Road Junkies: Alabama

Showing posts with label Alabama. Show all posts

What a change from last year! We drove to Alabama to visit Dianne's mother and help her celebrate her birthday. Last year was birthday #80 with all the attendant hoopla of a major party where dozens of family members and friends helped with the celebration. This year's celebration was much calmer and more relaxing. Steven, our 7-year-old nephew, was visiting "Nanamama" for a couple of weeks.

Ours is a card-playing family, and, like his sister Rachel when she was younger, Steven can hold his own with the adults with only a wee bit of coaching from Nanamama. Uncle Jim, who lives nearby, is a card player also and visited to join in the games. We were relieved to see him looking so hale and hardy after some serious health problems in the last couple of years.

While we were in the area, we visited Old St. Stephens Historical Park. Though now a ghost town, St. Stephens was once the center of activity in the area. During a brief three decades-- from the 1790s to its decline in the 1820s-- St. Stephens was the site of a Spanish fort, an American fort and trading post, and the Alabama Territorial capital. Alabama's first Governor, William Wyatt Bibb, presided over the first meeting of the Territorial Legislature at the Douglass Hotel on St. Stephens' High Street.

Today the area that was Old St. Stephens is a park, which offers a variety of recreational opportunities for visitors including horseback riding, boating or swimming in the 100-acre quarry lake, hiking, camping, and fishing. Students and staff from the University of South Alabama Center for Archaeological Studies are conducting ongoing archaeological digs to shed new light on the people who lived and died at Old St. Stephens. We hope to plant a series of letterboxes in the area to help tell the story of this once bustling area.

While visiting Dianne's mother, we had the pleasure of meeting the newest member of the family, a beautiful yellow tabby kitten named Freda. This little bundle of energy provided much entertainment as she boldly scrambled up trees and across the frame of the swing. It was hilarious to watch her lying in the tall grass, stalking the soccer ball that Ken and Steven were kicking back and forth. No tiger ever concentrated harder on his prey.

Steven's favorite activity when we get together with him is playing Cash Cab. He has watched the show enough to know the ins and outs and all the rules and procedures. Moreover, he has an incredible store of knowledge for a seven-year-old. As a result, he had a big smile on his face when we left, and we wondered where we'd get gas money for the trip home.

Mobile, AL
April 12-15, 2010

After the Wood family reunion in Tallahassee, FL, we headed across the panhandle for some letterbox planting and scouting in Mobile. For some reason, letterboxing hasn't really taken root in this port city, so we're trying to get things jump started. To misquote Shoeless Joe, "If you plant, they will come."

Originally a part of French Louisiana, the Alabama Gulf Coast was a focal point for colonial exploration and settlement. Located upriver, Mobile was the first capital of the French colony. Disease and flooding upriver caused settlers to move the town to its present location on the coast in 1711. After the warm humid climate led to the deterioration of the wooden stockade fort constructed to protect the town, a new brick and stone fort was built in 1723 to guard against Spanish or British attack on the strategic location of Mobile and its Bay as a port to the Gulf of Mexico.

Named Fort Conde in honor of King Louis XIV's brother, the Prince of Conde, the fort served as a defense for Mobile and as a base for French exploration and expansion into much of the modern state of Alabama. After guarding Mobile and its citizens for almost 100 years-- during times of French, Spanish, British and American rule-- the outdated fort was dismantled in 1820, and commercial and residential development spread over its former site. About one-third of the fort was reconstructed at 80% scale during the 1970s. Fort Conde now serves as the official Welcome Center for the City of Mobile. Visitors can explore the reconstructed walls and rooms where exhibits relate the history of Mobile and the fort. At the visitors center, we obtained some useful information about city locations and found a spot for a future plant.

One of five letterboxes we brought to plant honors French explorer Jean Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville, one of the city's founders. On paper, Bienville Square, a classic downtown park, seemed the obvious choice of location.

Bienville Square

In reality, there wasn't a single spot in this block-size park which would provide a safe haven for the box. On to plan B, but we did enjoy our visit to this lovely spot which has been a public park since 1824.

Mobile's oldest cemetery, Church Street Graveyard, was our next stop. There was actually a letterbox to find here, planted coincidentally by another Atlanta boxer. This historic cemetery was founded in 1819, replacing a graveyard at the site where a new cathedral was to be built.

City officials divided the cemetery into three sections: one for Catholics, one for Protestants, and one section as a "graveyard for strangers." There were enough interments of all types that Church Street Graveyard was closed to new burials since 1898. However, city officials have made exceptions to allow a few notable citizens to be interred there.

Many gravestones have significant stone carvings, and some beautiful examples of early wrought and cast iron work still grace this old burial ground.

In the Spring Hill area of Mobile, Langan Park features lakes, natural spaces, and a tennis center, as well as playground and picnic areas. Opened in 1957, the park is also home to the city's botanical gardens, the Mobile Museum of Art and a local theater company.

With 720 acres, Langan was the perfect place for some letterboxes. We planted one and found locations for a couple of future treasures. While at the park, we visited the art museum and had lunch the at Palette Cafe, a full-service restaurant in the museum's atrium. It was a perfect sunny day so we thoroughly enjoyed our view of one of Langan Park's lakes as we ate. The menu offered a variety of tempting soups, sandwiches and salads, as well as homemade cakes and pies.

After lunch, we took the opportunity to play with the sculpture on the museum's front lawn. Bruce Larsen, a local sculptor, created the 18′ interactive butterfly on a 30′ steel grass blade. Like most of Larsen's constructions, the butterfly was transformed from a complex arrangement of a variety of found objects. The lever at its base allows visitors to flex the butterfly's wings.

According to the people of Mobile, Alabama, the earliest Mardi Gras celebration in the "New World" was held in Mobile in 1703, 15 years before the founding of New Orleans. Though some in the Big Easy may dispute this claim, Mobile is still proud of its Carnival traditions and history and in 2005 opened a carnival museum. We had a box to plant there.

The museum exhibits a myriad of costumes and other Mardi Gras regalia. Admission was inexpensive and well worth the price, and we located a perfect hiding spot for the box on the grounds.

Near the museum we visited Spanish Plaza, a downtown park that honors the Spanish occupation of the city between 1780 and 1813. It features the Arches of Friendship, a fountain presented to Mobile by its sister city of Málaga, Spain.

Around the park are benches decorated with ceramic tiles images of scenes from various Spanish cities. This bench depicts La Albufera, a fresh water lagoon near Valencia.

At Spanish Plaza we happened upon the long-lost Little Colt, who had only recently returned to the park. Presented as a gift to Mobile from the city of Cordoba, Spain in 1967, the Little Colt is a reproduction of a statue which sits sits atop a fountain near Cordoba's city center. In 1979, Hurricane Frederic ripped the Little Colt from its pedestal in Spanish Plaza and damaged its rear legs. The statue spent the next two decades in a warehouse full of tombstones, all but forgotten. After a city worker rediscovered the colt in 2000, it took another 10 years for the sculpture to be repaired and returned to its original pedestal in March. This little guy definitely deserves a commemorative letterbox to tell his comeback story.

With such a long and varied history, Mobile provides many inspirations for letterboxing. After three days in the city, we had planted five boxes and left with ideas for at least a dozen more.

After we return with the new crop, we'll learn whether Shoeless Joe was right or not. Will the finders come?

Millry, AL
February 11-13, 2010

Like others in our family, we arrived in Millry stunned and deeply grieved by the loss of Aunt Jo Anne, Dianne's Uncle Jim's wife. The quiet angel of our family, Aunt Jo Anne passed suddenly after suffering a massive stroke. No matter when you arrived at her home, Aunt Jo Anne was always ready to extend the most gracious hospitality you could ever hope to find. No one can count the thousands of cups of delicious coffee she happily served to family and guests who visited.

Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were her pride and joy, and she delighted in their every accomplishment. Her love and generosity were extended to the entire family and the local community which she "adopted" after moving to Millry in retirement. Aunt Jo Anne could stir up a meal in minutes if someone was in need of feeding. And she did it all with quiet grace and humility. Aunt Jo Anne will be missed greatly by her family and many in the community who were touched by her kindness.

In a very unusual weather event in this deep South town, snow began to fall the day after Aunt Jo Anne's death. We awoke that morning, startled to see the ground actually covered in white.

Snow continued to fall like gentle tears all morning and into the afternoon. Millry hadn't seen this much snow in a very long time.

The snow cover lent an unusual beauty to familiar places and sights.

The Mound Spring at Healing Springs

Nanamama's Bluebird House

The Carpenter Place Barn

Tom & Shelia's Pasture

And the Lonesome Pine never before looked so lonesome, even with the driveway full of vehicles.

At the old cemetery, Great Great Grandfather John and Great Great Grandmother Mary waited to welcome another angel to her new home. By the funeral the following day, the snow was completely gone and there was nothing to interfere with a beautiful funeral service. All that remained of this delicate lacy shroud was just a memory, a tribute to our special aunt, who still lives in our hearts.

After Tennessee, we headed to Alabama for Thanksgiving. What a treat it was to be able to visit with all of Uncle Jim and Aunt Jo Anne's family, who were visiting them for the holiday. Laura Kate, their first great grandchild, knew the best transportation when hiking about the farm-- Daddy Kyle's shoulders!

After an incredibly sumptuous Thanksgiving dinner, we all headed out on an adventure to walk away some of the many calories we had consumed. Thanks to the Duncans for creating this excellent little resting spot along Moccasin Lane on the creek.

Along the way back to the house, we encountered a neighbor's beautiful donkey baby and its mother. This little one was just stunning!

Both baby and mother were very receptive to any petting and attention we wanted to offer. Deb and Ashley were glad to comply.

Having heard from the Duncans about strange orbs they had seen at Providence Cemetery, Uncle Jim's crew decided to check it out for themselves. Much to our surprise, they found the same phenomenon in the photos they took at the cemetery just after dusk. In an effort to replicate the experiment, we tried the Healing Springs cemetery the following evening and found much the same. A little bit spooky!

According to legend, the Viking stove manufacturers have visited Millry, Alabama, in July to learn more about how to produce the hottest HEAT. Despite the sweltering, sweat-producing weather, many of us gathered for a weekend of birthday celebrations in honor of Dianne's mother's 80th birthday.

To kick off the celebration, we planted a series of eight letterboxes in the greater Millry area, highlighting the various town attractions. Uncle Joe, Dianne's brother Woodie, and cousins Alison and Pam joined us Saturday afternoon to go and search for the boxes.

Photo by Pam
Uncle Joe had just obtained his signature stamp (carved by mstrwndl!) and gave it a good initiation in the Millry boxes.

Woodie fell back on the old illiteracy excuse when we visited Healing Springs and he wanted to check out the Mound Spring.

All of Sylvia's children and their spouses, five grandchildren with their respective spouses, and nine great grandchildren traveled to Alabama for the big celebration weekend. Her two brothers and their spouses and three nieces were also on hand. All the great grandchildren spent much of the weekend in the inflatable bounce house that Sylvia provided for their entertainment. Karoline took time from bouncing to give her great-grandmother a manicure in anticipation of the big party on Sunday.

At the church reception hall on Sunday afternoon, friends and family came to share in celebrating the life of a special woman, who has had an impact on so many lives.

A special birthday tribute was offered by the famous Wood girl cousins.

Last two photos by Woodie

Our planned May trip to England was postponed by a sad event, the death of Dianne's stepfather in Laurel, Mississippi. Although we were very sad to lose him, he had not been well for a very long time and had no prospects of getting better.

When our return to Atlanta included yet another incident of heavy rainfall in the Montgomery, Alabama area, we were not at all surprised. It's uncanny how many times we've been innundated with precipitation in that city.

Today's flash flood actually made the news with an estimated 12 inches of rain falling in the city in one hour. The Alabama legislature was ordered to evacuate the state capital building after the basement filled with four feet of water and a wall collapsed.

We've been hearing for several years about the annual dramatic production of To Kill a Mockingbird in Monroeville, Alabama, the hometown of Harper Lee, the book's author. However, we've never been quick enough to obtain tickets before this year. The play runs from the last weekend in April through the end of May with performances Thursday through Saturday each week. Tickets go on sale at the beginning of March, and by the time the play opens, every performance is usually sold out.

The old Monroe County courthouse, which has been beautifully restored, now houses the Monroe County Heritage Museum. A street in the fictional town of Maycomb has been created on the back lawn of the courthouse and serves as the setting for the first act of Mockingbird. All the actors are local amateurs, some of whom have been involved with the production for a number of years. A couple of the young people in this year's play have played the children's roles in previous years.When the trial begins in the second act, the audience moves into the oval courtroom, the same one that was recreated on a studio lot in California for the production of the 1962 movie version of the book. This historic setting added immeasurably to the drama of the event. Some of the audience members were selected before the play to serve on the jury, which primarily meant that they were seated in the jury box for the second act. Our cousin Steve, who attended the play with his adorable wife Betty, was one of those "subpoenaed" to serve. In keeping with the 1935 setting of the play, all the jurors were men, of course. (Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take photos during the performance.) The production was outstanding. A couple of the actors could hold their own in any theater we've attended, including New York. We thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it highly.

Monroeville has claimed the mockingbird as its symbol, and we were convinced that the local chamber of commerce has "seeded" the city with an overabundance of these creatures. The first time we drove to the old courthouse square, a mockingbird flew down to the street and landed on the dividing line to greet us. These friendly ambassadors were constantly present throughout the town and especially in the courthouse square. In the middle of a letterboxing desert but only about 20 miles from the interstate, Monroeville seemed a good location for some letterboxes to be planted. We started with the intention of planting four and ended up with eight new letterboxes that now call Monroeville home. We hope they'll soon be receiving visitors, who will report their experiences to us.

Friday the 13th of March was selected as the date for a reunion... the first, in fact... of Dianne's high school peers, the class of 1968. Since the graduation occurred between the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy, it's no wonder the event was lost in the cosmic shuffle and the classmates neglected to reunite for so long. Indeed, the "40th" reunion was held 41 years after graduation.

While in southwest Alabama's heartland, we made our first visit to Moccasin Lane. This mysterious alley along Dunbar Creek was peppered with skeletal parts of various animals. Were they victims of the moccasins that live along the creek?

We weren't sure, and frankly we were happy not to encounter any of the serpents who could resolve this quandary.

In addition to the osteologic evidence, there were signs that some botanical oddities were in play on Moccasin Lane. The tree in the center had thorny protrusions from each of its warts, and the one on the right appeared to have been fossilized. We decided it best to flee from this avenue of abnormalities before we were affected.

On our flight from Moccasin Lane, we encountered this friendly burro beauty. In this part of Alabama, donkeys have become popular residents due to their ability to keep coyotes away from livestock.

In keeping with the spooky theme, we later chanced upon a flock of black vultures. We had discovered a communal roost for these creatures. According to Cornell's Birds of North America, the communal roost is an important focus of the social life of black vultures., serving as a meeting place for adults and their young and as an assembly point for foraging groups.

Shrugging off the spooky feeling, we made a trip to the local bank where we revisited the beautiful mural of Healing Springs painted by Vernice Brown Lassiter. Healing Springs was a self-styled "health resort" operated by Dianne's grandparents from the 1920's to the 1960's. Of course, the mural inspired a visit to Healing Springs, where we saw many examples of what Dianne calls the "naked swamp lily." The only places we have seen this odd plant is at Healing Springs and at the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia. We have googled and searched and not been able to identify it.
What a treat it was when Dianne's sister Jeanne and her husband Don came from north Alabama for a simultaneous visit. And from south Mississippi came their son David and his family, including these three precious little ones: (L to R) Lizzy (<1), Carson(5), and Andrew (8). Oh, yes, we did attend Dianne's class reunion, along with 23 others from the class of 33. What an event! It was great to see these old friends and reconnect. They're thinking of having their 50th reunion in maybe 15 or 20 more years.