2016 Saturday, June 25, Helen Keller Festival Actives

The Helen Keller Festival is to honor a woman, Helen Keller,  who not only overcame being blind and deaf but went on to be a great ambassador for America. 

Helen Keller was born to Arthur Keller and Catherine Adams Keller on June 27,1880 and died on June 1, 1968.

Helen learned to read and write with the help of Anne Sullivan and she graduated from Radcliffe College with honors in 1904. Helen also wrote several books and was an advocate for several causes. Helen Adams Keller is buried in the Washington National Cathedral in Washington DC. 

My first stop was the Car and Truck Show located on Main Street Tuscumbia /Sponsored by the Shoals Car and Truck Club.

The streets were crowded with people walking around looking at all the vehicles displayed. There were vehicles like the Scoobie Doo Volkswagen, to the newest Corvette.

I tried to find a shade in which to park my van which would be about midway through everything, that I wanted to do.

I walked down the street to Cold Water Book Store where the Tuscumbia Walking Tour people were to meet.

I was a little early so I walked inside to cool off and inside were several more people. There were several vendors set up inside so, I went by each one and stopped to talk.

I talked to a man selling books on how to start a business. I said that I was retired and had no interest in starting a business and that I liked history. He said that maybe some of my family would like to start a business. I said I have family that owned business already. He laughed and said I guess you are not going to buy a book from me and I said not unless it is about history. We both laughed. 

Next, I meet a woman selling jewelry she said that she lived in Atlanta but was originally from Tuscumbia and she came every year for the Helen Keller Festival. 

I stopped at the next table where a man, his wife, and his son were setting. He was selling a series of books about UFOs. He told me that he made the bust statue of Warner Von Braun at NASA and that he had done work for Disney.

There was a display of beautiful pictures depicting the early 50s & 60’s and I said whoever painted these pictures sure did a great job. The woman standing next to me said they were hers. 

She said growing up in the 50s was just like the Happy Days show.

It was getting close to the time for the walking tour so I walked outside to wait for the tour to begin.

We had three people that shared information about how Tuscumbia got started and how it got to be called Tuscumbia. The Old Stage Coach Building was pointed out to us and we were told that we could tour it on our own later. We walked up Main Street stopping to listen to the women talk about the train depot where Anne Sullivan was picked up by one of the Keller's carriages and taken to Ivy Green. There is a carriage on display that was owned by the Kellers in the Tuscumbia Depot. 

We also listened to the women talk about the newspaper building where Mr. Keller worked. 

The streets were still very crowded with people as we made our way up the street. 

We stopped just outside the Abernathy House and one of the women ask if the group could tour the house. 

We were invited inside and some of the group walked upstairs while others toured the tunnel underneath the house. The tunnel was once used to bring food inside to the dining room, which was once located downstairs.

Everyone walked outside and across the parking lot. Our next stop was in the blazing sun so, I looked for a shady spot, while the women talked about the two churches that were nearby.

Finally, we arrived at the First Presbyterian Church where we were invited to the Helen Keller Mini Concert. 

Dinie Stone played one song, Jesus Loves Me on the harpsichord.

Brian Beck played a couple songs on the Organ.

Dinie Stone played a selection of  hymns and classics on the piano 

Dinie played songs about water, about communion and when Dinie began to play America everyone stood and joined in the singing. 

In the end, everyone was invited to stay for light refreshments. 

Once I knew only darkness and stillness...
my life was without past or future but a little word from the fingers of another fell into my hand that clutched at emptiness, and my heart leaped to the rapture of living. 

Helen Keller Mini-Concert

The letter was written by Helen Keller

Everyone was given a reproduced copy of the original letter written by Helen Keller to Reverend WF Trump 

I enjoyed two glasses of fresh lemonade, & two cookies while I sat and talked with several women. 

It was around 12:30PM by this time, and I still had to walk back to my car. 

I was going to the Keller Library to listen to Keller Thompson talk about the life of her great, great aunt Helen Keller.

I arrived at the Keller Library but the door was still locked, it was bout fifteen until one. Many other people were waiting. I walked back to my van and cranked it because it was too hot to stand outside. Right after I cranked the van the door opened. So I got out of my van and walked inside.

I enjoyed listening to Mrs. Thompson's talk and slide show about Helen Keller. 

There were also light refreshments after the talk. I got a bottle of water and a cookie.

It had been a great morning even though the heat index was over 100 degrees.

Letter to Washington D.C.

Washington October 23rd, 1872, East Dayton

Sir,

I am a homestead settler and am in some trouble in regard to some fine timbers that have been cut on my land 3 years ago.

I made a bargain with a man O.B. Wait for apportions of the pine on my land for so much money payable in payments once a year.

The contract that he should touch anything to interfere with the homestead rights in March 1870.

He went to cutting the timber I forbade him touching it.

He then took of what he had cut as he was not to make me any trouble.

I consider that his claim no coming into force until I prove up my claim to be void.

Wait sold the claim to J.L. Stevens of East Laginane.

In February 1871, he cut about 30 thousand feet of cork pine, I forbade them mooching it, they took it away.

I sent a complaint to Mr. Ripley then received in the land office his reply was that M.L. Stevens had been there and settled for it by having $55.00.

In March 1872, Stevens cut about 80 thousand more and drew it on to banking ground on my land.

Some of it is there yet.

Some dam the creek I made.

In March, I made a complaint by letter to Mr. Bates receiver in the land office.

I went down and made inquiries.

He said he got no letter from me and was very sorry about it.

I saw Mr. Brooks the commissioner, he and Stevens had some talk, told me I had better go home and  I could not do anything with it.

He said he could not find anything paid by Stevens in the books and Bates said the same.

Henry of Lorpeer, agent for the Marshall, went in and looked at the logs said he would come in 10 days and mark the logs, he never came.

I wrote and ask him the reason and he said had met Stevens’s Agent he said they had settled with me and I was satisfied and paid his expenses.

If there were anything he would see to it, I had never seen any of them.

I sent him 4 times, he answered that he could not do anything without Mr. Bates sent him.

I sent a paper with the affidavits of the town clerk and justice that witnessed my contract.

I sent in July to Mr. Bermet, Mr. J Marshall but got no answer.

If that paper could be found it would prove that I am not liable.

One man is in Indiana now.

 I have shown a copy of the contract to Brooks and other prominent men they say that I am not to blame, their claim is broke.

Stevens says he got permission from the land office to take the timber but sent through Brook that he would give me $150.00 for a right of my timber, I will not do it.

They would take anything they can find and be my defiance.

This letter is written to Washington concerning Walter Rumble’s land problem.

Letter from Harriet

Plymouth  May 3rd, 1874,
Dear Doc,

Your letter to Mr. Heddin was handed me to read.

I can say I sincerely feel sorry for you, but admire your courage.

Your two little boys must be a great comfort to you.

I am wondering if you can give them any schooling, also how you can get their clothes made, and how you get your work done and close washed?

Have you kind neighbors who look to your comforts when you are sick, I do hope you have?

Although your children must be great care and expense to you, I think you must be far happier with them than you would be without them.

It is such a pleasure to toil for those we love.

I hope their affection for you repays you for all your care.

I am so glad you have a home of your own and treat you well.

Be successful in getting a team this summer.

We live just as we did when you were here only my children are all gone except Louise, she is just as jolly as ever when she is able to hold up her head which is not all the time.

She has not been able to any work in 3 years.

Exhausted my skill in treating her to no lengths.

Then I tried the first thing I could find.

Last summer I sent her to a Water cures the 10th for a week and she came home no better.

I am trying to have her try another treatment but she says it would be only money thrown away.

I must try something.
Six years ago Pat Pussitt came here on a visit and stayed three weeks.

She was married to a man by the name of Crandal.

She was just the same old fun-loving Pat.

We did enjoy her company so much.

When she went away she agreed to write to us immediately on her arrival home but did not.

We wrote to her but got nothing.

Then we wrote to her husband, then to the postmaster but have not heard from her since.

We think she is dead.

Her health was very poor.

Rosa Passage was married last Thursday, to Will Olderdge.

They made a large wedding had over fifty guests.

John Beaduse has sold his farm and lives here in the village.

Roult his wife is an invalid.

Their daughter is dead.

Jack is married and lives near Waterfront and David lives in the regions.        

Harriet

Smith has sold his place to one of the Willets.

Taylor is trying to sell his place it is heavily mortgaged.