Today, we rode to Arab to stroll through the park, which was filled with over 100 vendors. Tents were lined up as far as the eye could see, selling items from A to Z.
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| Vendor Tents |
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| Santa Fe Food Truck |
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| Petting Zoo |
The sweet aroma of baked goods filled the air, making my mouth water. You could almost taste the barbecue, hamburgers, and hot dogs being cooked. There were lines of people at every food truck.
Funnel Cake, Ribbon Fries, and freshly squeezed lemonade were among the food items sold.
There was a petting zoo featuring two large, docile cows, a goat trying to escape its pen, miniature long-haired goats that kids loved to pet, and many other animals.
Pony Rides |
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| 1. The Boyd Homestead Boyd Homestead 1890-2006 |
This home was not built with indoor bathrooms or closets. An
outhouse served as the bathroom, and a well was located outside the home, providing water for the family. The home also lacked electricity until the 1940s.
Ms. Lola taught school and never married or had children. She helped care for her parents and was given the Homestead after they passed away. After she died in 2006, the home was bequeathed to the Historical Society. The society moved and restored the house to look like it did in the 1940s.
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| The Stage Coach INN @Elvin Light Museum |
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| 3. The Ruth Homemaker's Clubhouse Belonging to the Homemakers of Arab, who hold demonstrations and enjoy activities such as canning, quilting, knitting, and mattress making. |
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| 6. The Rice Church The Rice Church 1910-1950s |
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| 7. The Hunt School House The Hunt School 1935-1952 |
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| 9. The Smith Country Store |
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| 10. The Smalley Grist Mill |
During the Great Depression, everyone grew corn. A large family consumes approximately 300 pounds of corn annually.
The farmers would gather a portion of their dried corn during harvest and take it to the local Grist Mill to get shucked, shelled, and ground for cornbread. They would pay for this service by leaving a portion of their corn with the miller.
There was a long line for the pony rides. Kids were climbing walls, playing games, swinging, and sliding.
The splash was open for those who wanted to cool off.
Music was playing in the concert area.
People play cornhole and other games.
But we were more interested in the Historic Village area, which we saw.
Lola Boyd lived her entire 99 years in the Boyd Homestead.
Inside were cubicles filled with different items from:
Dr. Ellis Porch and Dr. Braxton Smith's Office
Arab Infirmary, Dr. Ellis Porch, and Dr. Braxton Smith
Russell Rice, General Manager Est. 1897
The Stage Coach INN
Another significant business for the farmers was the blacksmith shop, where they could get their tools sharpened and mules shod. Mr. George Phillips owned his own blacksmith shop in Scottsboro, AL, and served as the resident blacksmith at the George C. Phillips Blacksmith shop. Mr. Phillips has since passed away, but his legacy lives on. The Blacksmith Ship is built from vintage wood to mimic a 1940s-era structure.
The farmer looked forward to carrying his animals to the Blacksmith shop to be shod. This was important for the animals' well-being, but it also gave the farm a break and an opportunity to socialize with fellow farmers.
Today, horseshoeing is done by a farrier who goes to the farm every 4 to 6 weeks in a truck equipped with a forge.
Tractors have replaced the Mule. Therefore, the need for local blacksmith shops has diminished.
5. The Winslett Barn - used for weddings and events
This Church building, originally known as Liberty Primitive Baptist Church, was once located in the Rice Community near Arab. It was donated to the Historical Society in 1993 and restored to represent rural churches from the early 1900s. Today, it is used for small weddings, memorial services, and spiritual needs. The church would hold baptisms, weddings, and Christenings, sometimes all on the same day. Farmers who traveled far to the church would bring lunch for the church and typically stay all day.
Inside, a woman was playing old-time gospel music on the piano. She said the church I now attend had a piano player, but I got sick and could not play, so the church filled in, which was over 20 years ago. She was a retired teacher and had taught music. Her talent was far beyond that of the previous piano player, and the other players didn't want to come back. She played beautifully.
This two-room school is typical of the schools in Alabama built during the Great Depression: it features high ceilings, a "cloakroom" for each classroom, and architectural details in the actual Colonial Revival style. The Hunt School operated in a small community south of Arab from 1835 to 1952. When school buses became popular in 1952, students were transported to larger schools. The school year revolved around spring planting and fall harvesting since most students lived on a farm. The school went without electricity for the first ten years. There was no water, cafeteria, indoor bathrooms, or library. Children walked to school and washed their hands in a water-filled pan.
Inside, it was filled with items of a different era. Behind the coal heater, a group sat singing and playing Bluegrass music. We listened to a couple of songs that I had never heard before.
When a farmer and his family would move to a new area, there were two businesses he would immediately look for.
