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.
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| Road Construction |
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| 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.
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| “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
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| 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.
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| Murals Red Bay |
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| Murals Red Bay |
Down the street at the Red Bay Museum is History Works where you can find local treasure of years gone by.
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| Red Bay Museum |
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| 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.
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| Tammy Wynett Dresses |
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| Tammy Wynett Dresses |
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| 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.
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| Historic Roxy Theater |
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| 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.
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| Littleville |
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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.
