Last August my younger brother Richard and I made an abbreviated summer trip by visiting Scottsboro, a town neither of us recalled seeing before. On our way there from mom's house in Huntsville we passed through Owens Cross Roads so we could check out Gibson Books. I've written about that fascinating emporium here.
We arrived in Scottsboro about 4 on a Friday afternoon. En route I remembered that Alabama author and Scottsboro native Babs Deal is buried there. I suggested to Richard that we try to find her grave site, and he agreed. See the comments below for details on our Friday afternoon and early Saturday morning activities. There's more in part 2 of this post, including some history of Scottsboro.
We arrived in Scottsboro about 4 on a Friday afternoon. En route I remembered that Alabama author and Scottsboro native Babs Deal is buried there. I suggested to Richard that we try to find her grave site, and he agreed. See the comments below for details on our Friday afternoon and early Saturday morning activities. There's more in part 2 of this post, including some history of Scottsboro.
Back in July 2017 I wrote a blog post on Babs and her husband Borden Deal. Before, during and after their marriage the two published a number of novels and short stories. Babs died in 2004 and is buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Scottsboro. The cemetery has over 6600 burials, and since I had not contacted the office ahead of time, we did not find her grave. If I ever make it back to Scottsboro perhaps I can do some better planning. We did have a nice drive through the place!
There is a photo of her gravestone at the Find-A-Grave site.
Once we finished in the cemetery, we headed downtown and drove around the courthouse square while I took a number of random photographs. This business has apparently been operating since 1992, but I'll bet the building is older.
W.H. Payne opened Payne's Drug Company in 1869. The store moved to this location on the courthouse square in February 1891. The business stayed in the Payne family until the 1930's; a series of other owners has kept it operating since. The pharmacy closed in 1991, but the Soda Fountain and Sandwich Shop remains a popular place in Scottsboro.
La De Da's on the square probably has some interesting merchandise.
This view of one part of the courthouse square shows the attractive, well-kept area. We noticed very few empty storefronts, too.
A view of the Old Hickory Masonic Building with the Masonic symbol clearly visible.
The old city hall building is now home to the Jackson County Legislative Delegation.
A view of a street off the square
The current Jackson County Courthouse was constructed in 1911-12. You can read more about it and the previous courthouse here.
In April 1931 the courthouse was the site of the first of four trials involving the infamous Scottsboro Boys case.
Unfortunately, McCutchen's is only open for lunch, so we weren't able to try a meal there.
One of Scottsboro's best known attractions is Unclaimed Baggage, where many possessions left by airline passengers end up. More about consumer mecca in part 2. This sign is visible from the Scottsboro Boys Museum.
The former Joyce Chapel United Methodist Church, a few blocks from the Jackson County Courthouse, is now the location of the Scottsboro Boys Museum. The facility houses print and other items related to the trials and efforts to free the nine men who were accused of the gang rape of two white women.
On Saturday morning after breakfast we headed to the Museum first. We were unable to take photos inside, but we did watch the 2001 "American Experience" documentary. The film is available on YouTube. This article "Who Were the Scottsboro Boys" is also helpful.
The museum, which opened in January 2010, is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2020 and renovations are planned.The museum is worth a trip to Scottsboro by itself.
Source: Encyclopedia of Alabama
