2022 April 16, Walking tour Decatur Cemetery Decatur, AL with Phil Wirey

Today, I attended the walking tour of Decatur Cemetery, organized by Decatur Morgan County Tourism and Morgan County Historical Society.

Our guide talks about James & Ellen Hildreth.

The cemetery is located at Highway 20, west Decatur. Coordinates: 34.61690, -87.00110

The first burial was recorded in 1855. The cemetery is divided into 7 sections, the Original, Brown Circle, Cantwell, Cowan, Decatur Land Company, Humes, and Sterrs. 

Two famous people are buried here. 

Christopher Columbus Harris, a US Congressman, was also a Lieutenant in the Civil War. He is buried in the Cantwell Section of the cemetery.

Seybourn Harris Lynne Jurist, a civil Rights Figure who served as US Federal District Judge from 1946 to 1973.

Marker and Civil War Graves 

Known buried within this cemetery
Isaac L. Beard 6th Ark Co B Dod April 1, 1862
John R. Hopkins Sgf. 12th LA. Inf. Co. A. KIA Oct. 28, 1864
Jacob Hubbard PVT 12th LA. INF. CO. H. KIA Oct. 28, 1864
John R. Palmer DOD Feb. 16, 1862
James E. Patrick CPL 12 LA. INF. CO. G. KIA Oct. 28, 1864

Beneath this hallowed ground lay the remains of fifty-five Confederate soldiers. They gave their lives to establish southern independence, protect their homes, and preserve state rights. These original headstones were placed in May 1903 by the Joe Wheeler Chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy. On June 3, 1903, a dedication service was held by the Daughters of the Confederacy and veterans of the Horace King Camp, United Confederate Veterans. This site was rededicated on April 26, 2005, by the Joe Wheeler Chapter No. 291, United Daughters of the Confederacy and Sons of Liberty Camp 580, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Decatur, Alabama.

Confederate States of America
1861-1865

2022 April 9, Walking Tour Moulton, AL

Moulton's Head Start, former Rosenwald School

 Everyone meets with speaker Nita Marlborough at Moulton's Head Start, the former Rosenwald School. 

After the speech, we all walked through the building.

History of Moulton (not quite finished), painted by Monica Hooper 

I parked near the Mural of Moulton and walked to the School. 

Next, I walked to the nearby Freeman Tabernacle, where we listened to Leela Reeves talk about the church. (We all went inside)

Freeman Tabernacle Church (located on Byler Road and Rosenwald Street 

On January 3, 1874, former slaves and Deacons King Crayton, George Pruitt, Tandy Crayton, and Ben Warren paid fifty dollars for land to construct the Colored Baptist Church, which was one of the earliest in the Muscle Shoals Colored Baptist Association. This organization helped black communities build churches and schools. After he died in 1933, the congregation renamed the church to honor longtime pastor John Harrison Freeman.

Our next stop was Bayler Road Church of Christ to listen to Lewis Jackson.

Smith Chapel C.M.E Church 
In 1871, former slaves constructed one of the first churches and schools for African Americans in Moulton on this site. The Colored Methodist purchased most of the materials used for the building. Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Nabors Owen gave land for the Colored Baptist and Colored Methodist Church and School Moulton. The congregations worshipped together until 1874. The church is named after Rev. Andrew Smith, a former pastor.

Our next stop was a guided tour of Smith Chapel led by Caroline Fletcher.

At the Moulton Cemetery,  Cindy Praetor, Alicia Carpenter, and Beth Garner (who were dressed in the period) gave a talk about the tombstone they were standing next to)

Mollie, James & Lucy Downing

Elaine Jackson led us on a tour of the Hot Spot. 

the Hot Spot 
c.1945
Alabama Register of 
Landmarks and Heritage
by Alabama 
Historical Commission 
June 27, 2019 

Guides

(Marvin Jackson,  Nita Marlboro led the discussion at Rosenwald School, Lela Reeves at Freeman Tabernacle, Louise Jackson at Byler Road Church of Christ, and Carolyn Fletcher guided the tour to Smith Chapel)

 

  

2022 April 30, Walking Tour Town Creek, AL

The Walking tour took place in Town Creek, and everyone was to meet at the Farmers Market on Main  Street.

I was early, so I looked around and talked to the vendors. I bought two tomato plants.

At 1:00 P.M., the van arrived, driven by Pastor Steve Agee, provided by Victory Baptist Church.

The former mayor of Town Creek (Linda Peebles) rode with us.

Everyone loaded into the van, and we headed to the public library. 

We were met by the librarian. She gave us some material, which included:

Welcome to Town Creek, which included stories about Saunders Hall Good Mansion 

The Town Creek Hotel, Town Creek City Hall, Veterans Memorial & 

The new Story Walk is a learning trail behind the library. It is designed to introduce visitors of all ages to the area's environment.

The librarian told us about the Story Walk Trail and gave us all the pamphlets. 

Our next stop was the Town Creek Depot, where dignitaries made speeches. They were Mayor Mike Park, Proncey Roberson(State Representative), Loretta Gillespie, and Robert Sheffield (Former Hazelwood coach). 

The Town Creek Train Depot was built in the early 1800s, and the first engine run took place on February 1, 1835.

Former NFL football players from Town Creek were also attending.  

Chris & Kerry Goode (brothers) and DJ Jones.

After a meet-and-greet session, we headed to our next stop, Posey Farms.

We were greeted by the Posey Family with refreshments.

Mr. Posey said it all began in 1953 when we leased 7 acres of land and planted our first cotton crop. 

Posey's first home is now surrounded by farmland. 

2022 Dec 4, Tinsel Trails, Christmas Card Lane Ditto Landing & Toyota Field Christmas Lights Huntsville, AL

 On Sunday, we stopped in Decatur to walk through the Enchanted Forest in Founders Park, a tinsel stroll supporting Leukemia and Lymphoma.

We stopped in Madison for their Polar Express Christmas on Main Street, where their Christmas trees were displayed. 

We stopped at RSA to take coworkers' Christmas Present Presents.

We rode to South Huntsville for Christmas on the River at Ditto Landing. There, we strolled along the Tennessee River Greenway, looking at custom-designed 4 x 8 plywood Christmas cards. 

Grinchmas

It's Not what's under the Christmas Tree that matters. 
It's who's around it. 

We stopped at every card to get a picture, and it began to sprinkle before we returned. 

We rode to Huntsville's Big Spring Park to walk through the Big Spring Park Tinsel Trail. 

Big Spring Park Tinsel Trail.

We were afraid of getting wet, but the rain had stopped.

Next, we rode to Toyota Field to see The North Pole Rocket City Christmas Light Show and Winter Wonderland.

Which are a mile-and-a-half maze of bright, dancing, and twinkling lights. We tuned our radio to 95.5 to listen to Christmas music.

The North Pole Rocket City Christmas Light Show 

After the drive, we stopped at Toyota  Field and walked through Winter Wonder Land, stopping for pictures with Santa, Trash Panda, and Frosty. 

Picture with Frosty 

We had not eaten since breakfast and were not sure what we wanted. We were tired and didn't want to go into a restaurant and wait, so we decided to stop at Krystal. Believe it or not, their food was good, or we were hungry. 

A picture with Trash Panda 

I ordered a double cheese Krystal and strawberry Milkshake. 

When we arrived home, it was late, and we both were tired from the long day. I put my cameras away for another day to download and went to bed.

2022 Dec 3, Christmas Lunch, Christmas Parade, and The Cotton Gin

Met my friend Wanda at the Clarion Hotel to enjoy a Christmas brunch buffet and listen to storyteller Dolores Hydock.

Several large round tables were covered with white tablecloths, vases of Christmas flowers, and red and green chocolate candies. Each table held up to eight people. There were at least 15 to 20 tables, and most were full. 

Mimosas were available with or without liquor, which we enjoyed while we waited for our table to be called to go to the Christmas buffet. 

At the buffet, we were served pineapple, Strawberries, grapes, orange slices, small pastries, sausage casserole, and biscuits covered with sweet syrup and grits. 

We sat with strangers but introduced ourselves. We found that we had a lot in common. One of the ladies  I had graduated from the same high school.

Another lady said we used the same eye clinic(Maynard & Mitchell) in Huntsville. 

While we were eating and getting to know each other, a piano player entertained us with Christmas music.

For about an hour, we were entertained by storyteller Dolores Hydock in her. 

All I want is Christmas stories. 

She told a true story about an elderly man in a nursing home. She had asked him if COVID was the first time his life had been turned upside down. He said I would like to think so, but no.

He told her his life had been turned upside down and how something always turned out for the better. 

She talked about generous hearts, wish lists, and gifts that show up in unusual packages. 

Hubby and I are going to the Greenhill Christmas at 1:30 P.M. We are taking our granddaughter. The brunch was over at 12 P.M., and we had a 30-minute drive.

We arrived at the parade at about 1 P.M., parked, and sat inside the car. 

Our granddaughter saw a little girl across the road and was very anxious to leave the car.

I told her we would get out if she waited until 15 after 1 P.M., but she was so anxious. 

She waited until 15 minutes later, and she and I got out and walked across the road. She and two other children ran and played until the parade started. 

I know how she feels because I feel the same way, anxious. 

When the parade began, they grabbed their bags and headed to the edge of the road, waiting for candy to be thrown.

Greenhill Christmas picking up candy. 

Santa Clause riding in the Greenhill Parade

 It was not a long parade, but the kids got a lot of candy.

We dropped her off at her house.

We went to The Christmas Market, located at The Cotton Gin at Roberson Farm, which was filled with merchandise from various vendors. 

Grinch Christmas @The Cotton Gin

A crowd stood in line to see actors who had portrayed characters in Little House on the Prairie and The Waltons. 

We did not stand in line; we just shopped and took pictures. 

Met the Grinch in Whoville

 

2022 Dec 1, Athens Christmas Parade and Adventures Athens, AL

The Athens Courthouse was decorated for the holidays, and crowds lined up to watch the Christmas Parade. 

North Pole & Candy Carnival Float in the Christmas Parade 

I had a hard time getting good pictures at the parade. They were moving quickly, and we were sitting inside the car, so I had to take them through the windows. But I did get a few good ones. We enjoyed the parade & shopping at UG White Mercantile. 

We bought supper at Zaxby's in Athens, but our food was overcooked, so we didn't eat much of it. We bought a couple of chocolate coconut macadamia candies at UG White Mercantile. The parade was over at about 8. 

We parked across the street facing Merchant's Alley, waiting for the Athens Parade.

Christmas at UG White Merchantile 

 It is merchandise that sells southern-made goods, where treasures can be found like stepping back in time. 

We stopped in Rogersville to see their Christmas Trees in the park. 

Rogersville Tinsel Trail 

I stopped at Jack's for a few strawberry cheesecake pies and was in bed a little after 9. 

From 1-3 Crafting at the Florence Library (making a Christmas card with watercolors.)

2022 Feb 1, Day trip to Lake Guntersville Birding Guntersville, AL

 Today, we rode to Lake Guntersville, stopping at Lake Guntersville Park on Sunset Drive. 

We stopped at McDonald's in Decatur for some apple pies and drinks before heading to Guntersville. 

We sat on a bench near the water's edge, and then I heard this pecking sound. I looked up, and to my surprise, I saw a red-headed woodpecker pecking on a rotten tree. He flew from the rotten tree to a Sweetgum tree. I followed it from tree to tree. Then, I spotted a sparrow scratching in the dirt for food. When it saw me, it flew up into the trees.

Red-headed Woodpecker 

Another of my favorite birds, the downy woodpecker, was aimlessly pecking away on a rotted stump. It was hard to get a picture because the downy was shadowed, but I got some good photos.

Downy Woodpecker 

We also saw several Canada Geese, white and spotted ducks, and lots of white terns.

We could hear several fish crows above in the trees. Also saw and heard several bluebirds. 

We rode to Marshall County Park, where we saw several ducks and a great gray heron. We also saw a marker of Major Paramoris Federal Bombardment of Guntersville. 

Major Paramores Federal Bombardment of Guntersville. 

The hill to the immediate left was the site of the 1862 shelling of Guntersville during the War Between the States.
On July 28, 1862, a Federal force under the command of Major J.W. Paramore placed two Parrots guns on the hill. It shelled Guntersville from 7 A.M. to 6 P.M. Captain Cyrus Loomis' First Michigan Battery carried out the shelling, which sent more than one hundred of Guntersville's women and children to the ravine south of town for protection.
The rifled Parrots guns fired six-pound projectiles greater distances than older smooth-bore cannons and enabled the Yankees to reach across the Tennessee River. Trenches had to be dug to steady the Parrot's guns, which can still be seen atop the hill.
Most shelling concentrated on cotton warehouses and boat construction facilities south of Henry Island, which are now inundated. The Federals attempted to send an attractive force across the river but failed. 
As a result of the bombardment, several homes near the riverbank were burned, and many other homes suffered damage from the shells, including the Nickels and Gilbreath residences. 

Fortunately, both these houses still stand today.
The Chattanooga Daily Rebel reported that the shelling resulted in only two deaths. One was the wife of military General Samuel King Rayburn.

We left Guntersville and rode to Hartselle, stopping at Krogers Grocery for bottled Mountain Dews and other items. 

We ate a late lunch at O'Bryan's, where I ordered a sirloin Steak with sweet potato and diet coke.

We came home from the old paper mill road, where we saw a red-tail hawk.

We also stopped at Wheeler Dam, where we saw several American White Pelicans floating down the Tennessee River and a couple of Gray herons flying overhead. 

American White Pelicans 

It was a great day for birding.