2017 January 16, Monday, Birding Trail Sites #7, #11, #16

Hubby and I traveled to Waterloo in hopes of seeing a Bald Eagle. We met a couple from Hartsell at birding site number 11, they had binoculars and a camera with a large telephoto lens.
We sighted at least two Bald Eagles, soaring high in the sky, not close enough to get a good picture.

Bald Eagle

We did see a lot of small black ducks and a few cranes.

We traveled back to Florence stopping at Dairy Queen (for the $5 deal) for hamburgers, fries, coke, and ice cream.
I substituted a side salad for the fries and I ordered a banana ice cream with real slices of bananas.
When we finished we rode to the Rock-pile Recreation Area birding site number 7 on the northeast loop which is located at the base of Wilson Dam.

Waterfall

At the Rockpile I walked to the nearby waterfall. Several families and couples were visiting the waterfall.
Near Wilson Dam and along the locks I saw thousands of small white birds.
We saw several families with their children on the nearby playground.

We rode through Muscle Shoals turning left onto the old hwy 20, which took us through Leighton.

William Leigh founder of Leighton 

William Leigh founder of Leighton 

We stopped at the historic marker of William Leigh the founder of Leighton and his gravesite.
The founder of Leighton was named in honor of the Reverend William Leigh, son, and grandson of Revolutionary War veterans. He was born in Amelia County Virginia, Oct 4, 1790, and moved to Alabama in about 1823.
Leigh settled nearby at Jeffers Cross Roads and became a large landowner, pioneer merchant, postmaster, and La Grange College trustee. He was a charter member of Leighton Masonic Lodge No. 43 and served as Grand Master of the Alabama Masons (1833-1835). Leigh was a Missionary Baptist preacher for 63 years and served as pastor and leader in the Muscle Shoals Baptist Association. In 1836, he donated land and helped build a brick meeting house in Leighton for joint use by the Masons. Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Cumberland Presbyterians, and others.
William Leigh was the first postmaster of Leighton (1824-1847) and with William Gregg, operated a storehouse at the crossroads under the firm name of William Leigh & Company. He ran unsuccessfully for the state legislature on the Whig ticket in 1840. In 1847 Leigh sold his store, 1800-acre plantation, livestock, and 30 slaves and moved to Kentucky. He soon returned to Alabama, living in Moulton for a few years before moving to Florence where his wife served as a matron at the Florence Synodical College. Leigh died there in Florence, on July 31, 1873, and was buried here in the Leigh family graveyard. The Masons erected a monument at his unmarked grave in 1931. The old brick church that he helped build a century earlier was razed in 1948. 

We rode through several small towns on our way to the Wildlife Refuge in Decatur. Bird Site #16.
We walked down to the view area from the visitor center, where we saw thousands of Sandhill Cranes, and thousands of ducks but only one White Whopping Crane.

Thousands Sandhill Cranes

I was hoping there was an open area to view the cranes but the viewing area was enclosed so all the pictures I took of the cranes and ducks were behind glass.
We walked to the swamp area where we crossed over on a wooden bridge.
We walked to an open field where we watched several Sandhill Cranes fly away into the distance and I took several pictures.

Sandhill Cranes

The sun was setting as we walked back to the visitor center. Inside we stopped to ask questions and to view the animals. (nonliving)
The sun was beginning to fade when we left the visitor center and was dark before we arrived home.

We spent the day traveling from Florence to Waterloo, back to Florence, to Muscle Shoals, to Leighton, Town Creek, Decatur, Athens, and back home. We visited three birding trails where we saw a variety of birds. It was a very enjoyable day, perfect weather and we did not rush.

Neither of us wanted to stop for a meal, so we came home and I put on a pot of oatmeal.

🚂🚂🚂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. 

The Singing River Sculpture, In Sheffield, Alabama

The Singing River Sculpture

The Singing River Sculpture

This sculpture is dedicated to the many individuals whose efforts made Sheffield and the Muscle Shoals area the “Hit Recording Capitol of the World,” and to those who continue that legacy in 2012

Legend of the Singing River 

The Yuchi and other early inhabitants who lived along the banks of the mighty Tennessee River held the legend of the Spirit Woman who lived in the river, protected them, and sang to them. If the river was angry, She sang to them loudly; if the river was peaceful, She sang softly and sweetly, sometimes humming a comforting lullaby. 

Some say that all they heard was the high waters' mighty rush and roar over the mussel shoals, or at other times, the calm low waters babbling through the river rocks. Others say She is real and can still be seen in the early morning mist, hovering over the waters, just as She did many years ago. In her honor, they called it the Singing River, and in her honor, we named these sculptures the Singing River Sculptures. 

The World-changing Muscle Shoals Music

From throughout the 20th Century to the present, Muscle Shoals area artists, musicians, songwriters, and music industry professionals have helped shape the world’s expansive music heritage. Few styles of music were untouched by Muscle Shoals, and local contributions have been made in all other areas of the complex industry: producers, recording engineers, songwriters, music publishers, and other positions in the music business.

Picture of 

Broadway Sound Studios with owner and producer David Johnson second from right

Picture of 

Legendary producer Jerry Waxler at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios’riverfront location

Many of the world’s greatest performers began their ascent to stardom in Muscle Shoals. Artists, such as Percy Sledge, Aretha Franklin, the Staples Singers, and Bob Seger, along with many others, quickly created a legacy that earned the area the title, “Hit Recording Capitol of the World.”

The area grew as a music center by drawing together people of all races and religions. In the 1960s, despite the segregation of race enforced outside the studios, a great soul classic was being created in the studios with each musician's contributions to his innate musical talent. The collaborations created some of the most widely loved music of the 20th century, including Steal Away, Mustang Sally, Tell Mama, Patches, Respect Yourself, and many others. 

The warning issued in Arthur Alexander’s You Better Move On got the attention of the Rolling Stones. The Beatles heard Alexander’s song, Anna and each band acknowledged their respect for Alexander and his writing by recording their version of his songs on their first albums.

NorAla Studio where Quin Ivy and Marlin Greene recorded Percy Sledge's When a Man Loves a Woman.

The songwriting tradition continues as one of the strongest facets of Muscle Shoals music, with area songwriters penning songs such as I Loved Her First, I Swear, Blown Away, Before He Cheats, and hundreds of other hits over the decades.

Picture of the original Swampers, Barry Beckett, Roger Hawkins, David Hood, and Jimmy Johnson at their 3614 Jackson Highway studio.

The heart and soul of Muscle Shoals' music have always been the players and singers. Four members of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section were immortalized in the Lynyrd Skynyrd songs Sweet Home Alabama. The lyric, “Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers” and “they’ve been known to pick a song or two,” honors Jimmy Johnson, Barry Beckett, David Hood, and Roger Hawkins, studio musicians who produced and played on hundreds of hits recorded at area studios from the late 1960s until the mid-1980s.

Dexter Johnson at his garage studio, the first in the Muscle Shoals area

Sheffield and Its Contributions to this Golden Era

Sheffield made major contributions to the area’s music heritage and to the creation of the Muscle Shoals sound. The first audio recording studio in the Muscle Shoals area was constructed in a Sheffield garage in 1950 by Dexter Johnson. His nephew, Jimmy Johnson, would go on to become one of the Swampers, immortalized in the Lynyrd Skynyrd song, Sweet Home Alabama, Johnson, along with Swampers, David Hood, Roger Hawkins, and Barry Beckett, established Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Sheffield in 1969 and operated until 1985, recording hundreds of songs on hitmakers of that ear. 

The area’s first Number One record and first Gold Record, Percy Sledge’s When A Man Loves A Woman, was recorded by Quin Ivy and Marlin Greene at NorAla studio on 2nd Street. Proceeds from that hit allowed Ivy to construct Quincy and South Camp labels. In 1973 Ivy sold the facility to his studio manager and recording engineer David Johnson, who renamed it Broadway Sound Studios and recorded artists into the 1980s. 

Recording has continued to be a prolific industry in Sheffield over the last six decades. 

The City of Sheffield, Alabama

Ian Sanford, Mayor

Audwin Pierre McGee Sculptor

Historical commentary by Dick Cooper, David Anderson, and Bill Matthews

Fiscal Agent: Tennessee Valley Art Association 

WISE

Wise Alloys, a wholly owned subsidiary of Wise Metals Group, began operations in April 1999 when the parent company purchased the local assets and facilities of Reynolds Alloys Company, a subsidiary of Reynolds Metal Company. Today, Wise Alloys is a worldwide leading supplier of aluminum can sheets and processors of recycled aluminum. The company continues to expand its operations and maintains its presence as one of the leading employers in the Shoals. Wise is extremely proud to be a part of the Shoals community and pleased to have contributed all the recycled aluminum as the artistic medium for the Singing River Sculpture and the Singing River Sculpture Garden. 

The Shoals began its long heritage as an aluminum manufacturing community with the construction of the Reynolds facility in April 1941. It was proposed for the Defense Plant Corporation, a federal agency. Incredibly, just three months later, the first ingot was rolled on the Hotline. At that time, our country was just beginning to recover from the Great Depression. The construction and opening of the plant created much-needed jobs in our community. The selection of the site in the Shoals area was primarily due to the abundant electrical power created by the Tennessee Valley Authority and the dam system along the Tennessee River. 

Initially, the facility produced aluminum to support the World War II effort. 

March 4, 2013

The people of Sheffield and the Shoals express their heartfelt gratitude to those generous individuals, families, businesses, and organizations whose love for our legendary Muscle Shoals music has made this Singing River Sculpture possible.

2013~ October 1, Tuesday, Trip to Red Bay, Alabama “The Way we worked”

October 1, 2013, today my husband and I drove to Red Bay Alabama to see the traveling Smithsonian exhibit ”The Way we worked.”

My husband drove west on Highway 72; at Pride, he turned left onto highway 247.

We saw rugged mountain with towering forests along highway 247, the trees were green with a hint of yellow and orange, not quite ready for autumn.

We had to wait several minutes because there was a large road machine digging in the ground doing some kind of road construction, we also passed several log trucks, and several horse trailers, must have been a horse show nearby.

Road Construction

Log Truck

“The Way we worked,” is a collection of black and whit colored images from the National Archives.

The display is at the Weatherford Center on Main Street and will be there from September 14-October 25 2013.

“The Way we worked"

“Music Works” from Alabama Music Hall of Fame Muscle Shoals, Alabama, is another collection that is being displayed. 

“Theater Works” is Storytelling & Local Movies at the Weatherford Center. 

“Quilt Works” is on display at Red, Bay Library next door to the Weatherford Centers. 

They were many first, second, and third class ribbons given away in many different categories for the quilts. 

Machine Child Category, 1st place went to Fiona Oliver (Christmas Scene), third place to Christianly Carter (Stork scene).

Side by side were the Auburn (eagle) and Alabama  (the elephant) quilts they are rival teams.

There was a cross stitched quilt by Lucille Horton given as a wedding gift on July 1983, 

A quilt made by Granny Burcham for Hazel Hall 1947, it was a friendship quilt (each block was made by different individuals with name of family members on the blocks. These quilts were often raffled off as fundraisers.)

An Alabama National Champion quilt displaying dates of: 1979, 1992, 2009, 2011, 2012

A Cathedral window tie-hanging quilt that was made by Dianne Bentley (governors wife) from ties belonging to Governor Robert Bentley.

There were a couple of Alabama quilts in the children contest  made by Josiah Oliver (second place) and by Cindy Carter (first Place).

The back wall of the Library was hanging full of quilts, quilts with many shapes, sizes, and designs

Alabama Quilt

Our walk in Red Bay was on a bright sunny October day following the tracks laid out for tourists to follow for “the Way we Worked Smithsonian Tour”.

We saw many of Red Bay’s old building that depicting murals of the lives of the people of Red Bay. Starting with A.M. Nix Barbecue, Bay Theater, Morrow, Red Bay Café, Red Bay Grocery, Red Bay Ice and Gin Company, Red Bay School, Rob Orrick’s Hamburger’s, T. D.  Jackson’s Meat Market, The Calaboose, The depot and hotel, the old Medical clinic, the style shop, the well, Thompson’s seed and feed, Wilson Read to Wear and ending with Yarber’s Grist Mill. 

Murals Red Bay 

Murals Red Bay 

Down the street at the Red Bay Museum is History Works where you can find local treasure of years gone by.

 Red Bay Museum 

 Red Bay Museum 

“The way we lived” inside Red Bay’s Museum was the original sign and stair case of The Red Bay Hotel which is now being restored.

We saw a Cary Safe from Buffalo, NY, a sign from Faust Rexall Drugs, counter from a hardware store, a soda fountain from a drug store, sign from Naber’s & Co., Cash Store, antiquated Coca cola drink machine, dippers that was used at the old well, the ceiling, light fixtures and seats from the old Red Bay theater.

There were medical instruments that were used by local physician, a computing scale for Sagle Co from Dayton Ohio, items donated by several different churches. There were military uniforms on display wore by local veterans of Red Bay.

There was a sign that said Condimental Ginning System, items from old train depot, and farm tools of every kind. 

There were several rooms each with different themes, depicting the life of Red Bay Alabama.

The top floor was full of items of Tammy Wynett.

 Tammy Wynett Dresses

 Tammy Wynett Dresses

 Tammy Wynett Dresses

It was getting past lunchtime and we ask where a good local restaurant was but all they had to offer were chained Restaurant. 

So we stopped at Jacks where I ordered chicken fingers with green beans and water. 

After lunch, we headed north on highway 24. 

There was a lot of construction along this highway and it is along way from being finished.

We drove through downtown Russellville.

We stopped on Jackson Avenue where I took pictures of the town and couple historic markers. Next, we stopped at the Historic Roxy Theater where I made pictures of the theater and historic marker.

Historic Roxy Theater 

Historic Roxy Theater 

We drove further down the street and I spied an old cemetery called Sadler. 

We stopped in Littleville Alabama to make a picture of the historic marker that told about the life of Captain Benjamin Little who had lived in historic Littleville. 

Littleville 

History of Littleville, Alabama 
Capt. Benjamin F. Little, a former Confederate soldier, opened a store here after the railroad from Tuscumbia to Russellville was built in 1887. A train station and several houses were soon erected. A rail spur provided access to nearby iron ore mines. Capt. A.H. Keller owned a sandstone quarry and summer resort called Fern Quarry near Keller Springs just north of the town in the 1880s and 1890s. The stone was used in the construction of a blast furnace and commercial buildings in Sheffield. In 1917, Jackson Highway (U.S. Hwy 43) was constructed along the general route of the old Jackson Military Road. (continued on other side) (continued from other side) According to local lore, early settler Hezekiah Tharp's wife Nancy was the daughter of Chickasaw Chief George Colbert (the county is named for him and his brother Levi). Ligon Springs, 1~1/2 miles west, was a popular summer resort in the 1870s. The water was advertised as a cure for dropsy, dyspepsia, sore eyes, kidney diseases, etc. By 1910, Littleville had a population of 30. Its merchants were J.D. Bullington, general merchandise; G.W. Hargett, lumber; M.C. Murray, general merchandise; L.O. Breitling, bakery; and C.J. Brockway, lawyer. The town was incorporated in 1956 and Frank Bullington became the first mayor.

All the way home I was snapping pictures of the winding roads, the towering trees, old and new houses, signs and  I did not stop taking pictures until it was dark.

We came home and my husband grilled pork chops, while I made creamed potatoes and mixed vegetables. 

What a great way to end the day, with a good home-cooked hot meal.

2014~ Wednesday, August 13, Day Trip tp Cathedral Cavern Grant, Alabama

I went to the YMCA to workout on the machines. We stopped at Aldie for Milk, eggs and other sundries. Then on to Wal-Mart for hot sauce. 

As we were leaving Wal-mart I stopped at Auntie Anne’s Pretzels where I ordered a cup of mouth-watering cinnamon sugar bites with frosting dip. I ate them in the van and had cinnamon sugar everywhere. Yum, Yum!!!!!

We took our groceries home and hubby changed into his walking shoes. We stopped at the post office and then to get our pool water checked. 

We stopped near the Brown’s Ferry turn off to take a picture of the red oak tree stump that was saved after April 28, 2014, EF3 Tornado that hit at the Holt’s home. Sitting in the Holt’s front yard was the red oak stump and it was topped with a wood carving of her Irish setter, Charley.

The real Charley was standing in the driveway, he gave us a friendly bark as if to say, HELLO. 

Charley

Charley

It was after lunchtime so we stopped in Athens, Alabama at Burger King. Hubby ordered two one-dollar hamburgers and I ordered a large onion ring and to drink I ordered large water with lemon. I was not very hungry because I had filled up on the cinnamon bites. 

We traveled down Highway 72 through Huntsville, over Mono Sano Mountain down in the valley of Hampton Cove.

We stopped atop the Scenic Gunter Mountain at the Kate Duncan Smith Daughters of the American Revolution School.

Kate Duncan Smith Daughter of the American Revolution School

I can just imagine sitting in the classroom looking outside and longing to be in the woods below.

There was an overlook, where we parked to take pictures of farmhouse, fields, and the woods.

View from School down into the valley below

This school was built out of fieldstone's, cut sandstone and pine logs in 1924.

The campus has twelve buildings built between 1924 and 1957 and includes about 240 acres.

Kate Duncan Smith Daughter of the American Revolution

Kate Duncan Smith Daughter of the American Revolution School

Kate Duncan Smith Daughter of the American Revolution School

Cathedral Caverns State Park located in Kennamer Cove was our next stop. 

There were a total of ten in our group and each person paid fifteen dollars except our tour guide.  

The massive entrance to Cathedral Caverns is 126 feet wide and twenty-five high.

Inside we saw Big Rock Canyon, Mystery River, and Stalagmite Mountain, Frozen Waterfall, Goliath, huge stalagmite column that reaches the ceiling, the shadow of Abraham Lincoln, Darth Vader’s head, Hurd of elephants butts and many other sites.

Cathedral Caverns

Cathedral Caverns

Cathedral Caverns

Cathedral Caverns

Hurd of Elephants

Darth Vader’s head

Our jolly, funny, tour guide drove a golf cart in and out of the cave.

On the way back my knees were starting to hurt. So hubby and I jumped on board. It was a steep ride out of the cave and we had to hold on tight to keep from being dumped off. 

The walk itself was over two miles round trip up and down a steep slippery walkway.

We thanked our tour guide and headed into Guntersville. We stopped at Wintzells Oyster House where we shared a plate of delicious fried Shrimp and Oysters dipped in cocktail and tarter sauce.

We each ordered baked potato covered in butter, with buttered bread and hushpuppies

For dessert,t we ordered blackberry cobbler topped with vanilla ice cream. Yum, Yum!!!!

Wintzells Oyster House in Guntersville, Al 

Wintzells Motto 
My Town

We stopped in Hampton Cove to fill up with gas. Hubby took the wrong turn and we came out of the Southside of Huntsville instead of coming across Mono Sano Mountain. 

I was so sleepy on the way back and I think I drifted off before we were home.

We were home at about nine pm.  

We had a great day.