Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Alabama History & Culture News: November 5 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!

Review: William Christenberry explores Alabama's relationship with past and present at the Ogden
Only a deeply empathetic artist can convey how the region's history of racial strife intermingles with the soulfulness of its land and people. The late ...


On this day in Alabama history: Lena Brock 'Mom' Speer was born
Lena Brock “Mom” Speer of the Singing Speer Family, a popular gospel group that made more than 60 recordings, was born in Cullman County.

Marine conference to include look at Clotilda science
The Alabama Historical Commission has moved to protect the site; as yet, no decision has been made about whether the wreckage will be excavated ...

Italian dignitaries in town for start of renovation work on upscale downtown restaurant
Pietrasanta, founded in 1255 on the coast of northern Tuscany, has an early art historical connection to Alabama. More: Tale of 2 cities: Montgomery, ...


Soil collection ceremony honors one of Montgomery County's lynching victims
In addition to a jar of soil going to the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Alabama, other jars are headed to the Montgomery County Historical ...




Alabama is home to 3rd most endangered species in the nation; Here's what we can do about it
Alabama has a lot of endangered species because it has a lot of species ... His book on Alabama biodiversity is aimed at general audiences, not ...

"Mockingbird" Courthouse Gets Preservation Grant
The south Alabama courthouse linked to Harper Lee's novel "To Kill a ... Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning book used the red-brick courthouse as the model ...

On this day in Alabama history: Author, businessman died
Clifford Lanier (1844-1908) was the younger brother of poet and musician Sidney Lanier and died of tuberculosis at age 39. The brothers served ...


Butler County is celebrating its 200th birthday this year- along with the state of Alabama's 200th Bicentennial. A special celebration was held Saturday ...


Kathleen Varn Has Released New Historical Women's Fiction Novel - Gardenia Duty
Author Kathleen Varn has announced the release of her new historical women's fiction novel, ... In 1957 jobs are scarce in rural Ashland, Alabama.

Does Ghost of Sumter County Sheriff Haunt Campus Bridge?
... University of West Alabama, has authored 30 books on paranormal activity. ... Valerie Burnes, the president of the Sumter Historical Society, teaches ...


6 Alabama constitutions on display for bicentennial celebration
6 Alabama constitutions on display for bicentennial celebration ... Alabama Department of Archives and History's “We the People: Alabama's Defining ...

Traveling Alabama bicentennial exhibit to open Tuesday in Decatur
After a 19-month, 66-county tour, “Making Alabama,” a bicentennial traveling exhibit celebrating the state's history, will open in Decatur on Tuesday.


On this day in Alabama history: World War II hero died
John Geraerdt Crommelin Jr. (1902-1996) was one of five brothers from Wetumpka who were named the “Indestructibles” by Time magazine in 1944.

Spooky happenings at an old Alabama Mental Hospital
“It's a spooky place, in a lot of ways,” said Tommy Stonecypher of the Mt. Vernon Historical Society. “I'm sure if there's such a thing as paranormal ...

CMS holds Alabama Bicentennial Birthday Bash
Prior to the birthday bash, students had participated in other Alabama-related activities in their art, history and social studies classes. “Our state has ...

Bo Jackson prominent in top 100 runs in NFL history
The runs with Alabama football roots selected for the top 100 include: ... in NFL history with a 99-yard run from scrimmage with a stiff-armed-filled romp ...

On this day in Alabama history: Cobb suffered accident
William Robert Winfield Cobb (1807-1864) served in the Alabama House of Representatives (1845-47) and U.S. House of Representatives (1847-61) ...

“We're on the largest battlefield in the state of Alabama,” says Mike Bunn, Director of Historic Blakeley State Park. A battle occurred here many years ...

Book club to read 'Finding Langston'
Book club to read 'Finding Langston' ... an African American boy whose mother died, moves with his father from beautiful Alabama with its magnolia ...


Exonerated Alabama death row inmate shares his story to Wilmington audience
That's part of the reason he wrote the book “The Sun Does Shine: How I found Life and Freedom on Death Row”, that was featured by Oprah's Book ...
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Friday, November 1, 2019

Readings on a Desert Island

This past Saturday Dianne and I journeyed to the Woodlawn neighborhood of Birmingham to hear some authors read and converse at the Desert Island Supply Company (DISCO). DISCO has been located since 2012 on First Avenue North in part of the historic Woodrow Hall building (yes, there will be a blog post soon on that!). The non-profit Desert Island  program works with Birmingham-area students to develop their creative writing skills "to explore and document their worlds." Anthologies of student work are available. The venue is also available for concerts, readings and other events.

 The program we attended featured a full afternoon of author readings and conversations with each other and audience members. Livingston Press at the University of West Alabama sponsored the event. Livingston has been publishing novels, short story collections and non-fiction since 1984; their list of some 140 titles includes many Alabama authors.

 We arrived about 4:30 p.m., so we unfortunately missed the earlier authors. We did hear T.K. Thorne, Faith Kaiser, Loretta Cobb, William Cobb, Mike Burrell, Alina Stefanescu and our son Amos Wright. You can see a book cover image for each of them below. The venue was nice, and the format worked very well. The authors read a bit from their works, asked each other questions and took questions from the audience. Books were available for sale, and there was free food and libations. 

All photos are mine unless otherwise indicated. 









Woodrow Hall; the DISCO entrance is on this corner

Photo by Amos Wright 




Photo by Amos Wright







Photo by Amos Wright










Naturally I took a bunch of photos of Amos and Alina!

















Source: Kirkus Reviews



Source: Livingston Press



Source: Livingston Press



Source: Livingston Press



You can read more about her writing here. 



You can read more about her writing here.





Source: Livingston Press

Winner of the twelfth Tartt First Fiction Award


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Thursday, October 31, 2019

Alabama History & Culture News: October 31 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!
Handley students complete annual artifact dig
Sears explains they want students to not just study history but uncover ... state bicentennial, her students wrote five mini essays on Alabama history.

Haunted event at Old Cahawba offers 'authentic' experience
Over the last two weekends, Old Cahawba Archaeological Park, a historic site under the supervision of the Alabama Historical Commission (AHC), ...

Haunted history of Massacre Island, Alabama
DAUPHIN ISLAND, Ala. (WKRG) — One of the Gulf Coast's most haunted spots is down on Massacre Island which is known today as Dauphin Island.

On this day in Alabama history: Willie McCovey died
Mobile native Willie Lee McCovey (1938-2018) was a leader of the San Francisco Giants throughout the 1960s and 1970s. The first baseman ...


Taking a close look at Alabama's constitution history
(WSFA) - The state of Alabama has had six constitutions during its history. The Alabama Department of Archives and History partnered with Faulkner ...

Mary Anderson, born in 1866 in Greene County, Ala., had an idea to clean windshields of the new “horseless carriages” that were gaining popularity.


OUR VIEW: Local woman publishes book about Chambers County
Besides Chambers and its cities and towns, the book features the Development Authority, the Chamber of Commerce, the library, East Alabama Water, ...


5 things you didn't know about Birmingham's historic hotels, including 3 presidential guests (old ...
Birmingham has sooo many beautiful historic hotels. ... During his trip from Montgomery, Alabama to Charleston, West Virginia, country music legend ...


Fire severely damages historic home in Twickenham district of downtown Huntsville
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - A historic home in the Twickenham district of downtown Huntsville was severely damaged in a fire on Sunday. An architect who ...

New Hope Church celebrates Rosenwald School centennial
It was an afternoon of celebration with old-fashioned gospel music, ... “They include the Alabama Historic Commission, the Coosa RC&D, the ...

Hurston was born on January 7, 1891 in Notasulga, Alabama, but she grew up in Eatonville, Florida. ... a letter to W.E.B. Du Bois encouraging him to honor the ancestors by establishing a cemetery for influential African Americans.

Deep in the heart of Mobile, Alabama, just on the edge of Bayou Street and outside a cemetery wall stands a tree called the Boyington Oak.

Melvin's serves transcendent barbecue and is housed in a funky unmarked former garage across from Huntsville's Glenwood Cemetery.

Enchanted shop remains a hidden treasure in Magic City
Alabama is opening up to the idea of magic. ... to a place like it before, especially not in Alabama,” Ivy Borden, a freshman majoring in art history, said.


Limited-edition Knob Creek Bourbon celebrating Alabama's bicentennial now available
“Aged a minimum of nine years, Knob Creek Single Barrel Select has always been a celebration of time, effort and the experience of a storied history.


Taylor Hicks will bring musician's perspective to AMHOF board
... join the Alabama Music Hall of Fame Board, and look forward to the work we will do together to recognize and honor our state's rich musical history.".


Taylor Hicks joins board of Alabama Music Hall of Fame
Taylor Hicks joins board of Alabama Music Hall of Fame ... music history and also encourage other Alabama-based musicians to follow their dreams.


Officials: Warehouse Fire Most Costly in Attalla History
Officials: Warehouse Fire Most Costly in Attalla History ... (AP) — Officials say a fire at an Alabama warehouse is the most disastrous in the city of ...

On this day in Alabama history: Diary writer born
Sallie Independence Foster was born in Nashville but from the age of 7 lived at the extravagant mansion Courtview, which she would own upon her ...

Group dives deep into Tuscaloosa's haunted history
John Pace, a sophomore majoring in history and economics, is the vice president of the University of Alabama Undergraduate Historical Society.

Library to host award-winning photographer
Developed in partnership with the Alabama Bicentennial Commission and NewSouth Books, “My Alabama” showcases the state's beauty and diversity ...

Works of Alabama Writers Hall of Fame honorees span wide range
The work produced by the 2020 inductees into the Alabama Writers Hall of Fame covers a wide range, from children's books to innovative novels.

Author: Weird tourism can mean big bucks
Wil Elrick, who writes books about the urban legends and history, was the guest ... Spector, Alabama, is a ghost town that never existed except in the ...


On this day in Alabama history: Hank Aaron Childhood Home and Museum relocated to Mobile ...
Henry “Hank” Aaron was born in 1934. His dad, Herbert, built a three-room home for the family in 1942 in Mobile's Toulminville neighborhood.

On this day in Alabama history: President Warren Harding visits Birmingham for semicentennial ...
... him with the “greatest, warmest and most enthusiastic reception” of his term in office. Read more at Bhamwiki. (Courtesy of Alabama NewsCenter).


In Alan Jackson's classic tune "Midnight in Montgomery" he is riding his Silver Eagle tour bus through Alabama heading for an upcoming concert in ...


6 independent bookstores to check off your list in Birmingham, AL
Alabama Booksmith is one of the oldest bookstores in Birmingham. ... Burdock Book Collective is an intersectional feminist bookstore and community
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