2016 July 23, Saturday, W.C. Handy Festival Actives

Started the morning by going to the car show at Wilson Park 
Lots of different car styles, year models, and a wide variety of colors
I saw people I had not seen in years. 
By the time I had seen most of the cars, I was dripping wet and could not wait to get inside the Library.

Ford

1960 Volkswagen Beetle

1970 Hemicuda Plymouth 

Inside the Library, I joined several of my friends and we all enjoyed listening to Andreas interview Peanut Montgomery, Donnie Fritts, Scott Boyer, and Mickey Buckins.
Peanut was very funny he could talk for hours
Andreas said he should interview Peanut alone because he had so much he wanted to tell 
And it would take more than an hour for him to tell his stories. The interview ended with a Q&A at 12:30PM.
These songwriters started out as young men with a dream and over many years wrote a variety of songs. 

Donnie Fritts, Scott Boyer, and Mickey Buckins.

I had adequate time for lunch and to fill up with gas. 
I stopped at Jack's where I ordered a Kid's meal of chicken fingers and green beans.

Jack's Kids Chicken finger meal. 

Immediately I rode to Kangaroos in Sheffield to fill up.
I arrived just in time for the introduction and to pay for the trolley ride. 
A historical experience about black historical sites in downtown Florence called, Up from Slavery.
We rode past the St Paul AME Church 1878-1965, & the St Marks MB Church 1901.

WC Handy Cabin 

We rode into the parking lot and turned around at WC Handy's home and museum. We rode past the Burrell Normal School 1903-1960. We listened to the history of WC Handy's grandfather, and the story of Bessie Rapier Foster. We rode past the Dred Scott marker on Pine Street.

Dred Scott in Florence

If it had not been so hot the trip would have been enjoyable. 
The trolley was supposed to be air-conditioned but it was a long hot hour ride. The lady sitting across from me looked like she was going to pass out. 
My clothes were wet by the time the trolley arrived at the visitor center.

The Visitor Center was very inviting with cold air blowing from its vents so I found a good place to sit where I could see & listen to Mark Narmore, Mitch Mann, and Andreas entertain me for a couple of hours. 
I listened to, "That's What I Love About Sunday", "A Song About Neal Young on the Prayer List", "Moon over Georgia," "More Than I Could Ever Show", "Saint Louis Blues" and many others. 
The group started at 2:30 and ended at 4:40 p.m. 
The entertainment room was small and every seat was filled, and people were standing up. 

Mark Narmore and Andreas Werner jamming 

Texted hubby and said I would be late, to stop at Taco Bell and pick up supper. 
It has been an entertaining day.