It was over 100 + degrees so we were all thirsty. 

I gave the girls my last dollar to buy a Truffle. 

Enjoying a soft drink at the Chocolate Crocodile

Walking back to the car

We walked to the car and I drove us to Cracker Barrel in Madison, where we met hubby for dinner.

I ordered pinto beans, grilled chicken, cornbread, onion, and relish

Madison ordered shrimp, macaroni, and Cheese, with ice tea.

Sierra ordered fried Chicken fingers, macaroni, cheese, and a doctor pepper. 

Hubby ate a bacon cheeseburger and fried apples.

Later that day the girls and I swam in our pool until 8:30PM

Both girls spent the night.

👩‍🍳👩‍🍳👩‍🍳👩‍🍳2016 April 23, Saturday Cornbread Festival South Pittsburg Tennessee

We traveled hwy 72 to Athens and took I-65 to I-565 through Huntsville. We took Hwy 72 E and passed through several small towns: Brownsboro, Paint Rock, Woodville, Scottsboro, Hollywood, Fackler, Stevenson, and Bridgeport, Alabama.

Driving to South Pittsburg

We crossed the state line into Tennessee to South Pittsburg.
We arrived around 10:00 A.M., and there was already a crowd of people. We waited in line with many other vehicles to get a parking spot.
We started walking to the downtown area where the Cornbread Festival was located. 
I spotted a school bus being used to shuttle people downtown.
We loaded onto the school bus and got off the bus at the second drop-off. 

Cornbread Festival 

We paid the five-dollar admission to enter the festival. We proceeded to the area where we purchased tickets for the Historic bus tour, which was scheduled for 11:00 A.M. and cost seven dollars each.

We were given brochures with the time stamped on them for our tickets.
The 10:00 A.M. bus had just left the historic City Hall.

We walked through the American Legion Hall (under restoration)
That houses the quilt show.

One of the quilts on display

Next, we view some of the old cars that were on display.

Car Show

We went to the theater to listen to Blues Music for about ten minutes and to use the restrooms. 

Inside the Prince Theater

We walked past some of the vendors and walked back to the City Hall building to wait for the bus.
When the tour bus returned, our guide got off and said she was going to give a talk before everyone loaded onto the bus.
Our guide began by telling the history of  City Hall, Marion Lodge, and American Legion Hall buildings
City Hall was built in 1887, and the former First National Bank had terra cotta trim with decorative brick.

City Hall was built in 1887 

The building across the street, now vacant, was the former Marion Lodge, E&AM No. 515.

Marion Lodge E& AM No 515

The American Legion Hall housed the quilt show.
Everyone loaded onto the air-conditioned bus, but there were not enough seats for everyone, as some had to stand in line.
Everyone was asked to check their ticket to ensure that it had 11:00 A.M. stamped on it. 
There were about six tourists who had a later date stamped on their tickets, and they were asked to get off the bus and return at the time stamped on their tickets.

South Pittsburg, Tennessee Historic Tour ticket

We then began our tour through the crowded, narrow streets of South Pittsburg. We had a great driver; he managed to back up and turn around without hitting a single car, despite the numerous marks along the sides of the road.

We saw the Christ Church Episcopal, located on Third Street at Holly, which was completed in 1884.
At 217 Magnolia, we saw the home originally built by Joseph Lodge in 1878.
At 310 Magnolia, the home of Avery and Kate McCuiston, they owned the Bargain Store on Cedar Avenue. 
Fourth, at Magnolia, a house was built by the Old English company about 1877.
At 401 Oak House, the City Company built the house in 1890.
At 316 Oak House, the Headquarters of the Old English company was built, and it was used as guest quarters, not a home. 
At 504 Oak, we saw a house owned by ST Haskew, which had been sold and was used as a boarding house.
At 518 Laurel, we saw the house where James Scott, a Texan who ran a dry goods store, lived.
At 500 Laurel, we saw the AA Cook home, which he sold to MM Allison in 1898, who was mayor and judge.
At 401 Laurel, we saw the house built for Dr. TW Johnston, a physician for the Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railway Company.
At 414 Holly, we saw a house built for Luther B Sartan.
At 518 Holly, a house purchased in 1887 by Thomas Richardson, a druggist.
At 610 Holly, we saw the home built in 1909 by Walter Denham.
At eight at Elm, we saw the Chapel on the Hill built by Angus Macrae, a native of Scotland.
The tour bus dropped off everyone who wanted to tour the Lodge Factory at the intersection of Sixth Street and the railroad. 

People are going into the Lodge Factory

The Lodge Pans display that the Lodge was founded in 1896 by Joseph Lodge. The original plant was located on the north side of town. The foundry operates two molding machines and produces over 20,000 pieces of cast iron a day.

Touring the plant

After we finished touring the plant, we walked back to the festival, stopping to look at the tractors on display. 
Vendors were cooking a wide variety of food.
Vendors were selling a wide range of clothing.
There were rides of all kinds.

Carnival Rides 

We were getting hungry, so we looked for a local restaurant and stopped at Harvey's Pirate Restaurant for a hamburger and fries. 

Harvey's Pirate Restaurant 

We went to the cars that were on display, and there were three times as many cars as earlier. 
We walked through, taking a look at some of the vendors. I bought four postcards, and we bought a bee catcher. 
We stopped at the Lodge Store and began our walk back to the van.

The Lodge Store

A nice young man offered to take us to our car in his golf cart. 
People were still coming into the downtown area, and they had to park along the highway.
It had been a long day, we were getting hot and tired, and still had a two-hour drive home.