2023 OCT 5, Trip to Mobile, Kathryn Tucker Winham Museum & the Clarke County Museum

 Day 1: Thursday

On our way to Mobile, we made several stops.

We stopped in Thomasville to tour the Kathryn Tucker Museum (Storyteller). The curator walked us through the museum, telling us some of the history of Mrs. Windham.

Mrs. Windham was famous for her ghost stories about "Jeffery the ghost," who took up residence in Mrs. Windham's home.

Kathryn Tucker Windham T-shirt with Jeffrey's Ghost on the Front. 

The story about how Kathryn got her first camera!

A sculpture of Kathryn by her good friend
 "Charlie Lucas"

Kathryn's life story is told in a quilt.

Reserved for Ghost Jeffery 

We thanked our guide, and she said if we liked the museum, we should stop at Clarke County Museum Grover Hill, Al.

Clarke County Historical Museum with Pioneer Village in back.

The museum was having some issues with the inside of the building, so many of the displays were in disarray on the ground level. 

French Bed 

We walked upstairs to see a bedroom with a French Bed, this bed was made about 1825 and was constructed from French walnut. It came from the plantation of Samuel Barnes, which was located in the once-thriving town of Suggsville in eastern Clarke County. The bed posts are hollow so that a canopy could be added. The bed was donated by Mrs Donald Mills of Montgomery. Barne's great-granddaughter.

Josiah and Lucy Martin Matthew Cabin 
This structure was donated to the Clarke Co Historical Society to its present site. 
Restored in 2008.

We learned that Clarke County was home to 3 salt works during the Civil War.  These Springs were also used by the Native Americans. 

We also learned that during the Civil War, prices of Salt escalated so high that the workers were paid in salt. Prices rose from $1.25 per bushel of 50 pounds in 1861 to $50 by the end of the Civil War. 

When the rumor circulated that Mobile was captured, everyone scattered, ending the widespread use of the works.  

Salt-making kettle 

Pioneer Day for 2023 will be October 28, 9-3, at the Clarke County Museum. 

Pies, cakes, and other homemade baked goods will be available. The famous Gee's Bend quilters will be demonstrating quilting and will be selling some of their beautiful handiwork. Winky Hicks and friends will be playing bluegrass music, and storyteller Deborah Rankins will be on hand to tell local tales.

We thanked our curator and began our final journey to Mobile. 

We will be staying at the Battle House Renaissance Hotel, room 5242, another historic site. 

The hotel is connected to the completely new and impressive RSA Battle House Tower. The RSA Hotel is the tallest building in the state it is 40 stories tall. 

Original opened in 1852. The Franklin Hotel was on this site before burning down in 1829.

Andrew Jackson set up headquarters in 1812. The first Mardi Gras Ball was held in the Crystal Ballroom in 1852.

Elvis Presley stayed the night he was kicked off of the fairgrounds for doing the "Shake" in 1952.

It has a Whispering Arch, the Six Flags of Mobile.

1702-1763 French Flag

1763-1780 British Flag

1780-1813 Spanish Flag

1813 -1861 1st US Flag 

1851-1861- Antebellum Period 

1861-1864 - Alabama Confederate Flag 

1964-present 2nd US Flag 

In the whispering arch ceiling area, you can see Louis XIV, George Washington, Ferdinand V, and George III.

Whispering Arches

The Grand Ballroom 

We walked up the street to Loda Bier Garten for dinner but were stopped by two men from Chanel 10 Fox News. One with a camera and the other with a microphone. He asked us if we were going on the Cruise ship out of Mobile, and we said yes. So he interviewed us, and we were on TV that night. 

I had several people on the Carnival Cruise Ship Spirit who said they saw me on TV. 

This was the first ship out of Mobile for over a year. The bay had to be drugged so bigger ships could dock.

We continued our journey to the Bier Garten, where we enjoyed a hamburger, fries, and fried mushrooms. 

It had been a long day, so we returned to the hotel, took a hot shower, and climbed into bed. 

We wanted to be rested before we began our journey on the Carnival Spirit Cruise Ship to the Bahamas. 

Fried Mushroom at Lola's Bier Garten in Mobile 

2015 November 11,12,13 Veterans Day in Tuscumbia and A Busy Week at Bridge Street Town Centre

We've had a busy week. 

On Tuesday 10, we traveled to Meridian MS.

Wednesday 11, I went to CBS for Bible Study. 

We rushed to Tuscumbia, where people lined the streets for the Veterans Day Parade.

Children as well as adults rushed to fill their bags with candy, as the people in the parade disbursed candy into the street.

Veterans in the Veterans Day Parade in Tuscumbia 

 Petite Sirloin Steak, Baked Potato with Texas Toast 

We walked to Oh Bryan's Steakhouse where I enjoyed a Petite Steak, Baked potato and Texas toast. My husband enjoyed a New York Strip, Baked potato, Texas toast and the salad bar.

Alabama and Auburn Quilts Raffle 3 tickets for $5.00

There were two quilts hanging on the wall of Bryan’s an Alabama and Auburn.

They were being raffled off to raise money for the Belle Mont Mansion. 

I bought three tickets. 

Walking to Cold Water Book Store.

We stopped in at Cold Water Book Store for a quick pick to see what new books they had in stock.

My husband had a call out to work in Huntsville, I rode to work with him. 

We stopped at the Exploration Gallery at NASA

After my husband finished at work, which took less than an hour, we rode to Bridge Street Town Center, to look at the new iPhones. 

We strolled the streets of Bridge Street stopping to take pictures of the reindeer, twinkling street lights, and the unlit decorated Christmas Tree. 

The lights will be lit on Friday.

Bridge Street Town Centre was decorated for Christmas Holidays.

White Reindeer at Bridge Street 

Christmas Tree

Thursday 12, we went back to Bridge Street Town Centre stopping at Burger King for a juicy whopper Jr. with onions. YUM!

At the Apple Store we purchased two new Iphone, and I-watch. 

My husband updated his phone from the cloud, I updated mind at home.

Friday 13, we went to the Apple Store to fix our cloud account.

At the Apple Store we were put on a waiting list.

We gave them a number where we could be reached and left.

We walked to Red Robin, where I ordered chili, onion rings, coke, my husband ordered a cup of Clam Chowder, and Seafood plate.

Cup of Clam Chowder,& Seafood plate filled with french Fries, fried fish, shrimp and Clams

We had just finished eating went we got a call from Apple, they called and said we are ready, we walked back to the Apple store, along the way we saw people singing Christmas Carols.

Christmas Carolers

It took over hour to get our cloud account fixed. 

We left the Apple store, just missing the arrival of Santa but in time for the fireworks show. 

Everyone gathered around the pond next to the Carousel where we watched the fireworks dance in the sky to Christmas music.

After the fireworks we walked to the newly lit Christmas tree to take a few pictures but the streets were filled with people stopping to take pictures. 

Christmas Tree with twinkling red & white lights, topped with a bright white star

Big Red Christmas Ball with me inside holding my cell

It had been a very long week, we were both very tired so we headed home stopping at the grocery store to pickup a few items. 

2015 November 10, Tuesday, A Trip to Meridian, MS

I looked out the window the sun was coming up, it was a great day for traveling so I ask my husband if he was up for a four hour drive to Meridian MS he said yes. 
After I cooked oatmeal, eggs, and bacon for breakfast, I packed a overnight bag just incase we wanted to spend the night. 

Loaded into the van my Nikon Camera, my phone, luggage and all my travel information about Meridian MS.
We programed the GPS but did not want to go in the direction it was taking us.
We decided to drive to Russellville and then program the GPS for Meridian MS.

We took hwy 43 through Hackelburg, in Hamilton hwy 43 becomes hwy 17, through Detroit, Sulligent, in Vernon it becomes hwy 18 crossing into Mississippi on hwy 12 through Steens, to Columbus, MS

Sulligent, AL

In Columbus we stopped at Chick-fal-A for lunch. 
I ordered chicken nuggets, fries, tea and small ice cream. My husband ordered a chicken sandwich, fries, coke. 

Ice Cream, Chicken nuggets, Waffle fries 

In Columbus we took hwy 45 into Meridian, MS. 
A rough highway with noting to see except where log trucks had taken away all the timber that had been cut, left behind was stumps, brush, and spinel trees. 

Birthplace of
Jimmie Rodgers
Born Sept 8, 1897, at Meridian, MS
Known as the "Singing Brakeman," Rodger's recordings of
Southern blues and ballads greatly
contributed to the world~wide
popularity of a distinctly American musical form. 

Our first stop was the Jimmy Rodgers Museum/Birth home. 
We watch a ten minute film about the early life of Jimmy Rodgers.
Jimmy's  father worked for the railroad.
Jimmy's mother died at a early age of TB, as did Jimmie. 

Our curator gave us a history lesson on the Jimmy Rodgers guitar.
The guitar was opened for display behind a glass case, in a temperature controlled vault. 

The Original Jimmie Rodgers Guitar
Presented to Jimmie Rodgers in Washington DC by Mr C Fredrick Martin, President of The Martin Guitar Co July 27, 1928. This specially made guitar is also seen in the worlds famous "thumbs u" photographs
courtesy Anita Rodgers Court 

Hanging on the wall next to the curators counter was a quilt with history
191 Music Artist were sent three or four bow ties with the request for a signature.
This quilt was to be a tribute to Jimmy Rodgers legacy.
Each and every bow tie was returned with the signature of that artist.
Each bow tie, with its own unique color and signature was placed on a square block.
Ten blocks across and nineteen in length except for one block at the top giving information about the quilt. 
There were two quilts made this one and one given to Elvis Presley.

There were letters, photograph, suits, furniture, albums, and so much more information about the wonderful gifted Jimmy Rodgers.

Well dressed Jimmy Rodgers

We took pictures outside of the engine and caboose.

His is the music of America.
He sang the songs of the people he loved,
of a young nation growing strong.
His was an American of Glistening rails,
thundering boxcars and rain-swept nights,
of lonesome prairies, great mountains
and a high blue sky.
He sang of the bayous and the cotton fields,
the heated plains, of the little towns, the
cities, and the winding rivers of America.
We listened, we understood
JIMMIE RODGERS
The singing brakeman- America's Blue Yodeler
HIS MUSIC WILL LIVE FOREVER
dedicated by his many fans and
the Folk Artist of America
May 26, 1953

We rode to the historic downtown area of Meridian to the walk of honor to see 
Hartley Peavey, Mac McAnally, Moe Bandy, Walt Anderson and International Sweethearts of Rhythm Musician which were located in the Dumont Plaza Park across from the famous Riley center.

A performing arts center, a conference center, an educational center, a major downtown restoration project these are all accurate ways to describe the MSU Riley

Hartley Peavey

Mac McAnally

Moe Bandy

Walter Anderson

 International Sweethearts of Rhythm Musician

Distributed throughout the town of Meridian were Carousel Horses.

This Carousel Horse in next to the old Train Depot.

I took pictures of several Blues Markers, 
On 5th street and 22 avenue was " Country Music Comes of Age."
On 1901 Front Street was "Jimmie Rodgers & The Blues", & Moe Bandy."
Corner of 7th street and 23 avenue was Meridian Rhythm & blues and Soul Music."
At Oak Grove Cemetery was Jimmy Rodgers Father of Country Music.

Our last stop before getting onto I20 to head home was the Oak Grove Cemetery to see where they lay Jimmie after his death, which was nothing fancy, only a small stone rock.

"Jimmie"
James Charles Rodgers
Sept 8, 1897
May 26, 1933
American Blue Yodeler 

We stopped at Outback in Tuscaloosa, Alabama at 6:13 PM where I enjoyed a bowl of Taco Soup.

Taco Soup

My husband ordered a hamburger.
We were home by 9:30 both exhausted from the days travels.