2022 April 23, Madison Walking Tour lead by Gerald Clark

 We started the tour at the Roundhouse near the railroad tracks. Before Mr. Clark began his speech a train roared passed. 

A War Memorial displayed in Madison's Park 

We walked across the railroad tracks and began our tour of Historic downtown Madison.

A little history about Madison:

The town began about 1856 when tracks were laid by Memphis and Charleston Railroad. In 1858 Judge Clemons planned the town's lots fronting the railroad.

One of the first businesses was a Grist Mill Mill operated by J.J. Akers, S.D. Doolittle opened a Blacksmith Shop, and other merchants included Walter and Thomas Hopkins and James Bib 

Humphrey and Hughes Drug Co.
The Rexall Store 

Historic Madison homes and stores that we saw:

The History of Madison

Madison Station Hertzler Vaughn 1905 

Madison Station Apperson Brown ca 1900

Madison Station Cain Steadman ca 1880

Madison Station Farley Thorton Goodson 1911 

Madison Station Clay Sensenberger 1853

Madison Station Shelton Balch 1928

Madison Station Pride Drake 1910 

Madison Station Thomas Vaughn ca 1910 

Madison Station Burton Balch Willis 1885

Madison Station Farley Sturdivant 1910 

Madison Station Gillespie McDermott 1897

Madison Station Riddle W. Hughes Sampieri 1920

Madison Station Riddle C.P. Hughes 1910

Madison Station Sullivan Wellborn 1889

The Methodist Church 

War Memorials 

Colonel Cecil Hamilton Bolton LT US ARMY

Leo K Thorsness COL US AIR FORCE

Paul L. Bolden SSG US ARMY 

CITY OF MADISON WALL OF HEROES

Madison Roundhouse

Storefront 16 Main (Yellow House)

Humphrey Bros. was Built by D.S. Brandon 

Robert P. Cain Mercantile 

Humphrey-Hughes Drug Co Store 

The Rexall Store 

Established 1869 City of Madison

J.H. Cain General Merchandise 

We learned about Buttermilk Alley Buttermilk Alley is a narrow lane running between Front and Arnett streets. Circa 1900, the alley gave a safe haven for sweethearts to take a walk at dusk and hold hands. Mrs. Katie, an African-American woman who worked for Dr. Kyser on Front Street, sat on her porch and kept a watchful eye on the youth’s safety. 

Longtime residents also credit Buttermilk Alley’s name to food handouts from Front Street residents to hungry hobos riding on the train. 

Buttermilk Aly

Madison is a historic small town rich in history and now growing in leaps and bounds. 

2022 April 9, Walking Tour Moulton, AL

Moulton's Head Start former Rosenwald School

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

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 
On this site in 1871 former slaves constructed one of the first churches and schools for African Americans in Moulton. 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 in honor of 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)

 

  

2017 April Events

April 1, Saturday -Beaty Walking Tour Athens 10-11AM

Beaty Walking Tour Athens with Billy Ward

April 4, Tuesday, B-12 Shots

On April 5, Wednesday, May brother-in-law passed away (Robert Haddock)

April 6, Thursday, Kept Ava Grace

Ava Grace in PJ's 

Storytime 

April 7, Friday, Took Ava Grace to Story-time at Florence Library 10:30-11:30AM

April 8, Saturday, Houston Walking Tour Athens 10-11AM, Rogers Car Show & Funeral 2:30PM

Houston Walking Tour Athens

April 10, Monday Doctor Appointment 3:50PM

April 11, Tuesday, B-12 Shots

April 12, Wednesday, Full Moon

April 14, Friday, Worked bookstore & Passover Sader Meal

Passover Sader Meal

April 15, Saturday, Church History Walking Tour Decatur

Church History Walking Tour Decatur

April 17, Monday, Kept  Ava Grace

Ava Grace

Covered Bridge Park Cullman

April 18, Tuesday, B-12 Shots & Cullman Covered Bridge Park with Ava Grace

Playtime at Florence Library

April 21, Friday, Took Ava Grace to Story and Music at Florence Library, River Heritage Park, and Chick-fil-A 

April 22, Saturday, Toured the Larimore House with tour guide Billy Warren 

Larimore House 

April 23, Sunday, Athens Character Cemetery Stroll

Athens Character Cemetery Stroll

April 24, Monday, Ophthalmology and swimming pool repairs

April 25, Tuesday, B-12 Shots, swimming pool liner installed

Swimming Pool Liner

April 26, Wednesday, Filled the swimming pool, and kept Ava Grace

April 27, Thursday, Kept Ava Grace

April 28, Friday, Book Talk at Visitor Center Florence with Jerry Masters "Hangin by my knees from a tree. 3-4PM
Florence Library Edwin Bridges talked about his book "Alabama The Making an American State"2-3PM

April 29, Saturday, Decatur Bank Street and Archives Walking Tour Decatur & Dancing lessons

Decatur Bank Street and Archives Walking Tour 

April 30, Sunday, Wished two of my granddaughters Happy Birthday