HOLLY POND– Have you ever walked through an old cemetery and wondered who was buried there? What did they look like? Were they married? Did they have children? Ever wonder what kind of person they were and what kind of mark they left behind? Well, one afternoon as I drove through Holly Pond, I noticed a grave right on the side of the road next to First Baptist Church of Holly Pond. It had a small Confederate flag stuck in the ground next to it. Who was this person and why is he buried all by himself in the grass next to the road? I just had to know, so I quickly pulled into the church parking lot to check it out.  

As I approached the grave, I watched the small flag waving softly in the wind. I picked a few leaves and twigs from the Civil War marker and began to read.

George T. McCollum

PVT CO G 8 REGT GA INF

Confederate States Army

Nov 17 1831 - Feb 15 1890

I took a few pictures of Pvt. George T. McCollum’s grave. I said a little prayer for him and just stood there with him for a few minutes. When I got back to my car, I watched the old grave in my rearview mirror as I pulled out of the church parking lot and drove away. Private McCollum, who are you? I thought to myself as I drove home.

Thanks to the internet and genealogy websites like Ancestry.com, Findagrave.com and Rootsweb.com, you can find nearly everything you want to know about your ancestors and people like Pvt. McCollum. Once I got to the house, I hopped online and began my search. Before long, he became more than an old gravesite on the side of the road in Holly Pond; he became someone I “knew.”

George Thomas McCollum was born on November 17, 1831 to James and Elizabeth (Arnold) McCollum in South Carolina.  He married the lovely Miss Phoebe Ann Reagan on December 18, 1856. They had five children in 13 years. Their names were Alice Cecelia, Mary Elizabeth, Georgia Anne, Sarah Ella and little James, who passed away when he was less than a year old.

On August 4, 1863 McCollum enlisted in Company G, Georgia 8th Infantry Regiment in Conyers, Georgia. This regiment was known as the “Pulaski Volunteers” and was organized late into the Civil War. The “Fighting 8th” participated in many different battles and finally surrendered on April 9, 1865 at Appomattox.

Sometime after the Civil War, George, Phoebe and the girls moved from Georgia to Holly Pond and the little family soon became prominent citizens. At the age of 58, George passed away. The day was February 15, 1890. He was buried across the street from his home, by himself. His grave is now part of the front lawn of First Baptist Church of Holly Pond. The church is located on the north side of Highway 278 at the intersection of County Road 1669 (Shaw Road).

I know there was way more to George T. McCollum, the man, than I will ever know. Sometimes I wonder why our paths crossed that day. I’m glad I had the curiosity to go and “hunt” him down. I felt he had a story to tell and I like to think I, in a small way, helped him. If you are ever in Holly Pond, why not stop by and visit his grave?

CULLMAN – It’s not every day you get to celebrate someone’s 193rd birthday, but on Thursday, June 30, you can do just that, with the founder of our town, Colonel Johann Cullmann. The party will start at noon at Festhalle. Everyone is invited to stop by and enjoy some birthday cake, ice cream and lemonade and visit with the Colonel. While you are there, register to win a FREE dinner with the Colonel at the All Steak! The drawn names are allowed one guest…and if a child’s name is drawn, then a parent or guardian must attend.

“I look forward to seeing everyone at my birthday party,” said the Colonel. “I used to have my birthday parties at my home, but since Cullman has grown so much, nowadays we celebrate it at Festhalle when the farmer’s market is in full swing. Come out and have some refreshments with me. Afterwards I will draw two names to join me for a birthday dinner at the All Steak.”

Although our beloved Colonel’s birthday is actually July 2, his birthday is being celebrated on the previous Thursday to work around the people using the Festhalle for the farmer’s market.

The event is sponsored by the Cullman County Museum. For more information, call 256-739-1258.

From the Files of 1933

The Hi-Y Club of Cullman High School was organized in 1929. This club is a Christian organization promoting clean speech, clean thoughts and clean athletics. Only boys of high character are invited to join. Officers for the present year are: president, Alvin Camp, vice-president, Norman Bender, secretary, Rob Roy Latta and treasurer, Athel Hyatt.

Mr. and Mrs. Luther Calvert, of Bremen, attended the birthday dinner at Mr. and Mrs. Will Calvert’s at Brushy Pond, on Sunday. 

Misses Ruby, Grace and Hazel Sandlin, Altie Pearson and Mathlee Wilson spent Sunday with Misses Essie, Bessie and Tressie Stricklin. 

Carl Calvert, of Brushy Pond was the Saturday night visitor of Lowton Willoughby. 

Mrs. Opal Veenstra, of Florida, is spending a few weeks with Mrs. Ella Doss and family. 

Reverend Harvey Edwards, of Prospect, preached at Valley Springs, last Saturday. 

Mrs. John Rimel visited her brother, Oscar Compton, at Arkadelphia, last week. Miss Clara Mae Compton visited in Hanceville, on Saturday afternoon. 

Those elected to the National Honor Society at Cullman High School for last semester of 1933 were: Dorothy Reinstadler, Ella Schuman, Clema Self, Betty Stiefelmeyer and Wynelle Taylor. 

Reverend Virgil Sizemore, of Holly Pond, spent Thursday with Reverend M.H. Love and family, at Longview.  Reverend M.H. Love is attending the Bible school at the Baptist church in west Cullman

Mr. and Mrs. Novie Chaney, of Cullman, were the dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Howard recently. 

Some of the early gardeners are braving the cold to set out cabbage and onion plants. 

The Judge Tankersley family has moved to the Ebenezer community. 

I couldn’t wait for success so I went on without it.

From the Files of 1955

George John Beyer, age 75, who served two terms as mayor of Cullman in the early 1900’s, died in Birmingham, on Monday. Mr. Beyer was retired from the hardware business. 

Returning home after two years of military service in Alaska are Corporal Leo Hasenbein and Corporal Louis Hasenbein, twin sons of the Frank Hasenbeins. 

Garley C. Chapman, Police Chief in Cullman is happy with the new speed limits. 

Dane Estes, age 20, of Holly Pond is pictured in a wheelchair. Dane was stricken with polio, last February 13th while playing basketball for Saint Bernard College. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Norris Estes. 

The building committee for Trinity Evangelical Church in Hanceville is Albert Burkart, C.T. Burkart, Paul Fox, Henry Fuchs, Albert Jochum, Edwin McNutt, Herbert Michelfelder, G.W. Thom, Henry Warren and Otto Michelfelder. Reverend C. Burkart organized the church in 1885. 

The registered Hampshire Hog sale will be held at Ponder Warehouse, on February 6th.

Reverend Sim Calvert is pastor of Bethany Baptist Church and is teaching a Bible study this week.

J.A. Perdue has opened a store at Wheat in the L.H. Perdue Storehouse. 

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Cobb and boys are spending the winter in Florida. 

Herbert Otto Reinhardt and Alma Edith Marie Richter were married, on January 20th. 

Mrs. Marvin Ashwander and Miss Dorothy Jackson spent Thursday in Birmingham. 

Doctor and Mrs. Allen Gray, of Schnectady, New York, announce the birth of a daughter, on January 16th. Doctor Gray is the son of Mr. and Mrs. C.H. Gray.

From the Files of 1992

Jack Sides Returns to Cullman

Former Cullman Mayor Jack Sides and likely Mayoral candidate this year, has returned to Cullman from a Birmingham Hospital, following treatment in a coronary care unit. Sides will return to Birmingham for additional tests to be sure he does not have arterial blockage in about a month. The Cullman business man is apparently feeling better than he has in months. Welcome home, Jack!

We have a great heritage here; we want to keep that and maintain it. My motto is: Make Cullman a great place to live, work, play and worship. We are all in this together.”

Mayor Max Townson

CULLMAN– People from all over Cullman County gathered at Festhalle Thursday afternoon to celebrate a very special birthday; town founder, Colonel Johann Cullmann, turned 193 years old! Just like on most birthdays, a giant birthday cake and lots of ice cream was eaten and colorful cups of lemonade were handed out to the crowd.

As the festivities were about to begin, Cullman Mayor Max Townson made a speech on the Colonel’s behalf.

“You know, Colonel Cullmann was working for the railroad when he came out from Chicago. He was buying land, surveying and was a lawyer; back then you could do it all. When he got to Cullman County he said ‘this reminds me so much of Frankweiler,’ so this is where he wanted to settle. Can you believe today he is 193 years old? He doesn’t look a year over 100, does he? I want you all to help me do something. Can you help me sing Happy Birthday to the Colonel?”

In unison, the crowd began to sing “Happy Birthday.” Afterward, the Colonel happily blew out his birthday candles. When asked for a few words about his birthday, the old Colonel smiled a bit, and then began to talk.

“Thank you all for coming. This is a great day; 193rd birthday. We’ve been doing this for several years now and you know, back in the old days the Colonel invited people to his house, they were always looking for a reason to celebrate – the same way we do today! Cullman is such a wonderful place. I am just so proud of what you have become.”

“I just want to leave you all with one thing,” said Townson. “You brought a lot of settlers here and settled here,” he said, looking at the Colonel. “You were also responsible for other Germans coming from Chicago and all across the United States of America. We have a great heritage here; we want to keep that and maintain it. My motto is: Make Cullman a great place to live, work, play and worship. We are all in this together. One other thing; have a safe and happy Fourth of July. God Bless America!”  

After everyone had eaten their cake and ice cream, there was a drawing for a special surprise – birthday dinner with the Colonel at the All Steak restaurant. The lucky winners were allowed to bring one guest with them. Because there were lots of children at the party, Colonel Cullmann let different ones draw a name from the box.

“I want to say a special thank you to Mr. Matt Heim, owner of the All Steak,” the Colonel said right before he announced the winners. “Without his gracious hospitality there would not even be a birthday dinner. Matt has been providing the meal for several years now and I truly appreciate all that he does to make my birthday special.”

The two names that were drawn this year were Hannah Jacobs and Joyce Rodgers. Then the Colonel surprised the crowd and drew a third name from the box. Tina McArthur was the third winner for the special treat. The three winners, along with their special guests, met the Colonel later for a delicious birthday dinner.

Everyone was happy to celebrate with the Colonel. If you weren’t able to make it to his 193rd birthday, better make plans to attend his 194th. It’s always fun to celebrate here in Cullman, especially with the town’s founder!

Photo shows James Hutchens (left) assisting a customer on the first day of business at Giant Foods.

CULLMAN - When James Hutchens climbed in the back of a truck with his fellow workers in the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1938, he didn’t know where he was headed. At 17, he left his family to work in a program as part of FDR’s New Deal, and was transported to a town where he would spend the majority of his life.

Hutchens made $8 per month for himself, and $30 per month was sent to his family.

“I think there was four traffic lights in Cullman when I got here,” Hutchens said, laughing. “The CCC camps were to give people something to do, something to earn their money to send back to their family. The reason they sent us to Cullman was because Cullman was the biggest farming county in the state.”          

And work he did. Hutchens and his camp-mates were responsible for building the infrastructure that Cullman has grown up on, both in the county and in the city. In fact, the presence of kudzu in Cullman (although it has become a nuisance now) is due to it being brought into the county by Hutchens and his co-workers.          

“We planted it on banks of the roadsides that were washing away,” he said. “And it did the job.”          

The camp where Hutchens and his fellow CCC workers lived was located next door to Childhaven, which has since become a Cullman landmark.          

Anyone who knows Hutchens will tell you how much he values work, hard work, and quality work. While this work ethic was certainly honed during his years in the CCC camps, it was in him to do as well of work as he could. His wife calls him a perfectionist, but he doesn’t buy that.         

“I’ve always thought, well, if you’re going to do something, why not do it just as best as you can? You know?” he asked, rhetorically.          

When Hutchens completed his work with the CCC he was no longer obligated to stay in Cullman. When asked why he didn’t just leave the county where he’d been working and head back to his birthplace of Walker County, he responded simply, “Well, I met a girl in Cullman.”          

Hutchens attended Wednesday night services at Seventh Street Baptist Church and Thursday night services at West Methodist Church.          

“There was this little girl, Mildred, at church with her friends. Well, I asked her if I could walk her home,” he said. “Then I asked her if I could take her to church the next week.”          

After they had dated about eight or nine months, Hutchens said to Mildred, “Why don’t we just get married?” And she said, “Well I don’t know why not.”          

James and Mildred Hutchens started their life together. Years later, in 1961, Hutchens would open a store that has made a huge lasting impact on the Cullman community.          

Giant Foods opened at the current location of Books-A-Million in 1961, and Hutchens employed local young men and women, instilling in them a work ethic that has helped them to become leaders in the Cullman government, local business owners, and in one case, the owner of the largest trucking company in California.          

Many years later Hutchens built a greenhouse for personal use. When he began to realize the potential of the flower business, he built one greenhouse after the other, each of them 96-feet long. He built the greenhouses until he had 10, planting 5,000 mums per week, and shipping flora all across the state.          

Hutchens even had a hand in the start of Cullman’s East Side Baptist Church.          

“Brother Faulkner came to me and said, ‘What do you think about us starting a church in east Cullman?’ And so when he started it, we started going there. It was in a tent.” Hutchens is a charter member at East Side Baptist Church.

Hutchens has lived in Cullman, planting businesses and trees, since 1938. Building relationships through work and kindness. Though he would never say it himself because of his humility, Hutchens is a pillar of the Cullman community, even for people who may have never met him.          

Hutchens’ impact on Cullman for the past 70-plus years is massive. One thing all Cullmanites can be sure of: Cullman is a place built by humble men like Hutchens, and the gratitude towards them is as incalculable as their impact.  

CULLMAN - Today, feather beds and mattress toppers are considered a thing of luxury. The soft, fluffy, feather/down blend looks and feels like you are sleeping on a big billowy cloud. Cozy and warm, they are extremely hard to leave once the alarm clock goes off in the morning. Unfortunately, the feather beds of our ancestors didn’t always have that same effect.

My Great Grandma Hendrix slept on a feather bed ever since I can remember. Because we kids were never allowed to touch it, I never knew how comfortable or uncomfortable it was. I wanted to lay in that bed so bad I could taste it! I even wrote about her mysterious old bed in my book, “Jokers & Dandies:”

“Never, ever sit on Nu-Nu’s bed.” Both Momma and Grandma warned from the first time we’d ever seen it.

“How come? What’s so great about it?” I wondered.

“Because the mattress is made of feathers and is very old,” Momma said. “You kids are not allowed to touch it – ever! It’s off limits.”

“Have you ever sat on it?” I asked Momma.

“No.”

“Have you ever touched it?”

“No.”

“Not even when you were a little kid?” I asked her in disbelief.

“Not even as a little kid. Please, just don’t mess with it, okay?”

“Okay.”

I never knew why it was such a big deal. But I’d stand in the doorway for huge amounts of time and stare across the room at her bed, dreaming of lying down on it just to see what it felt like. I never tried it out though, even when I was the only person in the house. I never tried it out because I feared what would happen to me if I got caught.

Growing up a John Denver fan, naturally one of my favorite songs of his was “Grandma’s Feather Bed.” Oh the fun and good times he and his cousins would have on their grandma’s feather bed and how I wanted to experience those same good times as they did!

“But the best darn thing about Grandma's house was her great big feather bed,” he’d sing. “It was 9 feet high and 6 feet wide, soft as a downy chick. It was made from the feathers of forty 'leven geese, took a whole bolt of cloth for the tick. It'd hold eight kids, four hound dogs and a piggy we stole from the shed. We didn't get much sleep, but we had a lot of fun on Grandma's feather bed.”

Now that I am an adult with children and a grandchild of my own, I understand why I was never allowed to poke around and waller all over Grandma Hendrix’s bed. It’s just like the phrase I always heard as a child, “It’s too good for kids!”  Yes, her bed was definitely too good for kids, and now I understand why.

In the 19th century, feather beds became a comfortable place to sleep for ordinary people like Grandma Hendrix’s family.  Those feather mattresses or feather ticks were considered valuable possessions. People even made wills promising them to the next generation! If you weren’t lucky enough to inherit one, it took up to 50 pounds of feathers for a new bed. Farming families that had geese would save feathers from years of plucking until there was enough for a mattress.  

Tick is an odd word for mattress, huh? A tick is simply a linen or cotton bag filled with either feathers, straw, wool or cotton and sewn shut. The fabric, called ticking, had to be closely woven to keep the feathers from escaping.  Often times, the ticking was waxed or rubbed with soap to help keep it impenetrable.

Feather ticks were usually put on top of another firmer, non-feather mattress for support.  Because they were basically just bags of feathers with no inner structure, every morning they needed shaking and re-shaping. Learning to plump and smooth the bed well was one of the arts of housekeeping back in Grandma Hendrix’s day.

I never knew the story of my grandma’s feather bed and sadly nobody is left to ask. Grandma Hendrix was born on December 25, 1893 in Carroll County, Georgia. She could have possibly inherited it from her parents after they died or received it as a wedding gift when she married Grandpa Hendrix on April 6, 1911. She was a Christmas baby, so she could have even gotten it as a special birthday present. Wherever it came from though, it was special to her but to me the old bag of feathers has remained a complete mystery.

What do you remember about your parent’s and grandparent’s feather beds?

From the Files of 1940

The Junior II Class of Meek High School enjoyed a visit to the cotton gin at Nathen. This class has been studying a unit about slavery and the invention and improvements of the cotton gin.

By: Daisy Denson

The two sections of the second grade have been studying farm animals. They are making notebooks and putting pictures of each animal in their books. They especially enjoyed writing poems about the animals.

The Meek School has been very successful in adding to its library. More than 350 books have been added. Miss Ethel Curtis has charge of the library with the following students: Christine Parris, Lavina Lay, Eloise Long, Hoyt Murphree, Buron Forsythe and Elizabeth Evans.

By: Elizabeth Evans

The Junior II Class held an election for county, state and national officers on November 7th. The election was held by Mr. William B. Mauldin, the history teacher of the class. The majority voted straight tickets and a few voted mixed tickets. The class used real ballots that were left over from the General Election on November 5th. The managers were: Leldon Lay, Marie Hammer, Fermon Fincher and Latha Hammer.

Every Democrat won by small majorities. Mr. Roosevelt led Mr. Wilkie, 14 votes to 12.

By: John Smith

The Kiddie Band of Meek High is about to come out in their new costumes and will be ready to play soon. The band consists of Ruth Bates, Gales Hammer, Margie Murphree, Carol Davis, Eloise Knight, Dolphus Smith, Harry Kilpatric, Doris Walker, GaNell Horn, Donald Pepper, Mae Walker and many others, under the instruction of Miss Parilee Short. Some of the instruments are: drums, triangles, sticks, bells and blocks, tambourines and clogs.

By: Clara Parris

Thirteen little kiddies enjoyed the hospitality of the Senior II Home Economics girls on Thursday afternoon at one o’clock. Carefully planned games were enjoyed by the children, after which refreshments were served. The children present were: Bonnie Jones, Gala Ann Mealer, Imogene Wade, Sue Davis, Janet Hammer, Charlotte Wadsworth, John Earl Briscoe, Dicky and Marshie Tingle, Jerry Kilpatric and Kenneth Key.

By: Floy Anderson

Meek School News

Meek Wins Over Bear Creek, 18 To 0

The Meek football team met Bear Creek in a very interesting game on Friday afternoon. Meek scored in the first quarter of the game, then again in the third quarter and still again in the fourth quarter. Meek’s offense consisted of line drives, with several first downs made in this way, while Bear Creek relied mostly upon passes. Voyte Cleghorn, the quarterback, made two touchdowns and Lois Lindley, one of the halfbacks, made the other. The entire team showed team spirit and played a great game of ball. In the line, Delma Hendon, Austin Wade, Joe Thomas and Elber Hendon were outstanding. Voyte Cleghorn, Lois Lindley, Garfield Woodard and Malcolm Baldwin did some splendid playing in the back field.

Malcolm Baldwin and Christine Parris were crowned King and Queen of the Halloween Carnival, held in the Meek High School auditorium on Thursday night, October 31st. They are of the Senior III Class, which also sponsored the carnival. The runner-ups in the contest were: Helen Hyatt and Lois Lindley, Junior III’s. The other candidates were: Margaret Cox and Austin Wade, Senior II’s, Maxine Baird and L.H. Lindsey, Senior I’s, Gladys Williams and Leldon Lay, Junior II’s and Colene Wisner and Travis Burton, Junior I’s.

The Prince and Princess of the Carnival were: Gales Hammer and Alice Jean Brown, of primer and second grade. Other candidates were: Juanita Harold Mauldin, sixth grade, Marvin Densmore, second grade, Avolee Dunn and Ralph McCully, Mrs. Gray’s second grade and Ruth Bates, of the Primer.

Buron Forsyth, playing the part of Gravis Mayfield in the play, “Gravis and Gravis Junior,” a two act play, given by the Senior III’s was the leading man. Other characters were: Theo Dunn, Mrs. Gravis Mayfield, Floyd Walker, Gravis Junior, Paul Davis as Ben, a negro servant, Arlene Scoggin, as Liz, another negro servant and Malcolm Bauldin played the part of Doctor Forster.

There were many side shows. A death chamber was operated by the Senior I’s and was run by Willodean Lansford, Myrt Wade, Max Manner and Mrs. Charles Gibson. The Art Gallery was run by Roy Hendon and J.D. Barron. The fish pond was run by Miss Bertha Falls and Paul Davis, Hoyt Murphree was in charge of the guest turkey and the penny toss was run by Coach Bailey and Earnest Lansford. A lunch stand was run by Eleanor Denson, Mavis Wooton, Miss Bramblett, Gladys Wooten and Evoline Denson.

The proceeds of the side shows, King and Queen and play were given to the Senior Class.

BATTLEGROUND - Battleground is just one of the many Forrest-Streight historical markers that stretch across north Alabama. Located at the intersection of Highway 157 and County Road 1101 in Vinemont (near mile marker 16), the metal marker was installed by the Alabama Historical Association in 1983. The black metal marker has the Alabama flag at the top and underneath the flag it reads:

BATTLEGROUND

Named after a Civil War Battle

fought April 30, 1863, between

Confederate troops commanded by

General Nathan Bedford Forrest and

Union troops commanded by

Colonel Abel D. Streight.

Confederates lost 50 to 75 men

killed or wounded. Union lost 30 men.

Shortly after the battle Union forces

fled to Hog Mountain pursued by

the Confederates.

During the Battle of Hog Mountain, Gen. Forrest overtook Col. Streight's raiders in a hand-to-hand battle just after dark. Three horses were shot from under Forrest. Union forces fled southward with Forrest in relentless pursuit.

Earlier that same day, at Day's Gap on Sand Mountain, Forrest caught up with Streight's expedition and attacked his rear guard. Streight's men managed to repulse this attack and as a result they continued their march to avoid any further delays and envelopments caused by the Confederate troops.

Sometimes it is hard to believe there was actual Civil War action here in Cullman County. Other days, when you come across historical markers like the one in Battleground, the Civil War becomes a reality. God Bless those men, on both sides of the battlefield, that fought, were wounded or died during the War. God Bless the USA.

GOOD HOPE - Located on Reid Road in Good Hope, this old house holds many happy memories for my family and me. Although it no longer belongs to my kinfolk, we still refer to it as ‘the old Reid homeplace’ because it was where my grandpa, Glenn Reid, and his brothers and sisters grew up. As a young girl, my mother, her siblings and numerous cousins ran amok, hiding in the barn, climbing the tall trees in the front yard and using the creepy, ancient outhouse around back. My memories are not so different, although that outhouse fascinated me, I never actually had to use it; a small indoor bathroom had been tacked on to the back of the house at some point before I was born. Thank goodness!  

If walls could talk, I would love to press my ears up against them and listen to them tell all about my great grandparents, Homer and Maggie (Rabun) Reid, whom I never had the honor of meeting – in person; they died before I came along. Thankfully, I feel I have gotten to know them quite well just from talking to family members and asking lots of questions about them. Oh, I have been told lots of interesting things about them, too!

Homer and Maggie bought the old homeplace, the house and about 40 acres of land, on Dec. 19, 1922. I was told their move was tough and it took them quite a while to get settled in, especially with five children in tow. 

“When Momma and Daddy moved to Alabama from Georgia, they had to make three trips back to complete the move,” my uncle Herman Reid, Homer and Maggie’s youngest son, once told me. “They traveled in a wagon and it took nearly five days to make the trip - one way. They met or knew people along the way that they would stay with overnight. Those families always fed them and took good care of them.” Gosh, that was something I couldn’t fathom. They must have wanted to live here pretty bad, I remember thinking to myself as he spoke.

If I could go out in the fields where Grandpa Homer once grew his crops, I bet I could grab a big handful of soil, put my ear to it and hear all about his farming techniques. From what I’ve heard from Uncle Herman, Grandpa Homer was a pretty good farmer, although some of his ‘farming equipment’ didn’t always cooperate.

“Sometimes Daddy would be out plowing the fields, when all of a sudden the mules would decide to go home,” Uncle Herman said with a chuckle. “So the durn mules would head for the house, dragging Daddy on the ground behind them the whole way. Gosh, he would get filthy, especially under his arms by the time the mules reached the house!

“Once the mules would finally come to a stop, Daddy would untangle himself from the reins, dust himself off then turn the mules back around and lead them back out to the field where they would start plowing again where he left off.”

Yes, that old house has lots to tell; it has seen my family through lots of happy times, as well as some pretty horrible times. Within those walls Homer and Maggie’s 14-year-old daughter Ruth died after a short bout with pneumonia on January 22, 1925. Her body laid in state in the small living room as mourners from all over visited, trying desperately to console her poor parents.  Those were some very dark days for Homer, Maggie and their other children. Sadly, Ruth wasn’t the only child they had lost, prior to their move to Good Hope; they lost their darling 3-year-old daughter, Daisy, to spinal meningitis.

I like to think of the Reids as a peculiar bunch. Plucky and stubborn when need be, they are incredibly hard workers; but just like me they also love to laugh and play. They are jokers and dandies, which is what my Grandpa Reid, Homer and Maggie’s son Glenn, always called us kids after pulling a prank on us as he laughed. These are the Reids I remember visiting at the old homeplace during family reunions, long after Homer and Maggie had passed away. My cousin Kenny Lawrence used to talk about those family reunions a lot before he died a few years ago. In my opinion, he described my Reid family perfectly. 

“At the Reid reunions, people were always laughing,” he’d say. “We would always have a big meal. Afterwards, Aunt Addie would call bingo and everybody would bring the stupidest gifts they could find for the winners to open,” he’d muse. “The only time we see each other now is at a wedding, or a funeral. But even at the funerals, when we eat it turns into a wake, with everybody talking and laughing because we know that the one who had passed would want us to do just that; and they would be right in the middle of it laughing, telling jokes and just enjoying seeing each other again.” 

“Some people don’t like to go back to their homeplaces,” Uncle Herman once told me, “they act like it is haunted or something. We always loved visiting the old home where we grew up. There are so many great memories we had while growing up.”

Sadly, as the older generation slowly fades away, the Reids rarely have those good ole get-togethers anymore. The old Reid homeplace has new owners and the house just doesn’t seem quite the same. If those old walls could talk, I’m sure they would tell you stories that would make you laugh, and sometimes cry. One thing I know for sure, though, is they would tell of a family who loved each other dearly. They were people who treated their neighbors as if they were part of the same family. Those are the people I came from. This is what the old Reid homeplace still means to me, new owners or not.  

Reprinted from The Cullman Tribune, 1919

Shocking Tragedy Occurred in Cullman Last Saturday Night

Mr. Graves went to the side of Sheriff Sparks, who said, “Graves get a doctor.” Mr. Graves asked Sheriff Sparks if he had been shot. He replied, “Yes, in his breast.” Mr. Graves assisted Mr. Sparks down the steps, to the sidewalk, when he said, “Graves get a doctor, I am all right, but turning sick and will get weak.” Mr. Graves rushed to the Peoples Drug Store and found Otto Hartung, just at the corner. Mr. Hartung quickly opened the store and rushed to the phone and began to call the physicians. Mr. Graves hurried back to look after Sheriff Sparks and found that he had attempted to walk to the drug store, but sank down on the sidewalk, just in front of the Hanlin building, which had burned. Policeman Graves and John Heinl picked up Sheriff Sparks and carried him into the drug store. 

The Sheriff asked Mr. Graves to go back and see about the other fellow. Then he called for Walter Martin, his son-in-law. The Sheriff asked Mr. Graves not to tell Mrs. Sparks about the shooting, as she was not well. Then he again asked how the other fellow was. 

Doctor Herrin was the first to reach his side, then Doctor McAdory and Doctor Martin. The physicians did everything possible to save his life, but he only lived about one hour, dying before being removed to his home. 

Mr. Sparks was one of the best known citizens of our county, having been elected to the office of Sheriff in the last November election. Prior to his election as Sheriff, he had served the city for five or more years as Chief of Police, during which time he made for himself a reputation surpassed by few, if any officials, in the discharge of his duties and enforcement of law, ever being kind and considerate of all people. Mr. Sparks was a member of the First Baptist Church, a member of the Masonic and Knights of Pythians fraternities and held in the highest of esteem by the citizens throughout the county.

The funeral services were held on Tuesday afternoon from the First Baptist Church, at 4 o’clock by the pastor, Doctor Clay I. Hudson, assisted by Doctor J.S. Robertson and Doctor B.F. Foster and a high tribute of respect to the memory of the beloved official was paid by Mayor Robertson, who probably knows better than any other man the real worth of John W. Sparks, as an officer who never failed, when it came to doing his duty. Despite the fact that heavy storm clouds of rain and thunder were rolling over our city, one of the largest crowds ever assembled, gathered to pay a last tribute of respect in the attendance of the funeral services.

 Mr. Sparks is survived by his wife and two daughters, Mrs. Walter Martin and Miss Jewel and a number of relatives. 

The remains were laid to rest, with Masonic honors, in the Protestant Cemetery and the grave buried beneath a bank of flowers, as a tribute of esteem. 

The other victim, John Mack, as near thirty-two years of age, was born and reared in Cullman, for a number of years, had been engaged in the business of running a public dray and was well-known by the citizens of our city. He was a son of Mrs. E. Mack of this city. Besides his aged mother, he leaves a wife and child and several brothers and sisters to mourn his unfortunate death. 

The funeral services of Mr. Mack were conducted on Wednesday afternoon from his residence and the interment took place in the Protestant Cemetery. 

Solicitor Dave Almon came to Cullman on Monday morning, starting an investigation, at once seeing that high feeling appeared to be in the air and that the time had arrived for a general cleaning out of places that would attempt to run in defiance of all laws. 

Three people were arrested, as accessories in the killing of Sheriff Sparks and placed in the county jail. On Monday afternoon, Judge Brickell ordered that the woman be transferred to Jefferson County Jail, in Birmingham and she was carried down on the evening accommodation by Deputy Sheriff Windsor. Another man was transferred to the Limestone County Jail at Athens. 

The Circuit Court is convening on Monday morning to conduct a thorough investigation of conditions that have prevailed, leading up to the double tragedy. Solicitor Almon, we understand, says that there shall be a general clean up and he has the law to back him up. 

Frank Claus, the traveling salesman, was carried before the grand jury for an examination Thursday morning and after an investigation by Solicitor Almon, as exonerated of being an accessory to the killing of Sheriff Sparks and given his freedom. Mr. Claus is well-known in our city.

From the Files of 1933

This year Easter comes on the nineteenth day of April. The seniors at Cullman High School are planning for class day and graduation. Mr. Killingsworth announced that Flora Baker is Valedictorian and Dorothy Reinstodler is Salutatorian of the Class of 193 3. Herbert Hancock ranked third highest in grades for the four years of high school. 

Charlie Montgomery knocked a knee out of place while at work this week. 

Judge Tankersley and daughters, Gladys, Evelyn and Grace made a trip to Cullman on Saturday morning. 

Miss Sara Robison was the candle lighter for the wedding of Miss Elsie Coppock and James Robison at the Baptist pastorium in Vinemont, on April 11th, 1933. 

Miss Ola Mae Canant is spending a few days in Cullman with her sister, Mrs. Herbert O. Cordes. 

Paul Pitts was the guest of Herbert King, on Sunday night. 

The seniors at Hanceville High School in 1933 are: Gertie Adams, Bill Clapp, Audie Compton, Mary Gamble, Mildred Gibbs, Allen Gray, Helen Gray, Eula Hines, Floyd Johnston, Leila Kemp, Floyd McAnnally, Alice McNutt, Geraldine Musgrove, Helen Oden, Florence Philpot, Russell Plunkett, Edna Presley, Wenonah Simpson, Lucy Florence Troxell, Bertha Vest and James Wood. Allen Gray is the valedictorian and Helen Oden is the salutatorian. Alice McNutt will receive the Balfour Medal for being the best all-around student. Elmer Plunkett will receive the Gorgas Medal for writing the best essay from a total of 55 entrants. 

Married this week were Bernard Hasenbein and Miss Clersy O. Weeks.

Laziness is nothing more than resting before you get tired.

From the Files of 1992

Hanceville Girls Softball 20

Cold Springs 2 

The Hanceville Bulldogs, coached by Lane and Nancy Horton, defeated Cold Springs, on March 24th. Hanceville had 13 hits, allowed no unearned runs, scored 20 runs and produced 20 R.B.I.’s. Cold Springs had four hits and 13 errors. April Brand was the winning pitcher. 

Individual statistics for the Hanceville Bulldogs are as follows:

- Charlotte Malcom was two for four, had three runs and one R.B.I. 

- Angie Harris reached base four times, twice by error and twice by walks, had three runs and one R.B.I.

- Shana Bagwell was three for four, including a triple and double, had three runs and four R.B.I.s. 

- Ashleigh Collins was two for four, including a homerun and triple, had five R.B.I.s and scored two runs. 

- She Saunders was one for three and reached base two other times on an error and walk, scored a run and had two R.B.I.s.

- Kerry Boren reached base three times, twice by error and once by walk and scored one run. 

- April Brand was one for three and reached base once by error and once by walk. Brand had one R.B.I. and scored two runs.

- Deanna Chapman was one for four, reached base on a fielder’s choice and an error, scored two runs and had one R.B.I.

 -April Bennefield was two for three, including a double and also reached base on an error, had an R.B.I. and scored a run. 

- Stephanie Currington was one for three, which was a triple and reached base once by error and once by walk and scored two runs.

- Charlotte Malcom made a couple of outstanding defensive plays in this ballgame.

Individual statistics for the Cold Springs Eagles are as follows: 

- Julie Morgan ground out twice.

- Lori Rollo had one hit and scored a run.

- Sandy Freeman was one for two and scored a run.

- Kari Pederssen was one for two and had two R.B.I.s. 

- Jennifer Aaron was zero for one and had a walk. 

- Carrie Davis reached base on a fielder’s choice and ground out. 

- Stephanie Hogeland flied out in the first inning and ground out in the fourth inning.

- Brandy Kilgo ground out to begin the second inning. 

- Sandra Johnson struck out in the second inning.

- Julie Freeman played defense, but did not bat.

- Cindy Freeman was one for two. 

- Nicki Brown ground out in the sixth inning. 

- Christy Campbell ground out in the sixth inning.

The Eagles are coached by Wanda Henderson.

It is really beautiful here and I am really enjoying my stay.”

Verena Rong

CULLMAN– The Cullman Friends of Frankweiler organization welcomed special guests, 17-year-old Verena Rong and 16-year-old Antonia Poulsen, to Cullman this week. The two young ladies are visiting from Colonel John Cullmann's birthplace, Frankweiler, Germany. They arrived on Monday, July 18 and will be staying at the home of Ernest and Susan Martin Hauk through Tuesday, Aug. 2.

Cullman and Frankweiler became sister cities in 1987. The Cullman Friends of Frankweiler and the Frankweiler Friends of Cullman organizations have worked together to create the Cullman/Frankweiler Student Exchange Program. The purpose of the program is to get young people from each city to learn more about the history, heritage and lifestyle of their sister city.

Verena and Antonia are this year's exchange students. Since their arrival, the girls have become good friends with Ernest and Susan Hauk’s daughter, Samantha. Together they have visited some interesting places and have eaten some good ole southern food.

“The girls are typical teenagers,” said Susan Hauk with a chuckle. “They ate grits and liked them. They had them again this morning – by choice,” she smiled. “Yesterday they went to Heritage Park to play basketball and got hot. Then they went to the Grotto, but were still so hot, they just went through the gift shop. They went swimming yesterday afternoon and cruised Cullman last night.”

On Wednesday morning, the girls visited with Mayor Max A. Townson at Cullman City Hall. He talked to them about lots of different things such as Colonel Cullmann, Volkswagen cars and Johnny Cash. During their visit the mayor presented them with a proclamation declaring July 20, 2016, "Frankweiler Exchange Student Day" in Cullman.

“We are happy to have Miss Rong and Miss Poulsen here in Cullman,” the Townson said, “and I hope they have a great time learning more about Cullman. We are grateful for our "Friends" organizations for creating and overseeing this student exchange program. We feel that getting our young people involved in our sister city partnership with Frankweiler will ensure that our partnership will continue to thrive for generations to come!”

Wednesday proved to be a very busy day for Rong and Poulsen. After visiting Townson, Drew Green from the Cullman County Museum took them inside the museum and gave them the grand tour. From there, they headed to the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville. They had lunch and did a little shopping at Bridge Street Town Centre, also in Huntsville. They will end the day with a Birmingham Barons baseball game.

Although their visit to Cullman has really just begun, the girls seem to be having a good time.

“It is really beautiful here and I am really enjoying my stay,” said Rong. “Everything is more widespread here than in Germany. The people are a lot nicer here than in Germany. They are really friendly here and in Germany they are just pretty cold,” she grinned sheepishly. “But I am really enjoying my stay here.”

“I am really glad to be here. I am enjoying the time with my host family,” Poulsen smiled. “The people here are all so nice.”

Rong and Poulsen will go on many more adventures while in town. Not only are the girls learning about Cullman, but they are also teaching us a lot about our beautiful sister city, Frankweiler.

For more information about Friends of Frankweiler call 256-739-1258, email friendsoffrankweiler.cullman@gmail.com or visit cullmancountymuseum.com.

PROCLAMATION

Whereas, the Cullman Friends of Frankweiler and the Frankweiler Friends of Cullman organizations have partnered together to create the Cullman/Frankweiler Student Exchange Program; and,

Whereas, Frankweiler residents Antonia Poulsen and Verena Rong have traveled to Cullman as exchange students and are residing with the Ernest and Susan Hauk family in order to learn more about Cullman’s unique German history and heritage, and will make their official visit to the Office of the Mayor on Wednesday, July 20, 2016; and,

Whereas, we are proud to welcome Miss Poulsen and Miss Rong to Cullman and are very impressed by their interest in becoming more involved with the partnership between our Sister Cities; and,

Whereas, the City of Cullman is grateful to both of our “Friends” organizations for keeping the lines of communication open between our two cities and for encouraging our young people to become involved in our Sister City partnership so that it can continue to flourish for generations to come!

Now, therefore, I, Max A. Townson, as Mayor of the City of Cullman and on behalf of our City Council and citizens, do hereby welcome Frankweiler exchange students Antonia Poulsen and Verena Rong to Cullman and proclaim the day of their visit to the Mayor’s Office – Wednesday, July 20, 2016 – to be FRANKWEILER EXCHANGE STUDENT DAY in the City of Cullman, and encourage everyone in our community to tender to our honored guests a most cordial and sincere welcome to Cullman!         

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the City of Cullman to be affixed on this, the 20th day of July, 2016.

See a full photo gallery on our Facebook page.

From the Files of 1933: 

Winners in the baby contest on Wednesday evening were: Betty Rose Biggers, daughter of Mrs. Alvie Gibbers, sponsored by Marjorie Thompson, first, Barbara Ann Leeth, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.S. Leeth, sponsored by Helen Leigeber, second, Juanita Allen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T.N. Allen, sponsored by Wynelle Allen, third. The boy to win first was Buddy Lee, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Marvin Lee, sponsored by Wynelle Taylor. 

The Al Richter home has been leased for a Cullman Infirmary. 

Mrs. M.A. Jones, of Vinemont, brought the Tribune staff a fine basket of delicious grapes on Saturday. 

Helen Glasscock and Wilbur Aaronson were married on July 30th, at the First Baptist Church, in Tuscaloosa, where both are students at the University of Alabama. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A.G. Glasscock, of Cullman and he the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Morris Aaronson, of New York. 

Miss Esther Perdue, of Washington, D.C., is spending a month with her parents, the L.H. Perdues, of Trade.

From the Files of 1953:

Hanceville Happenings 

Mrs. James B. Kelley, of Decatur, visited her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Caudell, on Monday. 

Joyce McNutt has accepted a position as occupational coordinator at Troy High School for the coming year. 

Reverend J.R. Dobbs, of Eufaula, is quite ill at the Cullman Hospital, following an operation, on Friday. 

Guests on Saturday of Mrs. J.T. Stepp were: Mr. and Mrs. A.L. Little and family, of Bessemer. 

Mr. and Mrs. V.D. Bateman had as their Sunday afternoon guests, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Brannon, of Welti. 

Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Chappell and David spent Sunday visiting relatives in Rome, Georgia. 

Mrs. E. Jack Collier visited in Birmingham, on Tuesday and Tuesday night.

Aged Man Dies 

Charlie Thomas Harris, age 84, died at his residence, on Cleveland Street, on August 2nd. 

Funeral services were held at Hopewell, with Reverend Glen Hembree officiating, assisted by Reverend Odis Driver. Interment was in the adjoining cemetery. 

Survivors include: his widow, Bulah Harris; three sons, Lamar, Roy and Thurman; four daughters, Mesdames G.L. Mullins, C.H. Brock, F.C. White and Olen Arthur; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Jay H. Winn Rites 

Funeral services were held in Winchester, Tennessee, on Saturday, August 1st for Jay H. Winn, age 56, who died in a Nashville hospital, on July 30th. 

He was a member of Cullman High School’s first football team.

Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Obie Stewart Winn; one brother, Glen Winn, of Birmingham; eight sisters, Mrs. Emmett Smith, of Hulaco, Mrs. Jesse H. Smith, Misses Annie and Evelyn Winn, of Cullman, Mrs. Claude Quattlebaum, of Hanceville, Mrs. J.T. King, of Attalla, Mrs. J.T. Cahoon, of Atlanta, Georgia and Mrs. John Stith, of Charlotte, North Carolina. 

Relatives from here, who attended the funeral were: Doctor and Mrs. R.B. Dodson, Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Stewart, Curtis Stewart, Misses Annie and Evelyn Winn, Mrs. Jesse H. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Claude Quattlebaum and Jay, Mrs. Emmett Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Entrekin and Mr. and Mrs. Spencer Walker.

Bethany News 

Reverend Sim J. Calvert filled his regular appointment at Bethany on Sunday. 

Little Sheila Kay Collins, of Detroit, Michigan has been visiting her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. A.E. Smith for the past two months. 

The C.C. Harbisons, Belva Sue and Ruth and Hilda Perdue were the Sunday guests of Mr. and Mrs. Derian Harbison, of Holly Pond. 

Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Williams were in Pell City on Saturday, on business. 

Evon Lay and Ruby Nell Pugh were married last week. 

Avery Calvert is working in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Mount Vernon News 

Mr. and Mrs. Monroe Burden and family attended a reunion at Sportsman Lake on Sunday. 

Copel Woods and family and Donald Woods and family, all of Sidney, Ohio are visiting their mother. 

Billy Alldredge, of Sidney, Ohio, is home with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Alldredge. 

James Guthery and family are visiting their parents, H.A. Guthery and Ora Woods.

Inez and Maydell Simpson are visiting relatives in Blount County, this week.

From the Files of 1907

Hanceville News 

Misses Kate and Mary Stender, of Cullman, spent Sunday with parents, in Hanceville. 

Miss Dela Matthews returned Saturday from a visit to friends in Cullman. 

Mrs. Fred Hassenphlugg was quite sick the past week. She is better at this writing. 

Mr. Frank Hamill, of Chicago, visited her grandmother, Mrs. A.J. Hamill and aunt, Mrs. J.H. Gillespie, at Hanceville, last week. 

Misses Eula and Lizzie Grimmett attended the entertainment in Garden City, last Friday night. 

Miss Viola Waldrop and brother, Herbert, spent Saturday with relatives in Cullman. 

Misses Autie Matthews and Claudie Gray spent Friday night in Garden City to attend the closing exercises of the school. Miss Lillian Creamer and brother, Sidney attended the closing exercises of the Cullman public schools on Monday. Misses Amanda and Lena Clements (Lena Gibbs) and Mrs. Millard visited Mr. and Mrs. John Miller, of Falkville, this week. Mr. John Couch and Mayor John Lowles spent Sunday in Cullman. 

Mr. A.A. Doolittle joined his wife, Nannie Ketchum Doolittle here in a visit to her mother, Mrs. Lizzie Ketchum (Aunt Lizzie). Little John Self, (brother too little Mallie Self, who died a few days ago), is quite sick with pneumonia. 

Miss Ethel Ragsdale, who has been visiting Mrs. R.A. Collins for some time, returned to her home in Bessemer, last Thursday. 

Mr. Owens, of Garden City, was in Hanceville on Monday. Messrs: McAdams and Otto Fuller, of Cullman were here several days last week putting in some new phones.

Mr. Jack Griffin, of Cullman, spent last Wednesday in Hanceville.

Mr. Jim Griffith, of R.F.D. Number Three was in Hanceville, on Monday. 

Mr. Houston Bland and Miss Talula Bland visited relatives in Cullman, last week. 

Mr. Crawford Gray, of Clanton, Alabama visited parents this week. 

The party at Mrs. James Speegle’s last Saturday night was quite successful. 

The odd fellows box supper, given at the schoolhouse, on Friday night, was quite well-attended and a good time was had.

Mr. and Mrs. James Speegle spent Friday in Cullman. 

Mrs. Mack Bland and baby, visited her sister, Mrs. William Davenport, of Garden City, on Saturday. 

Miss Mary Lindsay, of Route Three was in Hanceville, on Monday. 

Mr. Green Towles spent Monday in Garden City. Mr. and Mrs. G.W. Thomas are on the sick list this week. 

Miss Mary Redmond and Miss White, of Bremen, visited friends in Hanceville, this week. 

Mr. Sam Foust, of Walter, was here last week for the data of the town’s history. We are also indebted to Judge James Holland. 

Mrs. Kate Sloan, of Warrior, visited Mrs. R.A. Collins, this week. 

Mr. John Couch, day operator at Hanceville and Mr. Jack Groover, the night operator, have aided us materially in getting up this edition. 

Mr. R.S. Cook was photographer in chief, though some of our pictures were taken by the editor. 

Doctor Nick Schlaff, Senior, who owns a fine business here and a hotel and is making money fast, ought to have been heralded in this issue and we offered him the opportunity. He finally agreed, but the photographer was taken sick and the work was not done. Doctor Schlaff is one of the old settlers and he is an industrious, able man. He offers his entire property for sale, as his health is bad and he must seek another climate, to the great regret of his friends.

The widows and orphans Home of the R.O.O.F. will be located in Cullman, if energetic steps are taken. It is the best point of offering such inducement. One hundred and sixty acres of land and $5,000.00 will be given. Work for Cullman County! It will greatly help the county! Everybody help at once!

From the Files of 1992

Styles Anniversary 

Mr. and Mrs. Travis Styles of County Road 258, Cullman, Alabama, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, on March 29th, 1992, at the Cullman Civic Center. Hosts were their children: Tom Styles, of Pensacola, Florida, Jo Oakley, of Durham, North Carolina and Kelly Styles, of New York, New York. They have three grandchildren. The two were married on April 4th, 1942, in Cullman, Alabama. After serving churches in North Carolina for 42 years, he is now pastor at the Oak Level Baptist Church in Cullman County. 

Editor’s Note: Congratulations to this very special couple! Even their wedding day is special. It is the publisher’s birthday.

 Copyright 2016 Humble Roots, LLC. All rights reserved.

HARTSELLE - Each August, Chapter 2212, the Finis J. Self Chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, sponsors a memorial service to honor the fallen warriors of Cullman and Morgan Counties. Those being honored were either killed in action or received a Purple Heart after being wounded and passed on later in life. The service will be conducted at the Purple Heart Monument in Sparkman Park in Hartselle on Saturday, Aug. 6, at 10 a.m.

During the ceremony each name of the fallen warriors that are inscribed on the monument are read aloud accompanied by the sounding of a bell. A small Purple Heart flag is presented to the next of kin or a friend if they are present. The names are read by prominent elected officials representing Cullman and Morgan Counties.

In addition to the Purple Heart monument and its list of fallen warriors and Purple Heart recipients there is a Veteran’s Walk open to all veterans. Engraved bricks honor or memorialize the veterans of our country’s armed forces.

The guest speaker for this year’s ceremony will be Retired Army Lt. Col. Michael Snyder. State Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, Morgan County Commission Chairman Ray Long, Cullman County Commissioner Garry Marchman and Hartselle Mayor Bill Smelser will read the names. JROTC cadets from the Priceville High School program will post the colors. Brother Gunther from Priceville will give the opening prayer. Former POW George Mills will conduct the POW/MIA ceremony. MSG Donna Johnson and ENell Baker will sing patriotic songs. The Patriot Guard Riders, along with the Buffalo Soldiers, American Legion and Tuskegee Airmen Motorcycle Clubs, flags flying, will make their grand arrival and be present during the ceremony.

The Military Order of the Purple Heart is unique among military fraternal groups. All of its members have spilt blood or were otherwise injured in combat with an enemy of the United States. This memorial service honors those warriors, past and present. This service is open to the public.

For more information about the service, having a Purple Heart recipient’s name inscribed on the monument, or purchasing a brick for a veteran, contact the commander, Joey D’Andrea, at 256-739-4733 or lioneltrains@yahoo.com.

2016 Memorial Service Honorees

Absher, Lyle - WW2
Absher, Paul - WW2
Aldridge, David S. - VN
Alford, George – WW2
Alford, Ottis F. – Korea
Ashton, Alfred J. Jr - VN
Barnett, Kermit C. - WW2
Bates, Lloyd C. - WW2
Bean, David A. - WW2
Beard, Billy Joe– VN
Bell, Dexter – VN
Bennett, Baskem– WW2
Bennett, Royce – WW2
Blair, Robert J. - WW2
Blankenship, Chester W. – WW2
Blankenship, Theron A. – WW2
Bowman, Ray - WWII/Korea
Bowman, Ulyes - WWII/Korea/VN
Bradford, Cornis - WW2
Brindley, Warren – WW2
Brown, Charles W. - WW2
Burks, Howard M. – WW2
Burnett, John S. – WW2
Burrow, Ernest D. – WW2
Bynum, Howard E. - WW2
Calvert Athel – WW2
Calvert, Marion D. – VN
Cammon, William E. – WW2
Caretti, James - WW2
Chambers, Joseph L. – WW2
Chenault, R. M. - WW2
Cheuvront, William A. - WW2
Christopher, Ashford H. - WW2
Clement, Ausie - VN
Cobb, Grover A– WW2 – POW
Cox, M.l. - Korea
Curnel, Zelma - WW2
Davis, Earl – WW2
Dingler, Warner F. – WW2
Drain, Bluit A. - WW2
Elrod, Jimmy C.–VN
Eubanks, Thurman G. - Korea
Everly, Raymond– WW2, Korea, VN
Foshee, Willie W. - WW2
Frazier, Jantzen M. – Iraq
Freeman, Chester W. – WW2
Galin, Marvin H. - WW2
Glasscock, Charles G. – WW2
Glasscock, William E. – WW2
Glenn, Troy R. - Iraq
Glover, Charles G. - WW2
Greene, John D. – VN
Greenhill, O’neal - WW2
Greeson, Zeb Vance – VN
Grigsby, Erskine L. – VN
Hall, Jeffrey A. – Afghanistan
Harbison, Shelby - WW2
Hardwick, Macon – WW2
Harris, Gary - VN
Hawkins, James F. - WW2
Haynes, Uyless V. - WW2
Hendon, William. A- Korea/VN
Herring, Ted R. – WW2
Higdon, James E. – WW2
Hoffman, James – WW2
Holcomb, Russell A. – WW2
Holmes, Luther F. WW2
Hooper, Joe R. - Medal
Of Honor – VN
Hopkins, Robert P. - WW2
Horton, Lonie - WW2 - POW
Howington, Hartwell R. – WW2
Hughes, James – WW2
Hurt, Bruce M. – Korea
Hyche, Richard J. Sr. – WW2
Johnson, James D. - WW2
Johnson, James P. - WW2
Jones, John P. - WW2
Jones, Marion A. – WW2
Kilgo, Ottis – WW2
Kirby, Edward M. – WW2
Lackey, Wayne S – Korea, VN
Laney, Billy R. – VN
Laney, Dellmar B. – WW2
Lessman, William F. – WW2
Loney, Jon-Erik – Iraq
Lovelady, Ronald D. – VN
Maddox, Erskine L. - WW2
Mann, George E. – WW2
Mayhall, Albert O. – VN
Mc Annally, Joseph A. - WW2
Mc Annally, Sammie G. – WW2
Mc Call, George D. - WW2
Mc Minn, Lonnie H. – WW2
Mc Neal, Darril R., - WW2
Melton, Carl E. - WW2
Miller, Melvin W. - WW2
Miner, Norval - Korea
Molitor, John A. – Korea - POW
Nelson, Travis - Iraq
Nesmith, Arthur L. - WW2
Nicholson, Clarence D. - WW2
Norwood, Freeman L. - WW2 - POW
Nothdurft, Fred - WW2
Nunn, Henry G. - Ww1
Overturf, Vernon R. - VN
Perry, Jim D. – VN
Pinyan, Verbon - WW2
Player, James D. - WW2
Prater, James - VN
Puckett, Frank Jr. – WW2
Puckett, Rube E. - WW2
Queen, J. C. - WW2 – POW
Quick, Vonnie O. – WW2
Racster, John R. - WW2
Ragsdale, Carlton – WW2
Rath, Joshua - Afghanistan
Reeves, Millard C. WW2
Riddle, Jimmy L. – VN
Roberts, Arville L. - WW2
Rollins, Robert Q. – WW2
Rose, Alvin – VN
Sachs, Alfred L. – WW2
Samples, Cecil – WW2
Sandlin, Reubin - WW2
Self, Finis J. - WW2
Sewell, Johnny B. – VN
Shaffran, James A. – VN
Shoemaker, H. W. - WW2
Simpson, Charles A. - WW2
Singleton, Harold – WW2
Sivley, Gene – WW2
Skalberg, James L. Jr - Afghanistan
Slateen, Donald – Korea
Smith, Jonathan L. - Iraq
Speake, Fred M. Jr. - WW2
Stephenson, Kerry L. – VN
Stinnett, Coy - WW2
Talley, Deesie H. – WW2
Turner, Horace Ray - WW2 – POW
Turner, Marion F. – WW2
Vandercar, Harry R. - WW2
Vernon, Leonard L. – WW2
Ward, Truman C. - VN
Ward, Vernon– WW2
Waterman, Mel F. - WW2
Weeks, Herschel – WW2
West, Charles H. – WW2
White, Elton D. – Korea
Williams, Millard A. - WW2
Woodard, Percy R. - WW2

From the Files of 1905

There was not more than a third of a crop of strawberries this year.

The little son of Mr. and Mrs. A.F. Stinson was climbing a tree, caught a live telephone wire and was unable to turn loose. Neighbors soon rescued him without injury.

Mr. S.P. Daniel, of Holly Pond, is ill.

Mrs. H. Arnold and children, of Cullman, visited Mrs. H. Rehling, on Sunday, at Gays Chapel.

Jesse Howell was thrown from his horse, on Monday and broke his leg between the hip and the knee.

From the Files of 1930

Joe H. Ray spent Sunday with friends in Falkville.

Mr. and Mrs. Monroe Ray are the proud parents of a little son.

Mr. and Mrs. Herman Price are the proud parents of a little girl. Kyle Turner, Goldie Eddlemon and Lucille Brooks motored to Berlin, on Sunday.

At Arkadelphia, Misses Regina Taylor and Virginia Crowder attended the play at the school, on Thursday night. Lewis Dean was the escort of Miss Eunice Crozel, on Friday night. Miss Velaria Strong and Clifford Dye were the Sunday guests of Misses Zelma and Fronia Self, of Welcome.

Miss Esther Perdue, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L.H. Perdue are graduates this week from the Birmingham Baptist Hospital School of Nursing. Shed had high honors. The many friends of Miss Perdue wish for her much success as she enters the field of caring for the sick.

Mr. Nathan Smith was showing off his beans, on Monday to friends who visited his barber shop. The beans were grown back of his shop and pods measured six inches long.

Miss Frances McPherson was the Valedictorian of the Cullman High School Class of 1930. Salutatorian was Miss Margaret Hartwig.

Fred Kelley, son of Mr. and Mrs. W.O. Kelley graduated at Alabama Military Institute at Anniston. He was presented a beautiful sport model Chevrolet Roadster for graduation from his parents.

Miss Christine Hembree was neither absent nor tardy during the seven years she attended Cullman City Schools. Miss Hembree also made excellent grades.

Norris Estes and Ludie House were the happy callers of Misses Hester and Flaye Crumbley, on Sunday, at Holly Pond.

Ulysses Shaw was the caller of Allene Watts, on Sunday.

Curtis Reid was the escort of Miss Tessie Ellard, on Sunday night.

“When you know enough to know what you lack, you are in an excellent position to know what stands between you and happiness.”

From the Files of 1935

Bland Motor Company is the new Ford Dealer in Cullman, replacing Mattingly Motors Company.

Allen Gray, Birmingham Southern College student, is home for the summer.

Mr. and Mrs. Tony Wise will leave tomorrow for three weeks in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Dunlap, Mrs. Charles Watson and little Miss Jean Gunn left on Wednesday for a motor trip through Georgia and Florida.

Mrs. Alfred Newman will leave Saturday for her home in Baltimore, Maryland. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Racke.

From the Files of 1955

The Reverend Clayton Phillips has announced that the Logan Methodist Parsonage will be dedicated, on Sunday, June 5th.

API graduates from Cullman are: Charles Franklin Kinser, Junior, Billy Jack Eidson, Buford Monroe Gross, John Boyd McBrayer and Charles Ervin Bottcher. Howard Tucker, of Logan, received a Doctor of Philosophy degree.

Alabama graduates from the Cullman area are: James W. Tucker, William E. Rasco, Martha Sue Smith, Sidney R. Gibbs, Bette Louise Buettner, Gerald A. Davis and Doris E. Bush.

Cullman defeated Woodlawn, in state baseball playoffs, on Wednesday. The score was tied, 2 to 2, when Ralph Blalock hit a homerun. DeLane Hulsey was the winning pitcher. Other team members are: Van McElroy, Brownie West, Jack Doss, Jimmie Knight, Billy Ray Johnson, Jimmie Hudson, Joe Miller, Frank Duke, Dale Cook and Darrell Owens.

Helen Walker and Delton Stidham were married, on Saturday.

“The Plunderers,” “Rose Marie,” “Hell Below Zero,” “Rear Window” and “Fighter Attack” were showing at the 31-Drive in Theatre.

Photo: George Hoenig on the right with his son-in-law, Bob Mize, on the left.

CULLMAN - George Hoenig was born in Grossumstadt, Darmstadt, Hesse, Germany (although he would later say he was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) on May 24, 1845. He left Germany between 1845 and 1850, and grew up in Milwaukee.

As a young man he joined the 26th Wisconsin Volunteers, Company I, and fought in the Civil War under the command of General Sherman of the Union Forces. He was discharged from service in July 1865 near Louisville, Kentucky. Like many of his fellow soldiers, he kept a daily journal of his military days. The journal dates from April 5, 1864 to July 10, 1865. It was written in an old German dialect and was translated by Dieter and Erika Schirmer of Germany. For a peek into his military life, you can go to russscott.com/~rscott/26thwis/dgeorhoe.htm and read all about it.

After he was discharged from the Army, Hoenig returned to Milwaukee and got a job in a stave factory, where the narrow strips of wood that compose the sides of barrels are produced. He also met and married his first wife, Miss Bertha Emma Sophia Krienitz, in 1867. They had three children and sadly, Bertha died at the age of 26. Hoenig then married her sister, Wilhemina “Minnie” in 1874, and they had two children together.

Because Hoenig had admired the north Alabama area on his trek during the Atlanta Campaign of the War, he decided to move to that part of the country. In 1880 George Hoenig, Minnie Hoenig and the children packed up a wagon and headed south, where he purchased 80 acres of land from John G. Cullmann and Son for $300. He paid $60 down and paid off the balance of the $240 note in 1886.

One of George Hoenig’s daughters always told the tale of their move so long ago. “We left as soon as the snow melted. I remember counting the stars at night, and we slept under the wagon if it rained. The little kids rode in the wagon, but us older kids mostly walked.”

That’s a long time to walk. Calculations indicate that they spent approximately three months ‘walking’ to Alabama!

Once they made it to Cullman, the family worked together and cleared 4 acres of land for a crop that first year and built a two-room cabin to live in. As time passed, more rooms were added and more land was cleared. Cullman County was a thick wilderness at the time. It is said that when George Hoenig first went to Cullman for supplies, he blazed the trees so he could find his way back through the thick woods.

Over the years, George Hoenig became a wealthy man and owned hundreds of acres of land in Cullman. To give you an idea of all the land he came to own, here’s a list of land he purchased over time.

• March 13, 1880 – 80 acres from John G. Cullmann for $300
• Oct. 9, 1880 – 120 acres from L & N Railroad for $270
• July 17, 1880 – 80 acres from William Richard for $450
• Dec. 31, 1880 – 40 acres from Wilhelm Krienity for $75
• Oct. 29, 1895 – 160 acres from Theo Von Gerichtan for $480
• March 22, 1900 – 320 acres from S. L. Rose for $1,500
• April 25, 1912 – 400 acres from Edward H. Wuerdeman for $200
• Oct. 23, 1922 – 40 acres from R. W. White in which he took on a mortgage for $594

It is also worth noting that in his lifetime, George Hoenig was married a total of six times. He has numerous descendants throughout Cullman County. His home in Good Hope was dismantled in 1973. His home property was purchased by Cullman Urban Renewal and Community Development and is now an industrial park.

George Hoenig died on May 1, 1931 in Cullman. He is buried in the Protestant Cemetery (now called the City Cemetery) in a family plot that consists of eight graves he purchased for $8. The Hoenig family plot is located near the plot of John G. Cullmann, the founder of Cullman.

Copyright 2016 Humble Roots, LLC. All rights reserved.

We are going fully immersive this year. Participants will have the opportunity to watch a 40-minute film about a mission, and then ride in the plane and ‘conduct’ that mission.”

Col. Ken Brown

CULLMAN– It was a celebratory atmosphere at the Cullman VFW post on Saturday, as Col. Ken Brown announced the continued growth of Cullman’s annual Veterans Day celebration, with Mayor Max A. Townson and others on-hand to hear the news.            

The Veterans Day Celebration will follow in the previous few years’ footsteps and will provide those in the north Alabama region an opportunity to fly and tour a decommissioned war aircraft.          

According to Brown, there will be eight 20-minute rides offered on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4 and 5, at the Cullman Regional Airport.

The North American P-51 Mustang is flown by the Commemorative Air Force Dixie Wing, based in Peachtree City, Georgia. The rides are $1,595 per-ticket and may be purchased online at http://www.dixiewing.org/rides.htm.          

“It is very important we give our local veterans and citizens an opportunity to purchase these rides, because once everyone in this area finds out about them, they will go quickly,” said Brown.          

The P-51 aircraft will also be on display at Cullman Regional Airport on the afternoon of Saturday, Nov. 5. It will be parked next to a visiting B-17 bomber, the aircraft it escorted over Nazi-controlled Europe during World War II.

Rides in the B-17 will take place Friday-Sunday, Nov. 4-6. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.eaa.org/en/eaa-shop/flight-experience/b17. A B-17 flight will set you back $449.     

There will also be a room at the airport that will be set up as a WWII Air Force mission briefing room for visitors to tour.          

“We are going fully immersive this year,” said Brown. “Participants will have the opportunity to watch a 40-minute film about a mission, and then ride in the plane and ‘conduct’ that mission.”          

Townson stressed the importance of emphasizing patriotism with kids.         

“We need to teach patriotism,” he said. “I think we need to continue to teach patriotism and respect.” The mayor attributed much of his success and accomplishments to his experience in the military.          

This year’s event will once again be held in two locations- the Cullman Regional Airport and Sportsman Lake Park. Brown thanked Townson for assisting him in expanding the event.          

“I’ve had people from all over come to our veterans’ park and say ‘I’ve never seen a park as nice as this one,’” said Townson.          

The event will debut a new competition, a Rosie the Riveter competition, as well as a Rosie the Riveter Forum, which will feature any female residents of Cullman County who worked in some capacity to support the war effort during World War II. Fran Carter, the founder of the National Rosie the Riveter Association, has been invited to attend the forum. The competition will be held after the forum, and the winner will receive a $100 prize.          

Those who are qualified and wish to participate in the forum or competition call Frances Cooper at 256-734-1532.

Copyright 2016 Humble Roots, LLC. All rights reserved.

Photo: Tom Hendrix

This group of Indians were walked from right here (Florence) to the Indian Nation, which is what we call Oklahoma today; around 850 miles from here.”

Tom Hendrix

 

FLORENCE– Family stories have been handed down to the next generation for many, many years. Those stories are what keep a family’s history alive and going strong. They help us to know who our ancestors were and, sometimes, help us to understand why we are the way we are. It’s a connection that combines the past with today. The family historian keeps up with the old stories, photos and family information. Not everyone is as interested in such data, but there’s always that one person who seems to really connect with their family’s past each generation.

Meet Mr. Tom Hendrix from Florence, Alabama. Since his childhood, he has heard all sorts of family stories and as a result, he has strengthened a special bond with his ancestors, especially his great-great grandmother.

“In the early 1930s my grandmother wrapped me up in an old quilt one morning and started sharing beautiful stories with me,” he began “How Brother Rabbit Lost His Tail, Why Brother Turtle Smiles and How Sister Hummingbird Came to be. She captured this little boy’s imagination three quarters of a century ago and she’s had it ever since,” he smiled.

“As I got older, I asked my grandmother where the stories came from. She said they came from my great-great grandmother, who was an American Indian,” he paused just a moment. “She made an incredible journey when she was a young girl and was an absolute magician with medicine; herbal medicine. As time went on, my grandmother shared her story with me.”

Hendrix dragged up a couple chairs, took a seat and began to tell the most amazing story of his great-great grandmother. She was a Yuchi Indian named Te-lah-nay, which in her native language, means Woman with the Dancing Eyes. Before Te-lah-nay was 20 years old, she had done something that was unthinkable, especially for a young Indian girl. Hendrix was proud to tell us her story.

“In 1839 the militia here in Lauderdale County built a stockade about 15 miles east of us, right here in Florence. They started gathering up all the Indian tribes and taking them there. Well they found two young Indian girls hiding in an old abandoned house. They were taken to the stockade and put with the rest of the Indians.

“Well, the government officials did something a little different with this group; they hung metal tags around their necks. The tags were octagon shaped brass tags with a number on one side and ‘U.S.’ on the other. The two young girls were numbers 59 and 60. Number 59 was my great-great grandmother, number 60 was her sister,” he smiled proudly.

“This group of Indians were walked from right here (Florence) to the Indian Nation, which is what we call Oklahoma today; around 850 miles from here. They carried this bunch out there just like they did a lot of them, the Cherokee, Choctaw and the others. They placed those girls, numbers 59 and 60, with the Creek Indians in what is now present-day Muskogee, Oklahoma.”  

While in Oklahoma, Te-lah-nay would say the rivers and streams were silent. Her people, the Yuchi, believed that in the Tennessee River there was a young woman who sang beautiful songs. They called it the Singing River. The river had special meaning to the girl and she would not be happy until she had returned to it.

“Number 59 spent a winter out there. One spring morning she slipped away and started home. It took her roughly five years to walk back. She came back all by herself. How do I know,” he asked? “Well, she brought her tag back with her! In later years, she would say, ‘We all thought the Shiny Buttons had changed our names (shiny buttons being the army folks with their brass buttons) so I thought I might need my name when I got back. I brought my name back with me.’”

Hendrix now has that old tag and considers it a treasure. When speaking of his great-great grandmother, Hendrix gets a twinkle in his eye and a smile across his face that shows just how proud he is of her. It is almost like he really does know her in a special, mysterious way.

“I told you she was a magician with medicines,” he beamed. “Are you familiar with the willow tree that grows around our creeks and riverbanks? Miss Mary (his great-great grandmother’s English name) would go down to the low places and find the willow tree and take some of the side bark and the roots then boil them together until it became a thick yellow tea. Drinking that tea would cure the big hurting of the head.

“Fifty years ago they got the main ingredient for aspirin from the bark of the willow tree, which you may already know, contains salicylic acid. That was 50 years ago; 160 years ago, my great-great grandmother was already curing people’s headaches with the same thing,” he grinned happily.

The more he learned of his great-great grandmother, the more he wanted to do something to honor her, but for some reason, he could not figure out what to do.

“Thirty-five years ago I got a telephone call from a woman out of Oklahoma. She was a person like my grandmother, a full-blooded Indian. She wanted to talk to me so I invited her to come for a visit. Her name was Minnie Long.”

“She spent three nights and three days with me. We sat here for three days and all of the sudden she looked at me and said, ‘Mr. Hendrix you have a problem.’ I said, ‘Yes Grandmother, I do have a problem. All my life I wanted to do something for my great-great grandmother, but I have no idea how to do it.’ She said, ‘Are you talking about a memorial type thing Mr. Hendrix?’ I said, ‘Yes ma’am.’

“Mr. Hendrix we shall all pass this Earth, only the stones will remain,” she said. “Honor your grandmother with stones. Build her two walls, one for her journey from where she left headed to the Indian Nation, and another wall for the journey from Muskogee, Oklahoma back home. Do not use mortar, no cement or anything foreign. You are to lay one stone at a time for each step she made.”

Tom lives 10 miles from the Tennessee River. He knew he could find all the rocks he would ever possibly need.  

“Well, I swallowed about 25 times and finally I said, ‘Grandmother, I can do that.’ Then she left me with these beautiful, beautiful words; I will never forget them. She said, ‘If you will do that, Mr. Tom, I promise you will find your path in life. And then you may sing your song.’ Isn’t that beautiful? It still gets me today,” he began to tear up.

After he regained his composure, he pointed to the two walls on either side of him. After 35 years of work the walls are amazing.  

“So as you sit here today there is over 8-and-a-half million pounds of stones here,” he smiled. “I picked them up, put them in my truck, then loaded them onto a wheelbarrow and then put them into the wall. So actually I picked up over 27 million pounds of stone. I’ve worn out three trucks, 22 wheelbarrows, 3,700 pairs of gloves, three dogs and one old man,” he chuckled.

Each wall contains a prayer circle that features four tiers that represent birth, life, death and rebirth. The walls are a mile-long holy place that winds through his property. They are recorded in the Library of Congress and range in height from 4 feet to almost 6 feet in some spots. They are the largest unmortared walls in the United States. People from all over the world come to visit the walls, bringing with them all kinds of special fossils and rock specimens.

In 2000, Hendrix published a book about his great-great grandmother’s journey. It is called “If the Legends Fade” and is in its 11th printing as of Nov. 2015. It is available for purchase by going to www.ifthelegendsfade.com or by visiting Hendrix at his home where the wall is located. His address is 13890 County Road 8, Florence, Alabama 35633, near the Natchez Trace and Highway 20/Savannah Highway. For more information, call 256-764-3617.

Copyright 2016 Humble Roots, LLC. All rights reserved.

From the Files of 1902

Albert Shell is recovering from an illness.

Beautiful kitchen cabinets - $6.00 at Drehers’. Adv.

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Allred, Junior, of Birmingham are visiting relatives at Fontella.

J.S. Jones, Frank Bridges, Joe Little and John Lee, of Trimble were in the city on Tuesday.

Professor C.W. Speegle will go to Jasper on business on Saturday.

J.L. Hagler is the champion checker player at Creel.

Irene Walton was the guest of Beulah Martin at Walter on Friday night.

Mr. and Mrs. Ed Oaks of Fairview have a baby son.

Beat presidents of the Second District Sunday School Convention are Beat 7, Doctor Parker, of Arkadelphia; Beat 8, J. Willoughby, of Felkins; Beat 9, James C. Calvert, of Bremen; Beat 10, J.N. Trimble, of Bremen; Beat 11, W.S. Trimble, of Trimble and Beat 12, James Freeman, of Trade. W.J. Williford is supervisor of the district.

On account of the Confederate reunion in Texas, tickets will be sold in Dallas at the rate of one cent a mile.

Mrs. M.K. Munson is in Chicago, on business.

Miss Lillie Bolte is quite ill.

Miss Mattie Halbrook is now cashier at The J.H. Karter Company.

Miss Susie Graves is acting “Central” in absence of Miss Emma Adkins.

The Cullman Oil Mill Company will establish a branch gin at Hartselle before next fall.

From the Files of 1932

The Cullman School Band will broadcast over WAPI on Friday.

Married Thursday were Miss Ruth McClanahan, of Vinemont and Hiram Griffies, formerly of Vinemont, now of Buffalo, New York.

Miss Oni Allgood was hostess to Entre Amies on Thursday evening.

Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Lee and baby spent Friday in Birmingham.

Miss Katherine Graf was graduated at Saint Vincent’s Hospital School of Nursing last week.

The Logan Epworth League will present “Mammy’s Little Wild Rose,” on Saturday night. The cast includes: Winfred McManus, Charon Denson, Doyle Martin, Woodrow Graham, Dova Entrekin, Mavis Gammon, Bernice McManus, Edna Graham, Margie Denson and Mavis Rushing.

$18 was realized from door receipts at the play, “Wild Ginger” presented by the graduating class of Good Hope Junior High, on Friday night.

Mrs. Katherine Stoesser, 68, died at the home of her daughter in Anniston, on Saturday.

For the first time in several years the entire faculty of the city schools has been re-elected. There are 24 teachers in this school and 1,050 pupils.

The house on Fifth Street occupied by Mr. and Mrs. P.C. Sims was struck by lightning on Wednesday. No person was injured.

Kermit Bailey has returned from Los Angeles, California, where he visited his sister, Mrs. Lacy Roop and Mr. Roop.

P.O. Davis, of Auburn, attended a farm meeting here on Thursday.

From the Files of 1933

The 4-H Club rally was held in Cullman on Saturday. Fen Dara McDurmont, of Logan won first place in bread making.

Elbert W. Kilgo and Doyal Martin are chairmen of the North Star singing to be held at Marvin Chapel, near Logan, on the fifth Sunday in April.

Mrs. Mary D. Graf, 89, passed away on April 12th and Mrs. Hulda Teichmiller died on April 15th, at age 59.

The memorial service for Good Hope will be on May 7th. The program is as follows: welcome address – Reverend Calvert and Mr. Ryan; readings – by Ruth Woodall, Okla Meeks, Delwyn Ryan, Helen Hinkle, Ruth Weeks, Myrtle Mize and Rubye Hinkle; the sermon – Reverend Sizemore; song and quartets will be done during the program of readings.

An Arkadelphia news item reported to The Tribune on April 24th, 1908: 1. Everyone had a nice Easter. 2. There are plenty of little peaches and apples. Washington Shelton preached at Simcoe on Saturday night and Sunday. 3. The service was well attended and the sermons were very interesting. 4. The strawberry crop is ripening fast and for those who have the delicious fruit, a busy work season is coming soon.

Mr. and Mrs. Tennyson Brooks and two daughters and Mrs. Aurelia McCabe and little son, of Hanceville were shopping in Cullman, on Tuesday.

Mr. and Mrs. R.P. Johnson and Mr. and Mrs. V.L. Collins, attended the Truett meeting at the First Baptist Church in Birmingham, last Sunday evening.

Misses Bessie and Mae Alvis took dinner with Miss Inez Singleton on Sunday.

Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Hathcock have a new son born in March, 1933.

It will be the beginning when you think everything is finished.

From the Files of 1952 

Bobby Ellenberg won the top award at the fat calf show last Saturday with a 950 pound Hereford, “Shorty.” He is the sixteen-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Ellenberg, of Joppa. Reserve champion of the show was exhibited by Ralph Blalock. The reserve champion is an Angus. Blalock is the son of Asa and Velma Blalock, of Grandview. 

Delton Stidham, Ralph Blalock and Bobby Ellenberg won showmanship honors. H.G. Pinkston, county agent was show superintendent. 

Boy Scouts had a District Court of Honor on Monday evening. Gary Herrin, Casper Kramer, Bob Mashburn, Arville Whisenhunt, Chriss Doss and Jimmy Knight presented the colors. Senator John Sparkman was the guest speaker. 

Betty Hooten had been elected vice-president of the Alabama Dental Assistants. 

Melvin Thomas, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Thomas, of Hanceville will wed Miss Barbara Clay, of Atlanta on the Bride and Groom radio program on April 23rd. 

Cullman has been assigned television Channel 60 by the F.C.C. 

Billy Buchman was killed in an automobile accident in Texas, on Saturday night. 

Carol Fay Stapler, daughter of Mrs. and Mrs. B.C. Stapler, of Fairview, is County Spelling Bee Champ. Betty Phillips of Holly Pond was runner-up. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.L. Phillips. 

A flue fire damaged the Frances Elliott house, last Friday. 

Florence Legg, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R.G. Legg, has a poem in the “1952 Anthology of High School Poetry.” Legg is a senior at Sacred Heart and editor of the Sacred Heart Reporter. 

The White City Home Demonstration Club met at the home of Mrs. Roy Ray, on April 10th. 

Spending Sunday afternoon in Guntersville were Henrietta McMinn and Elton Parker and Imogene Parker and Harold Hancock.