Showing posts with label tours. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tours. Show all posts

Friday, April 23, 2021

2021 April 3, Florence Cemetery Walking Tour, UNA, McFarland Park, Wilson Dam, & Ava Florence, Alabama

The tour will begin at 705 East College Street led by Harry Wallace. The tour of the Florence Cemetery established in 18181 features many unique headstones and famous gravesites among the rolling hills and towering trees. 
The cemetery contains the graves of many early settlers, two governors, prominent leaders and families, and many unknown CSA soldiers.
Harry Wallace our guide
Blooming Cherry Trees 
McFarland Par 
After the walking tour, I stopped at Wilson Park to see the blooming cherry trees. 
Next, I went to UNA to see the newly remodeled fountain. There were people there taking pictures for Graduation. Leo the lion was basking in the sun and he roared several times. Normally he just lays quietly but today he must have been hungry.
LEO the Lion at UNA
Fountain at UNA 
Ava riding her car 
I rode to McFarland Park and stopped for a few pictures. The River was down compared to what it had been but still was peeking at the banks. One side of the park was closed because of flooding. There were a lot of people at the park, people were parked everywhere even on the banks of the road. 

I stopped at River Heritage Park and walked to see the floodgates at Wilson Dam. The Tennessee River was raging through. 

On my way home I stopped to check on my son Mike he had surgery on his back. He was outside with his brother Andy. Ava came outside and was riding her car. Saw a Yellow Monarch Butterfly landing on the yellow dandelions. 
I had a very interesting day.

Sunday, January 12, 2020

2002-2019, Trolley, Strolls and Walking Tours

2002 Jun 3,  Henry Pigeon Key Trolley Express Marathon, Fl 
2002 Jun 4,  Old Town Trolley Tour Key West, Fl
2004 May 25, Backlot Tour Disney MGM 
2006 Jul 9,  Scenic Boat Tour Winter Park, Fl

2009

2009 Jun 6,  Walking tour Wood Ave. Florence, AL Lee Freeman
2009 Jun 13, Walking Tour Seminary St Florence, AL with Billy Warren
The North Court Street and Seminary street Tour will feature Rogers Hall, Coby Hall, the Governor O'Neal Home, Connor Place, Wakefield, the Robert Dean Martin Home, the Medical Arts Building Pope's Tavern, two Sears & Roebuck houses, and many other homes.
2009 Jun 20, Walking Tour Florence Cemetery AL.with Harry Wallace
2009 Jun 27, Forks of Cypress Walking Tour Florence, AL Harry Wallace
The Forks of Cypress Plantation was one of the oldest Antebellum mansions in Alabama. It was built in 1822 by James Jackson, one of the first settlers in Lauderdale County and a friend of Andrew Jackson & Jackson Cemetery.


2009 Sep 7, Walking Tour with Outlaw Tom Clark Florence, AL with Lee Freeman
2009 Oct 18, Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll Huntsville, AL 
The lives of over 65 notables buried in Maple Hill have been carefully researched, remembered, and told by volunteers. Five governors and soldiers from every war will be remembered, as well as outstanding citizens and those of some notoriety who shaped Huntsville's future.

2009 Oct 25, Ghost Walking Tour Florence, AL Deborah Glass
2009 Nov  7, Hiking in the Dismals Red Bay, Al 
2009 Dec 17, Calvary Fellowship Church Walking Tour Florence, Al
2009 Dec 17, Wood Avenue Church of Christ Walking Tour Florence, Al  
2009 Dec 17, First Presbyterian Church Walking Tour Florence, Al 
2009 Dec 17, First United Methodist Church Walking Tour Florence, Al
2009 Dec 17, Trinity Episcopal Church Walking Tour Florence, Al
2009 Dec 6,  Christmas Mooresville, AL Walking Tour w/Madison, Marcus 

2010 

2010 Mar 22, Walnut Street Walking Tour Florence, AL Billy Warren  The Walnut Street Historic District boasts tree-lined sidewalks, diverse architecture, and elegant homes.
2010 May 10, Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll Huntsville, AL

Favorite characters Tallulah Bankhead and Mollie Teal drew their typical large crowds as Bankhead, the legendary actress, visited her mother's grave and Teal, a madam whose establishment became the first Huntsville Hospital, discussed her life.

Volunteer Jan Dorning also drew a large crowd as Elizabeth Dale Gibbons Flanagan Jeffries High Brown Routt, known as the "Black Widow of Hazel Green." Her second of six husbands is buried in the cemetery.

2010 Jun 5,  Walking Tour of Homes Huntsville, AL 
2010 Jun 12, Delano Walking Tour Decatur, AL 
2010 Aug 12, Historic Edenton, N.C. Trolley Tours

2010 Oct 10, Maple Cemetery Stroll HUNTSVILLE, AL

2012

2012 Sep 13, Freedom Trail Guided Tour Boston, MA

2013

2013 Apr 6,  Walking Tour Tuscumbia, AL 
2013 Apr 13, Walking Tour Homes and Earth Day Sheffield, AL Jimmy Austin 
2013 Apr 20, Walking Tour Walnut Street Florence, AL Billy Warren
2013 Oct 13, Maple Hill Cemetery stroll Huntsville, AL 
Highlights from the Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll presented by the Huntsville Pilgrimage Association and the City of Huntsville. This year's characters highlighted are Maria Howard Weeden, COL Daniel R. Hundley, Thomas Freeman, Sheriff Stephen Neal, Susan Bradley Johnson, and Mammy Chapman. Portrayers include J.W. Kennedy, Jon Stieglitz, Claire Aiello, Dr. Patricia Sims, Linda Wright Riley, and James Henley. The Stroll is the effort of the HPA to restore headstones, monuments, and memories of the historic Maple Hill Cemetery.
2013 Oct 19, Walking Tour Rogersville, AL 
2013 Nov 16, Walking Tour Civil War Florence, Al (Lee Freeman)
2013 Dec 18, Callaway Gardens Trolley Tour Pine Mountain, Ga

2014

2014 Apr 5,  Walking Tour North Montgomery Sheffield, AL Homes of prominent people of Sheffield. Jimmy Austin 
2014 Jul 20, Walking Tour Lovecraft College Hill Providence, RI
2014 Nov 15, Footsteps of the Blue & Gray Walking Tour Florence, AL (Lee Freeman)

2015

2015 Apr 11, Walking Tour Tuscumbia & Car Show AL
2015 Apr 18, Walking Tour Major Samuel Jones Tuscumbia & Civil War 
Trolley Tour Florence, AL
2015 Apr 25, Walking Tour Tuscumbia Oakwood Cemetery AL
2015 May 9,  Trolley Tour Fame, Music Hall of Fame, 3614 Swamper (Judy Hood)
2015 Jun 27, Tuscumbia Tour & Music Church of Helen Keller
2015 Nov 28, Trolley Tour Biloxi, MS

2016

2016 Apr 9,  Historic Downtown Square Walking Tour Athens, AL
2016 Apr 16, Walking Tour UNA Campus Florence, AL Thomas Hale 
The Historic University of North Alabama campus tour will feature iconic buildings such as Wesleyan Hall which pre-dates the Civil War and the Memorial Amphitheater which is a memorial to UNA students who served in the military during war. A tour of UNA’s campus would not be complete without stopping by to see the impressive habitat of the university’s lion mascots. The tour will be led by Thomas Hale.
2016 Apr 23, Historic Home TROLLEY Tour South Pittsburg, TN (Cornbread festival)
2016 Apr 17, Historic Athens Cemetery Stroll ATHENS, AL The event is presented by the Athens-Limestone County Tourism, Order of the Confederate Rose, and Sons of the Confederate Veterans.
2016 Jun 25, Walking Tour Tuscumbia & Church
2016 July 23, Up From Slavery Trolley Tour with Lee Freeman
This will be an educational and entertaining tour that will include stops at historically African American churches, schools, and local businesses.

2017

2017 Apr 1,  Historic Beaty District Walking Tour Athens, AL with Billy Ward 
2017 Apr 8,  Historic Houston District Walking Tour Athens, AL
2017 Apr 15, Church Walking Tour Decatur, AL  with Phil Wirey
2017 Apr 22, Larimore House Florence, Al Walking Tour with Billy Warren
2017 Apr 23, Athens City Cemetery Stroll Athens, AL The event is presented by the Athens-Limestone County Tourism, Order of the Confederate Rose, and Sons of the Confederate Veterans.
Many local, well-known faces will be partaking in the storytelling during the day’s event including Billy Ward, Dr. Robert Glenn, Karen Middleton, Rebekah Davis, Deborah Kohlase, Glenn Hall, Peggy Allen Towns, Frank Travis, and many more.  Citizens throughout North Alabama have answered the call to bring Limestone County’s history to life.
2017 Apr 29, Historic Bank Street Decatur, Al
2017 Dec 10, Bethlehem Walk Mable Hill Baptist Church Ardmore, Al
Children, and adults, will enjoy the live menagerie of animals and all ages will appreciate the story from the actors who clad themselves in robes, headdresses, armor, and leather who pause to tell the tale to travelers. 

2018 

2018 Apr 7,  Wilson Park, Federal Courtroom, Kennedy-Douglas Walking Tour Florence, Al Billy Warren
2018 Apr 21, Decatur Veterans Dedication at Train Depot Decatur, Al
2018 Apr 28, Walking Tour Athens State University Library, Delmore Museum and Founders Hall Athens, Al
2018 Aug 7,  Trolley Tour Little Rock, Arkansas
2028 Nov 3, Fork of Cypress Tour with Harry Wallace
2018 Nov 4,  Athens City Cemetery Stroll Athens, AL

2019

2019 Apr 6,  Sheffield, AL Walking Tour of Historic Homes Jimmy Austin The free tour begins at 10 a.m. at Sheffield City Hall, 600 N. Montgomery Ave. The 2-hour tour will focus on historic homes along Montgomery Ave. 

2019 Apr 27, Historic Downtown Walking Tour Sheffield, AL Jimmy AustinThe free tour begins at 10 a.m. at Sheffield City Hall, 600 N. Montgomery Ave. The 2-hour tour will focus on historic commercial buildings along Montgomery Ave. 

2019 May 23, Trolley Tour Faith of our Fathers Churches Tuscumbia, Al
2019 May 25, Music Trolley Tour Sheffield with Colbert Tourism "We Rock the World" Muscle Shoals Sound, Cypress Moon, & Earl Montgomery Museum (Colbert Tourism)
2019 Oct 19, Finding Huntsville, AL Walking Tour with Carol Cordori

2021

2021 Apr 3,  Florence, AL Cemetery Walking Tour with Harry Wallace 
The tour of the Florence City Cemetery, established in 1818, features many unique headstones and famous grave sites among the rolling hills and towering trees. Florence City Cemetery contains graves belonging to early settlers, two former governors in the O'Neal family, along with other prominent community leaders and families.  

2021 Apr 10, Sheffield, AL  Downtown Walking Tour Jimmy Austin 
The April 10 and 24 tours will focus on businesses along Montgomery Avenue south of City Hall.

2021 Apr 17, Mooresville, Alabama Walking Tour with Shirley or Susan Mooresville is the oldest town in Alabama with the oldest post office still in operation. Participants can tour the six streets of homes and see the famous 1818 Farm. The entire 1-square-mile town of Mooresville is on the National Historical Registry.


2021 Apr 24, Donnell House Athens, Alabama Tour Built in 1845, it served as the headquarters for Union Colonel Ivan Turchin during the infamous Sack of Athens in 1862 guide Alice Tiller 

2021 May 31, Wildflower Hike Joe Wheeler with Sam Woodford JWSP
2021 Sep 16, Paw Paw Patch Hike Joe Wheeler JWSP Sam Woodford
2021 Oct 15, Mushroom Hike Joe Wheeler JWSP Sam Woodford

2022

2022 Jan 15, First Day Hike Joe Wheeler Multi-Use Trail JWSP Sam Woodford
2022 Feb 19, Multi-Purpose Hike Joe Wheeler JWSP Sam Woodford

2022 Apr 9,  Moulton, Alabama Walking Tour (Marvin Jackson,  Nita Marlboro led the discussion at Rosenwald School, Lela Reeves at Freeman Tabernacle, Louise Jackson at Byler Road Church of Christ, and Carolyn Fletcher guided the tour to Smith Chapel)

2022 Apr 16, Decatur, AL Cemetery Walking Tour with Phil Wirey
Oakwood Cemetery, locally known as the Decatur City Cemetery, has been the final repository of Decatur’s culture and history since 1855. The approximately fifty-acre burial ground, founded by the Calvin Brown family, a family which has laid to rest five generations of Decatur residents, is the final home of many of Decatur’s most prominent, and interesting, citizens. There are more than two dozen notable burials in the cemetery. The tour begins at the chapel in the cemetery located at 1001 Wilson St. NW.

2022 Apr 23, Madison, AL Historic District Walking Tour with Gerald Clark 
2022 Apr 30, UNA Walking Tour with Billy Warren FLORENCE, AL 
UNA Campus: The tour will begin in front of the Harrison Plaza Fountain and be led by Billy Warren, City Historian at 10:00 a.m.The
The Historic University of North Alabama campus tour will feature iconic buildings such as Wesleyan Hall which pre-dates the Civil War and the Memorial Amphitheater which is a memorial to UNA students who served in the military during the war. 

2022 Apr 30, Town Creek, Alabama Walking Tour 
2022 May 21, Champion Hiking Trail Joe Wheeler JWSP Sam Woodford
2022 June 11, Walnut Street Architecture Walking Tour with BILLY WARREN FLORENCE, AL
2022 Sep 24, Paw Paw Patch Hike JWSP Sam Woodford
2022 Oct 24, Hiking JWSP Sam Woodford
2022 Oct 30, UNA Class of History Tours of Maple, Cypress Hills, and Woodland Homes WITH HARRY WALLACE FLORENCE, AL 

2023

2023 Apr 15, Cullman, AL Walking Tour (Our tour guide was Ben Johnson South(a descendant of Creek Indians). 

2023 Apr 29, Decatur, AL Garden Tour, and Historic Homes Tour led by Historic Decatur Association (The tour begins at Westminster Presbyterian Church, located at 801 Jackson St, SE. )

2023 Oct 22, Historic Trolley Tours Sheffield, Al Jimmy Austin
2023 NOV 4, ALL SAINTS WALKING TOUR FLORENCE, AL with Lee Freeman

2024

2024 APR 6, WALKING TOUR TWICKENHAM HUNTSVILLE, AL led by  Denise Swain
2023 Apr 20, Courtland Walking Tour Courtland, AL



Monday, May 1, 2017

2017 April Events

April 1, Saturday -Beaty Walking Tour Athens 10-11AM
Beaty Walking Tour Athens with Billy Ward

April 4, Tuesday, B-12 Shots

On April 5, Wednesday, May brother-in-law passed away (Robert Haddock)

April 6, Thursday, Kept Ava Grace

Ava Grace in PJ's 
Storytime 

April 7, Friday, Took Ava Grace to Story-time at Florence Library 10:30-11:30AM

April 8, Saturday, Houston Walking Tour Athens 10-11AM, Rogers Car Show & Funeral 2:30PM
Houston Walking Tour Athens

April 10, Monday Doctor Appointment 3:50PM
April 11, Tuesday, B-12 Shots
April 12, Wednesday, Full Moon
April 14, Friday, Worked bookstore & Passover Sader Meal

Passover Sader Meal

April 15, Saturday, Church History Walking Tour Decatur
Church History Walking Tour Decatur

April 17, Monday, Kept  Ava Grace

Ava Grace

Covered Bridge Park Cullman

April 18, Tuesday, B-12 Shots & Cullman Covered Bridge Park with Ava Grace
Playtime at Florence Library

April 21, Friday, Took Ava Grace to Story and Music at Florence Library, River Heritage Park, and Chick-fil-A 

April 22, Saturday, Toured the Larimore House with tour guide Billy Warren 

Larimore House 
April 23, Sunday, Athens Character Cemetery Stroll

Athens Character Cemetery Stroll
April 24, Monday, Ophthalmology and swimming pool repairs

April 25, Tuesday, B-12 Shots, swimming pool liner installed

Swimming Pool Liner
April 26, Wednesday, Filled the swimming pool, and kept Ava Grace

April 27, Thursday, Kept Ava Grace

April 28, Friday, Book Talk at Visitor Center Florence with Jerry Masters "Hangin by my knees from a tree. 3-4PM
Florence Library Edwin Bridges talked about his book "Alabama The Making an American State"2-3PM

April 29, Saturday, Decatur Bank Street and Archives Walking Tour Decatur & Dancing lessons

Decatur Bank Street and Archives Walking Tour 

April 30, Sunday, Wished two of my granddaughters Happy Birthday




Tuesday, April 11, 2017

👣👣👣👣 2017 April 1 & 8, Walking Tours in Athens, Alabama

April Walking Tours 

On April 1, Saturday, I drove to the Visitor Center in Athens to join them on a Walking Tour.
There were sign-up sheets for the following tours. 
1. Athens University Historic Tour WITH ANNA GIBBS
2. Robert Beaty Historic Street Tour BILLY WARD
3. George S. Houston Historic Street Tour REBEKAH DAVIS
4. Athens Veterans Museum
5. Athens Cemetery JIMMY HILL OR WM PEPPER
6. Historic Downtown Athens BUZZ ESTES 
At 10:00AM everyone gathered in front of the Visitor for a group picture, then we disbursed into groups and began our tour. 

I chose the Robert Beaty Historic District Street Walking tour, led by Billy Ward. Mr. Ward was dressed like a southern gentleman, he was wearing a top hat, tailored a suit, and carrying a cane.

We saw many Azaleas, dogwood trees, and other blooming bushes as we walked along the sidewalk, stopping to listen to Mr. Ward tell us interesting stories about the many historic homes. 
Historic Home 
Historic Home in Beaty District 

The Robert Beaty Historic District is located in Athens, Alabama. Beaty was one of the original founders of Athens. Beaty was an Irish immigrant who first settled in Virginia.
Beaty purchased about 160 acres around a spring. Beaty’s Federal-style home was completed in 1826. The District contains several homes in the Federal, Greek Revival, Italianate, Eastlake, Victorian, and Spanish Colonial Revival Styles. 
1984 the district was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Our last stop was the historic home of Billy Ward.
Billy invited everyone into his historic home, and we walked through the ground-level rooms. 
I walked back to the Visitor Center stopping at Creek at Big Spring Park to take pictures of the goldfish and ducks. 

Ducks at Big Spring Park Athens
Ate a side salad from Zaxby’s for lunch before driving home

On April 8, Saturday, I drove to the Visitor Center in Athens to join them on a Walking Tour.
There were sign-up sheets for the following tours. 
1. Athens University Historic Tour WITH ANNA GIBBS
2. Robert Beaty Historic Street Tour BILLY WARD
3. George S. Houston Historic Street Tour REBEKAH DAVIS
4. Athens Veterans Museum
5. Athens Cemetery JIMMY HILL OR WM PEPPER
6. Historic Downtown Athens BUZZ ESTES 
First Christian Church where we parked
Visitor Center Group that toured different sites

At 10:00AM everyone gathered in front of the Visitor for a group picture, then we disbursed into groups and began our tour. 
This time I chose the George S. Houston Historic Street Tour led by Rebekah Davis and my husband came with me.
This time we had to take the car and park in the parking lot across the street from the First Christian Church.
Luke Pryor Historic Home 
 Historic Home

George S. Houston Memorial Public Library & Limestone County Museum Historical Society. 
Inside the Houston Library, we saw a 1944 Certificate of Restoration and appraisal pump organ and melodions, six quilts, a wooden round table, five velvet seat-covered chairs, a green sofa, a fireplace with a white mantle around it, a spinning wheel, several wooden chairs, and rockers, a picture of Robert E Lee, a Goth bust pano with music book Constancy Romance for Piano by Wm Fink with Mary E Mason dated Nov 21, 1898, written on the top of the book, boxes on top of boxes of book, walls badly in need of repairs and two sets of staircases. 
The house/library was a white two-story home with four large wooden columns, green shutters, and a triangle roof that covered the balcony and porch. 
Azaleas and shrubs lined the sidewalk leading up to the front door.
The yard was full of blooming dogwood trees, and magnolia trees 
The George S. Houston Historic District lies to the West and north of the public square where some of Athens's most prominent people lived.

Some of the historic homes that we saw were Hendricks, Bailey Hamilton Home ca 1919, Luke Pryer Home, Gibes, Powers, Christopher Home ca 1920, Hayden, Boston Home, Caughran, McCormick, Patton ca 1935, Stanford, Lauderdale 1969, Tilman Jeffery ca 1913, Martin Malone Johnson #13 1821 home, & Hendrix, Alexander 1937

Only five homes are remaining from the antebellum period. Between 1908 and 1939, such as the American Four Squares, bungalows, cottages, some Tudor Revival, and some Colonial Revival. The Neoclassical style First Methodist Church was built in 1925 and a hospital was built but later turned into apartments. 
This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
Governor George S Houston's Home Marker 
Governor George S Houston's Home Marker 
George S. Houston/Home/The Houston Memorial Library


This house was purchased by George S. Houston in 1845 and was his home until his death here on 31st December 1879. Houston served the people of Alabama in public office for thirty-six years. His long and distinguished political career began in 1832 and included; one term in the Alabama State Legislature, three terms as circuit solicitor, nine terms in the U. S. House of Representatives, two terms as Governor of Alabama, and he was twice elected to the U. S. Senate. Due to his conservative fiscal policies while in Congress, he was known as "The Watchdog of the Treasury".

Houston's most notable service to Alabama was during his two terms as governor. For almost a decade after the Civil War, the people of Alabama suffered under the rule of Radical Reconstructionists.

(Back):
In 1874 the white citizens of Alabama united behind Houston in his bid for the governor's office. His election as a Democrat returned self-rule to Alabama. During his two terms, the state's huge debt was reduced, property owners were protected from excessive taxation, and many other reforms were enacted that brought stability to the state.

After Houston's death, his home was occupied only occasionally until 1937 when it was deeded to the City of Athens with some stipulations, one of which was that it should house a library and meeting place for literary and patriotic societies and should be known as "The Houston Memorial Library".

Our next stop is CE Pools, The first weekend in April every year they have a grand opening where they grill hamburgers, chicken, and Hotdogs and Sue cooks her famous banana pudding and Butterfinger cake for their customers.
We stopped for a hamburger, coke, and pie.
Our next stop was the 7th Annual Car, Truck, Tractor, and Cycle Show at TM Rogers High School. 
Car Show TM Rogers
Our last stop was to attend the funeral of my brother-in-law. I cannot say enough good things about him. He was known and loved by many, and he gave of his time and money. He will be greatly missed. 

We picked up dinner at Taco Bell (my husband) and Captain D’s (shrimp for me).
It had been a long day and we both just wanted to relax. 

I hope to add three more April tours to this blog. 

Oct 10-18, 2024 NCL Gem Canada and East Coast Cruise and Excursions

  I had a wonderful time on my NCL Cruise. We stayed at the Westin in Montreal for one night. Then, we took a 3 1/2-hour ride from Montreal ...