2024 May 20, 21, 29, Sites we took AVA

Ava in a Space Suite 

 2024 May 20, Monday, Trip to Space and Rocket Center 

Today, we rode to Huntsville to the Space and Rocket museum 

We took Ava, she loves museums.

We saw Science on Orbit, Space Craze, Your mission begins here, Huntsville Rocket City, Home of USA Redstone Arsenal. There were games to play, rides, space shuttle, rockets, helicopters, planes, and pictures of every astronaut that has flown in a rocket or shuttle. There was a lot of construction going on, and a lot of the area visitors were not allowed to enter.

Ava got inside one of the modules where you have to lie down with your feet propped above your head. We looked inside “Ch-47D Chinook Helicopter. Two soldiers were guarding the shuttle(they were statues)

We saw Saturn’s Brain and Saturn’s steering. There were several school groups, and we met a family from Sweden.  

 

We ate lunch at Culvert in Madison.

We were going to Cracker Barrel but got caught by a train, so we turned around and went to Culvert. 

Hubby and I shared a three-piece, hand-cut, hand-battered fried cod meal with onion rings and Coleslaw.  We ordered the flavor of the day yogurt Snickers swirl.

We ordered a kid’s chicken fingers meal with fries and a drink for Ava.

She also ordered one scoop of chocolate yogurt but was brought the Snickers Swirl, which she would not try.

So, hubby ate hers, and we bought her a chocolate yogurt 

They also forgot our coleslaw, and hubby had to go to the counter to get one. They were out of coleslaw upfront 

I guess they didn’t want to go to the back to find more

I think they had a new employee. Everyone was ready for bed that night. 

Ava and the Space Shuttle 

2024 May 21, today we took Ava to Muscles Shoals Municipal Court Building, Spring Park and Tuscumbia Train Depot  

To see the TVA display and display about Muscle Shoals.

We saw cicadas covering all their Crapes Myrtle’s.

Inside, I met a worker for the City of Muscle Shoals, and we talked about the history of the area. He told me there were graves of American Indians with stone markers, and you cannot read the names. He said there were graves all over the shoals that were unclaimed and destroyed. He said I had worked here for years before I took the time to read all the history here. He said when I was growing up, I didn’t care much for history, but he knew a lot about the area. He said that once, he and another worker had to fix the sewage off the cliffs he supervised. Someone else went over the cliffs. He said that he found old bottles dating back to the 1800s. He gave one to him and said I am going back to collect the rest.

Upon entering the Municipal building, you will see a Chandler four or five archways leading to and inside the museum area. 

Inside the Museum, we saw Welcome to “Pathways…A Walk through the History of Muscle Shoals.”

Explore these exhibits and learn about a city that is rich in history.

See original artifacts from the real estate boom when Henry Ford said he would “employ one million workers and build a city 75 miles wide” to the times when Muscle Shoals was known as “The Hit Hit Recording Capital of the World.”

Muscle Shoals has now become one of the most progressive cities in Alabama and a city thousands call home.

Ava and Hubby at  Muscles Shoals Municipal Court Building

History of FAME Recording Studios and its owner Rick Hall. 

A light pole with street signs of Wilson Dam Highway and Sheridan AVE. 

Cases full of the History of Muscle Shoals, the first Mayor of Muscle Shoals, George Lewis McBride, and his wife Susie. 

Pictures of President Roosevelt and his wife, Elenor, hang on the walls.  

Lots of information about the building of the TVA Wilson Dam. We walked outside, and the Crape Myrtles were covered in Cicadas. 

Ava in the Little Red Caboose 

After we left Muscle Shoals, we went to Tuscumbia Train Depot. 

Paid five dollars each to go inside 

The curator told us the history of the depot.

They had the original carriage that Helen Keller rode in as a child 

We walked around outside, looking at all the train cars. 

Next, we rode to Spring Park. 

The water was turned off going to the waterfall

So there was no fresh water entering the spring 

There were a few ducks and geese in the water 

It was lunchtime, so we rode back to Florence and ate lunch at Crackers Barrel.

Ava ordered Confetti pancakes with bacon.

Ava ordered confetti pancakes with bacon and a doctor pepper to drink 

I ordered grilled chicken fingers with pinto beans, a slice of onion, cornbread, chow chow, and iced tea 

Hubby ordered steak, eggs, and hash browns with biscuits and iced tea to drink

Hubby bought two large chocolate chunk candy bars 

2024 May 29, Wednesday McFarland Park took AVA 

Today, we rode to McFarland Park to let Ava play on the playground 

I listen to bird sounds 

We got our B12 shots and paid the utilities 

We rode to Sheffield to pick up our monthly check

We rode to Champy’s for lunch

Hubby and I split a Catfish meal

Of 4 pieces of Catfish fries, hush puppies, and coleslaw 

Ava ordered a 2 piece of chicken finger meal with fries 

We rode to Aldies for a few groceries 

Then we headed home 

Catfish, fries, slaw, onion and Hushpuppy

Ava at Champy's 

2024 April 20, Courtland Walking Hayride Tour

While waiting for the rain to stop, everyone met at the Courtland Heritage Museum, established in 2009.

Courtland Heritage Museum 

Inside, we learned about the History of One of the South's first railroads. This railroad ran southward through Courland and linked the Tennessee Valley to Tuscaloosa and lower Alabama. 

There were court records of the early marriages in Lawrence County on display.

We learned about how the Red Rovers were organized at Courtland in 1835 to aid Texas in its struggle for independence. 

We learned that several cotton gins once operated in and around Courtland. 

Once the rain stopped, we loaded onto a hay bail wagon that was pulled by a truck. 

Our guide stood at the back of the wagon, informing us about Courtland's historic homes and sites. 

We stopped in front of several historic homes. 

Tweedy-Northon-Morris-Thompson House

One of our stops was the Tweedy-Northon-Morris-Thompson House.

Richard Thompson, owner of the home, stood on his porch and gave us the history of his fully restored home.

Richard joined our group throughout the tour. 

One of our stops was the Courtland Presbyterian Church, built in 1821. Both our guide and Mr Thompson worship there. 

The first church burned in the 1850s. 

Construction of the new church began in 1859 but was not completed unit the end of the Civil War in 1868.

The church represents the mingling of classical and Italian influences.

The town square contains many empty buildings of the Federal Style architecture. A park with several historic markers,  a fountain,  and a gazebo. 

Another home we stopped at was the Harris Simpson House, a good example of the early American "I" house, for its tall, narrow side profile.  This house occupants trace back to the famous James Jackson of the Forks of Cypress Florence, Al. 

Harris-Simpson House 

So much history for such a small town. They had a tiny theater that is now a residence. I said it sure was small. Everyone laughed, and our tour guide said it was big enough for their small town. I grew up in the Shoals area with several theaters in Sheffield, Tuscumbia, and Florence. I remember going to most of them, including the drive-in.

On our way home, we stopped at Lash's Seafood for lunch, where hubby and I split a shrimp boil meal that consisted of Shrimp, corn, potatoes, and sausages.

It was delicious.

Lash's Seafood shrimp  boil 

🚂🚂🚂Tuscumbia Train Depot Museum Built 1888

Tuscumbia was the first railroad in Alabama and the fourth in the USA.
Located 204 West Fifth Street Tuscumbia.
Constructed in 1888 by Memphis and Charleston Railroads

Tuscumbia Train Depot  back view

Tuscumbia Railroad First Railroad west of the Alleghenies

Tuscumbia Rail Depot front view 

In 1948, a new depot was built along Shop Pike in Sheffield and the 5th Street Depot was
donated to the City of Tuscumbia for a Community Center.
My grandparents celebrated their 50th Anniversary at the 5th Street Street Depot, in 1976.

Golden Anniversary Celebrations 1976
5th Street Community Center (Old Tuscumbia Depot

The bell came from a real Tuscumbia steam engine and school children love to ring it. 

JW Kiser who had worked for the railroad convinced Southern Railroad to donate the bell to Woodward Avenue Baptist Church. It was used to signal children that it was time for Sunday School.

The church no longer used the bell so the church donated the bell to the Tuscumbia Train Depot on October 21, 2007.

Waiting for train & Long stick used for sending messages

Railroads use lights and hand signs so that train men and workers can "talk."  The signs were first used over 130 years ago before people had radios.  Railroads needed men to be able to send signals from far or near.  Many times, the signalman would be too far away to use a whistle or horn.  Colors, lights, and hand signals were all used.

Color Signals

On the railroad, different colors have to mean.  Flags are colored to send a message.  Flag color signals are:

Red - Stop

White - Go

Green - Go slowly  - caution!

Blue-blue flags are placed on a car or other object on which men are working.

STOP!  Swing lantern across tracks.

SLOW DOWN!  Hold at arm's length when the train is moving.

GO!  Raise straight up and down.

GO BACK! Swing up and down in a circle at half an arm's length across the track, when the train is moving.

TRAIN HAS PARTED! This tells the trainmen that cars have come loose.  Swing up and down in a circle at full arm's length when the train is running.

DO NOT GO!  APPLY BRAKES! Swing straight above your head when the train is standing.

GO! RELEASE BRAKES!  Hold at arm's length above your head when the train is standing.

Ticket Counter
When the ticket window opened it averaged about 30,000 tickets a year. 

WWII of the 718 R.O.B. UNIT -CIT F.T.O.

The fighting 718th Railroad Operating Battalion brought home a souvenir from Germany when they captured a railway station in Germany.

https://archive.org/details/HistoryOfThe718thRailrayOperatingBattalion

The 718th was given the territory from Folligny to Mayenne and to Rennes, a substantial section of the French railroad, to operate. Along with this came the responsibility of maintaining a single track from Pontabault to Cayenne and from Ponterson to Fougeres, and a double track from Folligny to Dol, with the supervision of French maintenance of a double track from Dol to Rennes. 

Operation of the railroad was by permissive block under blackout conditions. 

Flagging with fusee and lantern was permitted only in case of emergency during the blackout. Crews going out on a run never knew when they might get back. 

The carriage owned by Keller Family used to pick up teacher Anne Sullivan. 

This carriage owned by the Keller Family was thought to be used by Captian Arthur Keller to pick up Anne Sullivan at the Tuscumbia Train Station. 

Anne rode in the buggy with Captain Keller down the long drive that was lined with magnolias to Ivy Green. Anne spotted Helen waiting for her on the front porch, this would change the lives of both Helen and Anne forever. 

2012 June 19, Tuesday, Trip to Plains Georgia

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

My husband and I were up at  4:30AM we both ate a tomato sandwich for breakfast. (I ate 1/2 sandwich.)

We stopped at the rest area in Birmingham, AL., to use the restroom, and to get snacks of Reese’s pieces, and Diet Pepsi. $3.00

We filled up with gas in Alexander City, which cost $50.00 at 8AM we put 15.38 gallons in the van at a cost of #3.24 per gallon.

After we filled with gas, our GPS went crazy and stopped working. 

We drove through Columbus Georgia and we stopped at Carl Gregory Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge Dealership at 2201 Victory Dr. Columbus, Ga., 

My husband wanted to ask someone in the services department about why the GPS was acting the way it was but they did not know.

We stopped at the Webster County Courthouse (red brick with four large white columns) to take pictures of the historic markers of Walter F. George 1878-1957 who served as senator of Georgia for 34 years, and the historic marker of the First Confederate flag that was raised in Georgia, and Webster. I took several pictures of the surrounding area. 

Webster County Courthouse

The buildings across the street from the courthouse were Simply Country Thrift and Snack Bar, Mom’s Kitchen Restaurant, which had a mural of grilling out in the park, and Jesus with the twelve disciples sitting at the Lord's Supper. 

We arrived in Plains Georgia. Our first stop was Jimmy Carter’s Boyhood Farm. 

After parking, we both walked to the rest room which was located at the front of the parking lot. 

There were several markers along the walkway, “From here to Plains, Jimmy Carter’s Boyhood Farm, Jimmy Carter's signature and his hand print in the cement dated Sept. 24, 2010, and Always a reckoning.

We saw chickens inside the pen, an outhouse, a garden with fresh vegetables planted, a marker saying Carter Slept here marker, a chicken house, money on trees, and a water pump.

Inside, The Earl and Lillian Carter home, we saw the kitchen which had a dough bowl, rolling pen, bowls, cook stove, in the hallway an old talking telephone, Jimmy carters bedroom, bathroom, dining room, breakfast room, Earl and Lillian’s Bedroom, Gloria and Ruth’s bedroom and the living room. 

I sat in a rocker on the front porch for my husband to take my picture.

Jimmy Carter's Boyhood Home 

Jimmy Carter's Boyhood Home 

We walked past the Carter tennis court, the windmill water pump, old gas pump next to the store that was owned and run by the Carter Family.

We walked past the Winds of Change marker, the Carter family garden, which grew velvet beans, black-eyed peas, sweet potatoes, collard greens, and peanuts.

The Carters also owned a Blacksmith Shop and a barn.

Jimmy Carter's Boyhood Home & Barn 

 We walked past the marker of Catch the Mules and the next-door neighbors, Cash Crops, Never Far from Home, and Legacy of an Outdoor.

We were greeted by the Park Ranger Ivan, Pierson, he told us a little about the farm and he walked around the park with us. We asked him about his college, and he said he was going back to get his master's in History but loved what he was doing.

We thanked him and we rode into the small town of Plains. 

We crossed the railroad tracks and spied the historic marker of President Jimmy Carter.

We stopped at the Train Depot that Carter used as his campaign headquarters when he was running for president.

I took many pictures, inside the depot.

Our next stop was the Plains Museum the former Plains High School.

Jimmy & Roseland Carter

Sitting at the President's desk 

We were greeted at the door and given a paper about the school. We walked through taking pictures and reading posters inside. 

Bought four postcards and was told that we could get them stamped at the post office.

We asked where was a good place to eat and we were told that Mama’s Kitchen 203 Church St Plains Ga.

We rode over to Americus Ga. and ate lunch at Captain D’s on 1305 East Lamar Street Americus, GA 31709. 

I ordered twelve butterflies Shrimp Plate with green beans and a salad. 

My husband ordered a deluxe seafood Platter with baked potato and slaw. 

Next, we rode over to the Charles Lindbergh monument at Souther Field near the airport. 

Next, we rode to the historic downtown of Americus to tour the Best Western Plus Windsor Hotel. 

I took pictures of storefronts, the hotel, and the visitor’s center that was inside the hotel.

Inside the hotel was an ice cream shop called Richelle’s Bakery 123 W. Lamar St Americus Ga. 

Richelle’s Bakery

My husband and I share a bowl of vanilla ice cream and two chocolate chip cookies, which cost $5.50.

We rode back to Plains Georgia to the Golden Peanut Company formerly the Carter Warehouse where we tasted the peanut butter ice cream, bought a basket of tomatoes and a bag of peanuts, and spent $9.76.

We drove to the post office where I had my four postcards stamped with the seal that said Hometown of the 39^th president of the USA and 2002 Nobel Peace Prize Recipient Stamp said Plains Ga Jun 19, 2012 AM 3180. Cost $2.14.

Post Cards

 Jimmy Carter Boyhood Farm, Plains GaJimmy Carter Boyhood Farm Plains Ga., as a young boy Jimmy Carter lived on a farm Smiles from Plains. Pictures are (1) Commissary and Gardens (2) Jimmy Carter (3) Barn (4) Boyhood Farm.

The Smiling Peanut, (The Smiling Peanut was made for a Carter Rally in Evansville, Indiana, in 1976 and later given to Plains in 1977. It is a favorite spot for photographs and a reminder of the importance the peanut played in Jimmy Carter’s presidential campaign. Jimmy Carter.

Presidents and Mrs. Jimmy Carter at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains Georgia. The Carters returned to their hometown of Plains in 1981 after leaving the White House.