Governer Robert Burns Lindsay and daughter Maud McKnight Lindsey Historic Markers

Maud Lindsey's home as it looks today

 Governor Robert Burns Lindsey July 4, 1824-Feb 13, 1902 

A native of Lochmaben, Scotland, Robert Burns Lindsey was Alabama's only foreign-born governor. He immigrated to North Carolina in 1844 and relocated to Tuscumboa in 1849, where he worked as a teacher and read law, obtaining admittance to the Alabama Bar in 1852. The following year, residents of Franklin County elected him to the Alabama House of Representatives. In 1854, Lindsay married Sarah Miller Winston, sister to John Anthony Winston, who served as governor from 1853 to 1857. the couple had nine children, four of whom survived to adulthood, among them educator and author Maud McKnight Lindsey (see other side). 

In 857, Lindsay won the election to the Alabama Senate. In 1861, he joined Colonel Philp D. Roddey's Fourth Alabama Cavalry, CSA. At war's end, voters returned him to the Alabama Senate. In 1870, Lindsey became the first Democrat elected governor of Alabama since the end of the Civil War. His turbulent two-year there in office amidst Reconstruction was beset by economic and political difficulties, compounded by the failure of a state-supported railroad venture. Declining to run for reelection in 1872, Lindsey returned to Tuscumbia, where he continued a limited law practice, hampered by ill health, until his death. 

Sponsored by the Maud Lindsay Study Club and The Colbert County Historical Landmarks Foundation Alabama Historical Association 2022.

Maud McKnight Lindsay
May 13, 1874-May 30, 1941

International educator and author Maud Lindsay was born at this home, then a frame structure in 1874. She was the daughter of Governor Robert B. Lindsay (see other side) and Sarah M. Winston Lindsey. 

In 1898, after working in a private kindergarten in Tuscumbia, "Mis Maud" crossed social barriers and established Alabama's first free kindergarten program in the working-class cotton mill district of East Florence. 

She remained the teacher and principal of the school for more than four decades. In 1900, Milton Bradley Company published Lindsay's first book. Mother Stories. She subsequently authored sixteen additional works, many of which reflected her childhood experiences in Alabama. Although she had no formal higher education, Lindsay became a sought-after speaker.

She lectured on the art of storytelling at New York University. Rebuffing many offers to teach elsewhere, including an invitation from renowned Italian educator Maria Montessori, Lindsey chose to remain in Alabama. Her childhood friend Helen Keller described her as "one of the truly progressive women of the southland, and an example of Alabama's true wealth and greatness." Lindsay was inducted into the Alabama Women's Hall of Fame in 1995. 

Maud Lindsey Kindergarten Florence, Alabama 

Maud McKnight Lindsey 
The Florence Free Kindergarten 

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

 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 

2023 Dec 9, Dickens of Christmas Yall Come!

Making Smores

 We walked downtown Tuscumbia stopping to make smores while we were eating William and his girlfriend came by. 

The carriage being pulled by Clyde's

Took pictures of the carriages being pulled by Clyde’s Horses. We saw several characters from Dickens Christmas Carrol, and Santa Clause. We stopped to pet the Lama, sheep, Zebra, goats, and Camel. 

Dickens Characters

Petting Zoo

We also went to the Tennessee Valley Art Museum Christmas Mart. Lots of beautiful handmade items for sale. Hubby sat in the car while I toured Ivy Green. 

Ivy Green Birth Home of Helen Keller

Christmas at Ivy Green

Helen Keller and her teacher Anne Sullivan

I was told the history of Helen Keller and her home Ivy Green.  We also bought some candy(5 packages receep cups) and an upside umbrella for it was raining and we didn't want to get wet.

We finished the day with lunch at Whataburgers. A hamburger with fries and soda. 

Whataburger with french fries. 

Growing up in the Shoals

Earline in Story-Land was enjoyed by many children in the Shoals Area including myself, for over 22 years.
All I remember about Earline Burns was her television show and where she lived.
Both my grandparents lived in Sheffield and one of my grandparents went to Church not too far from Earline's house.
We moved to Florence in 1962, sometimes when we would travel to Sheffield we would go by  Earline's house on Hatch Blvd., but most of the time we would travel down second street.
I remember seeing her blue Cadillac Convertible sitting in front of her small pink house, which has been torn down.
My parents lived in downtown Sheffield when they married and moved to Tuscumbia when I was about 2 1/2.
Entertainment was watching a movie on the big screen either at the Theater or a Drive-in.
I saw many movies at the Colbert Theater, Tuscumbia Theater, Norwood Theater, Shoals Theater, Wilson Drive-In, and Joy-Land Drive-In.
My siblings and I would walk to the Shoals Theater during the summer months and watch a movie for ten cents.
I was always small for my age and could get into the theater for the cost of a child long after I was passed that age.
I remember buck's night at the Drive-In.
We would go around the neighborhood filling the car full of neighborhood kids.
We could all get into the movies for one dollar a carload.

I don't remember listening to the radio but we did own a black-and-white TV.
Dad worked for a Mr. Hensley Jarrett hauling large power poles. Our TV Antenna was atop one of those tall poles. I remember the pole had spikes and dad climbing to the top to install the Antenna and the wires running into the house to the rabbit ears sitting atop the TV.
We could pick up all the local channels.

We watched shows like Gunsmoke, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, The Bob Hope Show, Calling all Cars, The Cisco Kid, Death Valley Days, Dragnet,  & The Lone Ranger.
Since I never listened to the radio, I did not know that many of the television show that I watched were once live radio shows.

Many famous people came to the Shoals in those early years, but growing up in the Shoals they were just another face in the crowd.

When I was a teenager, just turned sixteen,  I worked at Shockley's Pancake house, which was across the street from Holiday Inn, where many of the famous entertainers stayed when they were in town.

I served the Four Seasons, and I  had no clue who they were.
As a working girl who never listened to the radio, I had no clue who came into our restaurant.

Now that I am older, I am learning so much about the Shoals Area that I have been a part of.

I walked the streets of Florence, Sheffield, & Tuscumbia and  I spent many hours at Spring Park.

I remember dad bringing home a trunk that he had gotten from the Helen Keller Home, that had been thrown away.
It had several books inside the trunk, one was a Blue Hard Back Brothers Grimms Fairy Tale Book.
I read that book many times.
When we moved to Florence in the early 1960s the Fairy Tale Book must have been thrown away because I never saw it again.

I remember going to Spring Park riding the train, and playing on all the playground equipment, which was like an amusement park.
There was a swimming pool just up the street and inside the park was a large wading pool.
The park fell into disarray for many years and its glory days are gone forever.

I remember the Liberty's, & A & P Supermarkets where mom shopped, they gave S & H Green Trading Stamps, Plaid Stamps, and Top Value Stamps just for shopping at their stores.
When collected into multiple books we would take them to the Trading stamp store for merchandise.

So many things we no longer have, as time changes.
We now have a cell phones, no sharing party lines, and phones hanging on the wall.
We no longer use an outhouse, we now have portlets.
We no longer have to heat the house up to cook, we have a microwave and convection ovens.
We no longer use glass, everything comes in plastic.

Gasoline is no longer 100% and costs 25 cents a gallon.
A new Corvette fully loaded costs over 80,000 dollars.

In the next twenty years, many will be living in Space.

One hundred years sounds like a lifetime.
When I was a kid, I thought 30 was old, now one hundred doesn't sound quite that old.

2015 ~ Saturday, June 27, Helen Keller Festival Tuscumbia, Alabama

Today I went to the Car Show in Tuscumbia were on display was a variety of antique cars, 
White & black Rally Sport Camaro, black Belair trimmed in white, several MGB's, Corvettes, trucks and some motorcycles. There were Mustangs, Camaro's, Chevrolets, & Fords. 

Car Show Mustangs 

Driving down Main St to be Parked.

Volkswagen

The New Ford V8 Coupe Utility 

I took the hour walking tour, our guide talked about the founding of Tuscumbia. He talked about the founding of the railroad, the many hotels that were in Tuscumbia because of the Railroad, the rival between Colbert County and Lauderdale County.

The Colbert County Reporter 

The Train Depot and Museum 

Why the people from Tuscumbia would travel by train to Decatur to the bank, and shop instead of Florence.
John Coffee a surveyor laid out the founding of Tuscumbia in a Commons. Tuscumbia was sold to the US Government by the Indians.
Our guide talked about the different churches on Dickson Street that started out as Main Street.

St Johns Episcopal Church on Dickson Street 

Walking group 

House behind St Johns Episcopal Church on Dickson Street 

Touring Bus 

Walking group

The street where the Cold Water Book Store now is was once Grain Row and Main Street was once Mechanical Row.
This was the main shopping area of Tuscumbia in the early days.
He said the water flowing in Spring park comes from an underground spring and the area was once the hunting grounds for the Indians.

Met this very sweet dog, his owner had him sit and pose for me. So cute, and lovable

Our tour ended at First Presbyterian Church in Tuscumbia where everyone was invited inside to listen to a Helen Keller Festival Mini Concert featuring Dinie Stone pianist, Blair Reinlie oboist, & the great, great, great-nieces and nephews of Helen Keller. 

First Presbyterian Church in Tuscumbia 

First Presbyterian Church in Tuscumbia 1824-1904

Dinie Stone pianist, Blair Reinlie oboist, & the great, great, great-nieces and nephews of Helen Keller. 

Guitar player

The great, great, great-nieces of Helen Keller she did  a solo accompanied by guitar

Blair Reinlie oboist

Helen Keller born June 27, 1880, died June 1, 1968 "Happy Birthday Helen".
"Once I knew only darkness and stillness... my life was without past or future... but a little word from the finger of another fell into my hand that clutched at emptiness, and my heart leaped to the rapture of living."
Helen Keller
Songs 
Over the rainbow, Etude, To a wild Rose, We gather, We praise, The Lord is in His Holy Temple, Surely The Presence of the Lord is in this place  In your arms Lord Jesus Christ, Children of the Heavenly Father, Down at the River we shall gather, Let us break bread together and remember you, Behold the lamb, Amazing Grace, I dream a dream, You raise me up, God Bless the USA, God Bless America.
Everyone joined in singing God Bless America.
After the concert, everyone was invited for light refreshments.

I stopped at the Tuscumbia Art Museum to view the art on display by disabling students of Alabama and watercolor paintings from all over the USA. There were some very interesting pieces on display. 
One of the volunteers came into the museum with a notebook about the art and we discuss several pieces. 
Ate lunch at Ruby Tuesday with two new friends I met at the Art Museum. I was telling my husband about my day, he laughed and said nothing you do surprises me.