2023 November 4, "Walking with the Saints" a Saints Walking Tour of Historic Downtown Florence House of Worship

Today, Hubby and I went on a walking tour with a group led by Lee Freeman at 10:00 A.M. at the Florence Library. 

We visited the former Popular Street Christian Church, now the Wood Avenue Church of Christ (established in 1970), located across the street from the Florence Library. 

Wood Avenue Church of Christ 

Cavalry Fellowship Church

424 E Tombigbee St Florence, AL 

From the library, we walked to Tombigbee Street and Poplar Street. 

We stopped at the Cavalry Fellowship (former Popular Street Christian Church)

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church 630 N Poplar St
Florence, AL

From the Cavalry Fellowship, we walked several blocks up Poplar Street to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church (1938), located at 630 N. Poplar Street.

First Baptist Church 209 North Walnut St.

We walked back up several streets to Walnut St., the Baptist church, across from the Florence Library. 

We stopped at the Gothic-style First Baptist Church (1888), located at 209 North Walnut St.

First Presbyterian Church 224 E Mobile St

Next, we walked to East Mobile Street, where the First Presbyterian Church is across the street from the Florence US Post Office. 

We stopped at First Presbyterian Church (1818), 224 E Mobile St. The Oldest Christian Church is the "Mother Church," Florence's oldest church. 

Tennessee Valley Community Church AME
119 N Pine St, Florence, AL 

 

We walked down Mobile Street, a one-way street, to Tennessee Valley Community Church AME on Pine Street. As you can see in the picture, construction is happening near this church. 

Trinity Episcopal Church 410 N Pine St Florence, AL 

We walked up Pine St to Trinity Episcopal Church (1824), Florence's third-oldest Christian congregation. This church is located a few blocks from Tennessee Valley Community Church, which faces Pine Street and North Seminary Street. We walked up a few blocks to the United Methodist Church.

First United Methodist Church 415 N Seminary Florence, AL 

Our last stop was First United Methodist Church (1822), located at 415 N. Seminary, the second-oldest church in Florence. 

Wilson Park Fountain 

Wilson Park is near the United Methodist Church and across the street from the Florence Library. 

We stopped to take a few pictures of the fountain at Wilson. The wind blew the fountain water, wetting us as we walked by.

A couple of children were enjoying the sprinklers from the fountain.  

Also took pictures of the Florence Library and the Kennedy Douglas Art Center. 

We ate lunch at St Florian Pharmacy Soda Shop. We sat at the bar and watched as they took orders for dipped ice cream and made sandwiches. 

My Hubby ordered a ham and cheese sandwich with chocolate and a strawberry milkshake. 

Reuben Sandwich with chips

I ordered a Reuben with Sun Chips, whole-grain Harvest Cheddar, and Diet Coke. 

After lunch, we headed home, but we encountered a traffic jam on Highway 72 due to extensive construction. 

We took Middle Road to the Old Jackson Highway, then to US 43. 

 

2016 October 22, Saturday, Memosa Cemetery Stroll Lawrenceburg, Tn

The Lawrence County Public Library sponsored a Cemetery Stroll at the Mimosa Cemetery.

Many people gathered to hear the stories of those buried here and those who should have been buried here.
Our speaker was wearing wireless headphones with a transmitter and receiver (so everyone could hear him), and he was carrying a Sealtest Crate to stand on (so everyone could see him).

Before we began our stroll, the speaker told the story of Mimosa's founding.
The speaker said Mimosa was formed because no one knew who was buried in the city cemetery.
The city needed a cemetery.

Everyone followed the speaker into the cemetery.
Our first stop was at Mayor James D. Vaughn, 1864-194,1, founder of Southern Gospel Music.

James D. Vaughn 1864-1941

Annie Green K, 1832-1910- her husband fought in the Civil War and was killed by Union soldiers after the war.

The gravesite of Annie Kirk. Her husband was killed by Union Soldiers

Senator Fred Thompson 1942-2015- Senator, Actor, born in Colbert County, Ala, at Keller Hospital, and lived and is buried in Lawrenceburg. TN.

The group gathered near Fred Thompson's grave. He has no marker yet!

Nettie Stewart 1874-1922

 Nettie's family was all dead when she was found in a Nashville Hotel.
Nettie was a dreamer who foretold her own death.
She was found lying on the floor of her apartment, clothesless. In her room was a trunk full of her dream journals. She was brought back to Lawrenceburg and buried with her family in Mimosa Cemetery.

Nettie Stewar, the dreamer

Captain William J. Gilbreth -Served in the Spanish-American War
1864-1934. He lost a daughter while he was in the war and never got over the loss. He became a nonbeliever.

William Gilbr, a nonbeliever, ever after the loss of a child

Mayor James W. Garrett won the election by one vote.
1859-1929. There were tornado warnings during the election.

Private Elliott Crews  1894-1918 About a young man's life cut short in World War I.

Half logs mean life is cut short. Crews KIA

John B. Kennedy 1841-1913- A Civil War Soldier and Col. Man.

John B. Kennedy is a college graduate. 

James H. Stribling 1863-1951- Mr. Stribling lost a daughter, who was age 5.
Mr. Stribling was comforted by a Christian man, David Lipscomb, and, because of him, became a Christian.
Mr. Stribling built a school for the children of Lawrenceburg with his own money, with one stipulation, that it have a bible class.

Stribling Family  Stribling's five-year-old daughter is the middle tombstone.

Everyone has a story, whether dead or alive. Whether great or small.
I encourage everyone to visit a cemetery and learn more about the people who are buried there.
You might find someone you know or a relative.
I have many journals and hope someday someone will read my stories.