Sunday, January 1, 2023

2022 April 23, Madison Walking Tour lead by Gerald Clark


 We started the tour at the Roundhouse near the railroad tracks. Before Mr. Clark began his speech, a train roared past. 

A War Memorial displayed in Madison's Park 

We walked across the railroad tracks and began our tour of Historic downtown Madison.

A little history about Madison:

The town began about 1856 when tracks were laid by Memphis and Charleston Railroad. In 1858, Judge Clemons planned the town's lots fronting the railroad.

One of the first businesses was a Grist Mill Mill operated by J.J. Akers, S.D. Doolittle opened a Blacksmith Shop, and other merchants included Walter and Thomas Hopkins and James Bib. 

Humphrey and Hughes Drug Co.
The Rexall Store 

Historic Madison homes and stores that we saw:

The History of Madison

Madison Station Hertzler Vaughn 1905 

Madison Station Apperson Brown ca 1900

Madison Station Cain Steadman ca 1880

Madison Station Farley Thorton Goodson 1911 

Madison Station Clay Sensenberger 1853

Madison Station Shelton Balch 1928

Madison Station Pride Drake 1910 

Madison Station Thomas Vaughn ca 1910 


Madison Station Burton Balch Willis 1885

Madison Station Farley Sturdivant 1910 


Madison Station Gillespie McDermott 1897

Madison Station Riddle W. Hughes Sampieri 1920

Madison Station Riddle C.P. Hughes 1910

Madison Station Sullivan Wellborn 1889

The Methodist Church 

War Memorials 

Colonel Cecil Hamilton Bolton LT US ARMY

Leo K Thorsness COL US AIR FORCE

Paul L. Bolden SSG US ARMY 

CITY OF MADISON WALL OF HEROES

Madison Roundhouse

Storefront 16 Main (Yellow House)

Humphrey Bros. was Built by D.S. Brandon 

Robert P. Cain Mercantile 

Humphrey-Hughes Drug Co Store 

The Rexall Store 

Established 1869 City of Madison

J.H. Cain General Merchandise 

We learned about Buttermilk Alley Buttermilk Alley is a narrow lane running between Front and Arnett streets. Circa 1900, the alley gave a safe haven for sweethearts to take a walk at dusk and hold hands. Mrs. Katie, an African-American woman who worked for Dr. Kyser on Front Street, sat on her porch and kept a watchful eye on the youth’s safety. 

Longtime residents also credit Buttermilk Alley’s name to food handouts from Front Street residents to hungry hobos riding on the train. 

Buttermilk Aly


Madison is a historic small town rich in history and now growing in leaps and bounds. 


2022 April 16, Walking tour Decatur Cemetery Decatur, AL with Phil Wirey

Today, I attended the walking tour of Decatur Cemetery, organized by Decatur Morgan County Tourism and Morgan County Historical Society.

Our guide talks about James & Ellen Hildreth.

The cemetery is located at Highway 20, west Decatur. Coordinates: 34.61690-87.00110

The first burial was recorded in 1855. The cemetery is divided into 7 sections, the Original, Brown Circle, Cantwell, Cowan, Decatur Land Company, Humes, and Sterrs. 

Two famous people are buried here. 

Christopher Columbus Harris, a US Congressman, also served as a Lieutenant in the Civil War.  He is buried in the Cantwell Section of the cemetery.

Seybourn Harris Lynne Jurist, a civil Rights Figure who served as US Federal District Judge from 1946 to 1973.

Marker and Civil War Graves 

Known buried within this cemetery
Isaac L. Beard 6th Ark Co B Dod April 1, 1862
John R. Hopkins Sgf. 12th LA. Inf. Co. A. KIA Oct. 28, 1864
Jacob Hubbard PVT 12th LA. INF. CO. H. KIA Oct. 28, 1864
John R. Palmer DOD Feb. 16, 1862
James E. Patrick CPL 12 LA. INF. CO. G. KIA Oct. 28, 1864

Beneath this hallowed ground lay the remains of fifty-five Confederate soldiers. They gave their lives to establish southern independence, protect their homes, and preserve state rights. These original headstones were placed in May 1903 by the Joe Wheeler Chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy. On June 3, 1903, a dedication service was held by the Daughters of the Confederacy and veterans of the Horace King Camp, United Confederate Veterans. This site was rededicated on April 26, 2005, by the Joe Wheeler Chapter No. 291, United Daughters of the Confederacy and Sons of Liberty Camp 580, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Decatur, Alabama.

Confederate States of America
1861-1865








2022 April 9, Walking Tour Moulton, AL


Moulton's Head Start, former Rosenwald School

 Everyone meets at Moulton's Head Start, the former Rosenwald School, with speaker Nita Marlborough. 

After the speech, we all walked through the building.

History of Moulton (not quite finished), painted by Monica Hooper 

I parked near the Mural of Moulton and walked to the School. 

Next, I walked to the nearby Freeman Tabernacle, where we listened to Leela Reeves talk about the church. (We all went inside)

Freeman Tabernacle Church (located on Byler Road and Rosenwald Street 

On January 3, 1874, former slaves and Deacons King Crayton, George Pruitt, Tandy Crayton, and Ben Warren paid fifty dollars for land to construct the Colored Baptist Church, which was one of the earliest in the Muscle Shoals Colored Baptist Association. This organization helped black communities build churches and schools. After he died in 1933, the congregation renamed the church to honor longtime pastor John Harrison Freeman.

Our next stop was Bayler Road Church of Christ to listen to Lewis Jackson.


Smith Chapel C.M.E Church 
On this site, in 1871, former slaves constructed one of the first churches and schools for African Americans in Moulton. The Colored Methodist purchased most of the materials used for the building. Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Nabors Owen gave land for the Colored Baptist and Colored Methodist Church and School Moulton. The congregations worshipped together until 1874. The church is named in honor of Rev. Andrew Smith, a former pastor.

Our next stop was a guided tour of Smith Chapel led by Caroline Fletcher.


At the Moulton Cemetery,  Cindy Praetor, Alicia Carpenter, and Beth Garner (who were dressed in the period) gave a talk about the tombstone they were standing next to)

Mollie, James & Lucy Downing


Elaine Jackson led us on a tour of the Hot Spot. 

the Hot Spot 
c.1945
Alabama Register of 
Landmarks and Heritage
by Alabama 
Historical Commission 
June 27, 2019 

Guides

(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 April 30, Walking Tour Town Creek, AL

The Walking tour took place in Town Creek, and everyone was to meet at the Farmers Market on Main  Street.

I was early, so I looked around and talked to the vendors. I bought two tomato plants.

At 1:00PM, the van arrived, driven by Pastor Steve Agee, provided by Victory Baptist Church.

The former mayor of Town Creek (Linda Peebles) rode with us.

Everyone loaded into the van, and we headed to the public library. 

We were met by the librarian she gave us some material, which included:

Welcome to Town Creek, which included stories about Saunders Hall Good Mansion 

The Town Creek Hotel, Town Creek City Hall, Veterans Memorial & 

The new Story Walk is a learning trail behind the library. It is designed to introduce visitors of all ages to the environment of the area.

The librarian told us about the Story Walk Trail and gave us all the pamphlets. 

Our next stop was the Town Creek Depot, where dignitaries made speeches they were Mayor Mike Park, Proncey Roberson(State Representative), Loretta Gillespie, & Robert Sheffield (Former Hazelwood coach). 

The Town Creek Train Depot was built in the early 1800s, and the first run of engines took place on February 1, 1835.

Also attending were former NFL football players from Town Creek.  

Chris & Kerry Goode (brothers) and DJ Jones.

After a meet-and-greet session, we headed to our next stop, Posey Farms.

We were greeted by the Posey Family with refreshments.

Mr. Posey said it all began in 1953 when we leased 7 acres of land and planted our first cotton crop. 

Posey's first home is now surrounded by farmland. 



Monday, December 5, 2022

2022 Dec 4, Tinsel Trails, Christmas Card Lane Ditto Landing & Toyota Field Christmas Lights Huntsville, AL

 Sunday, we stopped in Decatur to walk through the Enchanted Forest in Founders Park, which is a tinsel stroll supporting Leukemia and Lymphoma.

We stopped in Madison for their Polar Express Christmas on Main Street, where their Christmas trees were displayed. 

We stopped at RSA to take coworkers' Christmas Present Presents.

We rode to South Huntsville to Christmas on the River at Ditto Landing. There, we strolled along the Tennessee River Greenway, looking at 4 x 8 plywood custom-designed Christmas cards. 

Grinchmas

It's Not what's under the Christmas Tree that matters. 
It's who's around it. 

We stopped at every card to get a picture, and before we returned, it began to sprinkle. 

We rode to Huntsville's Big Spring Park to walk through the Big Spring Park Tinsel Trail. 

Big Spring Park Tinsel Trail.

We were afraid of getting wet, but the rain had stopped.

Next, we rode to Toyota Field to see The North Pole Rocket City Christmas Light Show and Winter Wonderland.

Which are a mile and half maze of bright dancing and twinkling lights. We tuned our radio to 95.5 to listen to Christmas music.

The North Pole Rocket City Christmas Light Show 

After the drive, we stopped at Toyota  Field and walked through Winter Wonder Land, stopping for pictures with Santa, Trash Panda, and Frosty. 

Picture with Frosty 

We had not eaten since breakfast and were not sure what we wanted. We were tired and didn't want to go into a restaurant and wait, so we decided to stop at Krystal. Believe it or not, their food was good, or we were very hungry. 

A picture with Trash Panda 

I ordered a double cheese Krystal and strawberry Milkshake. 

It was late when we arrived home, and we both were tired from the long day. Put my cameras away for another day to download and went to bed.




Sunday, December 4, 2022

2022 Dec 3, Christmas Lunch, Christmas Parade, and The Cotton Gin

Met my friend Wanda at the Clarion Hotel to enjoy a Christmas brunch buffet and listen to storyteller Dolores Hydock.

Several large round tables were covered with white tablecloths, vases of Christmas flowers, and red and green chocolate candies. Each table held up to eight people there were at least 15 to 20 tables, and most were full. 

Mimosas were available with or without liquor, which we enjoyed while we waited for our table to be called to go to the Christmas buffet. 

At the buffet, we were served pineapple, Strawberries, grapes, orange slices, small pastries, sausage casserole, and biscuits covered with sweet syrup and grits. 

We sat with strangers but introduced ourselves. We found that we had a lot in common. One of the ladies  I had graduated from the same high school.

Another lady said we used the same eye clinic(Maynard & Mitchell) in Huntsville. 

While we were eating and getting to know each other, we were entertained by Christmas music from a piano player.

For about an hour, we were entertained by storyteller Dolores Hydock in her. 

All I want is Christmas stories. 

She told a true story about an elderly man in a nursing home. She had asked him if COVID was the first time his life had been turned upside down. He said I would like to think so, but no.

He went on to tell her the different times his life had been turned upside down and how something always turned out for the better. 

She talked about generous hearts, wish lists, and gifts that show up in unusual packages. 

Hubby and I are going to the Greenhill Christmas @ 1:30 PM we are taking our granddaughter. The brunch was over at 12PM, and we had a 30-minute drive.

We arrived at the parade at about 1PM, parked, and sat inside the car. 

Our granddaughter saw a little girl across the road and was very anxious to get out of the car.

I told her if she would wait until 15 after 1PM, we would get out, but she was so anxious. 

She waited until 15 after, and she. She &  I got out and walked across the road. There, she and two other children ran and played until the parade started. 

I know how she feels because I feel the same way, anxious. 

When the parade began, they grabbed their bags and headed to the edge of the road, waiting for candy to be thrown.

Greenhill Christmas picking up candy. 
Santa Clause riding in the Greenhill Parade
 It was not a very long parade the kids did get a lot of candy.

We dropped her off at her house.

We went to The Christmas Market located at The Cotton Gin at Roberson Farm, which was filled with merchandise from various vendors. 

Grinch Christmas @The Cotton Gin

A crowd was standing in line to see people who played characters in Little House on the Prairie and The Waltons. 

We did not stand in line just shopped and took pictures. 

Met the Grinch in Whoville




 


Friday, December 2, 2022

2022 Dec 1, Athens Christmas Parade and Adventures Athens, AL

Athens Courthouse was decorated for the holidays, and crowds of people lined up to watch the Christmas Parade. 
North Pole & Candy Carnival Float in the Christmas Parade 

I had a hard time getting good pictures at the parade. They were moving pretty fast, and we were sitting inside the car, so I had to take them through the windows. But I did get a few good ones. We enjoyed the parade & shopping at UG White Mercantile. 

We bought supper at Zaxby's in Athens, but our food was overcooked, so we didn't eat much of it. We did buy a couple of Chocolate coconut Macadamia candies at UG White Mercantile. The parade was over at about 8. 

We parked right across the street facing Merchant's Alley, waiting for the Athens Parade.

Christmas at UG White Merchantile 
 It is merchandise that sells southern-made goods, where treasures can be found like stepping back in time. 

We stopped in Rogersville to see their Christmas Trees in the park. 

Rogersville Tinsel Trail 


Stopped at Jack's for a couple of Strawberry cheesecake pies and was in bed a little after 9. 

From 1-3 Crafting at the Florence Library (making a Christmas card with watercolors.)

2024 Christmas Journal Activies

 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year  To all my friends and family Hope this year brought you lots of health and happiness.  Just a recap ...