Saturday, December 14, 2019

Alabama History & Culture News: December 14 edition




Here's the latest batch of links to just-published Alabama history and culture articles. Most of these articles are from newspapers, with others from magazines and TV and radio station websites. Enjoy!



On this day in Alabama history: Alabama became the 22nd US state
On this day in Alabama history: Alabama became the 22nd U.S. state ... the Alabama Bicentennial Festival, featuring live music, historical re-enactors, ...


'A PIECE OF HISTORY': Bicentennial mural prints capture moments in time
Just in time for Christmas, prints of Troy's Alabama Bicentennial mural are available for sale. Stephanie Baker, Reunion Troy committee chair, said the ...


Book gift guide: Tips from independent Alabama shops
On a local level, both Trigg and Crowe said that John Sledge's "The Gulf of Mexico: A Maritime History" was a recent favorite among Lower Alabama ...

Pell City to restore Avondale Mills Water Tank
The City received a grant from the Alabama Historical Commission in the amount of $8,500 to help fund the replacement of the roof. He explained the ...


For years after Alabama's statehood, Native Americans held on to sovereignty in the east
Even Alabama's bicentennial celebration is typical Alabama: complicated and complex, prone to historical revisionisms and grade-school ...


'My roots are still here': Montgomery's own Eddie Floyd in lineup for Alabama bicentennial finale
Alabama's 200th birthday is bringing a reunion in his heart. ... part of commemorating the history of Montgomery, and the state of Alabama,” Hall said.

On this day in Alabama history: Jefferson County was founded
On this day in Alabama history: Jefferson County was founded ... by the Alabama Legislature on this day in 1819, the day before Alabama became the ...

George Wallace's daughter finds healing in new memoir “The Broken Road”
George Wallace, stand in front of the doors of a University of Alabama ... of this book, because while there he saw the infamous picture of your father .


Review: "Tell Me A Story: My Life With Pat Conroy"
The couple met at a book event—Cassandra a fledgling Alabama writer with a book about to be published, in awe of actually meeting the great Pat ...


Florala Head Start celebrates Alabama's 200th birthday
The book is written by Charles Ghigna in celebration of Alabama's 200th Birthday. The book is written for younger children. The hardcover book is $15.


Byler historian to visit Lawrence County Public Library for book signing Wednesday
Byler Road was the first roadway authorized by Alabama after it attained statehood in Dec. 1819. The privately-funded road came through Lawrence ...


How you can see 'Hell on the Border,' a Western filmed in Alabama
“Hell on the Border,” a movie about the Old West that was filmed in Alabama, opens on Friday in select theaters around the country. In the Birmingham ...

Friends of the Archives has history for sale
“Holding the Fort: A History of Trinity School in Athens, Alabama 1865-1970,” by Charlotte S. Fulton. This hardbound book, which is fully indexed, ...

Here's the full list of what was in the 1969 Montgomery time capsule
A History of Montgomery in Pictures, 1962. Alabama Academy of Honor, 1969 induction program. Alabama Historical Quarterly, Fall and Winter 1941.

Alabama Legacy Moment: Lafayette's visit
Alabama Public Television is producing a series of videos titled “Alabama Legacy Moments” that offer a quick history of the people, places and stories ...


Slavery hard to teach in 'Cotton State' of Alabama, elementary educators say
With help from the Alabama Department of Archives and History, the teachers were made aware of what resources are available to them and how to ...

On this day in Alabama history: William Stanley Hoole died
William Stanley Hoole was born in 1903 in Darlington, South Carolina, and earned a doctorate in English from Duke University in 1934. He briefly ...

On this day in Alabama history: One Concord Center project announced
The One Concord Center project in downtown Birmingham was announced on this day in 1999. The 11-story, 150,000-square-foot office building was ...
Alabama bicentennial: Five inventors who changed the world
Alabama bicentennial: Five inventors who changed the world ..... As a child in Huntsville, Wales' mother bought him a set of World Book Encyclopedia.

Daughter of George Wallace writes memoir on life with Alabama governor
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — A new book is out now from the daughter of one of Alabama's most famous and controversial politicians.
Robert McCammon's 'Swan Song' makes PBS' 'Great American Read' list of 100 beloved books
Robert McCammon is the only living Alabama author to have a book named to PBS' “The Great American Read” list of 100 beloved books. (Harper ...

WSFA film reel found in Montgomery time capsule now digitized
“We worked closely with the Alabama Department of Archives and History as well as Dan Black Studios to get the film digitized in just four working ...

Remember these unforgettable times Alabama lost its mind over snow
Luckily, Tuesday night's forecast doesn't predict Snowpocalypse 2014-level snow, but let's remember several historic Alabama winter storms.
On this day in Alabama history: Town of Heflin incorporated
The town of Heflin was incorporated on this day in 1886 and has a mayor-council form of government. Nestled between the southern range of the ...
A step back in time at Belle Mont Mansion's Plantation Christmas
The mansion is owned by the Alabama Historical Commission and is among only five state-owned historic homes. It is operated by the Colbert County ...

Alabama's 'white gold' draws worldwide interest
“They asked me to put together a brochure about the history of the marble,” Cook said. “It was overwhelmingly successful, so the next year they asked ...

Schedule of events for Alabama's bicentennial celebration in Montgomery
The Saturday celebration begins at 10 AM with a parade of Alabama people, places and history. From Court Square Fountain, a cavalcade of ...
On this day in Alabama history: Ben Erdreich was born
Ben Leader Erdreich, born in Birmingham on this day in 1938, represented Alabama's Sixth Congressional District in the U.S. House of ...

Meet Blaze. The UAB baby robin that just made Alabama natural history. (Update and photos)
American Robins Nest discovered in November 2019, the latest confirmed date in Alabama history. Photo by Greg Harber for Bham Now. Over the ...
BAMA BOOK: Author details 100 must-see attractions
How many Alabama attractions have you visited in your lifetime? If your list isn't that long, a new book can provide a roadmap of things to do.
Alabama-built USS Mobile christened in its namesake city — 'Best that America has to offer'
From building the H.L. Hunley, the first submarine ever to sink a ship, in 1863 to Alabama Dry Dock and Ship Building Company's historic work from ...
On this day in Alabama history: Thomas Martin died
Former Alabama Power Company president Thomas Martin died Dec. 8, 1964, after decades of making the state a better place. Born in Scottsboro in ...
A large cemetery stretches from the front of the church down the hill to the ... They claim to have had the first rural Vacation Bible School in Alabama.

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Elegy for a Pelham Waffle House

Well, sometimes they close a favorite gin mill and sometimes it's a favorite Waffle House. Normally, chain store closures don't bother me too much even if it's one we've frequented. In these days of late capitalism, it's a feature of the retail landscape decimated by Internet commerce. But a Waffle House??

This one was located on Oak Mountain Park Road just as you head toward the state park's main entrance. We've driven past it a million times--maybe more--since we moved to our current home in 1995. 

We've also eaten there many times--Dianne and I, with and without one or more of the kids. Waffle House is a tradition in our family; brother Richard and I usually stop at one on our summer trips around the state. We all seem to like their breakfast food any time of the day. I think I've only ordered a non-breakfast meal at a Waffle House once, many years ago. I don't know what my excuse was. A few years ago I gave my kids Waffle House coffee mugs for Christmas, for Pete's sake. 

Anyway, I digress. I'm not sure why this particular Waffle House would close. The location near an Interstate exit, a large, busy state park and both a concert venue and Pelham's Civic Complex would seem to have insured continued success. Oh, well, at least there's another Waffle House in Pelham...

To add insult to injury, the company's web site lists this location as still open


UPDATE: On 8 Sept 2021 the Shelby County Reporter published an article on the business replacing the Waffle House.

UPDATE: The new business replacing the Waffle House will open soon; see the photos at the end which I took on 22 October 2021.  























Saturday, December 7, 2019

Alabama History & Culture News: December 7 edition



Here's the latest batch of links to just-published Alabama history and culture articles. Most of these articles are from newspapers, with others from magazines and TV and radio station websites. Enjoy!


Take a gospel journey with this blind Alabama group that has toured seven decades strong
Singing with the Blind Boys of Alabama, whose beginnings as a group stem back to 1939 with a history of live performance dating to 1944, isn't a ...

Alabama Power Foundation marks 30 years of giving
Alabama Power Foundation marks 30 years of giving ... Calhoun said the foundation's mission fits in with the history of Alabama Power, with the ..

FAMU professor serves as model for Rosa Parks sculpture in Alabama
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A Florida A&M University history professor served as the model for a Rosa Parks sculpture unveiled in Montgomery, Alabama.

On this day in Alabama history: Alabama Shakespeare Festival opens new theater in Montgomery
On this night in 1985, stars didn't just fall on Alabama – they arrived for a specific occasion. The Alabama Shakespeare Festival's new 100,000 square ...

On this day in Alabama history: Two Alabama counties incorporated
Dec. 6 brought us the incorporations of Montgomery County in 1816 and Cleburne County in 1866. Montgomery County was created prior to Alabama ...

Alabama Bicentennial honored with another great book
Alabama Heritage magazine is the sponsor of “Alabama: From Territory to Statehood, “ part of the Alabama Heritage Bicentennial Collection.

Campus monuments, memorials tell a one-sided story
The University of Alabama landscape is dotted with monuments to the ... that the University should be more open and honest in telling its own history.

On this day in Alabama history: Columbiana founded in Shelby County
Originally settled as Columbia in 1821, the Alabama legislature added the additional syllable by a vote in 1832. On this day five years later, ...


He landed a job with the Alabama Highway Department, which later became the .... Holley decided to start with Elmwood Cemetery in Birmingham.


Category Summary (Cyndi's List - United States/Alabama - Maps & Geography)
http://cyndislist.com/us/al/ma ps/
* New Links :       1
* Updated Links : 0
* Total Links :      30


Alabama Bicentennial: 200 years of political scandals and scrapes
Leah Rawls Atkins described the site of Cahawba in “Alabama: The History of a Deep South State: Bicentennial Edition,” co-authored with William ...


Mobile, Ala. (WKRG) — The owner of an iconic store in Mobile that sells only Christmas collectibles and decorations has died. Robert (Bob) Moore ...


Howard Cruse, underground cartoonist and 'godfather of queer comics,' dies at 75
Mr. Cruse returned to his youth in Alabama with “Stuck Rubber Baby” ... 'Stuck Rubber Baby' certainly isn't standard comic book fare,” wrote comics ...


Native American tribes take part in ceremonial flag swap for Alabama Bicentennial
Native American tribes take part in ceremonial flag swap for Alabama ... The festivities will culminate with a parade, historical park dedication, festival, ...


Alabama Sports Hall of Fame announces Class of 2020
The Board of Directors of the State of Alabama Sports Hall of Fame is ... He finished seventh in school history in rushing yards and fifth in rushing ...

Montgomery opens old time capsule to celebrate bicentennial
It's not yet clear what they wrote, but little did they know they were writing to history makers including Kay Ivey; Alabama's first Republican female ...

On this day in Alabama history: Work began on Guntersville Dam
It took the Tennessee Valley Authority more than three years to complete Guntersville Dam, which gave Alabama its largest lake. The structure is 94 ...


This is our history: How white supremacy still thrives in Alabama
This is our history, not a granite obelisk in Linn Park but a racist, oppressive foundation of law. And here we are 118 years later, and the Alabama ...

New bicentennial park to display 'turning points' in Alabama's history
New bicentennial park to display 'turning points' in Alabama's history ... (WSFA) - Alabama celebrates its 200th birthday with a new Alabama ..


Rosa Parks statue unveiling packs Court Square in downtown Montgomery
The civil rights memorials are a partnership between the city of Montgomery, Montgomery County, the Alabama Department of Tourism and the ...

Auburn legend, former Heisman winner Pat Sullivan has died
He helped the Tigers snap their five-year losing streak to Alabama with 192 passing ... they faced also undefeated and third-ranked Alabama at Legion Field. ... “Pat Sullivan is not only a big part of our football history, leading us to a ...

Montgomery to open time capsule for 200th anniversary
AP. The City of Montgomery and the Alabama Department of Archives and History show, during a ceremony at the Archives on Monday December 3, ...


Peggy Wallace Kennedy Reckons With Her Father's Legacy Of Segregation
Peggy Wallace Kennedy, daughter of former Alabama Gov. ... a key player——on the wrong side——of this inspiring and heart-wrenching history.


Program on Alabama's historic photographs set for Tuesday in Decatur
Photographer Frances Osborn Robb will speak about the state's photographic history at the Alabama Center for the Arts' Visual Arts Building in ...

Alabama honors Native American tribes it exiled
“Today, we acknowledge that Alabama's history includes the stories of many peoples and cultures, and that our past has many chapters, some more ...


On this day in Alabama history: Pivotal UA President George Denny was born
His name later memorialized in Tuscaloosa landmarks like Denny Chimes and Bryant-Denny Stadium, George Denny was born on this day in 1870.



On this day in Alabama history: The earth opened up underneath Calera
A massive sinkhole opened up on this day in 1972. The sinkhole, located near County Road 84 and Overhill Road in Shelby County, was referred to ...