Discover The Essence of St. Clair June and July 2022 by Discover The Essence of St. Clair

Naming the County • Nichols Nook • DeLoach Farms Cropwell Business • ONEeighty Church • NEW FEATURE: Final Focus

June & July 2022

Rodeo Tribute Honoring Tanner Carleton

Chandler Mountain Challenge Climbing for good causes

BRIDAL SPECIAL

From venues to wedding dresses, St. Clair has it all for the big day

Discover The Essence of St. Clair June & July 2022

CLIMBING ST. CLAIR

RODEO TRIBUTE

DeLOACH FARMS

Competition brings people to Chandler Mountain

Honoring Tanner Carleton

Bringing food to your table

Traveling the Backroads

St. Clair Business

St. Clair Bridal

Page 56 Nichols Nook, Springville’s haven for just about anything Page 66 New commercial development thriving in Cropwell Page 72

The naming of St. Clair

Historic farm place for making new wedding memories Page 42 Anderson Farm history makes it a special place Page 46 Bridal show in Springville continues to wow visitors Page 50

About THE Cover

Officials break ground on ONEeighty Church

Final Focus

A photographer’s view of life through the lens

Page 74

A horseback rider at the St. Clair Cattemen’s Rodeo parades around the arena with the American flag, concluding a tribute in memory of Tanner Carleton, who lost his life in a tragic accident the day before. Photo by Mackenzie Free

Writers AND Photographers Carol Pappas

Carol Pappas is editor and publisher of Discover St. Clair Magazine. A retired newspaper executive, she served as editor and publisher of several newspapers and magazines during her career. She won dozens of writing awards and was named Distinguished Alabama Community Journalist at Auburn University. She serves as president/CEO of Partners by Design, which publishes Discover and LakeLife 24/7 Magazine®.

Roxann Edsall Roxann Edsall is a freelance writer and former managing editor of Convene Magazine, a convention industry publication. She has a degree in (broadcast) journalism from the University of Southern Mississippi, worked as a television news reporter in Biloxi and as a reporter and assignments editor in Birmingham.

Meghan Frondorf Meghan Frondorf is a professional photographer. She has been doing photography for 12 years locally & across the country. She enjoys doing nature/freelance and lifestyle photography.

Robert Debter Robert Debter was raised on his family’s Hereford farm in Blount County and previously served as vice president of the Blount County Historical Society. He has been the archive director of the Ashville Museum & Archives since May 2016 and traces three branches of his ancestry to St. Clair County in 1820.

Richard (RT) Rybka Richard is a full-time professional photographer based in the Springville area and owner of Natural Light Photography LLC. His 50+ years of experience behind the lens of a camera includes working as a photojournalist for a global technology company. His credentials include many magazine cover shots, standing as a Canon Image Connect Photographer, and member of the Little River Arts Council.

Graham Hadley Graham Hadley is the managing editor and designer for Discover The Essence of St. Clair Magazine and also manages the magazine website. Along with Carol Pappas, he left The Daily Home as managing editor to become vice president of the Creative Division of Partners by Design multimedia company.

Elaine Hobson Miller

Elaine Hobson Miller is a freelance writer with a B.A. in journalism from Samford University. She was the first female to cover Birmingham City Hall for the Birmingham Post-Herald, where she worked as reporter, food editor and features writer. A former editor of Birmingham Home & Garden magazine and staff writer for Birmingham magazine, she has written for a variety of local, regional and national publications. She is a member of Alabama Media Professionals and NFPW (the National Federation of Press Women). Follow her weekly blog about life with a dozen four-legged critters, life in the country and life in general at www.countrylife-elaine.blogspot.com.

Eryn Ellard

Eryn Ellard is a freelance writer living in Pell City. She graduated with her B.A. in journalism in 2010 from The University of Alabama. She has been published in The St. Clair News Aegis, Al.com and The Tuscaloosa News, which ultimately led to her securing an internship and becoming internationally published in Cosmopolitan Magazine in New York City.

Loyd McIntosh Loyd McIntosh is a freelance writer and marketing professional originally from Trussville. He has contributed to more than 30 online and print publications. Loyd is also a former reporter and sports writer for several newspapers throughout the Southeast, including The Daily Home, and was the managing editor for The Cahaba Times and Upper90 Magazine.

Mackenzie Free Mackenzie Free is an experienced and nationally published photographer with a bachelor of fine arts degree. She is a Birmingham native now cultivating life on a farm in Steele with her husband & 4 daughters.

From the Editor

Inspiration thrives in many forms

I admire people who don’t sit on the sidelines waiting for someone else to fill a need. They see one, and they set about to fill it themselves. It is rewarding to them and inspiring to others – all at the same time. St. Clair County is flush with examples of ordinary people doing extraordinary things for others – just because there is a need within them to give back to their community. Such is the case with Scott and Beth Walker, owners of Nichol’s Nook. Their place in historic downtown Springville is more than a coffee shop, a gift shop or even a gathering place. It’s an experience – a community coming together to share in that experience. It’s the epitome of community, and the Walkers have delivered this community quite a gift. DeLoach Farms has much the same story. It’s hard work tending to an 800-plus-acre farm, but John and Kate DeLoach and their family do it because they want to share the bounty of the land with others. Their farm-to-table fruits and vegetables are delivered to your door, or when it’s strawberry season, take your pick at their U-Pick fields. While some of the farming and delivery practices may be new and innovative, the history remains intact at the DeLoach’s bicentennial family farm straddling the line between St. Clair and Shelby counties. Follow the footsteps through generations and see what farm to table really means. When a young cowboy at heart tragically lost his life just before the St. Clair Cattlemen’s Annual Rodeo, the family encouraged the event to go on as planned. It did, but not before organizers stepped forward with a touching tribute to the youngster who had in just a few short years meant so much to so many. It was a celebration of his life – a community wrapping its arms around a family in unimaginable pain in the only way it knew how. ONEeighty Church, which found a welcoming home in St.

Clair County, is returning the favor and expanding its home on 20 acres of land atop a hillside in Odenville that will overlook a comprehensive campus that is destined to serve the spiritual needs of so many for years to come. Giving back … even more. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and that may be true. But when you put them together with just the right words – art and insight intermingled – it is like opening a gift of understanding. And that’s what we hope will evolve from a new feature called Final Focus by wife, mother, farmer and photographer Mackenzie Free debuting in this issue of Discover. We know this place we call home is a special one. After all, we built an entire magazine around it for 11 years running. Through Mackenzie’s words and her art, we hope to deliver that gift of understanding – giving deeper meaning to the ordinary part of life – people, places, things around us in everyday life we may have overlooked. Mackenzie’s piece and all our stories are meant to be a journey of discovery or rediscovery. We hope you’ll turn the page and share that trek with us. Carol Pappas Editor and Publisher

Discover The Essence of St. Clair

June & July 2022 • Vol. 66 • www.discoverstclair.com

Carol Pappas • Editor and Publisher Graham Hadley • Managing Editor and Designer Dale Halpin • Advertising Toni Franklin • Graphic Designer Brandon Wynn • Director Online Services

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DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • June & July 2022

Chandler Mountain

Challenge Bringing people together to climb for good causes Story by Loyd McIntosh Photos by Mackenzie Free It’s early in the morning of Saturday, March 2, and a diverse group of people are straggling into the grounds of Horse Pens 40. The air is crisp and cool, evidence that while spring is just around the corner, it hasn’t quite arrived. Despite the temperature hovering in in the mid-40s, many of those assembled are walking around the grounds in T-shirts and shorts, specialty athletic shoes, and large, polyurethane mats strapped to their backs. This group of outdoors enthusiasts is on site to compete in the 2022 Chandler Mountain Challenge. An annual bouldering competition at Horse Pens 40, the Chandler Mountain Challenge has become one of the most anticipated events among the rock-climbing community. The event is organized by Climbers For Christ, a Christian organization launched in 1989 in Yosemite Valley with a mission to equip, encourage and empower climbers to share the love of Christ with the climbing community.

Chandler Mountain

Challenge

“The mission that we have in Climbers For Christ is really just to show Jesus to the climbing and outdoor community through service and through conversation,” says Joshua Reyes, a member of the volunteer leadership team covering the southeastern United States. Originally from New Mexico, Reyes now lives in Jacksonville, Ala., and is a technical advisor for AECOM/URS Corporation and a former nuclear submarine mechanic with the U.S. Navy. He explains that Climbers For Christ most often plays a support role at other climbing and outdoor events, giving the volunteer opportunities to share the Gospel. “We have teams that go out and serve breakfast, cooking pancakes and stuff like that. With a bunch of hungry climbers, you go through a lot of food pretty quick, and they’re really appreciative of that,” says Reyes. “We like to connect by just serving like that and helping people out wherever they need bodies and people to do the heavy lifting, but we also like to establish those relationships and meet people and talk with them because we’re all about showing them who Jesus is – the truth of who He is.” The Chandler Mountain Challenge brings climbers of all skill levels to St. Clair County each March, but the event also helps raise funds for a nonprofit or ministry doing important social work throughout the nation. This year, the Chandler Mountain Challenge supported Orphan Voice, a ministry based in Lexington, Ky., with

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • June & July 2022

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Chandler Mountain

Challenge a mission to serve orphans, children with special needs, abused children and poor single mothers. Founded by Tony and Cindy Brewer, the organization has facilitated the adoption of more than 1,000 Asian orphans to parents in the U.S. and established several anti-trafficking ministries working to rescue children, mostly from Vietnam, who were forced into sexual or labor slavery. Supporting causes like Orphan Voice’s mission through registration fees is just another feature that makes the Chandler Mountain Challenge an event so many in the bouldering world look forward to, whether they are people of faith or not. Chris Wendell is an automobile customizer and active boulderer from Philadelphia. With his long hair, bushy beard and laissez-faire attitude, Wendell was straight and to the point when asked if Christian faith was an important factor in taking part in the Chandler Mountain Challenge. “Not really, no, but I can get behind a lot of the causes they support.” Climbers For Christ works to encounter and minister to fellow climbers, whatever their spiritual opinions or experiences may be. “A friend of mine mentioned to me that the climbers she speaks with out west are more likely to be unchurched and kind of curious about what we’re doing, whereas folks back east, a lot of them have had really negative experiences with the church,” says Kristen McKenzie, a volunteer board member with Climbers For Christ. “We’re hoping to show them, maybe a different kind of Christianity than they grew up with, and just maybe if they see some Christians walking around not being hypocrites, they might reconsider Jesus.” Wendell is exactly the type of person Climbers For Christ is focused upon reaching, fellow climbers who aren’t active in any religion but who have open minds and, perhaps more importantly, open hearts. “The best thing about (The Chandler Mountain Challenge) is we get everybody to climb just doing what we love and that turns into money that’s donated

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • June & July 2022

Chandler Mountain

Challenge

by someone else, and we take that money, and we donate it to a nonprofit to be picked for the year. It’s just a great, easy cause for people to rally around,” says Reyes. “I was going to climb here anyway, but 20 bucks gets me a shirt and dinner and then I’m raising money for some kids somewhere? Count me in.” Why Horse Pens 40? It may come as a surprise to many people from St. Clair County but the boulders at Horse Pens 40 are well respected among the climbing community. The site is part of what is known as the bouldering “triple crown,” – a bouldering series that also includes Hounds Ears in Boone, N.C., and Stone Fort in Chattanooga, Tenn. – and is also compared favorably to a bouldering site 40 miles south of Paris, France, known as Fontainebleau. At first glance, it’s difficult to see why. For starters, the boulders at Horse Pens 40 aren’t majestically high. In fact, most of them struggle to reach 30 feet. However, bouldering is a sport that, unlike rock and mountain climbing, utilizes no equipment. Instead boulderers rely only on special climbing shoes and chalk to help the climber grip the rock face and climb to the top. One of the most concentrated areas of boulders in the world, Horse Pens 40 is ideally situated to be one of the best bouldering sites on earth. “It’s really unique in the formations. It has a lot of these rounded formations and when you get to the top of the ball that’s called doing the “top out” and those big, rounded hulls are called slopers, and you have really nothing good to grab onto to hoist yourself over the edge. It’s like your agave to squeeze,” Reyes says. “I tell people it’s like grabbing the size of a refrigerator and squeezing and holding yourself up.” Additionally, Reyes says the Southern sandstone that make up the boulders at Horse Pens is worldrenowned for its friction, especially in the winter time. “That’s the most popular season, because it’s like Velcro,” he says. “You slap these big, rounded hulls that you can’t normally grab, and your hand just magically sticks. It’s amazing. “People come here from all over the country and actually

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • June & July 2022

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Chandler Mountain

Challenge

internationally,” Reyes adds. “Over the years, I’ve met people from Sweden, Spain, Italy, France and, of course, Canada and Mexico. I mean people from everywhere come here just to climb at Horse Pens 40. So as a transplant local that helps me never take it for granted, I can come here anytime that I want. When I see people that have flown here from Europe. I’m like, ‘OK, I have to remember this place is really special.’” Every sport has its own language, a vernacular that to the outsider makes not a lick of sense at first glance, but as you study the lingo, you start to get a glimpse of what the sport is all about. To the sport’s passionate, true believers, that vernacular is more than just a way of communication, it becomes an art form of its own. Bouldering is no different. For the Chandler Mountain Challenge, organizers taped cards on the boulders throughout Horse Pens 40 with advice on solving specific challenges. Out of context, you could easily see the text on these cards printed in a college literary journal. For instance: “Stand alert. Move to crimp, then jump to right-facing block. Be careful as block creaks a bit … continue up to easy mantle.” Or this one: “Sit start, then move to good chickenheads. Move to good right sidepull, then jugs.” The jargon on these cards assists the competitors in solving what the bouldering community refers to as “problems.” Before charging ahead and scaling the side of a huge rock, a climber has to consider his/her options; how to attack the problem to ensure success. It’s no wonder, trial and error is a large part of the process. “You’re trying these problems that are really hard, so you’re often going to fall off,” says McKenzie. “Bouldering involves a lot of failure.” And, this particular challenge involves a lot of successes. Whether it’s for the world-class challenge, the scenic beauty or the opportunity to support a worthy cause, it brings people of all walks of life to St. Clair County for a day of bouldering and fellowship that helps bridge gaps. “The climbing community is pretty close-knit and tied together, but quite diverse – race, gender and religious beliefs, political beliefs – it’s just across the spectrum,” says Reyes. “But it’s so neat because even with that diversity of thought and lifestyle, we all have that common thread of climbing. When we show up here, all that goes out the window.” l

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • June & July 2022

Traveling the

BACKROADS

Why St. Clair?

County named for Revolutionary War soldier, American statesman

Arthur St. Clair, the Hermitage 18

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • June & July 2022

Story by Robert Debter Submitted Photos On Nov. 20, 1818, the Second Alabama Territorial Legislature representing 20 counties, seven of which had been created by the Mississippi Territorial Legislature (Washington, Madison, Baldwin, Clarke, Mobile, Monroe and Montgomery) and the remaining 13 (Morgan*, Lawrence, Franklin, Limestone, Lauderdale, Blount, Tuscaloosa, Marengo, Shelby, Bibb**, Dallas, Marion and Conecuh) established by the First Alabama Territorial Legislature earlier that year. The first county created by the Second Territorial Legislature was taken from the northern portion of Shelby County and would bear the name of St. Clair. A county older than the state itself draws its name from far away roots in Scotland. On March 23, 1734, at at Thurso Castle, in Thurso, County Caithness, Scotland, William and Margaret St. Clair welcomed a newborn son and bestowed the name, Arthur. After completing his formal education, he studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh and was apprenticed with Dr. William Hunter in England for a time. But like so many of his warrior ancestors, he heard the call of adventure and could not deny it. In 1757, just in his early 20s, the young St. Clair purchased an ensign’s commission in the British Army and came to America during the French and Indian War, also known as the Seven Years War. He served in Canada during this almost decade-long conflict and was present at the Siege of Louisbourg. For his heroism, Arthur was promoted to the rank of lieutenant (originally known as leftenant). The year 1759 saw the young soldier at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in Quebec, where Lt. St. Clair seized the colors, which had fallen from the hand of a dying soldier and bore them until the day was won. In May of 1760, he married Phoebe Bayard of Boston, whom he had met while his regiment had been stationed there. They were joined in holy matrimony at Trinity Church in Boston. They would have 58 years and seven children together. Two years after marrying, Lt. St. Clair resigned his commission and moved to Bedford, Penn., to survey land for the Penn Family. In 1764, the St. Clairs settled in Ligonier Valley, Penn., and through the establishment of several mills, St. Clair would eventually manage to become the largest landowner in western Pennsylvania. The parlor of his home, “The Hermitage,” remains preserved at the Fort Ligonier Museum. He became surveyor of the Cumberland District in 1770, a justice of the court of quarter sessions and common pleas, a member of the proprietary council and justice, clerk and recorder of the Orphans’ Court. In 1771, Gov. John Penn appointed him first prothonotary of Bedford County and deputy register for the probate of wills. Three years later, he was appointed magistrate and prothonotary of the newly established Westmoreland County. Penn described him as “... a gentleman ... and in every station of life has preserved the character of a very honest, worthy man ...”

Arthur St. Clair

Winthrop Sargent

Soldier, hero St. Clair, commissioned as a colonel of a Pennsylvania regiment in 1776, raised and trained his regiment in the dead of winter and then marched six companies north to reinforce the American Army in Quebec. Unfortunately, St. Clair arrived to find the army in full retreat upon the death of Gen. Richard Montgomery, for whom the capital of Alabama is named. Col.

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • June & July 2022

Traveling the

BACKROADS St. Clair, through familiarity of the terrain and British strategy, saved the army from certain capture. For his bravery, he was promoted to brigadier general and ordered to join Gen. George Washington and help him raise a militia in New Jersey. On Christmas night, St. Clair’s troops, now under the command of Washington, crossed the Delaware into Trenton and attacked the Hessians at dawn on the 26th. The Continental forces were victorious with 22 Hessian mercenaries killed, 84 wounded and 918 captured. The empire struck back on Jan. 2, 1777, attacking Princeton and routing the small garrison that escaped over the Assunpink Creek to where Washington had posted several cannons. These cannons, along with musket fire, managed to stalemate the British forces. That night, a council of war was called and many of Washington’s generals advocated for retreat. St. Clair’s lone voice championed attack. He proposed a daring plan to outflank the enemy and take Princeton. For this, St. Clair’s brigade was given the honor of marching ahead of the advancing army, and his battle plan resulted in a resounding victory for the Continental Army. It was here that Arthur St. Clair and George Washington formed a strong bond that would last for many years. Even when some would later contest and question the Scotsman’s abilities, Washington, with one exception, always remained supportive and faithful to his friend. St. Clair was promoted to major general for his “fierce bravery and loyalty” and given command of Fort Ticonderoga in New York. Previously a British stronghold, the fort had been captured in 1775 by Gens. Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold “in the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress.” St. Clair arrived in early June 1777 and found the fort in disrepair. Worse yet, it was ill supplied and manned by a garrison of only 2,500. Gen. John Burgoyne, “known more for his baggage train than his battles,” according to local historian Joe Whitten, laid siege to the fort with an impressive force of 8,000 British regulars and 2,500 auxiliary members. Not seeing for the needless waste of life, St. Clair ordered the fort evacuated and later recounted, “I know I could have saved my reputation by sacrificing the army; but were I to do so, I should forfeit that which the world could not restore, and which it cannot take away, the approbation of my own conscience.” The same cabal who endeavored to replace Washington as commander in chief with Horatio Gates lobbied strongly against St. Clair, decrying him as a “coward” and “traitor.” A court martial was convened, and the trial concluded with St. Clair being acquitted, “with the highest honor, of the charges against him.” Afterwards, naval hero Capt. John Paul Jones wrote to him, “I pray you be assured that no man has more respect for your character, talents, and greatness of mind than, dear General, your most humble servant.” A leader Following his vindication, St. Clair continued his active leadership. He commanded at West Point, suppressed a mutiny, continued raising troops and sending them south to aid Washington and Lafayette and served on the court martial that condemned Maj. John Andre, the co-conspirator of turncoat

The Hermitage Parlor Benedict Arnold. He joined Washington at Yorktown four days before the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. In November, he was given orders to reinforce Gen. Nathanael Greene in his campaign to expel the British from the Carolinas. Lawmaker The general returned to Pennsylvania following the war and was elected to Congress in 1785. The Pennsylvania Herald reported, “Quorum having been formed in Congress, they proceeded to the choice of President for the ensuing year, when his Excellency Arthur St. Clair, Esq., was elected.” During his 1787 term, the Northwest Ordinance was adopted, and the U.S. Constitution was drafted. In 1789, he had the great joy of assisting in the inauguration of his friend as the first president of the United States and had once been named as a possible candidate for the vice presidency. From 1788 to 1803, St. Clair served as first governor of the Northwest Territory and named the city, Cincinnati, Ohio. His second-in-command, Winthrop Sargent, would serve from 1798-1801 as the first governor of the Mississippi Territory, from which Alabama was carved in 1817. Return to duty In 1791, St. Clair was once again called into action. As major general, he was tasked with suppressing Native-American resistance, and his force, originally consisting of 2,000, eventually dwindled down through illness and desertion to less than 1,000. The combined forces of the Miami, Shawnee and Delaware numbered over 1,000 and on Nov. 4, 1791, ambushed the American force. St. Clair, ill with gout, suffered a devastating defeat, and the cries of cowardice and incompetence were once again revived. Arriving at Philadelphia, St. Clair immediately requested a court martial to clear his name. This was denied by President Washington who called him “worse than a murderer” and demanded his resignation as commander of the Army. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives began an investigation and sided with Gen. St. Clair. They found secretary of war, quartermaster general and other officials in the War Department had ill manned, equipped and supplied Gen.

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • June & July 2022

Traveling the

BACKROADS St. Clair’s expedition. The Congress voted against a resolution on the committee’s report, so St. Clair was never officially vindicated. He was allowed to remain governor – a position he found increasingly difficult following his humiliating forced resignation as commander of the Army. St. Clair, a Federalist, believed that the Ohio Territory should be admitted as two states instead of one to increase the power of his party in the federal congress. He delivered a speech at the Ohio Constitutional Convention that railed against the Convention and President Thomas Jefferson, “acting like a father betrayed by his son, he used a paternalistic tone and discussed his contributions to the territory, outlining what he had accomplished in fourteen years ....” Jefferson responded by removing St. Clair from office. Returning home At almost 70 years of age, the old soldier returned to the Hermitage and facing debts from loans he had given out during the Revolution, attempted to rebuild his wealth. However, the stars in their courses fought against all his attempts to replenish his life, and sheriffs began to sell his property for all the debts he had incurred. St. Clair beseeched Congress for money he was believed owed to him for his services to his country. The Hermitage was sold, and the St. Clairs moved to a log house called “Chestnut Ridge,” situated near Youngstown, Penn. Several months later, the legislature of Pennsylvania finally granted St. Clair an annuity of $8,400, and shortly before his death, he received from Congress $2,000 in discharge of his claims and a pension of $60 a month. On his way to Youngstown to purchase goods, St. Clair was thrown from his wagon and found unconscious on the side of the road. He was tenderly carried back to his home, where he passed away surrounded by his family on Aug. 31, 1818, after a departing message of peace forevermore. By November of that same year, St. Clair County, Ala., would be created and bear his name.

Arthur St. Clair

Patriot He was buried at the St. Clair Cemetery in Greensburg, Westmoreland County, Penn., and his monument, a gift from his Masonic brethren reads: “The Earthly Remains Of Major-General Arthur St. Clair Are Deposited Beneath This Humble Monument, Which Is Erected To Supply The Place Of A Nobler One Due From His Country.” Always the patriot, in his own words: “I hold that no man has a right to withhold his services when his country needs them. Be the sacrifice ever so great, it must be yielded upon the altar of patriotism.” l Editor’s Note: Of Alabama’s 67 counties, more than a dozen are named in recognition of those who have some connection as leaders, statesmen or soldiers to the American Revolution. Arguably, none gave so much and received so little in return as Arthur St. Clair. But his name lives on in this Alabama county. * Originally “Cotaco [co-take-oh]” until renamed in 1821 for American Revolutionary leader, Brig. Gen. Daniel Morgan of Virginia. ** Originally “Cahawba” until renamed in 1820 for William Wyatt Bibb, territorial governor and first governor of the state of Alabama, shortly after his untimely death.

Ft. Ticonderoga

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • June & July 2022

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DeLoach Farms Bringing good food right to your door Story by Roxann Edsall Photos by Mackenzie Free Submitted photos courtesy of DeLoach Farms

Strawberry picking time is special at DeLoach Farms.

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • June & July 2022

“Being married to a farmer is like being married to a professional gambler,” Kate DeLoach says. “There is so much investment to get a crop in the field.” With variables like weather, labor shortages and the trade environment over which they have no control, keeping up their 840-acre farm is hard work. Kate and John DeLoach own and operate DeLoach Farms in Vincent, just across the St. Clair County line. They have survived by taking lessons learned from the past and from the current pandemic and turning them into new opportunities. The past two years have seen tremendous change in the farm, going from primarily producing soybean, cotton, wheat, hay and corn, to serving more of the needs of the local community.

DeLoach Farms

Fruits (and vegetables) of their labor

John’s great grandfather used to deliver kids to school in this school bus, then load up vegetables to peddle on the courthouse square in Pell City. 26

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • June & July 2022

Their decision to offer farmer’s choice food boxes came out of a desire to meet the needs of the community at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. They would put together a variety of fruits and vegetables in each box and meet customers for pickup. They now offer a full farm-to-table food box option with deliveries around St. Clair and Shelby counties. Kate says their son, Jess, developed the farm-to-table food box program. He is an accounting major at Troy University. He came home just a few months into college when the pandemic shut things down. He dreamed it up and started selling the boxes while he was home. It has been wildly popular, and Kate says they are hoping to include meat and eggs in addition to the fruits and vegetables this year. There are several options offered and include things grown on the DeLoach farm and by other nearby farms. The U-Pick strawberry patch was also inspired by Jess. They have nine acres dedicated to strawberries and grow several different varieties. Unable to keep up with the demand last year, they have more than doubled their number of plants from 35,000 to 75,000 this year. Dozens of people are scattered throughout the fields on a sunny Wednesday enjoying the strawberry picking experience. A grandma holds the hand of a giggly little girl with strawberry-stained fingers and mouth. Another customer checks out with her five gallons of strawberries. She’s making strawberry jam today. Still another is from Michigan, visiting her cousin, who brought her here to enrich her Southern experience. They’re planning to make strawberry shortcake later in the day. These are the people John works so hard for. “People and strawberries are my favorite,” he says. “Getting to see the people enjoy the fruits (literally) of your labor is pretty great.” “We so appreciate people who support the local farmer,” adds Kate. “The local buyers help to insulate us from the global supply chain issues. We kind of support each other.” Serving his community is a labor of love for John, whose

Kate and John DeLoach amid strawberry fields

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • June & July 2022

DeLoach Farms

John’s grandparents, Ernestine and Frank Lowe

Built in 1820, the old homestead housed three generations of John’s family. ancestors bought the land on the banks of Kelly Creek back in 1820. For him, it’s also about respecting the land and his heritage. The land is traced back to John’s great-great-greatgrandfather, John Martin, Sr., who moved from South Carolina to what was St. Clair County (before the county lines were redrawn) and bought the land to start his life with his new wife, Sarah. His son, John Martin, Jr., returned to the farm from the Civil War after having his arm amputated due to injuries sustained in the war. Fast forward to 1915, and Frank Harrison Lowe, John DeLoach’s grandfather, was born in the two-room house on the farm. The farm thrived for more than a decade, then fell into decay and neglect during the Depression. Frank returned to the farm after World War II and began working to bring it back to its former glory. Tremendous progress had been made by the time John was born. John remembers being a young boy and working alongside his grandfather on the farm. Watching his grandfather help a cow struggle to deliver her calf is one of his earliest memories. When his grandfather died in 1988, John promised his grandmother that if she kept the farm, he would take care of it. He worked the farm every day after school. When he graduated from high school at 16, he took over the daily operations. Over 30 years later, running the farm keeps him very busy. He’s up each morning by 4:30 and falls back into bed exhausted by 7:30 most evenings. While he has a handful of people who work for him, he does a lion’s share of the work himself. Beyond the planting and harvesting work, he even finds time to make furniture, like the picnic tables in the strawberry patch, with materials sourced on the farm. He runs fallen trees through the planer in his sawmill to be able to use what would be wasted. He built a small fishing cabin with salvaged wood from former structures on the land and with cedar harvested there.

Kate feeds catfish at their fishing cabin

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DeLoach Farms

Kate and John’s son, Jess, gets a feel for the tractor. The ceiling beams are from an old barn on the property that used to house a live nativity during Christmas. Being a good steward of the land is one of the reasons he was honored as Alabama Farmer of the Year in 2018. That same year, DeLoach Farms was named the 2018 Alabama Farm of Distinction. For that award, farms are judged on sustainability, success as a business and conservation mindedness. John credits his grandfather with instilling in him the need to responsibly care for the land and the creatures that use it. “We do a lot of conservation on the land,” he says. “We have beehives and plant things like clover and partridge peas for the wildlife. We have deer, fox, bobcats and lots of birds.” Twenty acres of property is set aside as wetlands. The area is filled with stately tupelo trees, an important food source and shelter for migratory birds. It is also equipped with a special pump system that fills and empties the wetlands seasonally to support the health and sustainability of the habitat. They live in the 10-room farmhouse built by John’s greatgrandfather in 1918. “My granddad’s name in still written on a shelf in one of the bedrooms,” John says. It identified his grandfather’s personal storage space in a house full of children. The house was lovingly dubbed the “Halfway House,” because people said it was “halfway between where you were and where you needed to go.” And, according to family legend, it was a great place to stop for supper. The house was also home to the first telephone line that connected local townspeople with doctors in nearby towns. It was installed in 1915 to give residents a way to connect people to the doctor in Vincent or the one in Easonville, the St. Clair County town now under water when Logan Martin Lake was created in 1965. They just had to make their way to the house and John’s great great-grandmother, Eva, would patch them through. John’s great-grandfather, John Marion Lowe, also served the area by buying a school bus in 1925 to take rural children

Sunflowers abound.

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • June & July 2022

A local family enjoys a morning of strawberry picking

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DeLoach Farms

to school. After dropping them off at school, he’d come back to the farm, load up fresh produce and take it in to Pell City to sell. The farm is one of eight in the state to be recognized as a Bicentennial Farm, a program that honors families who have owned and operated their farm for 200 years or more. “That’s quite a big deal,” explains Kate. “It gets harder and harder each year to stay open. There’s a lot of pressure to sell as the city creeps closer and closer. “We’d love for someone to be here 200 years from now talking about the family farm.” But Kate adds, “It’s a hard way to make a living. We’ve never placed any expectations of farming on Jess.” His business and marketing sense in directing the food box deliveries and strawberry U-Pick operation seem to support that possibility. DeLoach Farms seems to be playing the long game. When the chips were down, they adjusted to meet the changing needs in the community. And they are growing again. They have purchased adjacent property with plans to add a blackberry U-Pick operation in a year or two. There are also tentative plans for an apple orchard. This summer they look forward to opening a new area for picking sunflowers. They will also have vegetables for sale all summer. If you are interested in the farm-to-table food boxes, contact them via Facebook, on Instagram or at www.deloachfarms.com. l

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • June & July 2022

John fishing as a boy with a friend

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A Fitting Tribute St. Clair rodeo honors Tanner Carleton Story by Carol Pappas Photos by Mackenzie Free and Jolie Free

If you didn’t know Tanner Carleton, the 11-year-old boy who lost his life in a tragic accident at St. Clair County Arena, a single photo seemed to have the ability to capture the essence of his passion. The youngster’s eyes peer out beneath the oversized brim of a cowboy hat, a wide grin crossing his face, telling you all you needed to know. Cowboy life fit him as comfortably as a well-worn pair of jeans. Life fit him just fine. There was no mistaking it. Friends and family talked endlessly of his love of everything cowboy. When the annual St. Clair Cattleman’s Rodeo was heading to St. Clair Arena, he wanted to be there, helping get things set up the day before. He was like that. Always ready to help. And it was there in one of the places he loved best – the rodeo – doing what he loved best – offering a helping hand.

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • June & July 2022

Tanner Carleton “He was a real good boy, well mannered, always willing to help,” said Adam Stansell, president of the Cattleman’s Association. It would have been understandable for the rodeo to be cancelled. But recognizing their son’s love for it, parents Lacey and Trevor Carleton encouraged the cattlemen to go on with the rodeo. Tanner would have wanted it that way, they said. “Tanner Carleton has been a fan of rodeos from a very young age,” the Cattleman’s Association announced on March 9. “With his parents’ complete support and absolute insistence, we will move forward with the 3rd Annual St. Clair County Cattlemen’s Rodeo.” The rodeo, the association’s largest fundraiser, did indeed go on, but not before a poignant tribute to the young cowboy. Tanner had a zest for life. He put his all into every endeavor. He was as passionate about his baseball as he was being a cowboy. Countless photos show him in uniform year after year, one where he was

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Tanner Carleton even sporting a championship ring. Dozens of fellow players from various teams he played with circled the arena the night of the tribute, a show of respect for their beloved teammate. The arena darkened, and a small line of fire began to light a path in its center, eventually forming the shape of a baseball diamond. As the announcer began, the fire followed his words, symbolizing Tanner’s run of the bases – to first base, on to second, rounding third and heading quickly to home. Tanner, he said, “lived life to the fullest of his ability. He loved life. He loved his friends, and he had a passion for baseball. That young man was always swinging for the fence.” As the fire blazed its path toward home plate, the announcer referenced the uncertainty of life and the absence of a guarantee of another day. “We don’t know if we are in the home stretch,” he told the crowd. “We might be. You need to hug your family, hug your friends and tell them you love them every chance

you get. Tonight, Tanner has made that home run.” And with a nod to Tanner’s passion for life, he said, “Take time to remember that cowboy smile.” A rider on horseback galloped through the arena carrying an American flag to conclude the tribute and signal the beginning of the rodeo that Tanner would have wanted to go on. Tanner’s photo – the one with the cowboy hat and that contented grin – hung above the gate as each of the rodeo competitors entered the arena. It was their personal reminder of that cowboy smile. “He ran his race spiritually,” his parents said. “He ran home to the Lord. He was all about church. He loved being there, he even went on Spring break one time just to help plant flowers.”

Tanner Carleton That’s just the way he was. He loved helping others. Across the community, an outpouring of love and compassion has enveloped the family in the days since, offering comforting remembrances of a special young man. A sampling of social media posts from those who knew him help tell his story and his impact in a life cut too short: We will never forget your smile. You just being you. Playing baseball with the greats now! Rest easy, sweet boy. With broken hearts, the Williams Intermediate School family is praying for Tanner’s family, friends, teachers and classmates. Rest in peace, sweet boy. I knew the first time I ever met him that he was special. He was good, good like deep down in his bones, all the way to the center of his soul. He worked harder than most grown men and had more compassion in his little finger than some have their entire life. But the one thing that radiated out of him like laser beams was how unconditionally thoughtful he was … just good as gold and steady as a rocker. I am so thankful to have known your kind heart, if only for a few short years. You taught me (along with tons of others!) what it means to put others needs first – before ourselves, to be selfless, the very essence of Jesus Christ. What an example of a Christian, a son, a student, a cowboy, an athlete, a worker, and the list goes on and on. From his parents, came their own heartfelt message: We miss his smile, his laugh and so much more than we could ever imagine about you, son! We miss seeing you on the ballfield, and we miss seeing you with your brother. God had a plan for your life, and it’s something we never knew, but prayed for His will to be done in your life. Your life brought so much happiness! Your life brought so much meaning. You made us parents! l

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DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • June & July 2022

There is no better place to get married than ...

St. Clair County

Owners Randy and Toni Clark stand near the frame for their million-dollar view.

Couples make new memories at historic farm Story by Eryn Ellard Photos by Richard Rybka It is no secret that St. Clair County is home to wide-ranging and stunning views. Look in just about any direction, and there it is. From a sunrise over lake Logan Martin or Neely Henry lakes to the tranquil setting of Springville’s quaint downtown to the rolling hills, mountains and sprawling pastures of the north, St. Clair is no stranger to picturesque places around the state. It is a road less traveled, County Road 31 past the churches readying for revival and homecoming, where Anderson Farm comes into view, emerging as yet another picture-perfect destination. After four generations and not one divorce in the

lineage, Toni Anderson Clark and husband Randy, who represent that fourth generation living there decided it just might be the perfect venue to share with others to begin life anew on their wedding day. Its history is deeply rooted in this soil. Originally, the property sat on 1,000 acres first purchased by William R. and Annie Elizabeth Anderson in 1905. Four generations later, the farm remains in the family, and breathtaking scenery is just a glance away. From the white-washed front porch swing of the original homeplace with two rooms dating back to the Civil War, one can see for what seems like forever. The rolling green hills of spring rise up to meet a clear blue country sky. Just a few hundred feet from the porch lies an idyllic orchard with fig, pecan, walnut, pear and

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • June & July 2022

Discover St. Clair Bridal 2022

The Clarks utilize features of farm for events. The barn doubles as reception area, complete with pulldown bar or serving area.

peach trees that, when in bloom, smell so sweet they bring back lingering memories of another time. Perhaps it was bittersweet – a time when life was slower and simpler, yes, but also peppered with memories of war and loss. Turkeys and other wildlife run freely through the wide-open fields on the property, which all remain untouched by modern development. Through four generations, there have been many Anderson family members born on the property, including now 93-yearold Ray Anderson. Anderson is a veteran of the Korean War, having served in the U.S. Navy from 1949-1953, two tours in Korea and being honorably discharged as yeoman second class. Ray is now the only surviving son of the farm’s second generation, patriarch Paden and Cammie Anderson. Ray also had two brothers, Floyd and Jesse, both of whom also served in the Navy during World War II and honorably discharged as yeoman first class. Anderson’s two uncles, Henry and Carl Anderson, to served in World War I. “We come from a long line of military service,” Anderson said. “There have been family members that lived here and also proudly served our country from World War I through the Korean War.” After the war, Anderson packed up his things and used his GI Bill to attend Jacksonville State University, where he studied business administration. It is also where he was introduced by a friend to his now beautiful bride of 64 years, Dorothy Leininger, known to many as “Dot.” The two were married in 1958, shortly after she graduated with her degree in medical technology. At first, she did not let herself be pursued romantically by the young seaman because she was there to study. “At first, he was just an acquaintance, someone I’d see around campus, and we were friendly,” Anderson recalled. “But I was there to study and graduate first, so I saw to it that I did that before becoming an item with Ray.” The two settled into married life in Atlanta and had two daughters, Toni Clark and Debbie Williamson. Toni and her husband, Randy, are now the fourth generation to live and work on Anderson Farm. Ray playfully noted that there has yet to be a divorce in the Anderson family. Dot agrees saying the secret to 64 years of marriage is not luck or money, but hard work – plain and simple. “You just have to put in the work every single day and if you do, well, I think you’ll be just fine.”

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • June & July 2022

Weddings & Reception Packages Event Venue

Discover St. Clair Bridal 2022

Anderson Farm

New wedding venue grows from historic roots

Dating back to Civil War, Anderson Farm has plenty of reminders of days gone by.

Story by Eryn Ellard Photos by Richard Rybka Perhaps it is the rich family history and deep familial roots on Anderson Farm that first gave the Clarks – Toni and husband Randy – the idea in 2014 to transform parts of the farm into a special wedding venue with a breathtaking, million-dollar view of the rolling hills of Ashville. Since then, a dozen more weddings have taken place at Anderson Farm, homeplace to four generations of Andersons since 1905, including Toni. The Clarks left their corporate jobs in North Carolina behind and moved to the historic family farm back home in Alabama. Today, they care for it fulltime, tend to

wedding duties and family members. “We first started this because we wanted to share the farm’s beauty with others,” Clark said. Planning a wedding is no easy feat and is often stressful and time-consuming on couples. They make it simple. Anderson Farm offers a wide variety of amenities with one base price of $1,000, which includes the use of the property for up to 100 guests for both rehearsal and wedding dates. Seating for up to 100 guests is provided, along with several tables handcrafted from the original wood from one of the barns on the property. A bride may choose to use the beautiful, oversized doors for her grand entrance, along with other signage, or the Clarks do allow couples to bring their

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • June & July 2022

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Discover St. Clair Bridal 2022 own decorations and accessories, including signage and seating. Catering is not included in the package price, but it is set up for easy access. Beer and wine may also be served on the premises, but there must be a person designated to chaperone those who choose to indulge. A newly renovated bridal suite complete with ample electrical outlets, mirrors and salon seating is also provided for the bridal party for both rehearsal and wedding dates. Adjacent to the bridal suite is also a newly renovated holding room completely decorated with years of mementos and pieces of family history on the farm. A private bathroom is also available for use by the bridal party, while guests use the outdoor facilities. Under the bridal suite is a partially covered area, perfect for a DJ or band to set up if the couple wishes. Randy is also a wedding officiant. If the couple chooses, he can conduct the ceremony for a nominal fee. “I tell the brides that come through here that it is all about you and your future husband,” Clark said. “We take care of the majority of the details so that the day can be all about them, surrounded in love.” During their time in quarantine for the COVID-19 pandemic, the Clarks also used the newly found free time to do some renovating of the original barn on the property. They took out the old hay loft to give way to high ceilings, and they added wedding accents such as new lighting. The original dirt floor remains today. If inclement weather approaches, the Clarks can quickly move everything from outside to inside the barn as an alternative, or the couple can choose the barn for their wedding, rehearsal or reception area. “We feel so honored to be a part of a newlywed couple’s journey,” Clark said. “There has been so much love and life here, and we like to think we give some of it to the people who marry here.”

From left, Dorothy and Ray Anderson, Toni and Randy Clark

The fire pit

For a true rustic experience, couples can tie the knot in barn with dirt floor – one of two barns on the property

A collection of original tags decorate a wall of the bridal suite 48

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • June & July 2022

Discover St. Clair Bridal 2022

Everything on Display Bridal show has it all for the big day Story by Elaine Hobson Miller Photos by Meghan Frondorf Outdoor weddings, full meals instead of receptions and the Bohemian look are gaining popularity among today’s brides. So are body waxing, boudoir books, naked cakes and walking down the aisle to music other than the traditional, “Wedding March.” One of the biggest surprises, however, is how the COVID-19 pandemic may have worked in their favor. “For the past two years, brides went through postponements and reschedulings, but the benefit from this is that they saved more money up and so have had more to spend on their weddings,” says Amanda Robbins of AMR Bridal & Events. “Now they can afford add-ons like a vintage car for the getaway, a DJ or more lavish tablescapes at the reception.” AMR was part of the second annual Bridal Show at Springville’s Woodall Building in March. Twenty-one vendors participated, from planners like Robbins to florists and caterers, singers, photographers and travel agents. “It’s important to hire a planner because of the amount of stress it takes off the bride and her family,” says Robbins, who is in partnership with her husband, Jordan. “There are lots of planners out there. The goal is to find one who sees your vision best and that you can connect with.” Most planners have packages that fit a wedding couple’s budget and needs, because one size doesn’t fit all. “I meet them where they are in their planning and lead and guide them from there,” says Robbins. Some people want it all handled for them, while others just want “day of event” planning, according to Dee Wilson of Oh La La in Trussville. “In this area (St. Clair County), wedding budgets usually run from $5,000 to $20,000,” Wilson says. “Brides will allot so much to catering, photography, flowers, etc. I like to see them take that $20,000 they’ve budgeted, use $8,000-$10,000 for the wedding and the rest to pay off a student loan or to put down on a house.” For the past 5-10 years, brides have been serving full meals more than the simple cake-and-mint receptions. Wilson says it’s cheaper to do a meal than hors d’oeuvres because the latter can mean a lot of pieces per person — usually about seven. “Alcohol is huge now,” she says. “Girls want more of a party, and when you offer free alcohol for four hours, people will party!” Before the big day Pre-wedding skincare and skincare parties are trendy with today’s brides, too. Firming creams to lift faces and tighten thighs can be used in the comfort of one’s own home, says Katelyn Lear, who partners with Pure Romance, a company that specializes in women’s wellness. Lear sells bath and body products, lacy

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • June & July 2022

Honeymoon in Costa Rica negligees and intimate products. “One of our skin-firming creams works in 24-48 hours and one in two hours,” she says. “Lots of people are still using self-tanners, which are safer than tanning beds. If you don’t like the results, it (the tan) will fade in 72 hours. We also host bachelorette and lingerie parties.” Springville’s Beauty Society specializes in clinical-grade skincare. Usage should start at least two-three months before the wedding, according to Ceil McDanal. “Our products are designed for skin repair, not just a quick fix,” she says. “Every person would have a different regimen, depending on their skin type.” Nadia Johnson says another trend is body waxing for brides-to-be. “With waxing, you don’t have to worry about any body hair throughout the wedding or honeymoon,” she says. “It lasts three to four weeks.” Gaining popularity is the waxing party, where the bride and bridesmaids get together over drinks and have a portion of their bodies waxed. Some choose brows and facial hair, others their necks, legs, underarms or the Brazilian (bikini) wax. “Underarms and legs are really popular during the summer,” says Johnson, an esthetician at Isabella Anya Body Waxing Studio in Springville. Glow Getters of Trussville also handles spray tans for a bride’s wedding day, bachelorette trips and the honeymoon. The company helps brides host bridal spray-tan parties, too. “People pay individually, and when four or more people buy a spray tan, the bride-to-be gets hers for free,” says owner Ashley Ritch. Tabitha Austin of Steele is a hairstylist who does hair and makeup for weddings under the name of Beauty by Tab. She says today’s trend is toward a natural, glowy look for the bridal party’s makeup, along with thicker eyebrows. “I use a gel for the brows, because it’s a little easier than powder,” Austin says. As for hair trends, she says the Boho (Bohemian) look is in for brides and bridesmaids, where their hair is part up, part down and has lot of braids. If a bride and her family don’t want to address dozens of invitations, they can hire Mrs. Scribbles Calligraphy. Kim Kimbrough uses calligraphy, a decorative form of handwriting, to address invitations to weddings, parties and bridesmaids’ luncheons, save-the-date notices and table cards. “I started doing calligraphy in high school and used it to address my own wedding invitations 30 years ago,” Kimbrough says. While the style is more popular now than then, today’s bride usually prefers a more modern script to the Old English font of yore.

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • June & July 2022

Discover St. Clair Bridal 2022 Capturing the memories When a bride is ready to line up a photographer to capture those precious wedding moments, the trend is to record and preserve everything from the proposal to the honeymoon, although not necessarily in that order. “Lots of brides are looking for highlight trailers, which are photos or scenes that aren’t in chronological order,” says Crystal Gray of Gray Manor Creatives of Birmingham. “We might feature the reception first, then the vows, everything out of order,” she says. Her setup includes drones and creative angles that allow couples the chance “to experience their wedding day in a true, unexpected, cinematic way.” One of the extensions to the basic bridal photo package is the bridal boudoir book. It contains more intimate photos of the bride for the husband. “We have an app available where they can download the photos and send them directly to him, or we’ll print a hardback photo album that she can give him as a wedding gift to be opened after the wedding, like when he’s getting dressed,” Gray explains. Boudoir books aren’t something Soulgrown Photography’s Mandy Smith and Kimberly Gaddis wanted to get into. “But people started asking for them. They are very popular,” says Smith. Today’s bride wants “full-day coverage, not just the wedding and reception,” she says. “People are spending more on photography because they want more.” Modern bridal parties want most of the formal photos done before the wedding so they can enjoy friends and family at the reception. “No more receiving lines,” Smith says. She and Gaddis strongly suggest an “unplugged” ceremony so the cellphones of friends and family taking photos don’t interfere with the professional efforts. Makenzie Neely, the photographer behind Neely Creative, of Steele, says it’s trendy to have adventure elopements where the bridal couple escapes to the mountains or seashore by themselves or with close family. “They’ll pick a destination local or away and ask us to photograph the event,” she says. “The farthest we’ve been is Crested Butte, Colo. It was for a Springville couple, and the wildflowers there were beautiful.” Neely offers hardcover books and print albums, but most couples just print what they like and save the rest on their computer. “I give the pictures to them digitally,” she says. “Most of my galleries are 800-1,000 pics for an eight-hour day.” Some people still do film, but it’s an unnecessary added expense, she says. The music When it comes time to select the music for their special day, modern brides don’t always walk down the aisle to the traditional “Wedding March” by Felix Mendelssohn. Often, it’s to “Canon in D” by Johann Pachelbel or Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring.” Just as often it’s to a particular piece of music that is special to the bride and bridegroom, according to three area music providers. “One couple wanted music by a South Korean pianist named Yiruma, particularly, ‘Kiss the Rain,’” says Kara Lancaster of Kara Pure Music Studio. “Some of his songs sound like raindrops falling.” They also wanted a jazz version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” during the ceremony. Lancaster, a pianist and vocalist, says wedding parties are walking out to more upbeat songs after the ceremony, too, such

Photography captures special moments

Flowers accentuate the day

as Etta James’ “At Last.” Rita Allen, who provides vocals over soundtracks for weddings and receptions, says selecting the music usually is a joint effort between the bride and the bridegroom. “A lot of them blend the traditional with the modern,” she says. Allen, who can sing anything from opera to bluegrass in English, French or Italian, bought the old Murray’s Chapel Church of God building on U.S. Highway 11 in Springville and renamed it Allen Hall. It is now a concert hall, music teaching studio, tea room and event venue. Lee Jeffrey, a Springville disc jockey who goes by DJ Lee L, sees a trend toward fall weddings. “Summer used to be more popular, but the weather is so blazing hot in summer,” he says. He, too, tailors the music he plays to fit the bride’s wishes, and sees more people foregoing the “Wedding March” in favor of pieces like “Canon in D.” “They just got tired of the ‘Wedding March,’ I guess,” he says. The flowers Flower arrangements are featuring blushes and creams or simply ivory and greenery, with a touch of blue and maybe a dash of something whimsical, according to two area floral designers.

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • June & July 2022

“A touch of whimsy, like pampas grass in arches and centerpieces, is popular these days,” says Hannah Steele of Steele Magnolias in Springville. “Peonies and dahlias are our biggest sellers. However, dahlias are for cooler weather because they wither in the heat.” Taylor, a home-based floral designer, says blue is a popular color used in many weddings now, such as white anemones with blue centers. “Tulips are suddenly being requested, too,” she says. Simply Sage Florals, in the Moody-Trussville area, arranges a lot of ivory and greenery at weddings, according to co-owner Tina Locke. “We use a lot of delphiniums with ivory garden roses, for example,” Locke says. “We’ll use them in the bridal bouquet, all the bridal party arrangements and the tables at the reception.” As an alternative to flowers, cylindrical candles and votives are cost-effective and popular. “Some venues won’t allow candles, so we’ll use battery-powered ones,” Locke says. “We might use bridesmaid bouquets as centerpieces on individual tables.” The menu Five to 10 years ago brides wanted finger foods at their receptions. Today, the biggest food trend is the taco-and-fajita bar, according to Sonya Bates of Our Family to Yours Catering and Events in Springville. “Another trend is stations,” she says. “They might have a ‘mashed-tini’ bar consisting of mashed potatoes in martini glasses with toppings, a macaroni-and-cheese station and a carving station.” Barbecue is always a safe bet at receptions, along with smoked ham, pork, brisket or ribeye at carving stations. Buffets are popular, too. Her brother and partner, Richard Harper, handles the meat side of the business. “Banana and blueberry shooters are popular desserts, usually at the bridegroom’s table,” she says. Morgan Yund of The Flying Biscuit Cafe in Birmingham says people are scheduling more daytime weddings, even as early as 9 a.m. “Then they’re going into brunch afterward,” she says. “Venues tend to be cheaper during the day.” She says weekdays are becoming popular and so are outdoor weddings. “People are getting creative because of their budgets,” she says. She and her husband, Greg, specialize in breakfast and lunch and are known for their biscuits and grits. “Lunch can be shrimp and grits or chicken and waffles, and they can be for breakfast and bridal teas, too.” What’s for dessert? What would a wedding reception be without a cake? It might just feature shaped cookies with messages or naked cakes, because both are gaining in popularity among brides and bridegrooms who don’t like a lot of gooey frosting. “One woman did cookies instead of a cake at her reception because she didn’t like the traditional wedding cake,” says Michelle Green, owner of Sweet Pea’s Cookie Creations in Springville. She makes shaped cookies and decorates them with figures or messages. The latter are popular for teas, showers and receptions and are sometimes used as favors at wedding dinners. She once made boxes of cookies that

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said, “Will you be my bridesmaid?” As for that “naked cake,” it has some icing, but most of it is on top, and there is far less decorating involved, according to Anissia Howard, owner of A Piece of Cake in Odenville. “It’s still a traditional three-tiered wedding cake with almond flavoring, though,” she says. When her own daughter got married last December, mom made a three-tiered cake with whipped-cream icing and decorated it with greenery because daughter doesn’t like sweets. “More brides are ordering cupcakes instead of tiered cakes, and the groom’s side wants cookie and brownie trays instead of a groom’s cake,” she says. The honeymoon After they’re stuffed with dinner and cake and drive away in their rented stretch limousine, most brides want to fly off to Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Costa Rica or Saint Lucia, according to two area travel agencies. They much prefer all-inclusive resorts to cruises and adventures. “Most people have an idea of where they want to go,” says Ashley Ritch of Ritch Travels in Trussville. “Usually the bride selects the destination, and they’ll choose a resort over a cruise. Resorts are letting up on their COVID vaccination restrictions, but cruise ships still require vaccinations.” Kathy Richards, of Ash Travel in Springville, says allinclusive packages are the most popular for honeymooners. “All-inclusive means room, food, beverages and tips, and when I book, I include airfare and transfers to and from the hotel. I can book excursions, too.” Honeymooners don’t go sight-seeing per se, but they do like ziplines, snorkeling, rafting or riding a dune buggy around an island. “People don’t book cruises much because they’re too crowded, and there’s not much privacy for a honeymoon, whereas resorts have nooks and crannies for privacy,” she says. A big trend at these island resorts is toward the oceanfront, on-the-beach suite where you can swim right up to your room’s door or step out onto the balcony and into a pool. “Suites that have butlers and private pools for just your room are popular, because honeymooners want lots of room service, especially at breakfast,” Richards says. “They stay up late drinking and don’t want to get up early.”

Cakes

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • June & July 2022

Children born into all kinds of circumstances have dreams and dreams are powerful. The Ring Central to the wedding ceremony is the ring, and there are plenty of new options to go along with the more traditional. Gaining popularity because of its beauty and its price are Lab Grown diamonds, according to Michael Abernathy, vice president of sales and marketing at Griffins Jewelers. They are identical to earth-mined diamonds in every way, except that they are grown in a laboratory above ground. They have the same chemical, physical and optical properties as mined diamonds and exhibit the same fire, scintillation and sparkle, he said. “We offer lab-grown diamonds as an alternative choice for our customers. All lab-grown diamonds we sell are laser inscribed ‘LAB GROWN’ on the girdle,” he noted. Griffins offers both mined and lab-grown diamonds. “We want our customers to know about all options available and to choose what is best for their budget and desires,” Abernathy said. “Lab-grown diamonds allow our customers the opportunity to choose a high-quality diamond at a much lower price point.” For the groom, some are returning to white and yellow gold traditions, but alternative metals are still extremely popular. A new trend is Tantalum, a rare earth metal that is used in rocket engines, missile guidance systems, electronics and medical implants. It has a cool dark gray modern color and is listed on the periodic table as Ta. It can be plain or have a textured design. “These rings are extremely durable, hypoallergenic and will never corrode or tarnish,” Abernathy said. “We can create any style of jewelry you desire. Every piece of jewelry has a story. We want your story to begin with us.”

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Officials break ground at the new site. 56 • DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • Business Review • June & July 2022

Story and photos by Carol Pappas

ONEeighty Church Officials break ground on 18-acre campus in Odenville

On a hilltop above Odenville a vision is rising up to meet the needs of the community and well beyond the city’s borders. ONEeighty Church, just as the name implies, represents the degree to which lives can be turned around, and that’s the purpose of the 18 acres that hilltop overlooks. Officials have broken ground on a massive new campus near Interstate 59 on Alabama 174 at Odenville. The church began in a vacant Ace Hardware building in Springville as a ministry of Clear Branch United Methodist Church in 2009. Two years into it, it grew to become a standalone church. Cam Price was pastor for a year and a half before Gresh Harbuck became the pastor, and she named it ONEeighty – symbolic of turning lives around. Four years ago, it launched as nondenominational and has now grown well past its walls. Leaders were led to build a new church and other buildings on the acreage and even though it began in Springville, Harbuck said they never viewed ONEeighty as a Springville church. “It’s a community church – one gigantic circle of owners. They take ownership in the Great Commission. Members pay dues. Owners have responsibilities and are on a mission, winning one more for Jesus Christ.” When they were first looking for a new home, Realtor Lyman Lovejoy envisioned the ideal place as a piece of property that wasn’t even for sale. “They won’t sell it to me, but they might sell it to you,” he remembers telling them. He is credited with approaching the owner with the idea of transforming the piece of land into a place of worship and life-changing experiences. The owners understood the vision, too, noting that it would be the perfect legacy for their father. And the deal was done. “Our goal is to really focus on people who never would walk into a normal church,” said Harbuck, describing it as “very contemporary,” welcoming “all walks of life” to venture through its doors. The growth has been evident. Easter Sunday, apparently all roads led to ONEeighty Church with people attending from Argo, Odenville, Pinson, Gadsden and Springville. “We’re not an

Pastor Gresh Harbuck motions toward the hilltop where the church will grow its new home.

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • Business Review • June & July 2022 • 57

Business Review

ONEeighty Church

Inside the existing church are reminders of its principles Odenville church,” Harbuck said. “We’re not a Springville church. We’re a community church. We want lukewarm Christians to turn into purpose-filled Christians who will be the hands and feet of Jesus. We want to help the hurting and the broken.” Of the church’s approach, Harbuck explained, “This is a great place to fall in love with Jesus.” Small groups are how they disciple people, giving them a more intimate, close-knit experience. The youth group is packed with activities and is “growing by leaps and bounds.” Celebrate Recovery – one of the largest in the state – continues to make a sizable impact on addictions throughout the region. It partners with Lovelady Center, Brother Bryan and jail ministries in Ashville and Oneonta. Celebrate Recovery, coordinated by Ministry Leader Joyce Simonson, was 300 strong before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. They still feed 200 there every Friday night. “We view ourselves as recovery ministries,” said Harbuck, who once served as CR

58 • DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • Business Review • June & July 2022

Gresh Harbuck

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Business Review Ministry Leader himself. Looking ahead to what that Odenville hilltop will become, Harbuck said, the new church campus will house the worship center, a sanctuary that can seat 600, lobby and children’s area in the first phase on top of the site. Second phase will be a dining hall, small group rooms and offices, and the third phase is a courtyard outside the worship area. Beyond that, “God gives us the next steps,” Harbuck said. “We will look at the needs of Odenville. If the needs in the community change, we’ll change. Johnny Evans and James Barker, who are active in the church and have a background in contracting, will oversee the project. Cline Construction is the builder. “Even though we’re moving the building, it doesn’t mean the DNA changes,” Harbuck stressed. “We want to be a light to the community, helping the outcast and broken,” he said at the groundbreaking ceremony. Lay Leader John Rich called it “a big milestone for us. This is a community church – one group, all together. This means a lot.” And it means much to the community that surrounds it. “Thank you for your vision,” Odenville Mayor Buck Christian told those in attendance at the groundbreaking. “We’re excited to see what the future holds. The campus will be explosive” in terms of growth. “Welcome to Odenville. We are extremely excited about what this will mean to Odenville. The growth potential is unlimited.” Harbuck agreed. “God has been blessing us and growing us.”

Children’s area

ONEeighty Church

The dedication room

Worship area

60 • DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • Business Review • June & July 2022

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DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • June & July 2022

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Business Review

Nichols Nook

Another special reason to shop Springville Story by Roxann Edsall Photos by Mackenzie Free Walking through the massive, original wood doors, you are immediately greeted by Beth or Scott as if you were an old friend just returning from a long trip away. They do seem to know most people who walk in; but even if you’re a stranger, you’ll soon become a new “old friend.” “I fell in love with the place the first time I came,” says regular Renee Wood. “Beth is so sweet. She remembers every little thing about you. She’s caring and goes beyond anything you would expect.” Wood just found out about the place in October but has been coming to Nichols Nook in Springville every Friday since then. “I look forward to it all week,” she says. “I’m off on Fridays, so we meet my brother-in-law and his wife here and catch up, then go play pickleball.” Today they are working through the recent loss of her mother-in-law. As they reminisce about her, the coffee shop co-owner, Beth, walks up and joins the conversation. Intently listening, Beth suggests the Nook host a celebration of life for her and in minutes has it all planned out. Beth and Scott Walker opened Nichols Nook in 2016 after dreaming of what the vacant storefront could be. Scott had visited it many times as a child when it was a TV and stereo shop. It had been many things since then, most recently an interior design shop. Avid walkers, they would walk past the building and comment about all the things “someone” could do with the building. Then it occurred to them that they could be that someone. They began to think about opening a bookstore in the space. They got in touch with the landlord, and she liked the idea. Still, they were not convinced they could do it. So, the

Owners Scott and Beth Walker

One of the ‘nooks’

66 • DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • Business Review • June & July 2022

The Walkers with their sons, Ben and Sam, outside the coffee house DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • Business Review • June & July 2022 • 67

Business Review

Nichols Nook

There are many spaces, indoor and out, where patrons can relax.

landlord gave them the key to the building for a couple of weeks. “We would come in here and just sit and pray. We were asking for a specific vision and direction,” Beth says. “We had a general vision,” echoes Scott. “But it’s definitely been organic. It’s changed and evolved a lot.” Built in 1892, not long after the city was incorporated, the building had been preserved and renovated by the previous owner. Marian Brasher, the building’s current owner, was adamant that she wanted something locally owned that would bring life to the area. The Nook, as locals call it, has become that place. Originally opening as a bookstore and gift shop that offered coffee, it has evolved into a true community gathering spot with full barista service. In addition to serving a variety of coffee drinks and baked goods, they are a gift store, reading nook, community gathering spot and event venue. They host book clubs, birthday parties, anniversary and graduation events and wedding parties inside and in their two hidden courtyards. But, Beth says, they don’t want to just rent the space. They want to be able to add to the memories. “The space lends itself very well to being a comfortable inviting space to gather,” explains Beth. “But it’s more about the experience. We learn bits about the honoree so that we can add small personal touches that make it special.” The key for the Walkers is a focus on community. “We get to know people, and they get to know each other,” says Beth. “We want to be a part of their community. There’s so much going on that it’s important for people to come in and leave the world behind, even if just for a few minutes.” Many people have walked in for a quick cup of coffee and ended up staying for the fellowship. Some have even become close friends and employees. Loretta came over after work from the kids program she was running at the Methodist church across the street. She now works for them part time for free. She just loves talking to people. Then there’s Carol, who, Beth says, just walked in one day and said, “I just know I’m supposed to work here.” And now she does. And Bob, an 82-year-old mobile mechanic, who used to have his own coffee shop in Gulf Shores before it was destroyed during Hurricane Katrina, is a faithful customer and mentor. “He’s a great supporter. He comes in, meets people and talks to them. He’s part of what makes this what it is,” adds Scott. Then there’s Susan, or “precious Susan,” as Beth calls her. She was taking a sabbatical from nursing and came into the coffee shop with her daughter. This was just a few days after they had opened. She immediately hit it off with Beth and Scott and ended up working for them. “I never did go back to nursing,” says Susan. “We have just enjoyed this journey together. It works because they care about the community.” It’s not a stretch to care about the community that has been so much a part of Scott’s life. A graduate of Springville High School, he is a third-generation business owner in his hometown. His aunt and uncle, “Ma” and Lee Laster, opened the Laster’s Soda Shop and Pharmacy in 1927. When they passed, his aunt, Ovada Burtram, ran it until the late 1980s, when it was sold. His great-grandfather, Pink Simmons, ran the Simmons

68 • DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • Business Review • June & July 2022

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Nichols Nook

Motor Company in Springville. Pictures from these old businesses hang over the couch, an heirloom from his grandmother, in one of the coffee shop’s reading nooks. The couch, itself, has a bit of history to it. Purchased from Bromberg’s in Birmingham in the late 30s or early 40s, it survived being hit by a truck that ran through his grandmother’s house. Even the name of the coffee shop celebrates family and community. Beth’s maiden name was Nichols. She lost both of her parents to cancer when they were in their 60s. Her mom, Kay Nichols, was a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher in Springville. Her dad, Ron, also loved reading and had an affinity for both coffee and tea. So they came up with the name Nichols Nook to honor them. They believe it’s a place both of her parents would have enjoyed. It hasn’t always been smooth sailing for the business. They had to shut down in 2019 to realign and improve the business model. Just about the time they were planning to reopen, issues related to the pandemic forced their doors to remain closed. They were able to reopen in the summer of 2021, but then had to close for two months after their family struggled through COVID-19 themselves. They credit their oldest son, 21-yearold Ben, with being a huge help in reopening the business. “He’s been key to our success,” says Scott. “We couldn’t have made it without him.” Ben adds, “It’s cool to be a part of their business, to see it grow and to see all the people we’ve met through it.” His future plans will take him away from the family business, though. At the end of the summer, he will begin a job as a commercial pilot. His brother, 13-year-old Sam, may one day take over the barista duties. For now, says Beth, his other interests are “much cooler” than the business. What could be “cooler” than coffee? After all, President Thomas Jefferson called coffee “the favorite drink of the civilized world.” Coffee may be the favorite drink, but Nichols Nook makes it a favorite experience. You can find them on Main Street in Springville or on the web at Nicholsnook.business.site.

70 • DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • Business Review • June & July 2022

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Business Review

New development thriving in Cropwell Story by Eryn Ellard Photos by Graham Hadley Jay Patel’s story is a classic American success tale. With roots in India, he immigrated at the age of 28 to make his way in the world. His latest business venture in Cropwell is proof that his American dream, built out of the beliefs in work and service he learned in India, is coming true. A new 9,500-square-foot complex is up and coming on U.S. 231 near Rabbit Branch, and within it, Isabella’s Mexican Cantina is now open for business, along with a new gas station, an impressive bait and tackle selection, soon-to-be liquor store and a “meat and three” lunch spot. Isabella’s features high ceilings, contemporary art and lighting, as well as inside and outside seating and is quickly becoming a lake community destination spot. The restaurant is also gaining recognition for its trendy menu options, as well as a colorful bar, offering dozens of unique cocktails for any connoisseur’s taste. Patel has made a career working in retail and is an immigrant from Gugjarat, India, home to Mahatma Gandhi, India’s heralded civil rights leader, as well as many prime ministers of India. Patel now owns four retail stores and one sit-down restaurant from Cropwell to Ragland and all the way to Clanton. The new complex is his biggest business venture yet, and he has a far-reaching vision for it. In total, the new complex sits on 26 acres first purchased in 2020. Soon, Patel said, the store, also known as Jaybo’s, after his young son, will also offer lunch service, buffet style, with a meat and three menu that changes daily. “I have found the hot bar is very popular with my customers from my other stores,” Patel said. “It is just one of many ways we aim to serve the community.” Once the first phase of the project is complete, Patel plans to embark on the second phase on the property, which will include a startup of 100 units of boat storage, as well as residential community of two bedroom-duplexes with garage for rent. “I lived in an apartment in town for many years,” Patel said. “I did not like it – the maintenance was not good, and there were some not-so-pleasant experiences. I knew I wanted to build a new, clean and properly maintained place for renters to live.” There are still several more avenues Patel is exploring to complete the sprawling acreage. From recruiting other new businesses and retail shops to the addition of another restaurant, Patel said there are other developments in store for the property. Patel already employs 14 employees across all his stores, and he does plan to hire more people as the need arises. Heather Hare, an employee and close friend of the Patel family for years, said she could not ask for a better job or boss. “He is such a hard worker, but an even bigger family man,” Hare said. “It is instilled in his Indian culture that family should always come first, followed by hard work and service, and I have been welcomed by Jay and his family and also

Isabella’s, Jaybo’s and the retail complex

Inside Isabella’s, there’s plenty of color and plenty of good food awaiting.

learned so much over the years.” Patel added that he was taught as a young boy in India the importance of hard work and dedication to work. “Our culture is that our children see and learn from our hard work, we mold our children’s work ethic and drive to be successful,” Patel said. “But we also do not groom our children to one day take over for us – but to instead start over with their own businesses or become a doctor or whatever their passion is, so long as it includes service to others.” l

72 • DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • Business Review • June & July 2022

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Let’s bring back simple Let’s return to slow. Over the years, we’ve all grown so accustomed to busy and so numb to noise that we forget. We forget it wasn’t always this way. We forget the magic found in slowing down. We, our collective humanity, manufactured the rush, clamor and overstimulation of today. Sometimes it’s easy to forget there was a time before now when our greatest source of wisdom was rooted in wild things, and we didn’t carry the weight of the world in our back pockets. But there is still magic that still exists if you know where to look. Out past the city lights and strip malls. Beyond the traffic and the noise. The houses get smaller, and the yards get bigger. Young and old congregate as peers at the local gas station on Saturday mornings to share coffee and the day’s plans. Local law enforcement isn’t above recovering lost pets. People still wave and ask about your momma. Kids still climb trees and roam pastures like small herds of cattle. And “Farm to Table” takes on a more literal meaning. I know about this magic because I’m fortunate enough to live within its realm, although I didn’t always. I wasn’t born into it. But my four daughters were. They don’t know it yet, but they are part of dying breed: The children of magical childhoods. They also aren’t yet fully aware of the wild magic that surrounds them here. The gentle nods from nature. The ministry of simple things. The natural world in their backyard. Nature’s never-ending testimony for us to bear witness to. I’ll do my best to remind them, though, to show them, to encourage them to slow down and adopt nature’s pace, to teach them that in life there is no easy fortune at the end. We only get what we put in. If we plant kindness and compassion, we will cultivate it. If we plant love and patience, they will surely grow. And of all the lessons this life has taught me so far, the truest for me is this: Both wisdom and children grow best in wild places. I will continue to grow my children like my garden flowers: wild, rooted in the dirt, bathed in sunlight and creek water. I pray the earth will shape them just as much as my love. I want them to never to grow tired of the sounds the earth makes when we slow down to listen and don’t interfere. But mostly, I wish for them to live slowly, purposefully and be content. And that, once they see it, they never grow tired of life’s wild magic.

- Mackenzie Free -

Wife, mother, photographer & current resident of the unassumingly magical town of Steele, Alabama

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • June & July 2022