👣👣👣👣 2009 June 6 - August 9 Historic Markers and Walking Tours

2009 Saturday, June 6 Walking tours of Wood Avenue & Frontier Days at Popes Tavern

2009 Saturday, June 13 Walking Tour of North Court and Seminary St homes

2009 Saturday, June 20 Walking of Florence Cemetery

2009 Saturday, June 27 Walking tour of Forks of Cypress.

June 17, 2009

Hubby and I went to music in the park from 11:00AM to 1:00PM. we ate lunch at Subway.

In Tuscumbia, I took pictures of different markers

Alabama Institute for the Blind 

Yellow Fever Victims 

Ivy Green (Home of Helen Keller)

St John's Episcopal Church  

Train Depot  

Tuscumbia Courthouse & KIA War markers  

Governor Lindsey Home

In Sheffield, I took pictures of the historic markers of  

FDR & Furnace Hill

At Rogers High School I took a picture of the 

KIA World War II

June 23, 2009

Hubby worked on his sister’s swimming pool and we ate at a restaurant in Cloverdale. 

Hubby drove and stopped to take pictures of Historic Markers

General Coffee me 

Governor Hugh McVay  

St Florian  

     

June 25, 2009 

In the Florence area, I took pictures of Historic Makers

Wood Avenue Church of Christ 1886 

Wood Avenue Historic District 

Sculpture and Relief Books and Learning 1921, 

First Baptist Church 1888, all these markers are near the Florence Library. 

Picture of the statue of W.C. Handy that stands at the entrance of Wilson Park. 

(Near the Florence Post Office the following markers)

First Presbyterian Church 1818 

Justice John McKinley Federal Building   

Mountain Tom Clark Hanged September 4,1872

This marker is located in front of the Florence Cemetery where Tom Clark said nobody will ever run over me. So it is said he was buried under Florence Boulevard/Tennessee Street. 

June 28, 2009 

In the Florence area, I took pictures of 

A County Older Than the State Lauderdale County created Feb 6,l 1818, The Civil War Statue and Inscription (located in front of the Florence Courthouse)

Downtown Florence Historic District 

South Hall Drugs

Sannoner Historic Medical Arts Building

City of Florence

Burrell Normal School Burrell High School Burrell~Slater High School 1903-1969, Saint Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, 

Dred Scott 

Historic downtown Florence 

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Hubby's granddaughter and I ate breakfast at Hardies spending $16.16 and on to Huntsville stopping along the way for me to make pictures of historic markers.

Next to the Bluewater Creek Polo Club and near Bluewater Cemetery were located two markers.

Daniel White Settle Here in 1818 

Cherokee Chief Doublehead’s Village Around 1800

Fort Hampton 

We rode to Redstone Arsenal where we saw the Historic Redstone Test Site, Liquid Hydrogen Tanks, Historic Saturn I, Saturn I-B Test Stand, Miniature Columbia NASA Shuttle, and Rockets.

Hubby bought a new cell phone at AT&T. 

We finished the day by going shopping at Victoria Secret Bridge Street.
We ate dinner at Red Robbin, Hubby ordered a fully dressed hamburger and fries. I ordered 

Salsa, avocado dip with colorful chips.
After a long day of sightseeing, shopping, and eating we needed to relax in our swimming pool at home.

Thursday, July 2, 2009 

I rode around downtown Florence taking pictures of historic markers

Cherry Street

First Baptist Church 1888

First United Methodist Church

Taking pictures outside the Kennedy Douglas Art Center

Killen Park Sign

Muscle Shoals Canal

Regions Bank (Replica of the Forks of Cypress who was built by James Jackson)

Sculpture Relief Books and Learning

Trinity Episcopal Church 

Walnut Street 

And the flow of Wilson Park Foundation

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Hubby and I enjoyed listening to music in Wilson Park from 11-1PM

I took a picnic lunch.

After the music ended we rode around Florence so I could take a couple of pictures of 

Andrew Jackson Military Road

115th Single Battalion Organized in 1940

Tuesday, July 13, 2009

I rode with my daughter to Heritage Park located next to the Marriott Hotel for an Ice Cream Social where the Stroke Conference was being held.
We had met several people from the Conference the day before inside the Marriott.

I walked down the River Heritage Walk of Honor to take pictures. This marker had been placed on a plaque honoring people of notable importance that had an impact on our community.

Lt. Col. R. Edward Yeilding

Thomas Sigismund Stribling

James Thomas Rapier

Samuel Cornelius Phillips

Edward Ashbury O’Neal

Dr. Ethelbert Brinkley Norton

Justice John A. McKinley

William D. “Buddy” Killen

Harlan Hill

Caroline Lee Hentz 

William Christopher Handy

Major General George W. Goethals 

Ronnie Gene Flippo

General John Coffee

Ezra Lee Culver

General Arthur E. Brown, Jr

The day was hot and there were many people with swimsuits and playing in the fountain trying to keep cool. While others lay on towels or blankets sunning. 

The water show began after dark, where the water danced InSync with the music. 

Monday, July 24, 2009 

Hubby and I rode throughout Florence to get the following markers.

1. Father of Rock ‘n’ Roll, & Sam Phillips in Florence, 
2. The Florence Early Water Tower
3. The Ante Bellum Cotton Marker
4. College Palace Historic District 
5. Original Site historic of Florence Wagons    
6. East Florence Historic 
7. Site of Fame Recording Studio  
8. St Joseph Catholic Church
9. Lone Cedar Church  
10. John McKinney Marker 

Friday, July 25, 2009

Hubby and I rode around the Florence area taking pictures of historic markers

Colonel Picket Place 

Florence Bethel Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America 

Florence Little League Baseball 1951 Coach Presley Robbins Field 1972

Homer Givens 1898-1971 

Major General George Washington Goethals Home  

The Greater Mount Moriah Primitive Baptist Church  

UNA Football Program NCAA Div II titles 1993-1994-1995 

Wheeler Rifles Organized in 1888 

Wood Ave Historic  

Monday, July 27, 2009 

Hubby and I rode around in Colbert & Lauderdale Counties taking pictures of sites and historic markers.

I took pictures of the W.C. Handy Home Museum outside. 

I took pictures of the abandoned train tressel, now used as a walkway. 

The American Legion 1919

The American Legion Florence ~Lauderdale Post Number II Department of Alabama 1919 (both located next to the American Red Cross building in Florence)

Saint Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church

Seminary ~O’Neal Historic District 

William Winston Home (Now a part of Deshler High School)

First Baptist Church 

First Presbyterian Church

Tuscumbia’s Oakwood Cemetery

Village One (Sheffield)

Winston Cemetery(When I was a child my cousin would hurriedly run past this cemetery we were afraid of ghosts. Our grandfather told many stories about ghosts. 

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Hubby and I rode to different areas in the Shoals taking pictures. 

Weeden Heights 

Lagrange Mountain Park and war markers

Coon Dog Cemetery, Cherokee (where only coon dogs are buried)

Barton Cemetery (Where there is evidence of a battle)

The Civil War Skirmish at Barton Cemetery

Jerry Scott Marker at Railroad Station in Muscle Shoals  

We ate lunch at Chopps in Tuscumbia. 

Saturday, August 1, 2009 

Hubby and I rode to Waterloo I was taking pictures along the way.

The Trail of Tears 

Capture of John A Murrell 

Pestilence and Pesthouse and Cemetery  

Waterloo Settled 1819  

Edith Newman Culver Museum

Wilson's Headquarters and Camp   

Macedonia Church of Christ Marker

That evening we went to Heritage Park splash pad to watch the water explode into colors of yellow, red, and blue. 

Monday, August 3, 2009

Hubby and I rode to Limestone County, so I could take pictures of historic markers   

Harris/Pryor House (Flower Hill Farm)  

General Nathanael Bedford Forrest CSA Raid  

Oakland United Methodist Church 

Hitt's Home Decor Cabinets Granite Mansion Burned    

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Hubby and I rode to Athens so I could take pictures of historic markers

Athens Sacked and Plundered  

Athens University Athens

Limestone Athens Courthouse 

Old Town Cemetery Historic  

Saturday, August 8, 2009 

Hubby and I rode to Decatur where we toured the Cook's Natural Science Museum.

In the Cooks Museum, we saw every kind of bug and spider known to man.

We saw many species of birds, fossils, shells, animal skeletons, and a collection of butterflies.

In the Blue & Gray Civil War Museum, we saw cases full of items used during the Civil War and pictures hanging on the wall depicting officers, and battles.

We stopped along the way so I could take pictures of sites and historic markers.

Decatur Train depot 

Princess Theater 

Morgan Courthouse Markers 

Old State Bank

Historic Decatur

General Joseph, Annie Wheeler     

General Wheeler 

In Lawrence County we went to Jessie Owens Park we saw a statue of Jesse Owens Olympic Champion of 1956 and we toured the museum, his boyhood home, and a sand pit depicting his winning jump.

James Cleveland “Jesse” Owens

At Oakville Indian Mounds I took pictures of several mounds, a park, a Museum and several markers. 

Straights Raid

Creek Indian Removal

Cherokee Indian Removal

Oakville Indian Mound

Cherokee Council House Museum

Town of Oakville

Cope-an Burial Mound

Historic Indians

Doublehead

Saunders Hall (Located In Town Creek) 

Sunday, August 9, 2009 

We rode to Fort Payne Alabama where we toured the Alabama Fan Club and Museum. We walked in the park looking at the statues of the famous Alabama band and historic markers. We ate lunch at Cracker Barrel.

Statues of Group Alabama Band

The Alabama Fan Club and Museum 

Trail of Tears at Bridge Port

Willis Town Historic Marker

Fort Payne's Fort

RR Depot Fort Payne 

Fort Payne City Park

CSA Marker Fort Payne Park 

We rode to Ruby Falls to take the elevator down into the cave we were told about the formations of the rocks and the grand fanatic was the colorful Ruby Falls which was a small hole where water was coming out.

Ruby Falls

Crow Town Stevenson  

Sequoyah Historic Marker 

Decatur County 1821-1825 

Battle of Wauhatchie Historic Marker  

2009 October 18, Sunday, Maple Cemetery Stroll

Teresa and I went to the Maple Cemetery Walk, where citizens of Huntsville dress up as characters of some of the famous people from that area who were buried in the cemetery. 

Confederate flags were placed next to every CSA tombstone. 

There was a man dressed in his gray CSA uniform holding a musket and he was talking about the Civil War. 

We saw such characters as Gov. Clement Comer Clay,(governor of Alabama) Lady Grace Hinds Curzon, Moore and Lily Flagg,(won the 1982 World’s Fair trophy) Leroy Pope,(father of  Huntsville) Talula Bankhead,(Movie Star) Sally Carter, Gyspy Queen,(buried with her treasure) Albert Russel (first Lt twelfth Regiment of continental Line), Elbert Jones (CSA Army officer), and many more characters. 

The program lasted from 2:00-4:30PM.

There were bottles of water to drink, bands playing music, and storytellers all throughout the Cemetery.

It is impossible to hear everyone speak. You have to pick and choose who you want to hear and maybe next year get to hear from the character that you missed the year before.

The proceeds are used in the upkeep of the cemetery and all characters are volunteers.

There are many interesting people buried in this cemetery including four former governors.

Thomas Bibb

Clement Comber Clay 

Reuben Chapman

Robert M Patton

David P lewis
These pictures hang in Montgomery in our Capitol building. My settings were all wrong so I did not get any pictures worth posting.

I called Hubby at work and he met us at PF Changs where we ate dinner.

Afterwards Hubby went home and Teresa and I stayed to shop and take pictures.

🐘🐘🐘2010 February 1,Monday, Waiting and Watching the Elephants

I took Lora and her kids to Huntsville we parked next to the Train Depot. We had to bundle up because there was a cold February morning.

The streets near the train depot of Huntsville was lined with people of all ages waiting for the elephants

Waiting for the elephants

People lining the streets 

We went there to watch the Barnum Bailey Circus Elephants embark from the gray railway cars onto the streets and Parade down to the VBCC. 

The parade of elephants and their handlers were escorted by the Huntsville Police Department.

Parade of Elephants

Parade of Elephants

Box Cars that the elephants arrived in

Parade of Elephants

The Elephants wore a leather headless that encircled their head and down the front of their noses with a blue sign that read “The Greatest Show on Earth.

The elephants held each others tails as they paraded down the streets.

There were at least ten or more elephants, ranging in size.

It felt very good to be inside a warm restaurant after standing in the cold for over and hour.

We ate lunch at Cracker Barrel in south Huntsville. 

Waiting for food

Marcus and the Red Caboose

Taking time out for a picture after the parade

Breakfast All Day

Cracker Barrel Huntsville

2009 November 7, Saturday, Hiking in the Dismal Canyon

Lora, Marcus, Madison, and I went hiking in the Dismal Canyon in Phil Campbell from 12:00-4:4-PM.

We ate some snacks before we began our walk into the canyon.

We stopped at the entrance to take pictures, paid to enter the park, and began our journey down into the canyon.

Stopping for Pictures

Dance Hall

There was a sign posted that read:

Dismals Canyon leaves nothing…  Take nothing…

Dismals Canyon is a natural landmark registered with the department of Interior $1,000 fine for the removal or defacement of rocks, plants, or animals.

We started our descent down this wooden ramp and several flights of wooden steps into the canyon. 

Long walk down into the canyon

Along the way we saw Rainbow & Phantom Falls, Grotto, pulpit Rock, Kitchen, Stovepipe, Indian head rock, Temple Cave, fishing hole, Champion tree, weeping bluff, secretly falls, the Chickasaw Indian’s for secret rituals used dance hall, fat-man’s Misery, Witches cavern, and Burr’s hideout. 

Grotto In 1925, the Girl Scouts built the small pool to your right for drinking water.     

Phantom Falls There is no waterfall behind you but the rock picks up the sound of the actual falls 250’ downstream and throws the echo down to this spot, which is only 10’ around.

Weeping Bluff The water that seeps from this bluff is said to be tears shed by the canyon for the loss of its only true friend the Chickasaw Indians.

SECRET FALLS the water creating these falls flows from an underground mountain stream that opens onto the earth's surface about 3/4 of a mile upstream. 

The Chickasaws Indiana’s for secret rituals used DANCE HALL this well camouflaged area protected from the sun and the elements. 

A tight squeeze

Witches Cavern  a strange and beautiful labyrinth of moss and fern-covered boulders with a large colony of dissimilates resides.

Fat Mans Misery The narrow opening 16” wide between the two boulders was the original entrance to the canyon floor.

Crossing the creek

We walked about three miles and we met Steve Meiji (wearing a black Harley Davidson jacket & chaps) and two of his lady friends (one wearing an orange Haley Davidson Jacket and chaps and the other woman wearing a black jacket and chaps) 

Steve helped Madison & others across the creek to Dance Hall.

He gave me his email and I sent him some pictures. 

We saw several small white mushrooms growing on the side of trees.

We exited the canyon by crossing a swinging bridge.

Crossing the swing bridge

Natchez traces the devil’s backbone dismal canyon serves ad the hideout for many other infamous outlaws who robbed and murdered travelers on the devil's backbone.    

When we finished our walk we stopped in at the museum where we saw 

A statue wearing a white, red, and black feather headdress. We saw a tan lamp with a pair of tan boots for a base. We saw a statue of a baker holding a basket with ready-to-eat mac & Cheese on top,  and a blackboard sign that read Specialties Coffee $1.49, Brownies $2.89 and Brownie bites for fifty cents. We saw a wooden clown, a Totem pole with Indiana faces A red Drink coca cola machine, and a popcorn machine. There were all kinds of gadgets hanging from the ceiling. 

Indian Headdress, Boot Lamp

Totem Pole

Dismals Store

For supper Hubby brought home barbecue from Thomas Pitt.