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

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

We visited the former Popular Street Christian Church, now Wood Avenue Church of Christ (1970), 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 Tombigee St and Popular Streets. 

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

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church 630 N Poplar St
Florence, AL

From Cavalary Fellow Ship, we walked several blocks up Popular St to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church (1938)630 N. Popular St.

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), 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 a few blocks from Tennessee Valley Community Church, which faces Pine St and North Seminary St. 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) 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.

There were a couple of children enjoying the sprinkles 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. 

Hubby ordered a ham and cheese sandwich with chocolates 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 there was a traffic jam on Highway 72, where a lot of construction was taking place. 

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

 

The Dwarf's off to Florida

The mother (Sneezy) strapped the little girl (Happy) into her car seat for a twelve-hour ride to Orlando, Florida.

The van was loaded with Happy's feeding pump, wheelchair, pampers, clothes, snacks, rolls of coins, medicine, and, of course, her family, which included her Mother, Sneezy, her brother (Grumpy), her sister (Sleepy), and her grandmother (Dopy).

The family held a bake sale to raise money for the trip and sent requests to churches and businesses.

Happy had two massive strokes at the age of six months and was continually having seizures.

The family hoped that physical therapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy would make a difference in Happy's life. 

The family left home at 7:30 P.M., by 10 P.M., and the children were fast asleep.

By one p.m., Sneezy was getting sleepy, so Dopy took over driving. Dopy did not want to fall asleep, so she stopped at every rest area and bought a Diet Mountain Dew to keep her awake.

The Ronald McDonald House would be the family's home for four weeks.

Happy, Grumpy, and Sleepy would be loaded into the van, usually with breakfast in hand or in a lunch bag.

Sneezy ate breakfast during her one-hour drive to Melbourne in early morning traffic.

Every morning, Dopy would take out the map for directions, count out the coins for the three toll booths, and try to keep Happy, Grumpy, and Sleepy contented.

Happy had physical therapy from nine a.m. until noon every day, and by the end of the morning, she was no longer happy.

The family had a break for lunch, and after lunch, Happy would receive Hyper-Beric Oxygen therapy.

During the first week, Sneezy had an ear infection, so she could not get into the oxygen tank with Happy.

Needless to say, the job fell to Dopy.

Happy had tubes in her ears so she did not feel the pressure as they filled the tank with oxygen.

There was no therapy for Happy in the afternoons and on weekends.

The family received complimentary tickets from several places in and around the Orlando area because Sneezy had written about Happy's much-needed therapy.

The family was caught in a rainstorm while visiting  Gator-Land; thank God no gators floated out of the ponds.

The Airboat Ride made a horribly loud sound, so everyone on the boat had to wear earmuffs as they rode through the glades looking for alligators.

Sleepy lost one of her shoes and could not ride one of the roller coasters at Universal Studios. She was furious.

Dixie Stampede treated the family to a free meal and show.

Grumpy and Sleepy chased chickens during the show.

The family's picture was taken with the Dixie Stampede performing group at the end. 

Happy was given the book of many colors written by Dolly Pardon.

Grumpy, Sleepy, Sneezy, and Dopy spent many hours waiting for Happy to get therapy. They were rewarded with lots of fun things to do, but now it was time for the Happy trio to travel home.