2024 April 6, Huntsville Twickenham Walking Tour

Walking tour Twickhbam in Huntsville

I think we had over 60 people on the tour.

The group taking the tour 

Clarke Dorning 1935 home 

White Dogwood Blooms 

What a beautiful day for a walking tour of Twickenham. With every step we took, we learned about the early settlers of Huntsville. 

It was steeped in history from the early 1800s.

It felt like we were walking in a botanical garden with all the colorful Azelas and pink and white dogwood trees in full bloom. The aroma of lilac filled the air from the Lilac bushes and tulips with shiny white faces. Music filled the air with Robins, Blue Jays, Finch, and Woodpecker chirping.

After the tour, we rode to Bridge Street Centre, stopping at the Cheesecake Factory for lunch. 

SkinnyLicious® Avocado Tacos

Roadside Sliders

Original cheesecake 

Hubby ordered Roadside Sliders*

Bite-sized burgers on Mini-Buns Served with Grilled Onions, Pickles, and Ketchup, and I ordered SkinnyLicious® Avocado Tacos.

Fresh Jicama “Tortilla” Shells Filled with Crispy Avocado, Tomatillo Slaw and Cilantro

We also ordered a slice of the Original cheesecake. 

Original

The One that Started It All! Our Famous Creamy Cheesecake with a Graham Cracker Crust and Sour Cream Topping

We were too full to eat the cheesecake, so we brought it home.

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 past. 

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. 

👣👣👣👣 2017 April 1 & 8, Walking Tours in Athens, Alabama

April Walking Tours 

On April 1, Saturday, I drove to the Visitor Center in Athens to join them on a Walking Tour.

There were sign-up sheets for the following tours. 

1. Athens University Historic Tour WITH ANNA GIBBS

2. Robert Beaty Historic Street Tour BILLY WARD

3. George S. Houston Historic Street Tour REBEKAH DAVIS

4. Athens Veterans Museum

5. Athens Cemetery JIMMY HILL OR WM PEPPER

6. Historic Downtown Athens BUZZ ESTES 

At 10:00AM everyone gathered in front of the Visitor for a group picture, then we disbursed into groups and began our tour. 

I chose the Robert Beaty Historic District Street Walking tour, led by Billy Ward. Mr. Ward was dressed like a southern gentleman, he was wearing a top hat, tailored a suit, and carrying a cane.

We saw many Azaleas, dogwood trees, and other blooming bushes as we walked along the sidewalk, stopping to listen to Mr. Ward tell us interesting stories about the many historic homes. 

Historic Home 

Historic Home in Beaty District 

The Robert Beaty Historic District is located in Athens, Alabama. Beaty was one of the original founders of Athens. Beaty was an Irish immigrant who first settled in Virginia.

Beaty purchased about 160 acres around a spring. Beaty’s Federal-style home was completed in 1826. The District contains several homes in the Federal, Greek Revival, Italianate, Eastlake, Victorian, and Spanish Colonial Revival Styles. 

1984 the district was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Our last stop was the historic home of Billy Ward.
Billy invited everyone into his historic home, and we walked through the ground-level rooms. 

I walked back to the Visitor Center stopping at Creek at Big Spring Park to take pictures of the goldfish and ducks. 

Ducks at Big Spring Park Athens

Ate a side salad from Zaxby’s for lunch before driving home

On April 8, Saturday, I drove to the Visitor Center in Athens to join them on a Walking Tour.

There were sign-up sheets for the following tours. 

1. Athens University Historic Tour WITH ANNA GIBBS

2. Robert Beaty Historic Street Tour BILLY WARD

3. George S. Houston Historic Street Tour REBEKAH DAVIS

4. Athens Veterans Museum

5. Athens Cemetery JIMMY HILL OR WM PEPPER

6. Historic Downtown Athens BUZZ ESTES 

First Christian Church where we parked

Visitor Center Group that toured different sites

At 10:00AM everyone gathered in front of the Visitor for a group picture, then we disbursed into groups and began our tour. 

This time I chose the George S. Houston Historic Street Tour led by Rebekah Davis and my husband came with me.

This time we had to take the car and park in the parking lot across the street from the First Christian Church.

Luke Pryor Historic Home 

 Historic Home

George S. Houston Memorial Public Library & Limestone County Museum Historical Society. 

Inside the Houston Library, we saw a 1944 Certificate of Restoration and appraisal pump organ and melodions, six quilts, a wooden round table, five velvet seat-covered chairs, a green sofa, a fireplace with a white mantle around it, a spinning wheel, several wooden chairs, and rockers, a picture of Robert E Lee, a Goth bust pano with music book Constancy Romance for Piano by Wm Fink with Mary E Mason dated Nov 21, 1898, written on the top of the book, boxes on top of boxes of book, walls badly in need of repairs and two sets of staircases. 
The house/library was a white two-story home with four large wooden columns, green shutters, and a triangle roof that covered the balcony and porch. 
Azaleas and shrubs lined the sidewalk leading up to the front door.
The yard was full of blooming dogwood trees, and magnolia trees 

The George S. Houston Historic District lies to the West and north of the public square where some of Athens's most prominent people lived.

Some of the historic homes that we saw were Hendricks, Bailey Hamilton Home 1919, Luke Pryer Home, Gibes, Powers, Christopher Home 1920, Hayden, Boston Home, Caughran, McCormick, Patton 1935, Stanford, Lauderdale 1969, Tilman Jeffery ca 1913, Martin Malone Johnson #13 1821 home, & Hendrix, Alexander 1937

Only five homes are remaining from the antebellum period. Between 1908 and 1939, such as the American Four Squares, bungalows, cottages, some Tudor Revival, and some Colonial Revival. The Neoclassical style First Methodist Church was built in 1925 and a hospital was built but later turned into apartments. 

This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

Governor George S Houston's Home Marker 

Governor George S Houston's Home Marker 

George S. Houston/Home/The Houston Memorial Library

This house was purchased by George S. Houston in 1845 and was his home until his death here on 31st December 1879. Houston served the people of Alabama in public office for thirty-six years. His long and distinguished political career began in 1832 and included; one term in the Alabama State Legislature, three terms as circuit solicitor, nine terms in the U. S. House of Representatives, two terms as Governor of Alabama, and he was twice elected to the U. S. Senate. Due to his conservative fiscal policies while in Congress, he was known as "The Watchdog of the Treasury".

Houston's most notable service to Alabama was during his two terms as governor. For almost a decade after the Civil War, the people of Alabama suffered under the rule of Radical Reconstructionists.

(Back):
In 1874 the white citizens of Alabama united behind Houston in his bid for the governor's office. His election as a Democrat returned self-rule to Alabama. During his two terms, the state's huge debt was reduced, property owners were protected from excessive taxation, and many other reforms were enacted that brought stability to the state.

After Houston's death, his home was occupied only occasionally until 1937 when it was deeded to the City of Athens with some stipulations, one of which was that it should house a library and meeting place for literary and patriotic societies and should be known as "The Houston Memorial Library".

Our next stop is CE Pools, The first weekend in April every year they have a grand opening where they grill hamburgers, chicken, and Hotdogs and Sue cooks her famous banana pudding and Butterfinger cake for their customers.

We stopped for a hamburger, coke, and pie.

Our next stop was the 7th Annual Car, Truck, Tractor, and Cycle Show at TM Rogers High School. 

Car Show TM Rogers

Our last stop was to attend the funeral of my brother-in-law. I cannot say enough good things about him. He was known and loved by many, and he gave of his time and money. He will be greatly missed. 

We picked up dinner at Taco Bell (my husband) and Captain D’s (shrimp for me).

It had been a long day and we both just wanted to relax. 

I hope to add three more April tours to this blog. 

🚙2016 November 29, Tuesday, Day Trip to Historic Lebanon, Tennessee

We traveled north on I-65 to I-840 to I-40 turning onto Cumberland Highway toward Lebanon. 

Our first stop was at the Cedar Grove Cemetery located at 406 S Maple Street in Lebanon. 

The cemetery had over 8,000 graves in it buried, several important people. 

Robert Allen Congressman 1778-1844 

Wm Bowen Campbell CW Union Brigadier General 1807-1867

Robert Looney Caruthers US Congressman 1800-1882

Edward Isaac Golladay US Congressman 1830-1897

Robert Hopkins Hatton CSA Confederate Brigadier General 1826-1862

Haywood Yancey Riddle US Congressman 1834-1879

Standing tall in the front of the cemetery we found Confederal General Robert Hatton and his wife Sophie's tombstone. 

Inscribed on the front of the tombstone was Confederate General Robert Hatton born on Nov 2, 1826, died on May 31, 1862, inscription While leading his Tennessee Brigade in the Battle of Seven Pines, Richmond, Va. 

Inscribed on the side of the same tombstone was Sophie Reilly Hatton wife of General Robert Hatton served as State Librarian of Tennessee for eight years, and founder of Associated Charities, Nashville Missionary in Japan for fifteen years. 

Relentless in her devotion to Christ and to the need for humanities.

She was as true as noble and as great as was her gallant husband. 

Organized as 7th TN INF. Hatton was appointed Colonel in command and was assigned to fight in the Army of Northern Virginia with General Robert E. Lee. He was promoted Brigadier General on May 23, 1863, and eight days later died at the Battle of Seven Pines Richmond, VA. 

His men went on to fight in every major battle in the war and when General E. Lee surrounded Appomattox Court House, only 47, men from the 7th Infantry were left. In 1912, a statue of General Hatton was erected on the square in Lebanon, TN in his honor. 

Cedar Grove Cemetery A Final Resting Place

Near the Confederate Statue and Confederate graves, we saw:

Cedar Grove Cemetery A Final Resting Place

The city of Lebanon purchased the land for this beautiful cemetery in 1846. Beneath its trees lie more than 150 soldiers who served in the Confederate army during the Civil War, including many Wilson County men who enlisted in the 7th Tennessee Infantry. The focal point of Cedar Grove Cemetery is the Confederate Monument, which was erected on July 27, 1899. The eighteen-foot-tall memorial features a statue of an infantryman standing with his rifle at parade rest. A large crowd gathered to hear Tennessee governor Benton Macmillan and several other speakers pay tribute to the qualities, struggles, and triumphs of Col. John K. Howard, Col. Sam G. Shepard, and Cape. A.K. Miller, all of the 7th Tennessee Infantry, all are interred here. James L. Barry of (Smith's) 4th Tennessee Cavalry, Tennessee's last surviving Confederate veteran, is buried here, as is Robert L. Caruthers, Confederate governor of Tennessee and a founded of Cumberland University Martha "Mattie" Ready, the widow of  Gen. John Hunt Morgan and their daughter, Johnnie, are buried in the cemetery. Nine men of

Morgan's 2nd Kentucky Cavalry who was killed on May 5, 1863, during the Battle of Lebanon also is buried here. The names of the Confederate soldiers buried in the Cedar Grove Cemetery are etched on the sides of this memorial; others will be added as they are discovered. 

" A whole community will assemble around the stricken widow of our general [Hatton], and the mothers of the noble boys who fell by his side will mingle their tears with hers." Lt. Colonel John K. Howard, 7th Tennessee Infantry (CSA)

The Mill
The Mill at Lebanon is an adaptive reuse project converting the former Lebanon Woolen Mills into a mixed-use facility encompassing offices, restaurants, retail, event spaces, and other creative spaces. The Lebanon Woolen Mills began operation in 1908 and ceased operations in 1998. It has since been renovated and preserved and welcomes you to visit our very special space

Lebanon Station

Lebanon Station
Lebanon Station is the origination point for the Music City Star's East Corridor Regional Rail line. It is located at 334 W. Baddour Parkway. Early morning train service begins here and makes stops at the other stations along the route before arriving at Riverfront Station in downtown Nashville. Lebanon Station is located on an old factory site, which is bordered by Baddour Parkway, Greenwood Street, and Hill Street. Approximately 140 parking spaces are provided with direct access off Baddour Parkway.

On January 4, 2016, Cumberland University changed the nickname of its athletic program from "Bulldogs" to "Phoenix", stating that, "For more than 150 years, the Phoenix has personified the spirit of Cumberland University.

Neddy Jacobs Cabin 
Before 1870, the land that is now the Historic Lebanon Town Square was claimed by William Rodney. It was part of 640 acres surrounding the gushing spring, and here he built a cabin. After his death, the land was sold in 1793, by his heirs to James Menees. In 1801 the Tennessee State Legislature appointed five commissioners to determine the site for a County seat for Wilson County. They chose this site around the spring and cabin. When Lebanon was founded and lots were sold on August 16, 1802, one family was living in a cabin near the spring around which the town was laid out. Edward Neddy Jacobs and his Lumbee Indian wife had moved into the cabin in 1800. Needy, an Irishman who had shipwrecked off the coast of North Carolina, was taken in by the Lumbee Indians. There he met his wife Lyula, before moving westward to Tennessee. Neddy later built a new cabin for his family, but after his death, Lyula left and moved west with a band of Cherokees who passed through Lebanon on the Trail of Tears. 

Wilson County Courthouse
The first courthouse stood on the west side of the public square. The second was located in the center of the square. In 1848 the third, designed by William Strickland, was erected on this site which was Lot No. 2 (SW) of the Lebanon town lot plan of 1802, this building was replaced by a fourth when a new courthouse was built elsewhere. 

Historic Lebanon 

Historic Lebanon 

Historic Lebanon 

Historic Lebanon 

 Confederate General Robert Hatton of the 7th TN Infantry standing in the middle of the town square

Lebanon Morgan's Defeat
In April 1862, after the Battle of Shiloh, Confederate Col. John Hunt Morgan planned a raid through Tennessee and Kentucky to sever Union supply lines. Morgan let the 2nd Kentucky Cavalry from Corinth, Mississippi, into Tennessee and engaged with several Federal detachments, attracting the attention of Union Gen. Ebenezer Dumont, who quickly assembled a mounted force to intercept them.

After missing their quarry near Shelbyville, Dumont’s advance under Col. Frank L. Wolford finally caught up with Morgan’s rearguard on May 4 but broke off the action after inconclusive skirmishing. Satisfied that the Federals had retreated, Morgan continued to Lebanon, where his men bivouacked around the town square and in the buildings of Cumberland University. Heavy rain fell all night, so the Confederate pickets went inside to dry off near the fire.

The Federals were only four miles away, however, and at dawn, the hard-charging troopers of the 1st Kentucky (U.S.) and 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry burst into town and surprised Morgan’s command.

Alone Confederate sentry, Pvt. Pleasant Whitlow rode just ahead of the attackers and gave only a brief warning before he was shot down. Unable to reach the livery stables and mount, many defenders took cover, and fierce house-to-house fighting began. The Federals finally drove the overwhelmed Confederates out of town. In the running fight, Morgan and a handful of his men escaped to Carthage on the Rome Turnpike. Amid the confusion, Morgan lost his favorite horse, Black Bess. While Federal casualties were low, about 50 of Morgan’s men were killed, 150 were captured, and the remainder scattered throughout the countryside.

Battle of Lebanon 
 Near dawn on May 5, 1862, Colonel John Hunt Morgan’s 800 Confederate Cavalry camped around the Public Square and at Cumberland University on South College Street, were attacked by General Ebenezer Dumont’s Federal Cavalry of 600 as they advanced from Murfreesboro in torrential rain. After an hour and a half of charges and countercharges, Morgan and most of his men withdrew on the Rome and Trousdale Ferry Pikes pursued by the Federals. Barricaded in Odd Fellows Hall on West Main Street, 60 to 70 of Morgan’s men fired upon the Federals. Later these Confederates surrendered when Dumont threatened to burn the town. During the attack, the Federal losses amounted to 10 killed, 21 wounded, and 5 missings. The Confederate losses amounted to 60 killed and an unknown number of wounded and missing.

Lebanon Post Office 
In July 1908 Lebanon's growth and prominence qualified the town for free citywide mail delivery. Congressman Cordell Hull secured funding of $50,000 for this federal post office building. The cornerstone was laid on October 30, 1913. Chief Supervising Architect Oscar Wenderoth designed the Beaux-Arts style building and contractor James Corse completed construction in 1915. Pink and gray East Tennessee Marble adorn the interior walls and floors. In 1999 the National Park Service placed the Lebanon Post Office in the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing structure in the Lebanon Commercial Historic District. 

Capitol Theater

Restoration of Pickett Chapel 
a project of the Wilson County Black History Committee
Funding Sources:
this work is being funded in part by The National Park Service US Department of the Interior: The Tennessee Historical Commission, The Wilson County Government, the City of Lebanon, and Numerous other Friends and Supporters.
Architect Melvin Gill & Associates, Nashville, TN in association with Preservation Architect: Michale Emrick, RA, Nashville, TN, Structural Engineer: Stanley D. Lindsey & Assoc., LTD Brentwood, Tn

Pickett Chapel 

3A Robert Looney Caruthers 1800-1882 200
Born in Smith County in 1800, Caruthers was elected Confederate Governor in 1863. However, due to the Federal occupation of Tennessee, he was not inaugurated. A co-founder of Cumberland University, he served in the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1835 to 1837; the U.S. House of Representatives from 1841 to 1843; the State Supreme Court from 1852-1861; and the Confederate Congress from 1861 to 1863. Built by Caruthers in 1828 in the Greek Revival style, but later altered, this was his home until he died in 1882.

3A Caruthers Hall 104
Cumberland University School of Law, 1847-1962, was housed at this site from 1877 until 1962. For many years it was the largest law school in the United States. Graduates included U.S. Supreme Court Justices Horace Lurton and Howell E. Jackson: Secretary of State Cordell Hull; ten governors, ten United States Senators; and seventy-five United States Representatives.

3A Judge Nathan Green Sr 103
This house was built by Judge Green, the father of equity jurisprudence in the state, who sat for twenty-one years in the Tennessee State Supreme Court. In 1852 he became a professor of Law at Cumberland University. Before settling in Lebanon, he served in the War of 1812, was a senator in the General Assembly in 1826, and held the post of chancellor of East Tennessee in 1827. Judge Green died here in 1866.

3A Castle Heights Military Academy 52
Castle Heights School was founded in 1902 by David E. Mitchell and I.W.P.  Buchanan. The early headmaster
was Buchanan, L.L. Rice, and O.N. Smith In 1914 the school became a military academy. Acquired by the McFadden Foundation in 1928, it has been an ROTC unit and an honor military school ever since 

Castle Heights Military Academy

The Mitchell House and Sigma Pi Fraternity International were founded in 1897

HISTORY OF THE MITCHELL HOUSE

Built-in 1910 as the home of Dr. David Mitchell and his family, the Mitchell House has also served as a school and office building.  Once the Mitchell family left the home, it sat dormant for several years before being purchased by Castle Heights Military Academy and used as the junior school from 1936 to 1986.

In 1998, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. purchased the Mitchell Home and began restoration. Cracker Barrel founder Danny Evins was a graduate of Castle Heights Military Academy and later served as chairman of its board of directors while his son attended the school. Evins and others wanted to return the establishment to its grandeur of the early 1900s.

Through the restoration efforts of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc., the Mitchell House is listed as a historic landmark on both the State of Tennessee registry and the National Register of Historic Places. 

In Lebanon, we saw the Mitchel House, Castle Heights Military Academy, Cedar Grove Cemetery A Final Resting Place, The Mill, the restoration of Picketts Church, Lebanon Station, Cumberland University, Neddy Jacobs Cabin,  Judge Nathan Green Sr marker,  Robert Looney Caruthers 1800-1882  marker, Capitol Theater, Lebanon Post Office, battle of Lebanon, Lebanon Morgan's Defeat,  Confederate General Robert Hatton of the 7th TN Infantry standing in the middle of the town square and numerous of sites of Lebanon.