2010 April 13, Tuesday, Indian Mound, Train Tressel and Singing River Park

Tuesday I took two of my grandsons to Indian Mound Museum where we saw on display a collection of American Indian relics dating back over 10,000 years. There were several display cases full of arrowheads that interested my grandsons. The Cherokee, Chickasaw, and Creek once lived in this area until the trail of tears. 
We also watched a short film.

Indian Mound Museum 

The curator said we could walk take the stairs to the top of the Indian Mound. She said to beware of the snake in the grass. She said it was not poison. 
The cost was two dollars each. The museum is opened Tuesday - Saturday from 10:00-4:00PM.

Indian Mound Museum closed in 2015, the building was small and dilapidated.
Not sure if you can access the mound until the new building is built. 
The new building is due to open in October 2016. The artifacts that once was on display is being filtered through. They are only keeping the most important ones. A sash worn by Chickasaw Chief George Colbert will be on display. I cannot wait until the new one opens. 

Historic Marker

There is a historic marker telling the information about the mound. 
Prehistoric Mound (Probably Built between 100 B.C and 400 A.D.)
This is the highest domiciliary mound in the Tennessee Valley. It was probably built between 100 B.C. and 400 A.D. by a prehistoric people of the ancient Woodland Culture. Such mounds served as bases for ceremonial temples or chief's houses. This mound, originally encircled by an earthen wall, contains no burials. It is 43 feet in height. Its base measurements are 310 feet by 230 feet. Its flat top measures 145 feet by 90 feet. Evidence indicates that nearby there were two smaller mounds, villages and cultivated fields.

Climbing the many steps to the top

Port of Florence

The boys and I climbed the many steps to the top.  To the left, we could see the Tennessee River, O'Neal Bridge, and the old train tassel. To our right, we could see the Port of Florence.
We could see barges being unloaded with palettes of goods being delivered to Florence. 
We saw train cars that no longer used the now discarded train tracks that once crossed the Tennessee River. The steps faced by the museum and behind the museum were the Co-Cop.
We waded through the tall grass hoping not to see the friendly snake. 
After taking a few pictures we walked back down the steps.

We crossed the Tennessee River and stopped at the location of the old train trestle on the Colbert County side. 

Walking Trail of the Train Tressel

The Tressel is now a walking trail.
My grandsons and I walked to the end of the Tressel and back. 

The Gate is lock where once trains traveled across the Tennessee River

We walked to the car and crossed the Singing River Bridge back to Lauderdale County.
We stopped at Singing River Park that was filled with blooming dogwoods.
This park has newly built restroom opened to the public except for the winter months when they are locked. 

Sun Dial 

At the bottom of the park is around the concrete slab, almost like a sundial, where you can set and watch the barges go up and down the river. 

My grandsons and I walked down the many steps to the banks of the Tennessee River. It is also handicap accessible. 

Steps and handicap walkway

There are so many fun things you can do with your children and grandchildren. Teach them to love the history of the area where they live. 

2010 April 11, Sunday, History is fun with Grandkids

Sunday morning I took four of my grandchildren to town. It was a beautiful spring day with flowers blooming every. 
We stopped at Wilson Park, the trees were filled with beautiful full pink flowers. 
Water was spouting into the air while droplets were falling back into the fountain. When the wind blew the water would fall on us. 

Wilson Park Fountain

Granddaughters near the flowering trees

Grandson at the Bank 

We walked across the street to take a picture of the Bank that was built as a replica of the Forks of Cypress. My grandson posed for me as I told them about the history of the Forks of Cypress.

We walked down Mobile Street stopping to look at the display window The House of Heroes, a comic book store. 

The House of Heroes

We continued walking down South Court Street stopping in front of the Courthouse.

Grandsons at Courthouse

We walked up North Court Street stopping to take a picture of the horse sculpture

 horse sculpture

We continued walking up North Court Street stopping to take pictures.

Measuring the width of the tree

Stopping for a picture

Finally, we reached UNA and walked across the bridge just off Pine Street.

Crossing the bridge

The grandkids joined arms together and begin singing Follow the Yellow Brick Road. 

Follow the Yellow Brick Road

We stopped to see the sculptures of Romeo and Juliet.

My grandson with Juliet 

We stopped to see the lions UNA and LEO.

Leo & UNA 

We walked to the entrance of UNA and then walked back to Wilson Park.

The University of North Alabama 

We loaded into the van and rode to Spring Park in Tuscumbia where the grandkids enjoyed feeding the ducks. 

Grandkids feeding the ducks

They played on the playgrounds.

Playing on the equipment on the playgrounds

Grandsons at Stage Coach Stop 

We walked down to the waterfalls so the kids could play in the water and to take a few pictures.

Grandson at the falls

Grandkids playing in the water
We walked up to the Stage Coach Stop at the top of the hill of Spring Park a historic site

View of Spring Park from the top of the hill.I had a wonderful time with the grandkids. We went to Wilson & Spring Parks, we walked in downtown Florence to UNA and back to Wilson Park.
Learning can be fun. 

We went home and I grilled hamburgers. 

2010 ~ Sunday, May 23, Bridge Street Centre with granddaughters

I took off two of my granddaughters, Sierra,& Madison, to Bridge Street Centre. 

I parked near the Red Robin Restaurant. 

Bridge Street is beautifully laid out and has a fountain, flower gardens, a variety of stores, a theater, restaurants, a bowling alley, and a hotel. The girls posed for several photos. 

Granddaughters posing for a picture

Granddaughters posing at the fountain 

Standing outside of the NASA store was a spacesuit from NASA. Each one of us put our faces inside the mask of the space and made pictures. 

We went inside the NASA store and looked around at the displays and we talked to the people in the NASA Store. 

NASA Suit 

The man inside the store said in August there will be a day where you can visit NASA.
There were many hands-on displays that the girls enjoyed.

Granddaughter with hands-on displays

We walked to the Apple store and we played on the new IPAD.

We stopped to use the restroom and check out the Station No 2 & The Melting Pot Restaurant.

The girls playing on the escalator 

The girls at the Station No 2 & The Melting Pot Restaurant

Standing at the gate of the Westin Hotel 

We walked into the Black and White Store.

We went to Barnes and Noble where I bought a book to take with me on the plane on my trip to California. (The Time Travelers book one of the Gideon Trilogy.) 

The girls at PF Changs

We went to the Chocolate Crocodile, we each bought a soda. 

It was over 100 + degrees so we were all thirsty. 

I gave the girls my last dollar to buy a Truffle. 

Enjoying a soft drink at the Chocolate Crocodile

Walking back to the car

We walked to the car and I drove us to Cracker Barrel in Madison, where we met hubby for dinner.

I ordered pinto beans, grilled chicken, cornbread, onion, and relish

Madison ordered shrimp, macaroni, and Cheese, with ice tea.

Sierra ordered fried Chicken fingers, macaroni, cheese, and a doctor pepper. 

Hubby ate a bacon cheeseburger and fried apples.

Later that day the girls and I swam in our pool until 8:30PM

Both girls spent the night.

👩‍🍳👩‍🍳👩‍🍳👩‍🍳2016 April 23, Saturday Cornbread Festival South Pittsburg Tennessee

We traveled hwy 72 to Athens and took I-65 to I-565 through Huntsville. We took hwy 72 E, and we passed through several small towns: Brownsboro, Paint Rock, Woodville, Scottsboro, Hollywood, Fackler, Stevenson & Bridge Port Alabama.

Driving to South Pittsburg

We crossed the state line into Tennessee to South Pittsburg.
We arrived around 10:00AM and there was already a crowd of people. We waited in line with many other vehicles to get a parking spot.
We started walking to the downtown area where the Cornbread Festival was located. 
I spied a school bus that was being used to shuttle people downtown.
We loaded onto the school bus and got off the bus at the second drop-off. 

Cornbread Festival 

We paid the five-dollar admission to enter the festival. We proceeded to the area where we purchased tickets to take the Historic bus tour at 11:00AM which cost seven dollars each.

We were given brochures with the time stamped on them for our tickets.
The 10:00 AM bus had just left the historic City Hall.

We walked through the American Legion Hall (under restoration)
that house the quilt show.

One of the quilts on display

Next, we view some of the old cars that were on display.

Car Show

We went to the theater to listen to Blues Music for about ten minutes and to use the restrooms. 

Inside the Prince Theater

We walked past some of the vendors and walked back to the City Hall building to wait for the bus.
When the tour bus returned our guide got off the bus and said that she was going to give a talk before everyone loaded onto the bus.
Our guide began by telling the history of  City Hall, Marion Lodge, and American Legion Hall buildings
City Hall was built in 1887 the former First National Bank had terra cotta trim with decorative brick.

City Hall was built in 1887 

The building across the street now empty was the former Marion Lodge E& AM No 515.

Marion Lodge E& AM No 515

American Legion Hall housed the quilt show.
Everyone loaded on the air-conditioned bus, but there were not enough seats for everyone standing in line.
Everyone was asked to check their ticket to make sure that it had 11:00AM stamped on it. 
There were about six tourists that had a later date stamped on their tickets and they were asked to get off the bus and come back at the time that was stamped on their tickets.

South Pittsburg Tennessee Historic Tour ticket

We then began our tour through the crowded narrow streets of South Pittsburg. We had a great driver, he managed to back up and turn around without hitting a single car and there were lots of marks along the sides of the road.

We saw on the third street at Holly The Christ Church Episcopal completed in 1884.
At 217 Magnolia we saw the home originally built by Joseph Lodge in 1878.
At 310 Magnolia the home of Avery and Kate McCuiston, they owned the Bargain Store on Cedar Avenue. 
At fourth at Magnolia was saw a house built by the Old English company about 1877.
At 401 Oak House was built by City Company in 1890.
At 316 Oak House was built for the Headquarters of the Old English company and was used as guest quarters, not a home. 
At 504 Oak we saw a house owned by ST Haskew, sold and used as a boarding house.
At 518 Laurel we saw the house that James Scott a Texan who ran a dry goods store.
At 500 Laurel we saw the AA Cook home he sold to MM Allison in 1898 who was mayor and judge.
At 401 Laurel we saw the house built for Dr. TW Johnston a physician for the Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railway Company.
At 414 Holly we saw a house built for Luther B Sartan.
At 518 Holly a house purchased in 1887 by Thomas Richardson a druggist.
At 610 Holly we saw the home built in 1909 by Walter Denham.
At eight at Elm, we saw the Chapel on the Hill built by Angus Macrae, a native of Scotland.
The tour bus dropped everyone that wanted to tour the Lodge Factory at the sixth street at the railroad. 

People going into the Lodge Factory

The Lodge Pans display the Lodge was founded in 1896 by Joseph Lodge, the original plant was located on the north side of town. The foundry operates two molding machines and produces over 20,000 pieces of cast iron a day.

Touring the plant

After we finished touring the plant we walked back to the festival, stopping to look at the tractors on display. 
Vendors were cooking all kinds of food.
Vendors were selling all kinds of wear.
There were rides of all kinds.

Carnival Rides 

We were getting hungry so we looked for a local restaurant stopping at Harvey's Pirate Restaurant for a hamburger and fries. 

Harvey's Pirate Restaurant 

We went to the cars that were on display there were three times more cars than earlier. 
We walked through looking at some of the vendors. I bought four postcards and we bought a bee catcher. 
We stopped at the Lodge Store and began our walk back to the van.

The Lodge Store

A nice young man offered to take us to our car in his golf cart. 
People were still coming into the downtown area and they had to park along the highway.
It had been a long day, we were getting hot and tired and still had a two-hour drive home.