Discover The Essence of St. Clair December 2018 and January 2019 by Discover The Essence of St. Clair

The Best of St. Clair Winner Photos • Caroline’s Mill • Eissmann Goats for Rent • Bobbye Weaver • Mt. Zion Baptist Church

December 2018 & January 2019

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Features and Articles Discover

The Essence of St. Clair

Dry Creek Farms

Christmas in the country

Page 60 Carolineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mill Page 8

Bobbye Weaver A life with the stars Page 14

Traveling the Backroads Mt. Zion Baptist Church Page 20

The Best of St. Clair Page 38

Ruminants for rent Page 32

Special Holiday Section Christmas villages Page 44 Shopping in St. Clair Page 66 Wish list guide Page 72 Gadget gifts Page 74

Christmas in St. Clair Page 52

Business Briefing Eissmann expands Page 78 Honda growing again Page 86

December 2018 & January 2019

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Carol Pappas

Writers AND Photographers

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 in features, news and commentary and was named Distinguished Alabama Community Journalist at Auburn University. She serves as president/CEO of Partners by Design, the multimedia group that publishes Discover.

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.

Joe Whitten Joe Whitten was born in Bryant on Sand Mountain. When he arrived in Odenville in 1961 to teach at St. Clair County High School, he found a place to call home. He and his wife, Gail, taught across the hall from each other. He continues to live in Odenville in a 1904 house they called home for 36 years. Joe was active in the Alabama Writers’ Conclave and the Alabama State Poetry Society. The society named him Poet of the Year in 2000. Joe has also published a number of St. Clair County local history books.

Mike Callahan Mike Callahan is a freelance photographer who resides on Logan Martin Lake in Pell City. He specializes in commercial, nature and family photography. Mike’s work has been published in Outdoor Alabama Magazine, Alabama Trucking Association and Alabama Concrete Industries magazines. Publishing his work to the internet frequently, he has won many honors for pictures of the day and week.

Susan Wall Susan Wall moved to Logan Martin Lake from Birmingham, where she worked as a critical care nurse. Alongside the nursing career, she owned Dreamscapes Photography, a portrait and wedding studio. Winner of the 2010 August Moore award at the Bluff Park Art Show, with numerous publications in magazines and the Kodak Instructional Magazine, her passion now is digital painting and portraits.

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. An Auburn journalism graduate, Hadley also served as the news editor for The Rome News Tribune in Rome,Ga.

Paul South Paul South, a native of Fairfield, is an Au¬burn graduate with a degree in journalism and a double minor in history. He also has a Juris Doctorate degree from the Birmingham School of Law. Although sports writing was always his first love, he had a versa¬tile career as reporter, columnist and first full-time sports information director at Samford University.

Jackie Romine Walburn Jackie Romine Walburn, a Birmingham native and freelance writer, is an Auburn journalism graduate who has worked as a reporter, editor and corporate communications manager. She’s had recent writing published in the Birmingham Arts Journal and Alalitcom. Jackie is currently seeking an agent and publisher for her first novel, Mojo Jones and the Black Cat Bone.

Leigh Pritchett

Leigh Pritchett has been in the publishing field 30 years. Early in her career, she worked for a New York Times Regional Newspaper. Since the 1990s, she has been a freelance writer. Her work has appeared in local, state and national publications in print and digital form. Mrs. Pritchett received the Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Montevallo.

Wallace Bromberg Jr. Wally graduated from Auburn University where he graduated in 1976 with his BA in History and minors in German and Education. Wally’s skills in photography blossomed during college.After a 30-year career, he decided to dust off his camera skills and pursue photography full time.

Scottie Vickery Scottie Vickery is a writer with a degree in journalism from the University of Alabama and was a reporter for The Birmingham News. Her first assignment was covering St. Clair and Blount counties. She has more than 30 years of writing and editing experience and her work has appeared in a variety of publications. She also has worked in the nonprofit industry.

From the Editor

Discoveries are centerpieces of all we do

I can’t help but return to a familiar theme when I sit down to pen this column: discovery. After all, it’s the very foundation of our magazine. And as we prepare each issue – editing stories, organizing photos, designing pages and trying to truly capture the essence of St. Clair County with every new edition – I find myself discovering something new. It could even be something old that’s new to us all. Take for instance, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, created by freed slaves in a community called Big Springs, today’s Springville. Joe Whitten, in his Traveling the Backroads feature, takes us on a journey of discovery about its beginning and its storied history over the years. Then there is Caroline’s Mill, blending old and new. St. Clair Springs’ Tommy and Sybil White discovered they could bring a longtime dream to life. They built a millhouse with waterwheel on a nearby pond that feeds Little Canoe Creek, reminiscent of days gone by. As Tommy aptly put it: “The old ways of doing things bring back memories of the old days, when people had to make it, grow it or do without it.” In Ashville, Cindy Massey knew she needed to get rid of the kudzu on her expansive acreage. It had overtaken the hillsides like, well, kudzu. So, she discovered goats – not in the real sense, but as in a solution to her problem. She found a company in Tennessee that would bring a herd of goats and do what goats do best. And the story behind it is a journey of discovery all on its own. But those aren’t the only forms of discovery in this issue. Check out our special Christmas section anchored by gift ideas, parade schedules and a pair of holiday stories guaranteed to get you in the spirit. And as a special gift, we feature the names and faces behind the 2018 Discover the Best of St. Clair Award winners as chosen by our readers. Make no mistake. There’s plenty to peruse in this issue of Discover. Turn the page and discover it all along with us. Carol Pappas Editor and Publisher

Discover The Essence of St. Clair

December 2018 & January 2019 • Vol. 45 • www.discoverstclair.com

Carol Pappas • Editor and Publisher Graham Hadley • Managing Editor and Designer Mike Callahan • Photography Wallace Bromberg Jr. • Photography Susan Wall • Photography Dale Halpin • Advertising Toni Franklin • Graphic Designer

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DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair â&#x20AC;¢ December 2018 & January 2019

Caroline’s Mill St. Clair Springs couple returns to days gone by Story by Elaine Hobson Miller Photos by Michael Callahan For several of the 40-plus years Tommy and Sibyl White have lived in St. Clair Springs, they have gazed out their living room window at the swampy spring-fed pond across the road and said, “Wouldn’t it be neat to have a water wheel there?” The pond was on a piece of land that didn’t belong to them, so the couple never dreamed their idea would go anywhere. But the owner decided to sell that four-acre plot, and when Tommy learned about it, he pounced. The deal was sealed early this year, and Tommy set to work clearing the property and building that wheel and a mill to house it. “Three springs feed the mill pond,” Tommy said. “A stream ran out of it constantly all year round. We thought it would be the perfect place for a water wheel.” He didn’t have a drawing of what he wanted, but that wasn’t an obstacle. “I had in the back of my head what I wanted it to look like,” he said. It wasn’t the first time he had plunged feet first into a building project. The host of White’s Mountain Bluegrass Festival for 12 years, he built a wooden train, a general store and an amphitheater and stage at the top of White’s Mountain Lane. Tommy and Sibyl live at the bottom of that lane. When the bluegrass festival got too big for them to handle — they were doing one in the spring and one in the fall — they quit. But the lure of old-time music and old-fashioned folk ways proved too much for them. So about five or six years ago (Tommy isn’t good with dates), he came up with the Chimney Corner Celebration to take its place. Held the third weekend of October, it is named after the warmest spot in any bygone farm house, the corner between the pot-bellied stove and the fireplace. The Celebration warms up at sundown on a Friday with

Caroline’s Mill Tommy and Sibyl White are enjoying their mill house and water wheel.

a jam session of local bluegrass musicians. It continues from 9 a.m. until “whenever” the next day with more bluegrass, bagpipes and other period music and dance. Activities and displays include sorghum syrup and cider making, spinning wheel operations, hominy making, quilting, chair caning and blacksmithing. “We just love that kind of stuff,” Tommy said. “The old ways of doing things bring back memories of the old days, when people had to make it, grow it or do without it.” The star of the show this year was supposed to be the new mill, but it wasn’t quite finished in time. Tommy had planned to demonstrate grinding corn and wheat, and the water wheel was supposed to produce the electricity to power a generator for the lights of the mill house. The water level was a couple of feet below what the mill wheel needed. So, the demos would have to wait for the rainy season. He made the eight-foot by two-foot mill wheel in his shop by modifying a metal spool used to roll electrical wire. It’s an undershot mill, meaning water runs under it to turn the wheel. Two grinding stones, one stationary and one moving against the first, form the basic elements for grinding grain. Tommy cut grooves in the mill stones so the grain could pass through them. “To harness water power, you must have height and volume,” Tommy explained. “To get the volume, you raise the water level and restrict it to a narrow channel that is called the mill race.” The wheel sits at the discharge end of the race, and water pressure will turn the wheel. A control valve will lower and raise the water level. When the wheel runs, water will pass through the mill race and into a stream that continues under Highway 23 and into Little Canoe Creek.

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • December 2018 & January 2019

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Caroline’s Mill Ole 97, the train Tommy built , takes kids for rides at his festivals and celebrations.

Made of pressure-treated pine lumber and siding, the mill building is 12 feet by 16 feet, including a porch that wraps around two sides. It has traditional mill-style windows, which are openings cut into the siding with wooden covers that slide out of the way. “I remember Mom had windows like these in her kitchen,” Tommy said. “I would go outside and climb up and open them on a hot day.”nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn Mosquitoes were a hindrance to the property clearing at first, but Tommy’s son found a $400 fogger machine online, and it cleared out the mosquito population from the quarter-acre pond in a hurry. Once construction started, curious passersby on Highway 23 stopped their cars frequently, asking questions and admiring the project. Begonias, coleus, geraniums, hasta and caladium add color to the place, along with hanging baskets of ferns and an airplane plant, thanks to Sibyl’s green thumb and eye for landscaping. “I had to contain her, or she would have filled the place with flowers,” Tommy said. “She had some good ideas, though.” The mill won’t sit dormant between celebrations, either. “I’ll decorate it for the Christmas season and use the electricity the wheel generates to power the lights, provided the rains come and bring up the water level,” he said. “We’ll just grind whatever folks bring us, too.” Meanwhile, at the top of the lane where the Chimney Corner Celebration is held, Tommy has built a number of buildings that help tell of bygone days. He has a general store and post

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • December 2018 & January 2019

office combination, something that was quite common in the early history of the U.S. Postal Service. The back room of the building holds some of the oldfashioned machinery he has collected, including two corn shellers, a grist mill, treadle sewing machines, several ice boxes and a cast-iron cook stove that is vented through a fireplace chimney. An avowed tinkerer, he rebuilt the corn sheller that had belonged to Sibyl’s dad as a boy by using another one as an example. Shelves in the front room are filled with old glass and pottery, such as the soft-drink bottle embossed with the words, “Ashville Bottling Company,” that he found when he cleaned the sludge out of the mill pond. Post office boxes at the front of the store came from the St. Clair Springs post office that closed around 1949. “St. Clair Springs was a town before Springville was,” he said, a touch of pride in his voice. He restored a cider mill that he uses at the celebrations. “I found it in northeast Alabama, or rather, I found what was left of it,” Tommy said. “A fellow advertised it on the internet, and I finagled a deal.” Sibyl researched it and had photos and diagrams for him to go by. Both bluegrass musicians, Tommy plays guitar, and Sibyl keeps the beat on a bass fiddle, while friend David Connor plays banjo in the unnamed trio they form. They play at the Chimney Corner Celebration and area events such as the Looney House Festival, and at the annual Christmas Pickin’ the Whites hold in the back room of the General Store. In another nod to times gone by, all electricity is turned off at the store that night, and those lucky enough to get an invitation play by the light of the fireplace, oil lamps and lanterns. Tommy and Sibyl’s granddaughter, six-year-old Caroline, has taken an interest in learning how to play the guitar, and Tommy plans on teaching her what he knows. “We’re calling it Caroline’s Mill in her honor,” Tommy said. l

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • December 2018 & January 2019

Bobbye Weaver

A life filled with the stars

Bobbye Weaver holds some of the original scripts given to her husband. 14

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair â&#x20AC;˘ December 2018 & January 2019

Story by Leigh Pritchett Photos by Michael Callahan Bobbye Williamson might never have imagined that a simple wink would determine the course of her life, but it definitely did. That single, innocent, little action set off a series of events that sent her globetrotting, mingling with celebrities and experiencing her own brushes with fame. She would visit five continents; meet Rock Hudson, Clint Eastwood, Bob Hope, Lucille Ball and a legion of other stars; be part of a “Ben Casey” rehearsal; and lunch with Dustin Hoffman’s parents. She would even have to use her acting skills and an exaggerated Southern accent to talk her way out of trouble with President Richard Nixon’s Secret Service detail. That little wink happened back in 1949 while she was working at Roberson’s department store in Pell City during Christmas break from the University of Alabama. Emmett Weaver, an Anniston native and young editor of Pell City’s newspaper, came into the store. Bobbye greeted him with a pleasant salutation and a wink (which was actually a facial tic). Emmett thought Bobbye was flirting, so he invited her to Citizens Drug Store for a soda. Those few minutes over refreshments made clear that “we just had a lot in common,” Bobbye said. They married in June 1950. Scarcely three months later, Emmett – who had been a medic during World War II – was reactivated because of the Korean War. He was stationed at a military hospital in New York. “Every night, we were at a Broadway show, if he wasn’t on duty,” Bobbye said. “That was the heyday of Broadway – Ethel Merman, Carol Channing, ... . That was a lot of fun.” When Emmett completed his military service in 1953, he became entertainment editor at the Birmingham Post-Herald. Bobbye taught music at Saks Junior High School. The two also attended Birmingham-Southern College – Emmett to do his master’s coursework, and Bobbye to finish her degrees in English and Spanish. Through Emmett’s 30-year, award-winning journalism career and Bobbye’s various endeavors, the two met one celebrity after another, ended up in humorous situations and earned a spot on many prominent Christmas card lists. Until recently, the Weaver home in Vestavia held reminders of the eventful life Bobbye and Emmett shared. There was the ashtray from Bob Hope, the miniature piano from Liberace, the stirrup from John Wayne, the original artwork from Jack Lord. The Weavers’ collection of memorabilia is extensive and diverse: original scripts, photographs, letters, costumes, playbills, posters, keepsakes from premiers and gifts from famous people. The treasures go on exhibit in 2019 at Oxford Performing Arts Center in Oxford, Ala. John Longshore, the center’s executive director, said the collection will be a semi-permanent exhibit. He noted the magnitude of the collection, saying its variety will marry well with the array of entertainment that the center brings into Northeast Alabama.

Always the performer

According to cousin Beth Geno of Kingsport, Tenn., Bobbye was born to perform. “She has been a performer ever since she could talk,” Beth said.

Bobbye Weaver plays drums at Parliament House in Birmingham.

Emmett and Bobbye Weaver

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • December 2018 & January 2019

Bobbye Weaver

Emmett Weaver, right, armwrestles with Andy Griffith.

The Weavers were on the Christmas card lists of many famous people, such as Bob Hope and Elvis.

Bobbye Weaver sings aboard a Royal Caribbean ship. 16

Bobbye, whose parents were Robert and Lillie Kate Williamson of Cropwell, was talking and singing by 8 months, doing impressions as a toddler, studying music at a conservatory by age 8 and teaching piano lessons at 13. In high school, she helped to lead worship services for evangelist Billy Graham’s “Youth for Christ” program. As an adult, Bobbye chaperoned Miss Universe, Miss International and Maid of Cotton contestants, even designing a costume for one woman that captured media attention. Bobbye broadcast live updates about the pageants to Birmingham radio stations WCRT and WSGN. A popular musician, Bobbye played piano and organ for many secular and religious events and the ukulele in an ensemble at Vestavia Hills Baptist Church. For decades, she taught music at Temple Emanu-El in Birmingham and in the music suite of her home. She sang with choruses, operas, and numerous church choirs and in the High Holy Days service for Temple Emanu-El. In addition, she was a backup vocalist for Tom Netherton during his concert in Birmingham. On Alabama Public Television, she hosted the show, I Hear Music. All-Star Attractions, the production company she operated with Marvin McDonald, brought to Birmingham such personalities as Judy Garland and Victor Borge. “Judy Garland just packed the house,” Bobbye said. Bobbye-Weaver-the-Actress could be found in dinner theaters and Town & Gown Theatre (now Virginia Samford Theatre) in Birmingham. She appeared in such productions as Fiddler on the Roof, Arsenic and Old Lace, Annie Get Your Gun and Carousel. For her role as “Bloody Mary” in South Pacific, she won the Obelisk Award. Emmett – along with James Hatcher and former Birmingham Mayor David Vann – established a seasonal professional theatre called Summerfest. Through Summerfest, Bobbye appeared opposite such talents as Edie Adams (in Hello, Dolly!), Joe Namath and Phil Crosby (Bing Crosby’s son). As guest artist at Birmingham-Southern in 1987, Bobbye played “Fraulein Schneider” in Cabaret, even wearing the same costume that Lotte Lenya used in the Broadway production. Beth said Bobbye was never one to be timid in front of a crowd. “At the drop of the hat, she would stand up and sing with somebody.” In fact, Bobbye did that at a party with famous soprano Eileen Farrell. Afterward, “she invited me up to her house in Maine,” Bobbye said. “Emmett and I kept in touch with her.” Because of Emmett’s work as entertainment editor, the Weavers were familiar faces at premiers. Rocky, Music Man, My Fair Lady, A Bridge Too Far, The Spy Who Loved Me and Smokey and the Bandit are among the 42 premiers the Weavers attended. Thirty were world premiers. At the New York premier of Norma Rae, Bobbye even interviewed actor Beau Bridges for WCRT. Annually, CBS, NBC and ABC sent Emmett to California to talk with stars appearing in shows and movies that were to be released the following year. During one of those trips, Lawrence Welk encouraged Bobbye to go in another musical direction. As Emmett and Welk were dining at the Palladium, Bobbye was invited to join them. Enjoying the musical entertainment, Bobbye began drumming a sequence on the table. In his distinctive accent, Welk told her she was “a natural” and should learn to play drums.

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • December 2018 & January 2019

Bobbye Weaver

Bobbye Weaver shows a keepsake received from Red Skelton.

Bobbye Weaver dances with band leader Lawrence Welk. For Christmas that year, Emmett gave her a set of Slingerland drums. She taught herself how to play and later took gigs in Birmingham at Parliament House, The Club, the Luau, Downtown Club and the Elegant. When Welk came to Birmingham to do a show in 1973, he engaged Bobbye to play in the “Dixieland jazz” segment. Subsequently, the famed band leader made Bobbye an offer: Bobbye would have a six-month training period, followed by a two-year road tour, after which she could become part of Welk’s “family” of entertainers. Though she gave it some thought, 40-year-old Bobbye declined because she knew she would have to get her teeth straightened. Plus, she just, plain and simple, preferred to stay in Alabama. For 10 years, she taught drums. She even wrote an instructional book, called Through the Back Door, to give her students shortcuts for learning technique. She also wrote and performed two one-woman shows, called Four in One and Raccoon Ridge (a comedy about Minnie Pearl’s cousin). In Four in One, Bobbye appeared as Ethel Merman, Carol Channing, Marlene Dietrich and Sophie Tucker. Bobbye toured with those shows eight years. In 2008, Emmett was diagnosed with a chronic condition, and Bobbye left performing to care for him. He died in 2014. “He was fun up to the end,” Bobbye said of her husband. In September, Virginia Samford Theatre recognized the couple’s contribution to local theatre, particularly Bobbye’s sponsorship of the recent production of Hello, Dolly!.

Bobbye Weaver’s collection contains many, many souvenir shirts from premiers. Now at 87, Bobbye still heats up her Slingerland drums and is writing two books. One of the books is for children and is about dealing with bullies and challenges in life. “She’s done so much in life,” Beth said of Bobbye, adding that Bobbye and Emmett were well matched as a couple. “They made the most of life and enjoyed everything they did. They were great partners.” l Editor’s Note: Margaret Vaughan, Jo Ann Winnette, Beth Geno, Dr. Patrick and S andy Bernardi assisted with this article.

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • December 2018 & January 2019

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Traveling the

BACKROADS

Mt. Zion Baptist Church Two churches, a single purpose

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair â&#x20AC;¢ December 2018 & January 2019

Story by Joe Whitten Photos by Michael Callahan Submitted photos Mt. Zion Baptist Church, a church started by freed slaves in Springville, exists today because in 1816 a North Carolina minister grew discouraged in the ministry and resolved to abandon preaching. Leaving preaching and North Carolina behind, Rev. Sion Blythe moved his family to what would become St. Clair County, Alabama, and settled along Canoe Creek. Published writings referred to Blythe as “the reluctant preacher.” Born in Tennessee in 1781 and ordained as a minister in North Carolina, Blythe organized and pastored churches in Buncombe County, North Carolina. When Blythe and family left North Carolina and headed west, he instructed his wife to tell no one that he had preached. No written record states exactly why he had become so disheartened; however, his friend and Alabama Baptist historian, Hossa Holcombe, hinted that the problem was a theological difference with North Carolina pastors concerning man’s free will. But Pastor Blythe’s free will choice to stop preaching was over-willed by his integrity when in late 1816 or early 1817, a woman in the area where he had settled asked him point blank if he were not a minister of the Gospel. Blythe wouldn’t lie to her, and when he admitted that he had preached, Holcomb records, “The old lady leaped, and shouted, and praised God that she had found a preacher in the wilderness.” At her urging, Blythe agreed to organize a congregation, and on March 22, 1817, in the settlement called Big Springs, a Baptist church was established and named Mt. Zion. The name referencing verse in Hebrews 12:22, “Ye are come into Mount Zion and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem ...” and reminding them of their goal, Heaven, the city of God. Until the end of the Civil War, both slave and master worshiped together — but separate — at Mt. Zion, for as Margaret Windham records in her History of Springville the “… slaves had seats in the rear of the church building and, like their masters, were members of the church.” One wonders about the names of those slave members, but we have scant information. The oldest minutes of Mt. Zion fell victim to fire when the home where they were kept burned. Because Martha Terry Roberts had copied portions of the old minutes that mention slave names, we have some, as quoted here: • April Term, 1821—Received Brother James, a black man, by letter. • May Term, 1823—Received by experience, Littie, a black woman, and Lisha More and also Pike. • August Term, 1823—Received by experience, Sook, a black woman. • June Term, 1831—A charge against Fanny, a black sister, for having two living husbands. Case taken up and Fanny restored to her seat as usual. • October, 1844—Sister Jane, Nancy, Elizabeth, and Margaret (blacks) dismissed by letter. • September, 1854—James Thomason called for a letter of dismissal, and for four of his blacks: Alfred, Clark, Doctor, and Reny. Granted. Sister Fanny’s case in June, 1831, is of special interest. This

Pastor Larry Adams writer became acquainted with slave wedding vows several years ago when touring Rose Hill Mansion near Hilton Head, South Carolina. The guide, a descendant of the builder of Rose Hill, told that slave wedding vows had these words, “Till death or distance do us part”—meaning that if one partner in the marriage were sold, the wedding vows were dissolved. Ordained ministers rarely performed slave weddings, which were never legally binding, and he couldn’t have them say “Till death do us part,” due to their circumstances. Usually a slave couple wanting to marry might have a ceremony in the slave quarters, but most often, the couple would simply “Jump over the broom,” and they were married. An online article published by the Caswell County, North Carolina, Historical Society discusses the jumping over the broom and also white ministers’ use of “Till death or distance do us part” in Antebellum slave weddings. The fact that in the same June meeting Fanny was restored to her seat in the church fellowship makes this writer believe that this was Sister Fanny’s reason for having two living husbands and the church sympathized with her. The expression “received by experience” means the candidate for membership had recently come to an experience of salvation. To be dismissed by letter means to be dismissed in good standing to another church. From those minutes we learn the first names of several slaves and the name of one of the slave owners, James Thomason. Although it is meager, these nuggets of information can assist slave descendants in genealogical research. Changing times In time, some stout-hearted people of the United States began to take note of the injustice of slavery, and a distant rumble began to arise, like far-away thunder forewarning an approaching storm. The rumble grew until in 1861, it roared into a storm of civil war, which by 1865 had wreaked ruin on much of the nation and unshackled slaves and set them free. But being declared free and grasping the reality of freedom are two concepts not comprehended quickly. Former slaves,

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • December 2018 & January 2019

Traveling the

BACKROADS

now free to congregate and worship together, continued to meet with Mt. Zion until 1868. According to oral history, in 1868 the freed slaves of Springville began meeting on their own to worship God. No written record seems to exist for this group of believers prior to 1883, the year they joined Wills Creek Baptist Association in Etowah County. For white Mt. Zion, the war years took its toll on church membership through battlefield casualties and through the emancipation of slaves. Mrs. Windom records that by 1870 the membership of Mt. Zion had dwindled to 70. That congregation decided to construct a more modern sanctuary that might encourage more people to worship with them. They began meeting in the new building in 1871. In that same year, Mt. Zion changed its name to Springville Baptist. With a new building, it probably seemed to them a good idea to identify the church with Springville. Oral history doesn’t record just when the freed slaves began calling their group Mt. Zion. However, in their History of Springville, Alabama, Donna Cole and Virginia Taylor wrote, “After the war, the Black congregation left to form their own church and they kept the original Mt. Zion name.” It’s possible that two Mt. Zion Baptist Churches existed for a while in Springville. The name became official in 1883. The Tenth Annual Session of the Wills Creek Baptist Association met at the

Ashville Mt. Zion Church in August 1883, and the minutes record: “Received Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Springville, on the AGSRR [Alabama Great Southern Rail Road], as a newly constituted church — delegates, Elder L.C. Thornton, R. Pruet. Sent for missions, 50 cents; minutes, $1.00.” Other Wills Creek Association minutes give more Mt. Zion facts: • 1888, meeting at the Cedar Bluff , R.H. Vogal, Pastor; Emma Galbreth, Clerk; and 71 members. • 1892, meeting at Mt. Zion, Ashville, J.H. Kerley, Pastor; J.H. Hudson, Clerk. • 1896, meeting at Lebanon Baptist, C.C. Curry, Pastor; F. Thaxton, Clerk, and 45 members. • 1897, meeting at Mt. Zion, Springville, C.C. Curry, Pastor; L. Byers, Clerk; 53 members. Building a church The first church building was constructed on the same property where the Mt. Zion church stands today. We don’t know the date of that construction, but the minutes of 1896 report the value of Mt. Zion’s church property as $1,000. That value in 1896 probably included a building. Deacon Mitchell Hammonds recalled the church building, for he attended there as he grew up. “The church, when I was born, was a wooden building. It had two bell towers. It had a bell in one. It had two front doors and had three rows of pews.

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • December 2018 & January 2019

Traveling the

BACKROADS

Allison recreates church through art

Springville artist Clay Allison produced a painting of the original church sanctuary by working with Mt. Zion deacon Mitchell Hammonds who drew a sketch of the church as he remembered it. Thank you, Clay, for this beautiful work that brings the story and history of this church to life. 24

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair â&#x20AC;˘ December 2018 & January 2019

UAB NEUROLOGICAL CARE NEAR YOU That old building had, of course, the big pot-belly heater.” That church was taken down and replaced with the present structure around 1976. On sun-lit days, light streaming through the “Life of Christ” stained-glass windows bejewels the sanctuary. The vintage stained-glass cross window gracing the front of the church was donated to Mt. Zion by First Baptist Church of Springville. Estell Long, who was born in 1936 and grew up in the church, fondly remembers the bell ringing. “You had a rope up there. ... Will Woods would go early Sunday morning and pull the rope and the bell would tone.” She recalled that during revivals the seats at the front of the church were reserved for those who wanted to be baptized and join the church. At the end of the week, the church would have a baptism at Lee Laster’s Creek. Mitchell Hammonds recalled that he was baptized in the Cahaba in Trussville. Later, the church was able to build an outside baptistry on site. Mrs. Long reminisced about the singing in the church. “They had people in the choir, and they sang the old-fashioned songs. Mattie Kelly was the pianist. She would play the piano, and they would sing. When she finished, she would always shout. She was one of the shouting sisters in church.” Another pianist was Mattie Jo Williams Herring. Some of the choir members Mrs. Long remembered are Sarah Frances Newsome, Velma Eleanor Newsome, Casey Lewis, Elizabeth Shepherd, Ruth Pulliam, Katherine Newsome, Margaret Hammonds Woods, Leola Pulliam Herring, Josephine Pulliam Herring and Nellie Mae Newsome Boyd. Nellie Mae Newsome Boyd also served as a missionary to other churches in the surrounding area — Attalla, Ashville and Branchville. She would take reports from church to church so they could know the work of sister churches in the region. On these visits, she could share needs from the churches in her circle of ministry. The young people of the church weren’t neglected. In the 1940s and 50s, Mary Bradford instructed the youths of Mt. Zion in the Baptist Young People’s Union – BYPU. Part of her teaching was having them memorize different Scripture passages, such as the Twenty-third Psalm. She assigned the passage at one meeting, and at the next meeting she expected

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Traveling the

BACKROADS each one to quote the passage from memory. Miss Bradford made sure each had memorized the Scripture. Harvey Lovell Newsome served as Sunday School Superintendent in the 1940s and 1950s, and after Mr. Newsome, Sammy Kelly served as Superintendent. Mrs. Long and Mr. Hammonds recalled the following men who served Mt. Zion as deacons: Sammy Kelly, Henry Beaman, Brook Toles, Bob Woody, Milton Herring and Willie LaShore. Present day Mt. Zion At present, active deacons are Mitchell Hammond, Henry Wright and Willie Jones Sr. These deacons minister to the church and community. One way is the Brotherhood Breakfast that meets on the first Saturday of each month. This interracial meeting begins with fellowship and breakfast. Henry Wright is credited with organizing this monthly event, with the purpose of encouraging each other in Christian faith, the preferred devotional topic for each speaker is “Why are you a Christian and what is in it for you?” Yearly events at Mt. Zion include the National Day of Prayer, summer revivals and Youth Month in June, which includes a youth revival. Each February, the young people learn of African-American history on Wednesday nights. A favorite summer event has been the church trip to Lake Winnepesaukah in Chattanooga for a day of fun and relaxation. Pastoring Mt. Zion Mt. Zion has an incomplete list of former pastors. A careful research of the Wills Creek Baptist Association’s minutes could perhaps furnish a complete listing. Nineteenth Century pastors include L.C. Thornton, 1883; R.H. Vogal, 1888; J.H. Kerley, 1892; and G.W. Burton, 1896-1897. The church also has names of 15 pastors since 1901. Pastors since1937 include W.R. Simpson; T.C. Williams; I.H. Henderson; Joseph Jackson; and currently, Larry Adams. Adams has pastored Mt. Zion since 2011. During his seven years shepherding the flock, he has seen spiritual growth in his congregation. His preaching emphasis is the whole Word of God, preaching it in context. He recently said, “We don’t skip anything. Even in our Bible study, we go verse by verse.” Pastor Adams, a bi-vocational pastor, is sometimes out for a Wednesday evening Bible study. Therefore, he makes sure he and the one teaching for him are together. “Right now,” he said, “we’re studying the book of Hebrews on Wednesday night. And if some of my other ministers are doing the teaching, I give them an outline of what we’re teaching, and we follow that outline. We have everybody together. They ask questions, and I get excited about teaching the Bible. And I say, ‘We’re gonna teach the whole Bible,’ and I have.” Pastor Adams gets enthusiastic telling about the church and its ministries. The Children’s Church involves a wide range of ages — first-grade through 12th. The older group mentors the younger ones as a part of the Youth Ministry. The church’s music ministry consists of Men’s Choir, Women’s Choir and Youth Choir. The Mass Choir combines the Men’s Choir and the Women’s Choir together for a service. The organ, keyboard and drums accompany the singing.

Mt. Zion Baptist Church building

Pulpit from original Mt. Zion church building

Former Springville Colored Elementary School now owned and used by Mt. Zion Baptist

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • December 2018 & January 2019

History within history A current need for the church is a larger building with classrooms and a fellowship hall. The congregation has discussed this need and is working toward the goal. One discussion point is whether to build where the church now stands or to build on the church-owned lot diagonally across the street from the present structure. Mt. Zion purchased the 1920s-era Springville Colored Elementary School building from the St. Clair County Board of Education after integration closed the school. They have renovated the building located next to the church and use it as their fellowship hall. Springville Colored Elementary School was a two-room, two-teacher school with grades one, two and three in one room, and grades four, five and six in the other. Mrs. Long remembered her teachers in the 1940s as being Miss Mary Reid the first three years, and Zora Quinn the last three years. Mr. Hammonds recalled names of other teachers: Pauline Hudson, Alberta Williams, Sarah McCray and Rosey Dial (Pauline Hudson’s sister). Students desiring high school education had to go to the Ashville Colored High School, which was later named Reuben Yancey High School. By the time Mrs. Long was in the seventh-grade, a bus transported students from Springville to Ashville. However, they were required to meet the bus at a store located near today’s Dollar General. The students living in the Flat Woods, or Jones Village, had to walk up to Highway 11 to meet the bus. Before the St. Clair County Board of Education provided transportation, the only African-American students who attended high school were those who could afford to ride the Greyhound Bus to and from Ashville. Mrs. Long said Claudie C. Woody and William Hammonds were the only two students who earned high school diplomas before transportaton was provided free to students. Mr. Hammonds recalls fondly his teachers and their instruction at Springville Colored Elementary School. “Our teachers always encouraged us to be the best that we could. They encouraged us to reach high and to hold high standards.” He quietly reflected a moment on integration, then, added that in the old school, the teachers “... tried to instill values in us. You know, be the best that you could be. They wouldn’t accept less.” So, the old 1920s school building serves an interracial church — a church outgrowing its current facilities and looking to the future. Pastor Adams is excited that Mt. Zion Baptist Church and First Baptist Church are doing things together. Pastor Chipley McQueen Thornton and Pastor Larry Adams became friends early on and have worked together in the community. The two churches have a combined service and fellowship meal once a year at First Baptist. This year, an additional Thanksgiving combined service is planned for November 25, with lunch to follow. Both congregations look forward to these joint services. The two pastors are together on missions. Pastor Thornton has twice taught theology to local pastors in Africa. In February 2019, the African pastors will meet in Paris, France, and Thornton has asked Pastor Adams to go with him to do some of the teaching. Pastor Adams recently said, “Pastor Chip asked me, ‘You got your passport?’ And I said, ‘I got it! I’m ready!’ He and I are going over what we’re going to teach to be sure we’re on the same page. Chip is a tremendous teacher.” When asked for a comment about Pastor Adams, Pastor

Window donated by First Baptist Church

Bell from original church bell tower

Thornton replied, “I shook his hand and sensed I was in the presence of a genuinely spiritual man, a man of God. He carries that aura. After hearing him so eloquently expound the Scripture, I thought, ‘Ah! Here is another Apollos (Acts 18:24)! We must go train others to do the same.’ I eagerly invited him to go with me to teach pastors. He eagerly accepted, praise the Son! Now off to Paris we go, trusting in the good will of God to guide us, come what may.”

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • December 2018 & January 2019

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair â&#x20AC;¢ December 2018 & January 2019

Traveling the

BACKROADS

Deacon Mitchell Hammonds 30

Reaping rewards The work that Sion Blythe began in Big Springs, Alabama, in 1817, flourishes today in two churches. Blythe never dreamed that the one church would become two when slaves gained freedom. But in God’s timing, a church of freed slaves formed, and today both First Baptist Church Springville and Mt. Zion trace their history to March 22, 1817. Pastor Adams’ purpose for being a minister is to let people “know that God loves them and that Christ died for them.” And for his congregation, he desires they grow in understanding God’s Word as he shepherds them toward Zion, the City of God. Folks familiar with long-ago church songs can hardly think of the name Mt. Zion without thinking of lines from Isaac Watts’ 1707 hymn: We’re marching to Zion, Beautiful, beautiful Zion, We’re marching upward to Zion, The beautiful City of God. And if we listen closely, we may hear Sister Mattie Kelly’s shouts of “Glory! Hallelujah!” still echoing down the years. l

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • December 2018 & January 2019

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Got her goats

Rental ruminants help clear kudzu from Ashville farm Story by Carol Pappas Photos by Wallace Bromberg Jr. Cindy Massey took more than a casual look at the kudzu-covered cliffs that surrounded her Ashville farm and knew she had to put a stop to the invasion. Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia, describes the invading kudzu as climbing, coiling and trailing perennial vines introduced in America from Asia in the 19th Century. It’s even earned the infamous reputation as ‘the weed that ate the South.’ But never mind the lore behind it. All Massey knew was that it had to go. She had kept it under control for years through a treatment process. But when that process was skipped a couple of times, the vines enveloped the hillsides and rock formations – top to bottom – that form a natural, dramatic backdrop all around her expansive valley acreage. That is, when you can see them. She asked her landscape architect, Rodney Griffin at Gardens by Griffin, for advice, and his answer would set in motion a solution not seen all that much around these parts. “Why don’t you rent a goat?” It was no time for conventional means anymore, said Massey. So, she turned her attention to the internet and made a discovery that’s catching on around the country – renting goats – and lots of them. She found a company in Tennessee – Rent-ARuminant – that would bring a herd of goats to Alabama and let them do what goats do best. And on a warm, sunny day in August, kudzu started tumbling down like a row of dominos given a mighty thump. All across Massey’s 135 acres, one by one, members of the herd of 47 goats made their way up and down and all around the hillsides, craning their necks to reach their ‘gold.’ Some stood on hind legs to get an extra boost toward their target. They tracked, tromped and chomped on one hillside and then headed to the next course at Taylor’s direction. If one man’s trash is another’s treasure, the same holds true for goats. According to Rent-A-Ruminant owner Jax Taylor, kudzu is like the “golden corral” to them. She compared the bottom to broccoli, the

Goats do their thing

Cindy Massey with the shepherd of the herd, Maddie

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • December 2018 & January 2019

Got her goats

T-shirt logo

Jax Taylor and one of her prized goats next layer to a chocolate fountain and at the very top, they strike gold. As Maddie, an Anitolian Shepherd, Great Pyrennes mix herded the goats, keeping them inside temporary netting that encloses each section designated for their clearing prowess, Taylor talked of how her story began. Now a veteran, she was in Kuwait, about to be deployed to Iraq. A library in Los Angeles had donated out-of-date books to soldiers, and she picked up one on suburban homesteading. For the next 15 months, she would read that book over and over again and became “intrigued” with the concept of self-sufficiency and homesteading. She decided when she returned home, she would buy a goat. And that she did. Her first was a Nigerian Dwarf, Becka, and you might say that goat cleared the path forward for her in more ways than one. After a second tour, this time in Afghanistan, she decided that when her Army career ended, her next career would involve goats. She had already started her farm and had moved to standard sized goats. Her herd has grown sizably since then, and so has the territory for Rent a Ruminant, a franchise company begun in 2004 in Washington State. Besides Taylor’s franchise in Tennessee, there are others in Louisiana and Texas. This was Taylor’s first time to herd in Alabama, and she settled into a loft apartment above the barn

Posing for the camera

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • December 2018 & January 2019

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Got her goats

Massey’s horse makes a new friend.

Craning to reach next meal 36

on Massey’s land for the two and half weeks she was there with the herd. She and her goat caravan have traveled to parts of Tennessee, Georgia and Kentucky clearing property and taking care of the environment. “We try to run the business like animal lovers would run the business,” she said, noting that most are rescues. She calls them by name if they venture where they’re not supposed to go as if they are wandering toddlers. There are three generations out there, she said, proudly pointing to each. Becka is the matriarch. Fiddle is her first kid, and Banjo is Fiddle’s first kid. How do they get their names? “Sometimes, they just come to us. Pineapple is “off the wall.” Morgan is named after a niece. Sir Richard? He’s their “problem child.” He jumps the fence. “They do something that gives them a name,” she explained. Taylor likens their approach to clearing the kudzu to the atmosphere of a Jurassic Park – “like dinosaurs attacking.” And when they were done, Massey’s property was cleaner that it had been in years. By the end of their stay and multiple work days, Massey was calling the goats by name, too. “I saw firsthand that running a goat rental business is not for the faint of heart,” Massey said. “Some of our terrain is quite steep and while it was no problem for the goats, Jax and her husband, Mathhew, had to clear brush and install fencing to contain them. “I love the fact that they demolished a lot of kudzu, and no chemicals were used. I try to be mindful of the wonderfully diverse ecosystem we enjoy here. The goats neutralize seeds in their gut rather than broadcasing them as with a machete or Weedeater.” She noted that the goats were extremely efficient and worked quickly, returning her property to the picturesque landscape she first fell in love with. “The goats and the Taylors were a delight,” she said. “I missed the sounds of tinkling goat bells and ‘baaaaah’ after they left.” l

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THE BEST OF ST. CLAIR

2018

In August, Discover asked readers to choose their favorites in a wide variety of categories. In October, they picked the winners in our first ever Discover the Best of St. Clair Awards. We’ll be back next year in August, asking who will get the most votes in 2019! Stay tuned. For now, meet the faces and places behind the Best of St. Clair Awards for 2018: Best Hamburger, Best French Fries, Best Breakfast – Jack’s Pell City

Moody Maria Sanchez, Assistant Manager

Melissa Barnes, general mgr., Danna Davis, area supervisor Odenville

Ashville

Sheila Gray, General Manager 38

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • December 2018 & January 2019

Kristin Payne and Angelica Leal

Best Hamburger, Best French Fries, Best Breakfast – Jack’s Springville

Best Coffee – Canoe Creek Coffee Ashville

Suzanne Brock

Sam Bailey, Sarah Jane Bailey and Mike Bailey Best Mexican Restaurant – Mi Casita Odenville

Best Catfish – The Ark Riverside

Arturo Flores and Paul Flores

Kelly Voss, Eula Murphy, Shirley Abts, owner, Kyle Westermeyer and Crystal Layton Best Barbecue – Good Ole Boys BBQ Pell City

Best Fast Food – Chik-fil-A Leeds, Pell City

Samantha Gamel, manager Jacob Phillips

Owner Brian Jennings

Best Lunch Spot – Love’s Travel Stop Steele

Best Cake – Edible Memories Steele Lorraine Smith

Emily Grier, IMC; Joe Mesa, manager; (Back) Ashley Cook, manager, Angela Jose, Operations manager, Jordan Williams, BLSST manager.

Best Lunch Spot – Love’s Travel Stop Moody

Best Ribs – Butts to Go Pell City

Shawana Williams, Shift Leader; April Marcus, Fresh Food Coordinator; Alison Haynes, Team Trainer; Broderick Lane, General Manager;

Best Onion Rings, Best Meat ’N Three, Best Pie – Pell City Steakhouse Pell City

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Best Asian Food – Oishi Pell City

Peggy Robinson, Gina Rice, Shirley Posey and Joe Wheeler, owner

Rita Shi

Best Country Cooking – Triple T’s Pell City

Best Wings – Big Deddy’s Coal City

Ebony Forman; Anita Johnston; Stacy Jones; Peggy Tollison, Kitchen Manager; Johnny and Angie Thomas, owners

Roderick Beavers, owner Best Buffet – City Market Pell City

Best Dinner Spot – Louie’s Grill Cropwell Brenda Hamby, owner

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DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • December 2018 & January 2019

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Best Sandwiches – Toast Pell City

Best Doctor – Rock Helms, Northside Medical Associates Pell City Dr. Rock Helms Marka Chastain and Russell Howard

Best Salads, Best Caterer – Zaxby’s Springville Jim Debeoard, General Manager

Best Dentist – Tie, Dr. David Sawyer and Dr. Bob DeShazer Pell City Dr. Bob DeShazer

Pell City Dr. David Sawyer Amber Kirkland, General Mgr., Tiffany Shrader first Assistant Moody Best Pediatrician – Tie, Purohit Pediatric Clinic and Springville Pediatrics Moody

John Dare, general manager Celia Killough; Amanda Hall, CRNP BCLC; Kara Fuller; Marci Balas MD; Chelsea Coates 42

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • December 2018 & January 2019

Best Pediatrician – Tie, Purohit Pediatrics and Springville Pediatrics Springville

Molly Shelton, CPNP Monica Chadwick, CPNP David Griffin, MD

Best Orthodontist – Rape & Brooks Odenville

Haleigh Haynes and Kaitlin LaForge; (Back) Amanda Lowe, Tania Eddlemon, Rachel Gehri, Brooke Hyde, Venni Shirley, Dr. T. Michael Brooks and Shelby Bonner; Not pictured: Dr. Greg Rape

Best Massage Therapist – Sozo, Amy Kay Pell City Sozo, Amy Kay

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Best Vehicle Repair – Right Price Automotive Steele

Best Insurance Company – ALFA Ashville Geoff Carroll, Agent, Carrie Thompson

B.J. Price, owner Best Lawyer – Charlie Robinson Jr. Ashville

Springville Agent Chris Peoples & CSR LaVone Minton

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Best Insurance Company – ALFA Pell City

Best Realty Company, Best Realtor – Lake Homes Realty, Nicole Anderson Pell City

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Michael Wright, Senior Claims Adjuster; Bridgette Gilchrist; Brooke Tollison, Agent; Leslie Layton; and Jim Wilson, Agent Moody

Paul Perry and Holly Vines

Best Mortgage Company – People’s Independent Bank Steele

Selena Boley, Shirley Mulkey and Charleen Lemons Caswell Not pictured, Lauren Smith

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Best Boat Repair – Rodney’s Marine and Wood’s Surfside Marine Pell City

Best Credit Union – Coosa Pines Pell City Ashley Minton, manager

Rodney’s team: Cody Brown Tyler Humphries Rodney Humphries Dylan Sanford Dog-Logan

Best Bank – Metro Bank Pell City, Ashville, Moody, Ragland

Best Interior Designer – Gerald Ensley Jr., Southern Manor Pell City

Jason Dorough, president

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Best Automobile Dealership – Town & Country Ford Pell City

Best Upholsterer – Echols Upholstery Ragland

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Best Boat Sales Executive – Mark Hildebrandt, Best Boat Dealership, Best Boat Repair Wood’s Surfside Marine Cropwell Mark Hildebrandt

Sherry Echols, owner Best Clothes Store/Boutique – Hattie Lee’s Cropwell Jo Ann Bain, owner

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Best Grocery Store/Market – Publix Pell City

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Best Gift Shop – Magnolia’s Cropwell

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Best Jeweler – Griffin’s Jewelers Pell City

Tiffany Lewis, Asst Store Manager Best Historic Site – John Looney Pioneer House Ashville

Michael Abernathy, Stephanie Smith, Jordyn Barnett, Zack Stadler

Best Nonprofit Group – Moody Miracle League Moody Dylan Sebastian, Mitchell McKinney and Dylan Bromley

Best Place to Kayak/Canoe – Yak the Creek Ashville

Best Civic Club – Pell City Rotary Club Pell City

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Matthew Pope, president

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • December 2018 & January 2019

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Best Church Group – Chapel in the Pines Pell City

Best Photographer – Melissa McClain Pell City

Byron Vance, Senior Pastor

Best Professional Group – Pell City Chamber of Commerce Pell City

Melissa McClain

Best Woodworker – David Foote Pell City

Courtney Hobson, executive director

Best Library – Pell City Library Pell City

David Foote

Best Potter, Earthborn Pottery Leeds Tena Payne Owner

Kelly Cardenas, Jordan Rawson, Linda Finamore, Asst. Director Susan Mann, Director Danny Stewart Best Artist – Tie, Wayne Spradley and Buddy Spradley Pell City

Best Park, Best Picnic Area – Lakeside Park Kids Kastle at Lakeside Park

Wayne Spradley and Buddy Spradley 50

Best Splash Pad – Pell City Splash Pad

Best Skiiing, Best Wakeboarding, Best Wakesurfing, Best Personal Watercraft Riding, Best Boating, Best Fishing – Logan Martin Lake

Best Farm – Legacy Farms Springville

Best Scenic Spot – Camp Sumatanga Gallant

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • December 2018 & January 2019

Christmas A UNIQUELY ST. CLAIR

From gifts to traditions, it’s a great time to Discover how our county celebrates the holiday season

DISCOVER Christmas Special • 2018

A labor of love Couple’s Village Collection brings joy to generations

Story by Scottie Vickery Photos by Susan Wall Betty Farrar loves spending Christmas evenings in a quiet snow-covered village. There’s just something about the way the light twinkles on the freshly-fallen snow that draws her in and makes her want to stay awhile. While temperatures at her Pell City home average in the mid- to upper-50s in December, she can always be transported to her cozy village without ever leaving the house. All she has to do is step into her living room. Or the family room. Or the sunroom or basement. Farrar and her husband, Richard, are avid collectors of Department 56 Christmas villages, and each year they transform their home into a winter wonderland. There are ceramic houses, churches with stained glass windows, art stores, law offices, bake shops and ice cream parlors. There’s a library, post office, police station and laundromat. And there are scenes with children

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building snowmen, skaters on a frozen pond, and families driving home with snow-covered evergreens on top of the cars. “I just love it,” Mrs. Farrar said. “Christmas has always been my favorite time of the year, even when I was growing up. I bought my first piece in the early ’80s, and it’s been Christmas with villages ever since. We’ve added to it every year.” The collection has brought joy to four generations, including their two children, four grandchildren and a great-grandchild. “When my grandchildren were little, they used to make up stories and say, ‘I live here, and I go to school there’ and point to all the different places,” Mrs. Farrar said. “Their friends would come over, and they would tell them, ‘You can only look, you can’t touch.’” Mrs. Farrar estimates they have about 250 miniature lighted buildings, all with amazing architectural details. The collection also includes what is likely thousands of accessories, including trees, sidewalks, people, cars, Santas, sleds and light posts. “I think they’re up to 654,888 pieces,” daughter Kathy Cornelius said with a laugh. “I’ve walked into Christmas shops and thought, ‘This doesn’t hold a candle to what Mama and Daddy have.’ They pretty much have more than some stores do.” They’re not alone. Department 56 offers more than a dozen different villages, including the Original Snow Village, Dickens Village and the North Pole series, all of which the Farrars collect. Other offerings include an Alpine Village, Disney Village, Grinch Village, and even a Margaritaville Village. Each comes with its own accessories, and new pieces are introduced each year.

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It all started nearly 40 years ago. According to the Department 56 website, a group of friends were headed to dinner at a quaint country inn in a small river town in Maine. Rounding a bend in the road, they saw the old-fashioned village decorated for the holidays and marveled at how the lights sparkled on the snow. Over dinner, they shared stories of Christmases past the image brought to mind. Edward Bazinet, who designed and manufactured giftware items, was among the group, and the idea for the villages was born. His start-up became Department 56, and in 1979 he debuted the first six lighted buildings in the Original Snow Village collection. As the company grew, more designers came on board and additional collections were born. The villages have such a following that there is a National Council of 56 Clubs, the umbrella organization for about 80 collector clubs in 10 regions across the United States and Canada. The clubs include the Department 56 Housing Authority that meets in Vestavia Hills, the T-Town Collectors in Tuscaloosa and Village Addicts Anonymous in California. For the Farrars, though, it’s all about sharing the joy of Christmas. Each year, they host open houses and invite friends and neighbors over to enjoy the villages. The entire family gathers together one weekend during the holidays, and no one has missed a year even though several grandchildren have moved out of state. “It’s a blessing to all of us,” Cornelius said. “They are such giving people, and they just want to share everything they have with everyone.” Their collection has grown so that Farrar built a room in the basement to house it during the off-season. He also built a multi-level display frame that covers three sides of the sunroom. Each level is covered with a white cloth to represent the snow, and a green drape falls to the floor and covers the empty boxes stored below. “We’ve got it down pat now,” Mrs. Farrar said. “Each part of the frame is numbered, and even the pieces of cotton cloth are labeled. It makes it real easy to get back up.” It’s still an undertaking, however. The past few years, family members have helped carry the many boxes upstairs, but the Farrars are the ones who set up the displays. The process takes

Richard and Betty Farrar

a month or more and is usually complete around Thanksgiving. “I leave it up through the last week of January or the first week of February,” Mrs. Farrar said. “People ask why I don’t leave it up all year, but it collects too much dust. I dust everything before I put it up so it will be clean for the next year.” Although Mrs. Farrar has loved adding to the collection and visiting Christmas shops whenever they travel, she doesn’t think it will grow much more. She hasn’t bought a new building in a few years, although she has added a few accessories. “This may be the last year it goes up like this, although we said that last year,” she said with a smile. Cornelius doesn’t see the beloved tradition ending anytime soon. She said she and her brother, Rick, and their families will make sure it continues. “When they can’t do it anymore, we’ll do it for them,” she said. “It wouldn’t be Christmas without it.” Mrs. Farrar agrees. “It’s a lot of work, but I guess you could call it a labor of love.”

DISCOVER Christmas Special • 2018

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DRY CREEK

FARMS

Christmas in the Country Story by Paul South Photos by Susan Wall This time of year, thousands of electric lights welcome visitors at Dry Creek Farms. Barns, fences, even a waving wire Santa behind the wheel of a wire tractor, pass on Yuletide greetings with a gentle glow that grows brighter as darkness falls. It’s all part of the joy the St. John family has shared now for three years on their working cattle farm, where even at Christmas, white-faced Hereford cattle trump red-nosed reindeer. On the

weekend of Dec. 7-9, Dry Creek will host its third annual “Christmas on the Farm,” a gift to the people of Pell City and surrounding areas. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on hand to meet the children and hear who’s been naughty or nice, as well as Christmas wishes. Gallons of hot chocolate and plates full of goodies will be served. And farm animals – a bottle-fed calf, bunnies, chickens and a horse – will give children a taste of life on the farm. Photos with Santa are available for $10 each. And kids will also be able to write and send letters to Santa at a small post office in the barn. But for Joyce St. John, paternal grandmother of

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this farm family, the lights, tinsel, trees and Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus who come to Dry Creek, dim in comparison to the lights gleaming in the eyes of children and in the Christmas story she loves to share. Dressed in red velvet as Mrs. Kris Kringle, Mrs. St. John reads Clement Moore’s classic, ’Twas the Night Before Christmas. But her true joy – and to her and many others “the reason for the season” – the telling of the birth of Jesus, born in a Bethlehem barn more than 2,000 years ago. For Joyce, the event is more Nativity than North Pole. “A lot of children who don’t get to experience the things of the manger and all because they’re not involved in church, this is a way of being a witness to them that Christmas is not about Santa Claus, it’s about the birth of Jesus,” Mrs. St. John says. “You’d be surprised at how many children will start asking questions once I start telling the story of Jesus and how He was born in a stable and His bed was a trough that the cattle ate out of. They start asking questions and then you can start sharing about Jesus, and they’re so surprised. Then you have children who can tell you the story of Jesus, and it’s amazing how excited they get being able to tell you stuff about Jesus.” Grandson Carter St. John runs the day-to-day operation at Dry Creek, which along with raising and selling show cattle, serves as a popular celebration venue. He hopes the event will spark an interest in a generation of kids more familiar with Fortnite than farming. The St. John show cattle compete in events statewide and around and across the country in fairs and other agricultural events. “We want (youngsters) to come in here and actually get to know livestock,” Carter says. “That’s how we were raised, and we want other people to see that . . . Maybe it will help their future, maybe they’ll love livestock and not do bad things on the street and make this a hobby for them, loving animals. It kept me out of trouble because it kept me busy.” He added, “It gives them different options, because they didn’t know farming was out there . . . It’s just like playing baseball or football. It’s a hobby for them. We want more kids involved in farming.” Six stalls offer different activities for children and their parents. Refreshments, the letters to Santa, spots to visit Santa and his bride and more. At big box retailers, holiday festivities may be best remembered for long lines and long waits. But at Dry Creek, it’s joyous “organized chaos,” Joyce St. John says with a laugh. Some kids steer classic, pedal-powered metal toy tractors. Others run to Santa. Still others cuddle furry baby bunnies or pet pigs. Sometimes the barn is as quiet as a Christmas Eve mouse, but more often it’s a blizzard of activity. About 150 kids, with parents in tow, flocked to last year’s event. “Sometimes the barn would be full,” she says. “Sometimes there would be little breaks, but it seemed like someone was in there all the time.” Joyce St. John has a gentle, welcoming voice that overflows with kindness. The kindness remains when she takes on the role of Mrs. Claus. But, she says, her personality changes when she dons the red velvet dress and hat. “I just love how excited the children get to sit in Mrs. Santa’s lap. I also do the story, ’Twas the Night Before Christmas, and so many of them have heard the story about Santa. You do kind of change your character. My character changes while telling

DISCOVER Christmas Special • 2018

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the story of Jesus’ birth compared to ’Twas the Night Before Christmas. She senses a transformation when she tells the story of the baby born in the Bethlehem barn. Her already happy heart overflows with joy while telling the Gospel story. Sometimes, she says, children return to hear the story again and again and again. “Telling the story of Jesus, it puts you almost like you’re almost there in the barn witnessing it and being a part of it. I get excited talking about Jesus. There’s a big difference talking about Santa Claus and talking about Jesus.” The St. Johns string lights, hang tinsel and decorate trees weeks before the Dec. 7-9 event. But for Joyce St. John, only one beacon matters – the Light of the World. She sees Christmas at the Farm as “a ministry,” countering the commercialization of Christmas. “Several children . . . just to see their eyes light up when you told them the story about Jesus, especially those who really didn’t know about Him.” You knew that this may be the only time during the year that anything is really said about Jesus. Doing this Christmas on the farm . . . It’s about the true meaning of Christmas. If it touches one person’s life, and they come to know Jesus, it will have been worth it.” For more information about Dry Creek Farms, visit www.drycreekfarmscattle.com.

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Want the perfect gift? You can find it in St. Clair County

Story by Jackie Romine Walburn For Christmas 2018, shopping locally can guide gift buyers to unique gifts, handmade and homemade items, rare collectables, trendy fashions and friendly, no hassle service. A survey of local retailers’ top gift items for Christmas 2018 reveals an abundant selection of practical and charming gifts – often with free gift wrapping, too – available just down the street and around the corner. At Alabama Mailbox in Ashville, shoppers will find much more than personal, business and custom mailboxes. Owner Marty Crews says the business expanded its retail offerings when it located in downtown. Christmas shoppers will find home and garden items, Neely Henry LakeLife items, homemade soap, other local handmade items including handprinted greeting cards. Unique to the new retail area at Alabama Mailbox are the collection of 500 nutcrackers, including vintage pieces not available elsewhere and Hallmark ornaments and plates from the 1970s and 1980s, Crews says. The Hallmark pieces – purchased at an estate sale – are often bought by customers to match the gift recipient’s birth year. Alabama Mailbox, which Crews calls a one-stop-shop for

unusual things, also has friendly exotic pets, including bearded dragons. Located behind the courthouse in downtown Ashville, its new location is a joy for owner Crews, a former city councilman and former owner of Big Boy’s Barbecue, who says he’s delighted to see businesses filling up the downtown square area. At Argo Pharmacy and Gifts, shoppers can find Christmas decorating items, unique gifts and free gift wrapping, says gift shop manager Karen Ross. The full-service pharmacy and gift shop at 247 U.S. Highway 11 has Christmas ornaments, glitter lamps, home décor pillows, door hangers, garden flags and metal signs. Lighted cardinal globes have been big sellers for the holidays as a remembrance for loved ones. Candle lines include Tyler, Swan Creek and Illume. Gift items that can be personalized include Mud Pie dishes and pottery and monogrammed tea towels. The extensive jewelry selection includes Jane Marie jewelry. During Christmas time at Argo Power Equipment on U.S. 11, Big Green Egg smokers and lawn and garden accessories are gift options for grillers and gardeners, says manager Anthony Dickey. Larger ticket items – like Stihl chain saws and trimmers or one of the brand name mowers or other power equipment – are practical holiday purchases, too. And, any

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Christmas A UNIQUELY ST. CLAIR

grown up kid would be thrilled to find a Cub Cadet Challenger UTV model, popular off-road utility vehicles that ride two or four, parked under the Christmas tree. At Carter’s Country Store in Ashville, gift shoppers can find goat milk soap and creams, scented candles, jewelry and handmade items from local artists and craftspeople, says Lisa Lyles of the family-owned store at 41188 U.S. Highway 411. In home décor, Carter’s has throws, many items from the Park Hill Collection, plus home and garden flags and mailbox covers. They also carry Wind and Willow dips, soup and cheese ball mixes, plus jams, jellies and a variety of other canned goods. At Hattie Lee’s Boutique in Pell City, shoppers find women’s clothing, sizes small to 3X, plus shoes, handbags and jewelry, says owner Jo Ann Bain. Popular clothing looks and gifts for women for Christmas 2018 include layering items, graphic tees with cardigans or jackets, plus velvet jackets and tops and suede items. Hattie Lee’s has Artwear handmade jewelry and Erimish stackable bracelets. Shoe lines include BedStu, Chocolat Blu and Brenda Zaro women’s shoes and boots. The boutique carries Dear John denim, too. Christmas decoration items for sale include the store’s Christmas décor – that won first place at the Christmas Village Festival this year. “I tell everybody that everything in the store is for sale, except my dogs,” says Bain. Gift wrapping is free at Hattie Lee’s, located at 2635 Martin Street in Pell City. Lucky’s Bait and Tackle in Pell City specializes in hunting and fishing gifts and other outdoor items, says Jessica Tate. She and husband Chad are new owners of Lucky’s, where shoppers can find fishing rods and reels, hunting gear, guns, tree stands and outdoor apparel, including rain gear. Located at 2806 Martin Street in Pell City, Lucky’s is convenient for Logan Martin anglers and serves hunters from across the area. For stocking stuffers, they carry fishing and hunting accessories, hats and a fine selection of fishing lures to find “that special lure your someone wants,” Tate says. At Magnolia’s Gifts in Pell City, shoppers will find a new look throughout the store for the holidays, with a natural botanical take on Christmas with greens, grays and pops of red, says manager Jordan Morton. Customers can buy garlands, wreaths and flags at Magnolia’s or custom order a garland or wreath. Other decorating items so popular they keep selling out are LED indoor, outdoor lights in a variety of lengths that

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and Gifts are conceal carry purses that come with a holster and locking zipper. CC Beanie toboggan and headbands are popular, and the CC Beanie faux fur backpacks have sold out twice and been reordered, Ross said. Other gift ideas include collegiate items, Nikibiki leggings and tanks, insulated lunch boxes, pretty throws plus tea pots and the For Tea’s Sake line of loose teas. There is also Moonshine jelly, Floyd’s Finest barbecue sauce and Savory Cracker Seasoning. At Martin’s Family Clothing store in Pell City, shoppers can find a full line of men’s and women’s clothing, plus collegiate wear and accessories for Alabama and Auburn and other local schools and colleges. Martin’s also carries the popular Aviate caps with abbreviated city names and Southern Marsh sweatshirts. Other in-demand items include Vera Bradley bags and Clark’s and Croc shoes. The Pell City store is the sixth Alabama store for the Alabama-based clothing chain.

Shops around St. Clair carry a wide variety of Christmas merchandise. are “virtually indestructible,” don’t tangle and are made to last about 10 years. As always, Magnolia’s offers complimentary gift wrapping for the huge variety of gift choices, women’s clothing, jewelry and hand bags, plus baby apparel and gifts and lake décor items. New for Christmas 2018 are Tyler Candles and a Tyler detergent that’s selling very well, plus a new Alabama-made candle called Peaceful Porch, which are 100 percent soy and hand-poured in Wedowee. It’s the second year for Magnolia’s to have Brighton jewelry and hand bags. Hobo bags remain ever popular, Morton says, as do Sorrelli jewelry items that have a lifetime warranty. At MainStreet Drugs in Pell City, Christmas shoppers can find handmade items, including toys, jewelry and pottery, says Sydney Gillian of the MainStreet gift shop. Popular items include Teleties, ponytail holders that can double as bracelets, and Rai Dunn Pottery. The full-service pharmacy and gift shop at 2219 Cogswell Avenue carries baby items, including WubbaNub pacifiers and blessing beads for nurseries. Gift wrapping is free and includes a bow making service by owner Jennifer Eddy. Bring in 10 yards of ribbon and she will help make a giant fancy bow for decorations or gifting. Margaret Pharmacy and Gifts in Odenville carries gift items including Trapp candles, Good Earth soaps, hand towels and inspirational gifts, among the large selection of special gift options, says co-owner Tracy Ross. Always popular are bath balms by Musee, including Christmas-themed balms that have a surprise inside each one. Christmas balms include a three-piece set called Peace, Love and Joy. Among the purses and wallet selection at Margaret Pharmacy

At Monkey Bizniss Boutique in Pell City, find gifts for babies, children, women and home, says manager Michelle Tumlin. For women, find clothes, shoes and jewelry. Featured items include Christmas apparel, waffle fabric tops for women and children and mineral-washed pants. Free gift wrapping comes with every purchase; so does the personal service. “We try to make Christmas shopping easy,” Tumlin says, who notes that Monkey Bizniss gift certificates are win-wins as gifts. New for Christmas 2018 is a 15 percent military discount for anyone who shows their military ID. The discount began Nov. 1 and is inspired in part by Tumlin’s son, a sergeant in the U.S. Army, and by meeting members of the military who shop at Monkey Bizniss. Open Monday through Saturday, Monkey Bizniss is located at 1916 Cogswell Avenue. A shop for handmade, unique gifts and fresh flowers, Mum and Me Mercantile in downtown Leeds, features art work in many forms – handmade jewelry, pottery, paintings, fabrics, purses and clothing, says owner Eva Rearden. The store at 8040 Parkway Drive also carries fresh flowers, flower arrangements and gift baskets. Specialty handmade items

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include bracelets and other jewelry, pottery, leather purses and wallets from artists in Alabama and throughout the South. Shopping local for Christmas, Rearden says, helps small businesses, the local tax base, artists and the local economy. Plus, at Mum and Me, shoppers receive personal attention, free gift wrapping and find distinctive items that they can see and feel – all things that are not possible with online shopping. At Old South Firearms and Trading Post in Argo, shoppers can find unique gifts, both vintage and new, says co-owner Lee Weyhrich. The store specializes in hard to find antique and replica guns, western clothing and reenactment clothing. Christmas staples, including BB guns, are available at the store, along with muzzle loader kits designed “so someone can build their own muzzle loader.” New items for 2018 include Civil War rifles and kits to build your own and leather men’s jackets priced at below wholesale. Other Old South gift ideas include vintage hats, leather possible bags designed for carrying a firearm, other leather goods, plus collectables, including comic books and antique and replica cowboy and military guns. A deep-cut engraving service is also offered at the family-owned business located in Argo, near exit 148, off I-59. The business also has an online store which mainly handles muzzle loaders and related goods. At River Rat in Pell City, shoppers can find outdoor items including made-in-Alabama cedar and cypress swings, bed swings and glider rockers and everything needed to set up an outdoor kitchen. But River Rat also has a wide variety of gift items from specialty foods to Logan Martin Lake t-shirts, says River Rat employee Brandy Ezell. Great options for Christmas gifts include unbreakable melamine dishes, Adirondack chairs in red, blue and teal, Hapersham candles and scents, metal signs and outdoor rugs, plus spices, sauces and flavored salts. Fun Dirty Santa gift options include Wine Bodies, metal wine holders fashioned to represent professions or hobbies. Shelton Pharmacy is a full-service pharmacy with a gift shop located at 37177 Highway 231 in Ashville. Gift shop options for Christmas shopping include handmade soaps, unique Tshirts, candles, jewelry and stockings full of stocking stuffers, says Rebecca McAnnally who works at the gift shop. Owned by pharmacist Chase Shelton and wife Ashley, the pharmacy and gift shop opened three years ago. At Teague Mercantile in Ashville, shoppers can find practical and fun gifts for Christmas, says Jenny Minton. Popular Christmas gifts from Teague’s include Case knives and other brands, tool sets and a variety of flashlights. “These flashlights make great stocking stuffers,” she notes. Teague Mercantile, located on 6th Avenue in downtown Ashville, also carries gardening and other outdoor tools, plus appliances and hardware. At UG Clothing Boutique located in historic downtown Pell City, shoppers can find women’s and children’s boutique style clothing, shoes and jewelry. Friendly personal service is standard at UG, also known as Uptown Girl Clothing Boutique, which recently celebrated its 19th anniversary in business, says owner Virginia Seales. Popular gifts for ladies at the boutique located at 1800 Cogswell Avenue, include State jewelry, cross bracelets and UG purses, plus fashions, including dresses and trendy tops, in misses and plus sizes. Loadable UG gift cards make great gifts for the ladies, too. At Warren Family Nursery in Moody, gift options include

You can find candles aplenty in local stores.

wood work, metal art and painted glass and a birding section with feeders, feeds and bird houses – in addition to the full line of nursery items, including Christmas trees and plants. The family-owned nursery and gift shop at 1009 Old Cedar Grove Road in Moody grows and sells plants to individuals, businesses and landscapers with seasonal specialties, including Christmas trees, plants, trees, bulbs and seeds. The gift shop’s special gift items include Corinthian Bells, crosses, wall plaques, door hangers, fairy gardens, moss-coated statues, Nature’s Garden Bells, ornamental garden stakes and hand-chiseled recycled steel oil drum sculptures. The LakeLife shop is a new addition to historic downtown Pell City at 1911 Cogswell Ave. Begun as a simple logo for a multimedia marketing firm, Partners By Design, it has grown into a brand. The LakeLife and LakeLife 24/7 logos are featured on Comfort Color long and short sleeve Tshirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, caps, visors, car tags, boat totes, boat and dock flags, UV performance shirts and coolers. Co-owner Carol Pappas says the brand can be customized for any lake, but Logan Martin is the primary lake that is being sold at the local store. The brand is also available online at loganmartinlakelife.com and lakelife247.com.

Lawn ornaments make great gifts all year round.

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Santa has a load of gift ideas!

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What’s on your wish list this year?

Tile Mate

Story by Jackie Romine Walburn Submitted photos Nationally best-selling and most-wanted gifts for adults and children include high-tech, electronic wonders and low-tech practical gifts and toys. According to the nation’s top retailers, the latest options for Bluetooth listening, tablet reading and even finding your misplaced keys or cell phone top the wish lists for adults. Most-loved Lego characters, kid-proof tablets, movie-inspired toys and learning tools disguised as toys are in demand for Christmas gift buying for children. Most all the top-rated Christmas gifts for adults are high-tech, electronic and designed to help adults enjoy music, keep fit and better navigate through busy days. The Fit Bit The watch that tells you how many steps you take, how many calories you burned and other fitness measures remains popular for 2018. A best seller on is the Alta Fitness Track, listed for $128. The Fitbit Charge 3, listed for $150, is water resistant, too.

Music minded Bluetooth speakers, large, small and some waterproof plus headphones and tablets top adult gift lists for 2018. Designed to listen to streaming music from phones, internet sites or computers, Bluetooth speakers continue to advance, get larger, louder and more practical. Top sellers include The Echo Show, 2nd Generation, made for Alexa, (check which), listed at $229, New Beats Solo 3 headphones for $299, Beats Studio 3 Wireless headphones, listed for $350. Small waterproof Bluetooth speakers, including the Sound Bot shower speaker for about $15, come in small, waterproof sizes, varying colors and retail from $20 to $100. Tile Mate For the person on your list who might occasionally have to frantically search for keys or cell phone, Tile Mate and similar trackers make perfect gifts. Programmable to help you find your keys or your cell phone or anything else essential, Tile Mate is the best-selling Bluetooth tracker. Smaller than last year’s model, the Tile Mate 2018 loops onto a key chain or any where easy to find. A single Tile Mate retails for $15 to $20, and a pack of four for $36 to $50. Keyringer is another brand of tracker, listed for $30 for a

DISCOVER Christmas Special • 2018

pair that can connect to keys and cell phone. The devices are programmed to track keys or cell phone or any item attached to fob or programmed in. Some can even make the cell phone ring even if it’s on silent mode or ringer turned all the way down. Instant camera For that artsy friend or photo junky, the Fujifilm Instax Mini instant camera is a must-have for that friend who constantly loves to snap photos. It comes in vibrant light blue, dark blue, green, pink, and white, so you can pick the color that matches their personality. Just be sure to order some film packs to go with it so they can take pictures of everyone else opening presents. Retails for $56; film packs are $36 for a value pack of 60 photos. Instant cameras are also available designed especially for children and teens. WiFi video doorbell The Ring WiFi video doorbell, retailing for about $100, is one of several video doorbell brands expected to be popular Christmas gifts. A video stream prompted by someone ringing your doorbell can be accessed by your cell phone with this safety add-on device. Fingerlings for adults Fingerlings, one of the most popular toy items from Christmas 2017, uses sensors to interact with people and are now being marketed to adults and children. The Wow-Wee Fingerlings Monkey and Mini BFF retails for $15 to $20 as an interactive gift for children or adults. The mini best friend forever holds on to the monkey’s tail as the monkey is wrapped around the owner’s finger. Practically speaking The home channel, HGTV, offers a list of practical, old fashioned gift ideas, perhaps to counter the electronic gift frenzy. They recommend shopping at thrift stores for many of these items. Heading the HGTV list are wooden crates filled with fruit or other goodies and canning jars as containers for small gifts that then get used as vases or home for candles or candies. Other suggestions include wooden crates and caddies filled with gifts and ready for helping organize. Vintage or vintage-liked metal buckets can be filled with a plant, flowers or any other gift that fits. Other suggestions include a vintage hardback book to hold a gift card or cash, a pretty tea cup and saucer filled with flavored teas, metal tins with goodies or any gift that fits, and a wooden trinket box filled with desk accessories, pens, stamps or stationery. TOP CHILDREN’S GIFTS When shopping for children of any age, high-tech and electronic gifts still top wish lists, but practical gifts, including board games and books, clothing and bikes are still on Santa

Fingerlings

Similar to Lego Blocks, but with lights. lists everywhere. According to top retailers, the high-tech gifts kids want for 2018 include kid-tough computer tablets like the Fire 7 Kids Edition Tablet, with 7-inch display that’s called kid proof study and retails for $99.99. There are kid-size Bluetooth speakers and combination selfie-taking microphone sets. Even the Lite-Brite has a high-tech upgrade called the Lite-Brite Magic Screen Retro Style, with 156 colored pegs for the lighted board and listed at $20. Other predicted favorite gifts for children are electronic without seeming so and others spark help spark children’s imaginations. These include: Electric Light Blocks – Lego-looking multi-colored connecting blocks that light up when connected – come in sets of 36 for $30 or 102 blocks for $80. Star Wars Furbacca, an interactive doll based on Star Wars, the movies that spawned countless toys, retails for $70 to $80. DIY Kaleidoscope Set for Kids, sells for $40 and includes everything needed, from glue to glitter, plus instructions for building a colorful Kaleidoscope. Create Your Very Own Comic Book, retailing for $30, includes pre-formatted blank pages for the child to create a story, along with a booklet of instructions, inspiration and helpful tips. Once the illustrated story is complete, send it in to the company in a pre-paid envelope and receive back a professionally bound copy complete with an about the author page. Luvabella Baby Doll, an interactive doll that moves and talks and is not Mom’s Chatty Cathy. The doll and accessories retail for $70 to $90. The Most Unique LEGO People Ever are sold separately, retailing from $8 to $19 per character. The two-inch tall figures include Hot Dog Man, Cactus Girl, Rocket Boy, Party Clown and Banana Suit Man. Practically speaking for kids Ideas for practical children’s gifts from the website, What Moms Love, include an art easel, fun bed pillows, a 64-pack of Crayons, a Piggy Bank with money in it, personal growth charts or a fun night light. Other suggestions for low tech children’s gifts include a tent or one of the new teepee tents, a toy box or a kid-sized chair. Practical but fun gifts suggestions also include a personalized bath towel, a bath robe, bath crayons, fun pajamas, a sleeping bag, kid’s tracker watch, a flashlight or headlight or a kid-sized umbrella.

DISCOVER Christmas Special • 2018

Christmas A UNIQUELY ST. CLAIR

gadgets

Giving the gift of

No shortage of technology under the tree this year

Air fryers are a great kitchen gadget. 74

DISCOVER Christmas Special â&#x20AC;¢ 2018

Story by Graham Hadley Submitted photos This Christmas may make 2018 the year for gadgets – from the mobile devices to kitchen appliances, technology is a key ingredient in many wish lists. And a major driving force behind that is technology’s everevolving drive to make things more convenient. That goes for making phone calls, to checking the time, cleaning your floors or cooking dinner for the entire family in record time. Mobile phones Once the thing of James Bond and science fiction, cell phones are one of the most commonplace types of personal technology used today. And they run the range from the super simple to the amazingly complex – with some cell phones having special attachments to allow them to be used for everything from gaming consoles to home theatres and mobile business presentation platforms. And like almost all technology, the more complex and the more features on the device, the higher the price, with premium smartphones topping $1,000. Though that price is often spread out over the life of a contract, putting even top-tier phones in the affordable price rage for many people. Leading the pack are the usual suspects, Apple’s iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy line of phones, followed by Google’s Pixel and other companies like LG, HTC, Motorola. There are phones out there running Windows mobile platform commonly found on Windows tablets, but Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android are also king, with most non-iPhone products running some kind of Android. Which you choose is absolutely a matter of taste. Apple’s operating system tends to be more user friendly, but often does not work as well with non-Apple products. Android is more versatile, but more complicated to use. And given the amount of money you are looking at investing, this is one gift it is very important to get right – especially since you are often getting locked into a cellular contract with at&t, Verizon or another provider for years to cover the cost of the device. So, if you are planning on getting someone a cell phone for Christmas, it is best to probably ask which one they want. This is true of many technology gift ideas, but will probably have the most impact on purchasing options for cell phones – the rapid progress in product releases means buyers can pick up older model phones for rock-bottom prices when the new ones come out. And often, there is so little difference in product features that purchasing phones one or two releases back from the newest version can save hundreds of dollars. Wearable tech In the beginning of the wearable tech industry, smartwatches looked more Dick Tracy than anything like a normal timepiece. That is a far cry from todays electronic-laden wristbands. Though the Apple Watch and many fitness trackers, like the Fitbit, still look nothing like a contemporary watch, other companies, again led by Samsung’s Gear and Galaxy watches, are almost indistinguishable from a regular wristwatch. Like their smartphone counter parts, the entry-level fitness trackers cost far less than their top-tier counterparts like the Apple and Samsung watches. And like phones, there are a huge variety of features and operating systems to choose from – so you are better off asking what someone wants.

Sky is the limit with mobile phones

That is doubly true of certain brands. Apple and Samsung watches pair with other phone brands, but each works far better with phones made from the same company. In some cases, you lose entire feature sets trying to pair the wrong watch to the wrong phone. So, again, ask the person you are shopping for which one they want. Apple and Samsung keep vying for the top spots in this category – with their watches doing almost everything, including mobile pay, heart-rate and other fitness settings, and GPS. Some models can function as phones without being paired with another device. And like their cell-phone counterparts, these come with payment plans and service contracts from specific providers. Some very affordable watches, like the new Fitbit Versa, are full featured smart watches. Many of these tend to lean toward the fitness or sport category, with brands like Garmin running in the upper range. Ticwatch is another good alternative to Apple and Samsung, with the new Pro watch claiming almost 30 days of battery life, as opposed to 18 to 48 hours for most high-end watches. Where the Apple and Fitbit watches look like smartwatches, if you are leaning towards something more formal, Samsung is the current industry leader. But other companies, Fossil and its associated brands, are putting out top-notch smartwatches that include all the features of Apple and Samsung devices, but follow more traditional watch designs.

DISCOVER Christmas Special • 2018

Christmas A UNIQUELY ST. CLAIR

The Instant Pot

Samsung Galaxy smartwatch Smart stuff for your smartwatch or phone The smartest thing you can do for your smart technology investment is protect it. Before you invest in a bluetooth headset or any other add-on for your new buy, get a good case and screen protector for your phone and, especially if your smartwatch has a face that is not recessed below the bezel, a screen protector for it, too. There is a fallacy in thinking that the phones and watches sporting Gorilla glass are near indestructible – and while it is true most screens will resist scratches – they still break quite easily when dropped. Get a good case, Otter, UAG, Survivor or other for your phone with good drop protection. That means shock-absorbing rubber that extends all around the phone – the backs of many phones are glass, too – and is raised over the screen. Then put a good screen protector on it – ballistic glass protectors are the easiest to put on and provide the most protection, but may add some thickness to your phone and don’t work with all cases. Like phones, a good screen protector is a must for your smartwatch – and glass ones provide the best protection. After you have your device protected, the sky is the limit – you can get wireless headphones, virtual-reality headsets, wireless chargers, even adapters to use your phone as a portable computer, complete with hookups for full-size screens, keyboards and mice. Just make sure that the gear you are buying is compatible with the mobile device you are buying it to go with. Some equipment out there will only work with a specific brand or model of phone, with this being the case more often than not. A smarter home While super-high-definition 4K televisions and surroundsound systems, home computers and the like continue to make steady advances on the technology front, nowhere in the modern home did technology make strides in 2018 like it did in

the kitchen. The Instant Pot, which looks kind of like a stainless-steel R2D2 on your counter, is a hybrid cooking device, a convergence of crock-pot and pressure cooker technology with an easyto-use electronic interface making sure every meal is cooked right. This is not the pressure cooker of old – for one thing, it has redundant safety features in place to prevent overpressure explosions. But the real advantage comes in the ability to program it to cook specific foods in large volumes very quickly. And like a crock pot, it can be left to its own devices and does not require supervision. You can set it up to cook and program start times. It is the best of both possible worlds. The Instant Pot name brand is the current top seller in this category, but other companies have rolled out similar devices. However, not all of these cookers are created equal, so be sure to get the one with the features and in the size you want. Another almost must-have for the kitchen appliance garage is the air fryer. These devices are designed to cook food that produces similar results to frying, but only requiring a small fraction of the oil. That is not only a healthier way to cook, but safer and more economical. Air fryers use technology similar to a convection oven – circulating super-heated air through the cooking chamber. The technology is designed to volatize a small amount of oil that is carried in the air around the food, which sits on a rack, cooking and coating with without saturating it. While the Instant Pot is almost intuitive to use because of its similarity to pressure cookers and crock pots, the air fryer has a bit of a learning curve. Don’t expect your first blooming onion to come out perfect. With this product, we recommend spending some time with cookbooks and online watching videos. There are several brands out there with a wide variety of sizes, features, and – as always – price ranges.

DISCOVER Christmas Special • 2018

Plug your kids in When it comes to technology for children, gaming systems are still king. Sony Play Station, xBox and Nintendo systems are all the rage – with several tiers of performance and portability available with each one. This is a common theme with technology, but given the expense of these gaming consoles – ask and make sure you are getting the one your children want. Each console works online only with consoles from the same manufacturer, and some have console-specific games – so if your children want to play with their friends, they need to be on the same system that plays the same games. From a parenting standpoint, most of the new consoles come with all sorts of settings to let you restrict everything from the amount of time your kids spend playing games to what kinds of games they are allowed to play. And different consoles are often more suitable for different age ranges. The Nintendo gaming systems tend to have more games appropriate for younger audiences, the PlayStations cover everyone, while the xBoxes tend to have more games for teens and older kids. Though all platforms have something for everyone. If you have several children and expect the gaming console to be used a lot, it would be a good investment to make sure you have rechargeable batteries for the controllers and headsets. Some consoles now come with the controllers with built-in rechargeable batteries. One affordable alternative to the gaming console are online gaming subscriptions designed to work with your computer. Steam from Valve is the key player right now, supporting thousands of gaming titles at a fraction of the price of what you would purchase the games for and without having to fork over hundreds of dollars for a console. Just make sure you have a computer that supports the games. Most of your higher-end games like PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS (PUBG), Fortnite and Elite Dangerous all require pretty hefty computing power to run smoothly – your $300 laptop won’t do the trick. And these are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to technology – there are quadcopter drones, mobile tablets, automatic vacuum cleaners and much more out there. In many ways, we have more technology at our fingertips than the original crew of Star Trek’s Enterprise did. The trick to buying technology for someone as a gift is to make sure it is a good fit – so, one last time, before forking over hundreds of dollars for a smartwatch or gaming console, ask (or snoop), just to be on the safe side.

Nintendo Switch game system

DISCOVER Christmas Special • 2018

St. Clair Alabama

Business Review

St. Clair EDC Director Don Smith addresses the crowd.

Louis

A new era begins at Northside

78 DISCOVER Essence St. Clair •••August & September 2013 DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair October && November 2017 78• DISCOVER The Essence DISCOVER The Essence St. Clair •August February &July March 2016 2016 78 DISCOVER The Essence ofof St. Clair & September 2017 DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair June & July 2017 DISCOVER DISCOVER Essence The Essence of St. Clair of St. ••Clair Clair December June 2016 & 2015 2017 DISCOVER The Essence ofof St. Clair December 2017 & January January 2018 DISCOVER The Essence of St. •••April May 78 of St. ClairThe •The Business Review

Photos by Graham Hadley

Eissmann Automotive Countinues investment in St. Clair Claudia Eissmann, chairwoman of the Eissmann Automotive Advisory Council cuts the ribbon.

Eissmann Automotive’s new expansion makes the German manufacturing giant the largest single employer in Pell City. The auto-industry supplier, which opened its first American operation here in 2005, specializes in interior fittings and parts for high-end automobiles, including Mercedes, Audi, Bugatti, Bentley, the Corvette Stingray, Tesla, Lamborghini and others. Eissmann’s latest expansion means a $14.5-million capital investment in its facility in the Pell City Industrial Park and will bring 200 new jobs to the region. The company held an official opening of the new section and ribbon-cutting Oct. 15. During the ceremony, Pell City Mayor Bill Pruitt presented the key to the city to Claudia Eissmann, chairwoman of the Eissmann Automotive Advisory Council, before a large crowd of Eissmann employees, company representatives and local and state officials. Afterward, the new expansion was open for tours by the attendees. DISCOVER The Essence St. Clair •••August & September 2013 DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair October && November 2017 DISCOVER The Essence St. Clair •August February &July March 2016 79 2016 DISCOVER The Essence ofof St. Clair & September 2017 DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair June & 2017 79 DISCOVER DISCOVER The Essence The Essence of St. Clair of St. ••Clair Clair December June 2016 & 2015 2017 DISCOVER The Essence ofof St. Clair December 2017 & January January 2018 DISCOVER The Essence of St. •••April May Business Review •July DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • 79 79

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Business Cards

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair â&#x20AC;¢ December 2018 & January 2019

Business Review

Eissmann Automotive

Pell City Mayor Bill Pruitt presents the key to the city to Claudia Eissmann.

“With this expansion, Eissmann has become the largest employer in Pell City, and we are excited to see them continue to grow in our community. We are very fortunate that they chose our community as their North American headquarters, and we hope they will continue to expand here,” Pruitt said. “We are always excited to see our existing industries continue to expand in St. Clair County. The addition of jobs to St. Clair County allows our citizens to work closer to home and improves their quality of life,” said St. Clair Commission Chairman Paul Manning. “Eissmann is a tremendous community partner, and we look forward to growing with them in the future.” The company already employs almost 400 workers at the Pell City facility and expects that number to reach upwards of 580 with the new expansion. This adds to the growing number of foreign companies, like Eissmann and Honda, employing thousands of people in St. Clair and surrounding counties. Alabama Department of Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield noted that, two decades ago, not a single major automobile manufacturer was operating in Alabama. Now the state ranks fourth in automobile manufacturing in the nation. “Today is indeed a celebration of the present and of the future to come,” he said. 82

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • December 2018 & January 2019

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DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair â&#x20AC;¢ December 2018 & January 2019

Business Review

Eissmann Automotive

Emplyees made up a large part of the crowd. The expansion brings hundreds of new jobs to the region.

The company’s connection to the Mercedes Benz plant in Tuscaloosa County just off Interstate 20 was the driving force behind the expansion. “Eissmann has been in Pell City longer than I have,” said St. Clair Economic Development Council Director Don Smith. “Eissmann is a solid, family-owned company that has outperformed even our greatest expectation in Pell City. They pride themselves on the highest quality craftsmanship in the industry, which is a perfect fit for the high-end automotive customers they serve,” he said. “They have incredible leadership in management in their Pell City facility and we look forward to working with them on future expansions.” Eissmann agreed. “From the first investment Eissmann Automotive made in Pell City, the community and elected officials have made us feel welcomed and supported. Our facility has grown within the community, and we look forward to continuing to work with the City of Pell City, the St. Clair County Commission and the Economic Development Council for Many years to come,” she said.

St. Clair EDC Director Don Smith talks with Claudia Eissmann after the ribbon cutting ceremony.

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • December 2018 & January 2019

WHO IS

PT?

TherapySouth is an outpatient physical therapy practice with a fun, family-oriented environment. For more than 30 years, Tyler McGrady and the experienced physical therapists in Pell City have built relationships with their patients and helped them achieve their physical goals. We know you have a choice for your healthcare, and we’d love for one of our great people to be your physical therapist!

Bill Ellison | WKW | Barnett, Jones, Wilson

Pell City | 205.338.6106 | 85 Plaza Drive www.therapysouth.com

ST. CLAIR COUNTY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

SERVING THE RESIDENTS OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY SINCE 2009

IF YOU NEED A RIDE, GIVE US A CALL!

205-338-1352

Business Review HONDA Ribbon cut on $85 million logistics buildings

Alabama Department of Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield joined associates at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama (HMA) in celebrating the start of operations at its new $85 million logistics buildings. The new facilities add nearly 400,000 square feet to Honda’s existing 4.2-millionsquare-foot facility in Lincoln. “Our new logistics operations represent an $85 million investment in our operations, as well as continued investment in our associates, our products and in customer satisfaction,” said Mike Oatridge, HMA vice president. “This new space will help us better streamline our logistics operations, which will result in improved parts delivery, improved quality and improved organization across our production lines.” HMA is the sole production source of the Odyssey minivan, the Pilot sport utility vehicle, the Ridgeline pickup truck and the V-6 engines that power each vehicle. The new logistics facilities, which are mirror-image buildings located at both Line 1 and Line 2, are part of a multi-phased project dedicated to the enhancement and revitalization of Honda operations in Alabama. Recently, HMA announced an additional $54.8 million investment to improve weld operations at Line 2. This new expansion, which will add more than 50,000 square feet, is expected to

be completed in early 2021. When combined with the 2017 investment announcements for the Line 1 and Line 2 logistics facilities and other investments, HMA has undertaken additions of more than 425,000 square feet to its production operations with an investment total of approximately $150 million. HMA employs more than 4,500 associates with an investment in Alabama totaling more than $2.6 billion and annual production capacity exceeding 340,000 vehicles and engines. St. Clair Economic Development Council Executive Director Don Smith talked of the impact the investments at Honda have on the entire region, noting it is St. Clair’s largest employer not located within the county. “Honda’s brand means high quality and excellence in the automotive sector, but it also means excellence as an employer in our region. They are an incredible company, a charitable giver and a leader in the region,” he said. “When they invest in our local facility, they invest in our community. When Honda is healthy and competitive, our communities are healthy and competitive. We are very excited to continue to work with Honda as they continue to advance with changes in technology and innovation.”

DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • December 2018 & January 2019

First Bank of Alabama would like to observe this season by giving thanks to our employees for their dedication and hard work. We would also like to express our thanks to the community for the overwhelming support and a year of great success. We wish all of our employees, customers, friends and their families a blessed holiday season!

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