Mobile Bay Magazine - August 2017

Mobile Bay THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE FOR MOBILE AND BALDWIN COUNTIES

THE FAMILY ISSUE

INTO THE WILD! Ditch the devices and get outdoors — it’s time to get back to nature.

FLOUNDERING

HOW-TO

Local kids show us how it’s done

One-Pan Wonders Recipes for no-fuss family dinners

Head North

Take a walk through historic Citronelle

August 2017

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FEATURES BO CARRINGTON, LEFT, AND WILL WAECHTER, RIGHT, PUT ON THEIR GAME FACES AS THEY GATHER THE TOOLS FOR A NIGHT OF FLOUNDERING. PHOTO BY MEGGAN AND JEFF HALLER

AUGUST 2017

VOLUME XXXIII / ISSUE 8

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Hoping for Flatfish Tag along on an after-dark adventure in the shallows of Mobile Bay.

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Into the Wild Turn off your phone and step outside. Follow this guide to enjoying Alabama’s beauty.

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Welcome to Wildcat Nation This little city in north Mobile County has history and charm galore. It’s time to take a hike.

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Antiques and Eccentricities

Darlene Lane has given her pre-Civil War farmhouse in Citronelle plenty of panache.

ON OUR COVER

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MB Staff Writer Breck Pappas wades through the flats off Fort Morgan with two young teachers who are long on experience.

PHOTO BY MEGGAN AND JEFF HALLER

 Think wading in ankle-deep water to gig a fish is wild?

We have a dozen other ways to get back to nature and find your very own wild side on page 42. august 2017 | mobilebaymag.com 7

DEPARTMENTS AUGUST 2017

VOLUME XXXIII / ISSUE 8

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LEFT You’ll be California dreaming at Soul Bowlz, a new Fairhope hot spot with cold treats and a decidedly surfer vibe. PHOTO BY ELIZABETH GELINEAU RIGHT Taylor Hollyer is part of the incredible talent that the Mobile Symphony Orchestra has recruited for its professional company of musicians.

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Editor’s Note On the Web Reaction Odds & Ends Elemental Land of Healing Waters Did you know Citronelle got on the map for its mineral springs?

19 Gumbo Making Music

Mobile Symphony Orchestra celebrates its 20th year.

22 Tastings Soul Bowlz

Health nuts get a sweet treat with these filling, delish fruit bowls.

24 The Dish 27 Bay Tables One-pan Wonders Busy moms and hungry families agree: one-pan dinners are easy, efficient and yummy.

34 Good Stuff Sartorial Tots

Snag these stylish looks for littles of every age. “Cute” won’t even begin to describe them!

65 History Bill Yeager

Explore the life and influence of Mobile’s campaigning legend and ad man extraordinaire.

76 Ask McGehee I heard they’re restoring the park at the Loop. What’s its history?

Built as a memorial to the sons who fought in World War I, the park will be revitalized for a new generation.

78 In Living Color UMS Band, 1905 The young faces of the military school band are given new life.

OUT & ABOUT 70 Highlights 72 On Stage & Exhibits 74 September Highlights

 The Mobile Symphony celebrates its 20th anniversary this year!

Some might not know that we have a top-notch orchestra right here in town. Take a look on page 19.

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Mobile Bay VOLUME XXXIII

No8

AUGUST 2017

PUBLISHER T. J. Potts

ASSISTANT PUBLISHER

EDITORIAL CONSULTANT

EXECUTIVE EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR/WEB

SENIOR WRITER COPY EDITOR

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

ART DIRECTOR

EDITORIAL INTERN

EDITORIAL INTERN

SALES MANAGER

Stephen Potts Judy Culbreth Maggie Lacey Abby Parrott Breck Pappas Chelsea Adams Marie Katz Laurie Kilpatrick Hallie King Lee Tonsmeire

ADVERTISING

Joseph A. Hyland

Adelaide Smith McAleer

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

ADMINISTRATION CIRCULATION Anita Miller ACCOUNTING Jody Chandler

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Mallory Boykin, Emmett Burnett, Tom McGehee CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS

Todd Douglas, Summer Ennis, Elizabeth Gelineau, Meggan and Jeff Haller, Kathy Hicks, Kim and Forest Starr ADVERTISING AND EDITORIAL OFFICES

3729 Cottage Hill Road, Suite H Mobile, AL 36609-6500 251-473-6269 Subscription rate is $21.95 per year.

Subscription inquiries and all remittances should be sent to: Mobile Bay P.O. Box 923773 Norcross, GA 30010-3773 1-855-357-3137 MOVING? Please note: U.S. Postal Service will not forward magazines mailed through their bulk mail unit.

Please send old label along with your new address four to six weeks prior to moving.

Mobile Bay is published 12 times per year for the Gulf Coast area. All contents © 2017 by PMT Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of the contents without written permission is prohibited. Comments written in this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the ownership or the management of Mobile Bay. This magazine accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photography or artwork. All submissions will be edited for length, clarity and style.

PUBLISHED BY PMT PUBLISHING INC .

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These Wild Days

outherners take family seriously.

We love our family trees, greatgrandmothers’ hand-me-down recipes, and precious time spent with a mob of kids or grandkids. For the Family Issue of Mobile Bay, there were plenty of opportunities to reflect on how to cherish and engage with our kin — and those who might as well be. One of the best ways to connect is to unplug: put down our devices and head outside together.

I recently went camping in the mountains with not one, but two toddlers (Lord, help me!), and it was magical to see them get to know Mother Nature for the first time. They found so much beauty in the simplest of things — discovering the rocks at their feet or marveling at the dragonfly along the path!

My experience was perfect preparation for this issue. “Into the Wild,” on page 42, will provide you a guide to destinations where kids big and small can slow down and discover the splendor and eloquence of the untamed Deep South.

Speaking of wild, MB’s staff had a ball touring the over-the-top antebellum home of Darlene Lane this month, page 57. Layers of eclectic antiques and historical details made for a positively thrilling encounter. We came across her Greek Revival home while touring the main drag and back roads of Citronelle in north Mobile County. This historic town, featured on page 48, has charm in spades and is worth the short drive. We met former mayors and hairdressers, newsmen and cops, cooks and fifth-generation farmers. History and family run deep here, and we were honored to be welcomed into the community.

With this issue, our treasured monthly column “Bay Boy” comes to an end.

Writer Watt Key has entertained MB staff and readers alike with his tales of crazy folks, delta hijinks and Eastern Shore shenanigans and is truly part of the MB family. Watt is taking a pause to head out on the Bay and beyond in pursuit of more stories for our pages, so stay tuned...

Maggie Lacey

WHAT’S ONLINE

Get even more local coverage this month on mobilebaymag.com.

Here’s what’s new!

© DMG PRODUCTIONS, INC.

EDITOR’S NOTE

Fall Festival Preview

Online only: Use our guide to fill your social calendar with the best food, music and art festivals taking place around the Bay area this fall.

Go Wild!

If you snap some pictures on one of the adventures from “Into the Wild” on page 42, tag us on Instagram.

We’ll be sharing your pics on our account!

Nominate Now! We are now accepting nominations for the 2017 class of 40 Under Forty. Go online to submit a nomination today!

Party Pics

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

maggie@pmtpublishing.com

LEFT Meggan and Jeff Haller photograph cousins Bo Carrington and Will Waechter.

Read about their night of floundering on page 36.

RIGHT Staff Writer Breck Pappas hits the trails on the USA campus during an MB staff lunch break expedition.

ABOVE Editor Maggie Lacey welcomed the chance to do some field research on Cotton Bayou for this month’s “Into the Wild,” page 42.

Share your event! Go online to fill out the Party Pics registration form and submit your event photos to be featured in a gallery on the Web.

Here Comes the Bride

Recently engaged? Tell us your proposal story, some details about the big day and send a picture of the happy couple, and we’ll feature it online — for free!

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WATERMAN TOM YEAGER. PHOTO BY TODD DOUGLAS

REACTION

SECONDED! On June’s “Amazing Life of Tom Yeager” Tom Yeager is one of my favorite people. We had some adventures in the ‘80s on my old ‘38 Barrelback Chris Craft. One was especially memorable on Old River, as Tom leaned to the outside of a turn. We recovered miraculously, but learned why many Chris Crafts rolled over and sank.

- Fred A. S. I’ve known Tom all my life. They just don’t come any better than him.

- Steve Crim Tom is a true Fairhopian who loves our town and Bay! - Pat Higbee Hawthorne

A JUMBO STORY On June’s “Net Profits” The photos are awesome! Loved the article as well!

- Melodie Moore Great article! Miss the days of meeting the boats at the dock!

- Tracy Johnson Chastain

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A PLANE MISTAKE On February’s Ask McGehee on the Valentine’s Day plane crash of 1953 The paragraph directly below the aircraft pictured indicates the aircraft was a Douglas DC-6 airplane. The airplane pictured on this page is a Douglas DC-3 aircraft, not a DC-6 as indicated. The DC-3 is a two-engine airplane with the wheel in the tail, and the DC-6 is a four-engine plane with the wheel in the nose. These wheels are in addition to the main landing gear under the center of the fuselage.

As I worked around these two aircraft and many other types of planes during my 27-year career with Eastern Airlines, I am very familiar with the many different types of aircraft.

Besides this discrepancy, I thought the article was excellent.

- Ray Thompson

MIDDLE OF THE ROAD On June’s Ask McGehee on the Duncan Place median on Government Street Thanks to Tom McGehee for the great article on Duncan Place. I began my quest to have a sign installed recognizing the long-lost name about three years ago. Mary Beth Bergin with the City of Mobile Traffic Engineering Department was instrumental in having the current signs made and installed. We hope to have narrative signs made and installed in the near future that would give a brief history of Duncan Place.

- Douglas Burtu Kearley, Sr.

RIVER VIEW On May’s In Living Color photograph I loved the Mobile skyline 1935 picture. I would offer to the researcher that the gentleman on the riverbank was positioned on Blakeley Island rather than Pinto. He sits across from the Van Antwerp building at Royal and Dauphin streets. The eastern shoreline of the river at this viewpoint is well north of Pinto Pass. Pinto Island is south of the pass.

- Judith Adams

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text by HALLIE KING

FACT CHECK

POP QUIZ

MOSQUIT-NO MORE

FLATFISH

Since ancient times, the citronella plant, from the geranium family, was believed to have mosquito-repelling properties. It was even used in rituals to prevent malaria. However, contrary to the name’s implication, the citronella oil used in common insect repellants and candles to deter mosquitoes doesn’t actually come from the citronella plant at all. This oil is derived from the lemongrass family, with a scent that sends mosquitoes scurrying.

What is the translated meaning of the southern flounder’s Latin name, paralichthys lethostigma?

The supposed malaria-curing plant drew people from around the country, which laid the foundation for the name of one beloved south Alabama town — Citronelle. To learn more about the city, read “Welcome to Wildcat Nation” on page 48.

BY THE NUMBERS

a. Parallel fish that moves its eyes b. Parallel fish that lost its spots c. Parallel fish that lives in sand d. Parallel fish that eats shellfish Flip the page upside-down to reveal this underwater etymology. Then, read about the popular local pastime of floundering on page 36.

PHOTO BY FOREST AND KIM STARR

SAY WHAT? PHOTO FROM THE FRESHWATER AND MARINE IMAGE BANK

40% $8 $4.50

of a family’s average food budget is spent eating out.

the average price of meals per person eaten at a restaurant the average price of meals per person prepared at home

For busy parents with hectic schedules, one-pan dinners are an easy and inexpensive way to feed the whole family. Get inspired by “One-pan Wonders,” page 27.

“A face is like the outside of a house, and most faces, like most houses, give us an idea of what we can find inside.”

— LORETTA YOUNG, television and film actress A house is capable of telling stories about each element of its resident’s life. Visit page 57 to experience the whimsy and wonder of Darlene Lane’s “Kitty Hutty Farm,” an ever-changing antebellum home in Citronelle.

IT’S A DATE

GET OUT AND VOTE! Mobilians will have two chances to make their voices heard this month!

A special election for the open Senate seat will be held Tuesday, August 15, and Municipal Elections will be held Tuesday, August 22.

There’s a ton of work that goes into any political campaign behind the scenes, and there’s usually a mastermind behind it all.

Read about Mobile’s former “King Maker,” Bill Yeager, page 65.

B - PARALLEL FISH THAT LOST ITS SPOTS — THE GENUS NAME, PARALICHTHYS, TRANSLATES TO “PARALLEL FISH” REFERRING TO A FLOUNDER’S FLAT BODY. THE SPECIES NAME LETHOSTIGMA STEMS FROM ITS ROOTS, LETHO MEANING “DEATH” AND STIGMA MEANING “SPOTS.” THE SPECIES IS APTLY NAMED BECAUSE OF THE MISSING SPOTS THAT MOST OTHER FLOUNDER SPECIES HAVE.

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ELEMENTAL

Land of Healing Waters text by BRECK PAPPAS

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any are surprised to learn that Citronelle was a nationally recognized health retreat around the turn of the last century. In 1902, an observer of the city wrote, “The elevation combined with its pure water

and the mild sea breezes that waft through the pines, impregnating the air with healthy ozone, renders this place one of the most attractive and healthful resorts in the South.”

While several factors did indeed play into the town’s healthful image, it was

the mineral springs that drew much of the visitors’ (and even scientists’) fascination. To this day, natural streams bubble forth from Citronelle, but what does this say about the town’s geography? The answer can be found just beneath the earth’s surface.

SPRING TIME

WHAT’S IN THE WATER?

A mineral spring is a naturally occurring spring with water containing dissolved substances and minerals. The occurrence of such springs is strongly related to an area’s geologic structure, as most are found along fault lines or corrugated regions. Around 10,000 mineral springs have been mapped in the United States.

Among the substances found dissolved in spring water are gases, salts and sulfur compounds. Mineral springs are often classified according to their chemical makeup. For example, lithia springs contain lithium salts, calcic springs contain lime and chalybeate springs (the type most commonly found in Citronelle) contain salts of iron.

RUB A DUB DUB Though largely unproven, there are many purported health benefits to bathing in and consuming mineral water, namely increased circulation, reduced stress and pain relief. Of chalybeate waters, one 17th-century physician wrote, “These waters youth in age renew, strength to the weak and sickly add, give the pale cheek a rosy hue, and cheerful spirits to the sad.”

BELOW THE SURFACE The Citronelle Formation, a geologic blanket of sediments stretching from Texas to Florida, is directly responsible for the area’s high water quality. The formation, though several hundred feet underground in some locations, is closest to the earth’s surface at Citronelle, hence the formation’s name.

Its clay, sand and gravel act as natural and remarkably effective water filters.

DON’T LOOK DOWN Citronelle’s altitude, a direct result of the Citronelle Formation, is the main reason for its healthy reputation. At an elevation of over 300 feet, the town is the highest point, for its distance from the coast, between Maine and Texas. Such elevation wards off the humidity and stagnant waters usually associated with coastal areas.

 Explore modern-day Citronelle in “Welcome to Wildcat Nation,” page 48.

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HEALING CITRONELLE ◗ The ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians all celebrated the therapeutic benefits of water. More locally, the Native Americans who lived in what is now Citronelle called the area “Citronella,” meaning “I heal.” The location was considered so beneficial, it is said that these Natives even took in the sick from other tribes to nurse them back to health. ◗ In the late 1800s, a handful of hotels were built in Citronelle as the resort town’s popularity boomed. At one point, Citronelle had seven hotels, the most famous of which was the Hygeia, a first-class establishment that doubled as a tuberculosis sanatorium.

A small cottage on the grounds of the Citronelle Depot Museum is the last remaining remnant of the Hygeia Hotel. ◗ “All Roads Lead to Citronelle,” a 1902 publication by the Citronelle Call newspaper, boasts, “No hotel in the South has such pure water as does the Hygeia, for it comes from a spring nearly a half mile from the hotel, thereby being absolutely free from the contamination of any impurities.” ◗ Citronelle’s healing waters were favorably compared to the famous mineral springs of Europe. At the turn of the century, the water supplied by the Hotel Citronelle even attracted researchers from the Chicago Clinic and Pure Water Journal, who concluded the water was 99.99963 percent pure. ◗ Although Citronelle’s health tourism peaked in the 1930s, many of its natural wonders remain. Gordon Vernon, former president of the Citronelle Historical Preservation Society, says that Lake Chautauqua at Camp Whispering Pines in Citronelle is fed by about 19 natural springs. MB

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GUMBO

Making Music For the Mobile Symphony Orchestra’s 20th anniversary, bass player and Mobile newcomer Taylor Hollyer reflects back and looks forward. text by CHELSEA ADAMS • photos courtesy of MOBILE SYMPHONY ORCHESTR A

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he way he tells it, Taylor Hollyer came across music almost as an accident. He doesn’t hail from a family of musicians. In fact, he was in middle school before the thought occurred to him. “I had to take an elective in sixth grade, so I chose orchestra. I picked the bass because no one else picked it, and I just wanted to be different. That’s about as glorious as it gets,” he shares with a characteristic laugh. From that point on, he says he knew that he’d be a musician.

A Houston native, Hollyer has put quite a few pins in the map. He lived in New York for several years while obtaining his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Juilliard. For a year, he studied film scoring in Los Angeles (“Loved the program — hated L.A.”) before heading back to New York. Then, wanting to shake things up, he made his way down to New Orleans, where word of a bass opening in the Mobile Symphony Orchestra (MSO) made its way to his ears. He took the audition, got the part and the rest is history.

Whenever he tells people he’s new to Mobile, Hollyer says they all have the same question: Why did you move here? But for him (who admits he couldn’t have found Mobile on a map before taking the audition), Mobile and the MSO sit on an equal stage with larger orchestras in New York or Atlanta. “And you don’t have to drive six hours to see it!” he says. “There are still tons of Mobilians who don’t

ABOVE A newcomer to Mobile, Hollyer loves the vibrancy and arts culture in the city. “Mobile is also a really good hub because it’s a good central location for other nearby orchestras.” In addition to playing for the Mobile Symphony Orchestra, he plays in the Pensacola Symphony, the Gulf Coast Symphony in Biloxi, the Mobile Opera and the Pensacola Opera.

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know that we have an orchestra, much less that it’s actually a professional orchestra — we have degrees from real schools — that’s doing really high quality work for you. It’s for you!”

Since joining the orchestra in the fall of 2014, Hollyer already has a long list of favorites he’s played with MSO. “I’m a huge film music buff, and my very first season, we did an all John Williams concert, and I just nerded out the entire concert,” he shares. But his favorite part of playing for MSO is blowing away audience members and guest musicians.

“You know,” Hollyer begins, leaning forward, “when guest artists come, there’s this great moment in the first rehearsal every time. They come in thinking, ‘I didn’t even know Mobile had an orchestra, but they’re paying me to be here, so I’ll show up and play.’

And there’s that moment where the orchestra starts playing with them and you see this light bulb come on and they go, ‘Oh, these people can play!’”

From that moment, a guest who perhaps just thought they were playing for a paycheck becomes invested in the performance, working closely with the musicians to create a magnificent show. “There’s a difference between making and playing music,” Hollyer says. “Some days it’s just a job, and a lot of guest artists come in assuming it’s just going to be a job. And they come out creating music with us.”

This year, the Mobile Symphony

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ABOVE Hollyer first learned to play music in a sixth grade music class. Now, he’s a huge proponent of school arts programs. Here, Hollyer plays with the Mobile Youth Orchestra.

Orchestra celebrates 20 years of making music for the Port City.

Thinking forward for MSO, Hollyer (who also carries out marketing development duties for the symphony) wants Mobile’s symphony to grow in accessibility and approachability.

Oftentimes, as he says, people “hear the c-word: classical,” and become intimidated. But Hollyer wants to change that. The symphony puts on a broad range of concerts. MSO Rocks has the orchestra playing hits from the Rolling Stones and other legends.

Plus, there’s the aforementioned John Williams film music concert as well as the music of a Pixar performance.

Even so, Hollyer still wants people to know that it’s okay to love Bach, Brahms and Tchaikovsky, too. “I want us to showcase that music is music no matter what genre. Yes, it was written by a dead guy hundreds of years ago, but he went through interesting struggles that we can relate to.

“People think there’s pop music and then ‘that snooty stuff.’ But 11-year-old Taylor fell in love with classical music.

I’ve been playing bass now for over 20 years, and I still love this music. I want them to see that it’s in the same pie. If I can fall in love with it at 11, anyone can.” MB

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TASTINGS

SOUL BOWLZ

text by MAGGIE LACEY • photos by ELIZABETH GELINEAU

T

he laid-back California vibe at Soul Bowlz in Fairhope is intentional. The little cafe was inspired by similar spots that owner Laurie McElroy visited with her husband on annual trips to the surfer enclaves of California. The pair own Blonde John’s Board Shop, a surf and skate emporium in Gulf Shores, so it all makes perfect sense. What started as a small cafe upstairs in the surf shop quickly expanded to a stand-alone location in downtown Fairhope. The bright and colorful cafe serves up refreshing, tropical superfruit bowls and smoothies that leave you feeling like you’re on a beach vacation.

The menu was initially built around açaí bowls, a sorbet made from pureed frozen palmberries from Brazil topped with sliced fresh fruit, nuts, seeds and other nutrient-dense toppings. Despite açaí’s superfruit status, McElroy first fell in love with the delicious taste and natural burst of energy. The major health benefits were just an added bonus.

Açaí is now used worldwide in drinks, desserts and energy bars, and it’s praised for its powerful mix of antioxidants, omegas, electrolytes, fiber and vitamins, with a flavor described as a mix of dark chocolate and blackberries. Three other superfruit sorbet bases were added to the menu when the Fairhope location opened its doors last year, including acerola, a citrusy tropical fruit that contains 30 times the vitamin C of an orange. Pitaya follows suit with an earthy kiwi flavor and tons of phytonutrients, and graviola rounds out the menu with a creamy white flesh and a flavor like the lovechild of strawberry and pineapple. The last three fruits are less known in south Alabama, so McElroy has been working to introduce her customers to their health benefits and delicious flavors.

The bowls are surprisingly filling but don’t leave you feeling heavy — perfect for the dog days of a hot August.

There are eight bowls to choose from, but you can customize to your heart’s content. Health nuts out there will get excited about the optional bee pollen, spirulina and goji berry toppings. Those who prefer fruit with an indulgent bend will love the drizzled Nutella, white chocolate chips or peanut butter. Most have a delightful crunch from organic hemp granola. The hemp-andflaxseed mix boosts nutrition with 600 mg of omega-3

ABOVE A “Power” smoothie and “Restore” bowl are two of the colorful, tropical menu options at Soul Bowlz in downtown Fairhope. The decor features reclaimed wood furniture, colorful purple walls and massive timbers and beams on the deep, covered porch.

and 1800 mg of omega-6 fatty acids per serving.

The cafe packages superfruit bowls to go midmorning for busy executives needing an energy boost. Local yoga classes and Fit Mama Boot Camps arrive en masse after workouts for a refuel. The lunch crowd is a mix of ages and backgrounds, and the afterschool rush sees a gaggle of giggling highschoolers on their cell phones. Everyone leaves feeling full, refreshed and reenergized.

Purchase a keepsake coconut shell bowl for the ultimate Soul Bowlz experience, and bring it with you each visit for a dollar off your purchase. It reduces plastic packaging, true, but mostly it adds to the tropical experience. These guilt-free frozen treats are just the remedy for the steamy end of summer. There might not be a longboard in sight, but we still think this place is swell. MB

 Soul Bowlz • 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. M - S, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Su • 68 North Bancroft Street, Fairhope • 210-6999 Instagram@soulbowlz • Average entree price: $6 22 mobilebaymag.com | august 2017

ON THE MENU KARMA BOWL Creamy peanut butter is blended with the açaí sorbet base and coconut milk to make a superfruit bowl that will keep you full and going strong. It’s topped with omega-rich hemp and flax seed granola, a drizzle of honey, and perfectly arranged strawberries and bananas. Go ahead and order yourself a large.

“SOUL” BOWL WITH ACEROLA

DREAM BOWL Who can resist a hot pink bowl of delicious tropical fruits? Pitaya, otherwise known as pink dragonfruit, blends into a sorbet with a kiwi-like flavor and an outrageous color. This bowl is topped with hemp granola, strawberry, kiwi, banana and just a touch of honey.

POWER SMOOTHIE Soul Bowlz has created the most enjoyable way to eat your veggies. Spinach and kale are blended with frozen açaí, mango, pineapple, banana and coconut milk for a smooth and tasty burst of all-natural energy and vitamins. The strawberry topper is a cute addition.

“DREAM” BOWL WITH PITAYA

GREEK YOGURT PARFAIT Get a protein boost and power up with vanilla Greek yogurt, hemp granola, your choice of two fruit toppings and a delicious hint of honey. Breakfast is now an all-day treat.

“MIND” BOWL WITH AÇAÍ

THE DISH interviews by CHELSEA ADAMS

Summer Selects MB’s newest crop of contributing food fanatics share the local dishes that made them hungry for more this month.

GINNA INGE, Owner, The Steeple on St. Francis

CHICKEN SALAD AT CREPE CRUSADER “Since The Back Lot opened, I have to admit the food trucks are a tasty and convenient option. I discovered the Crepe Crusader truck by accident when my friend Lynn Oldshue treated me to the Chicken Salad Crepe for Brown Bag in the park. It is amazing! Hot chicken salad with bacon and a special sauce. I instantly became an addict.”

CREPE CRUSADER FOOD TRUCK • 888-0900

TY THOMPSON, General Manager, Terry Thompson Chevrolet

SOUP AND SALAD AT 219 “There is a small, secret courtyard downtown where one can count on a superb soup any business day of the year. My choice is a bespoke mushroom bisque that is far richer than the calories would indicate. And if you think a wedge salad is simple, try theirs. The dressing is thick with blue cheese and bacon. Just pass through the dining room and tell the staff that you prefer to dine alfresco.”

CREPECRUSADERMOBILE.COM • VISIT FACE-

CAFE 219 • 219 CONTI ST. • 438-5234

BOOK.COM/MOBILECRUSADER FOR SCHEDULE

219CONTI.COM

CRAWFISH ÉTOUFFÉE AT RED OR WHITE “We normally get a pizza, but recently we decided on the daily special instead.

The chef prepared a deconstructed crawfish étouffée, breaking the dish down to its fundamental ingredients.

There was a fried crawfish fritter and a roux-like étouffée sauce atop sliced zucchini. The chef is very creative, and the manager, Will Dixon, always picks out the perfect wine.”

FRIED GREEN TOMATOES AT BOUDREAUX’S “I ordered Boudreaux’s fried green tomatoes as a quick appetizer, and I was pleasantly surprised. A tempura-style crust, instead of a meal-based one, made it crispy, and the shrimp remoulade topping added a little kick. The treat: crisp and well-seasoned coleslaw with a touch of sweetness with limited use of a mayonnaise base.”

RED OR WHITE FAIRHOPE• 323 DE LA MARE

98, DAPHNE • 621-1991

AVE.• 990-0003 • REDORWHITEWINE.COM

BOUDREAUXSCAJUNGRILL.COM

BOUDREAUX’S CAJUN GRILL • 29249 US HWY

 Share your favorite dishes around the Bay on our Facebook page.

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JOHN PEEBLES, Principal Partner, NAI-Mobile

CARLISHA HARTZOG, Principal, Hartzog Consulting

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BAY TABLES

One-sheet Wonders Three busy moms share their secrets for no-fuss family dinners.

text and styling by MAGGIE LACEY photos by ELIZABETH GELINEAU

Shrimp and Vegetable Buddha Bowls SERVES 4

K

athryn Watkins discovered her love of cooking in one of the most exciting kitchens in the South. Her first job right out of college was with Cooking Light Magazine, and during that time she was exposed to delicious gourmet meals on a daily basis. As art director, the endless parade of recipes, chefs and ingredients coming through her office made a lasting impression, and her home kitchen in Fairhope has been the better for it.

Now that she’s a wife and mom of two, her kitchen may look different, but her love of good food remains. The kids are growing fast, and about a year ago, the Watkinses decided it was time to start family meal night. Everyone eats together and (mostly) eats the same thing. It was also a perfect opportunity for Kathryn to introduce a gluten-free and dairy-free regimen that benefits everyone’s health. Recipes that take 30 minutes or less keep the chaos of dinnertime with little ones manageable. She enjoys the prep work for these clean-eating meals, where chopping and stirring can be almost therapeutic, especially when helped along by a good glass of wine.

If you’re short on time, the veggies for this hearty but healthy dinner can all be chopped the night before and stored in the refrigerator until cooking time. The sauce can be made ahead as well, so this cleaneating meal requires minimal fuss. cooking spray 1 yellow onion, peeled 1/2 head purple cabbage 2 red potatoes 1 yellow squash 1 zucchini 16 ounces Brussels sprouts, halved 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil kosher salt, to taste all-purpose seasoning blend 1 pound fresh shrimp, headed, peeled and deveined 2 tablespoons sesame oil 1 tablespoon minced garlic 1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained 2 avocados, peeled and sliced fresh parsley, for garnish

KATHRYN SHOPS AT THE FAIRHOPE FARMERS MARKET AND WHIPS UP THIS BUDDHA BOWL WITH WHATEVER PRODUCE IS IN SEASON. DIG AROUND IN YOUR OWN PRODUCE BIN AND WORK WITH WHAT YOU HAVE ON HAND. SQUASHES, BROCCOLI, ROOT VEGETABLES, KALE, OKRA — ANYTHING CAN SHINE IN A DISH LIKE THIS.

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1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Coat the bottom of a large sheet pan with cooking spray. Cut vegetables into 1/2-inch wedges and place on the sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and seasoning. Toss to coat, then spread into an even layer. Place sheet pan in the oven and roast for 25 minutes, stirring once during cooking.

3. Meanwhile, add shrimp, sesame oil and garlic to a zip-top bag and allow to marinate in the refrigerator while vegetables cook.

4. Bring 1 3/4 cups of water and quinoa to a simmer in a medium saucepan.

Add a pinch of salt, reduce the heat to low and cover. Simmer for 15 minutes, or until water has been absorbed and quinoa is cooked. Fluff with a fork.

5. Remove the sheet pan from the oven and push vegetables to one side of the pan. Add the marinated shrimp. Return to oven and roast for an additional 10 - 15 minutes until the shrimp are fully cooked, stirring once during cooking.

6. To assemble the Buddha bowls, spoon quinoa into bowls. Top with roasted vegetables, shrimp, avocado and parsley. Drizzle vinaigrette over the top and serve immediately.

Ginger Soy Vinaigrette 1/4 cup honey 1/4 cup rice vinegar 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 teaspoon sesame oil 1 tablespoon peanut butter 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon Sriracha sauce 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger 1 small clove garlic, minced 1/4 cup vegetable oil

1. Combine all ingredients except the vegetable oil in a food processor, then drizzle oil through the feed tube while the blade is running. Dressing can be made ahead of time and refrigerated until needed.

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Sheet Pan Fajitas SERVES 4 Skip Mexican takeout with all the added fats and ingredients you want to avoid. Instead, make a perfect south-of-the-border meal fresh from your own home.

All the chopping can be done the night before, so dinner can go straight in the oven as soon as you walk in the door. Forget taco Tuesday — the new tradition will be fajita Friday!

2 teaspoons chili powder 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin 1 teaspoon ground paprika 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander 3/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 each red, green and yellow bell peppers, cored and sliced into strips 1 medium yellow onion, sliced 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, sliced into 1/2-inch strips 3 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons finely diced garlic 8 small corn or flour tortillas sour cream, shredded cheese, salsa and/or jalapeños, 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro for toppings, if desired

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. In a small bowl, combine dry seasonings. Set aside.

3. Place peppers, onion and chicken onto baking sheet.

Drizzle olive oil over pan and sprinkle garlic and seasoning mix over the top. Toss evenly to coat and then spread chicken and vegetables evenly across pan.

4. Roast, tossing once halfway through cooking, until veggies are tender and chicken has cooked through, about 18 - 25 minutes. Do not overcook or the chicken will become dry.

5. Wrap tortillas tightly in aluminum foil and warm in oven during the last 5 minutes of cooking.

6. Remove from oven and pile chicken and veggies on tortillas. Finish off with favorite toppings.

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T

racey Burdine grew up eating traditional Southern cooking, and her family still eats that way every Sunday at her mom’s house around the corner. But the weeknight dinners she pulls together with good meal planning and plenty of prep often have a different flavor. She and her husband were both active-duty military for 13 years, and they moved several times all over the country, including to Puerto Rico and back again, expanding the family’s palate and introducing new tastes. She says the weather influenced her cooking style as much as anything. It was so hot in Puerto Rico, the last thing this mother of four wanted to do was stand over a steaming stove for hours. She developed a repertoire of quick and easy meals that a working mom can put on the table in no time with little sweat.

Now, her two teenage sons help out in all aspects from cooking to grocery shopping. Tracey likes to plan meals on Sunday, though, and she preps as much as possible before leaving for work each morning. That way, dinner is ready to pop in the oven, no matter who arrives home first.

TRACEY’S SONS LIKE TO MARINATE THE CHICKEN TENDERS IN OLIVE OIL IN THE FRIDGE DURING THE DAY BEFORE THEY COOK THAT NIGHT. IT TENDERIZES THE MEAT, AND THE SEASONING ADHERES BETTER.

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BBQ Salmon SERVES 4 The foil packet keeps the flavorful Polynesian-inspired BBQ sauce from making the crisp potatoes soggy. Just recycle the foil and there’s only one pan to wash!

H

aving four small children can make getting dinner on the table a daunting task. Doing this while running three successful dentist offices with your spouse sounds downright terrifying. But Leslie Buckley, often known just as Dr. Leslie, manages all of this with apparent ease. She claims she learned everything she knows about cooking from her husband, Daniel, who friends say should really open a restaurant. The Buckleys are self-described foodies and confess they don’t plan their meals in advance.

Rather, they go where the mood takes them each night. Still, they seem to get a delicious dinner on the table most nights of the week. Pizza cooked on the Big Green Egg is a family favorite.

When pressed for time, chicken tenderloins cook in a flash.

The Buckleys completely renovated their house in Spring Hill when they bought it 13 years ago, including a total kitchen overhaul. Four kids (ages 8 months to 8 years!) later, however, and they’ve outgrown the three-bedroom cottage. Plans are in the works to build a new home to fit their growing brood with a kitchen big enough to feed them all, too.

EVEN THE KIDS WILL LOVE THIS SWEET AND DELICIOUS SALMON RECIPE — A QUICK MARINADE IN PINEAPPLE JUICE JUMP-STARTS THE BOLD FLAVORS!

1 1/2 – 2 pounds salmon fillets 1 small can pineapple juice 2 Idaho potatoes, chopped to 1-inch pieces 5 whole garlic cloves 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided 1 teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste 1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary 1/2 bunch asparagus, ends trimmed juice of 1 lemon 3 tablespoons brown sugar 1 tablespoon chili powder 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin 1 1/4 teaspoons cinnamon 1 teaspoon chopped fresh chives, for garnish 1 lemon, thinly sliced, for garnish

1. Add salmon fillets and pineapple juice to a large ziptop bag and marinate in refrigerator for at least one hour.

2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

3. Place potatoes and whole garlic cloves on sheet pan and top with two tablespoons olive oil, a pinch of sea salt and rosemary. Toss to coat and spread in even layer across one half of sheet pan. Roast for 15 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, toss asparagus in 1 tablespoon olive oil and the lemon juice. Set aside.

5. Mix brown sugar, chili powder, cumin, cinnamon, 1 teaspoon sea salt and 1 tablespoon olive oil together in a small bowl.

6. Remove salmon from marinade and pat dry. Discard the juice. Place fillets on a small piece of foil and pull sides of foil up around salmon to create a “boat.” (This will prevent salmon juices from touching vegetables.)

Spread sugar and seasoning mixture over the salmon.

7. Remove sheet pan from oven and add the salmon “boat” and asparagus. Return to oven and cook for an additional 15 minutes, until the salmon flakes.

8. Garnish with chives and lemon slices and serve.

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GOOD STUFF

Sartorial Tots Take old-fashioned attire and add a splash of funky modernity to create snappy, age-appropriate looks for your littles. text and styling by MAGGIE LACEY

BABY BLUE CARDIGAN WITH ROLLED EDGE, FELTMAN BROTHERS, $35, TINY TOWN

BRIGHT PINK PATCH POCKET COTTON CARDIGAN, ANGEL DEAR, $30, TINY TOWN

STRAWBERRY DRESS WITH PETER PAN COLLAR, LULLABY SET, $48, TINY TOWN

BLUE GRID SHORT-ALL, BELLA BLISS, $52, TINY TOWN

VICTORIA BLUE “MILLER” SHOES, NATIVE SHOES, $36, J-RAY

FOR YOUR LITTLE BOY BLUE (AGE 2) Half the time, boys this age are rough and tumble, and the other half they are all snuggles in your arms. His attire can bridge that gap with a classic short-all and some get-messy, slip-on shoes.

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WATERMELON “KEA” SANDAL, LIVIE & LUCA, $54, J-RAY

FOR YOUR LITTLE LADYBUG (AGE 4) She is sweet and old-fashioned, but not afraid to make a splash in the muddiest puddle on the block. Sleek silver rain boots will look fresh on your little strawberry shortcake.

NATIVE PRINT PENCIL POUCH, TWO’S CO, $20, GIGI & JAY’S

FOR THE BIG MAN (AGE 8) Adding a little grown-up style to his wardrobe is great, but be sure to keep fun colors and animal motifs included so it’s not too serious. This slim polo has a modern look with a touch of California cool.

MAHI BELT ON NAVY WEBBING, BAILEY BOYS, $33, HOLIDAY

“WILSHIRE JR. POLO” IN ATLANTIC & NIAGRA STRIPE, JOHNNIE O, $49, HOLIDAY

CHAMBRAY ROMPER WITH RUFFLED EDGE AND BUTTON-UP BACK, ELIZABETH CATE, $57, TINY TOWN

FUSCHIA RAINCOAT WITH PLEATING, PLUIE PLUIE, $49, GIGI & JAY’S

J BAILEY LIGHT BLUE SHORTS, BAILEY BOYS, $47, GIGI & JAY’S

SILVER RUBBER RAIN BOOTS, OKIWEAR, $25, GIGI & JAY’S

FOR YOUR JELLY BEAN (AGE 6) She’s almost all grown up as she heads off to big school, even though she is still just a baby. Keep her attire sweet, but built for serious play.

REGATTA BLUE “APOLLO MOC” SHOES, NATIVE SHOES, $57, J-RAY

RESOURCES GIGI & JAY’S • 400 FAIRHOPE AVE. 928-2011. GIGIANDJAYSFAIRHOPE.COM HOLIDAY • 4513 OLD SHELL ROAD. 342-4911. SHOPTHEHOLIDAY.COM J-RAY • 121 SOUTH UNIVERSITY BLVD. 342-6322. JRAYSHOES.COM TINY TOWN FAIRHOPE • 337 FAIRHOPE AVE. 928-0220. TINYTOWNINC.COM TINY TOWN MOBILE • 3980 AIRPORT BLVD. 341-1480

august 2017 | mobilebaymag.com 35

Hoping for

FLATFISH A night adventure at Fort Morgan proves that flounder gigging is more than just a game of hit or miss. text by BRECK PAPPAS

•

photos by MEGGAN AND JEFF HALLER

B

o Carrington holds the Coleman lantern as his cousin Will Waechter sparks it to life, the flaming propane illuminating Bo’s freckled, 13-year-old face. The sand fleas and gnats that assaulted this sandy cove on the Fort Morgan peninsula just an hour ago have largely settled down with the darkness, but the lantern’s light stirs many back into a frenzy.

Will, 12, works intently. Floundering, to him, is serious business. Bo, though no less businesslike, can’t seem to find a way to hide the gleeful glint in his eyes. The two Mobile youngsters have been gigging flounder longer than they can remember, which is to say they’ve got about a 10-year head start on this office-dwelling magazine writer.

Mercifully, the boys don’t treat me like a lost cause. While we had waited for the sun to go down, I asked a barrage of floundering questions.

“Have you ever gigged your own foot on accident?”

“No, sir.”

“Are there stingrays out here?”

“Yessir.”

“You ever been stung by one?”

“No, sir.”

Time to abandon the yes-or-no questions.

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TOP Will Waechter, left, helps cousin Bo Carrington light a propane Coleman lantern in preparation for an attempt at flounder gigging on the Fort Morgan peninsula.

ABOVE This quick-darting needlefish is just one of the countless creatures swarming within our beam of lantern light.

LEFT Will Waechter prowls the sandy shore with gig in hand. It’s always a good idea to wear some sort of protective footwear when floundering, the boys explain, to protect your feet against sharp rocks or a stingray’s barb.

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“How quiet do you have to be when you’re walking through the water?”

Bo pauses thoughtfully. “Well … are you gonna be asking us a lot of questions while we’re fishing?”

His mother, Scooter, laughs. “I think that’s Bo’s way of saying, ‘Try and stay quiet,’” she says.

Once the two lanterns are lit, each boy politely offers to carry one, allowing me to tote a single-pronged gig. Without much ceremony, Bo and Will walk shin-deep into the warm water, and I follow behind.

The boys are at the tail end of their annual family vacation at Fort Morgan, and it’s quickly apparent that the rain showers that attempted to keep them inside over the past few days have also clouded the Bay water. Undeterred, our threesome presses on, hunched over the circle of light at our feet.

Flounder are ambush feeders, settling on the Bay floor under a layer of sediment and waiting for a shrimp or bait fish to swim above. The flatfish are good hiders, and murky water doesn’t make the fisherman’s job any easier. Will says the trick is to look for the flounder’s eyes, which reflect the light of a lantern. If the fish’s faint outline indicates it’s of legal size (at least 12 inches long), the fisherman will slowly lower his gig into the water before making the quick, fatal jab.

Perhaps the best thing about floundering is that it squeezes every ounce of your focus into an area of a few feet, and within your small pool of lantern light, the outside world ceases to exist. But around your toes, another world reveals itself. Crabs of every size prance left, right and center. Minnows dart behind rocks. Will plunges his hand into the water and comes up with a needlefish in his fist.

Our group stalks the shoreline, forced to stay in the shallows on account of the foggy water. “There’s a flounder bed,” Bo says, holding a lantern over an oval depression in the sand. “This is where a flounder buried himself earlier, but it’s gone now.” august 2017 | mobilebaymag.com 39

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW • Gig: The pole used for flounder gigging can have one or more barbed prongs (the fewer the prongs, the more skill required). Some fishermen purchase just the spear head and attach it to their own makeshift pole, but complete gigs are also available. If gigging from a boat, be sure to use a long-handled gig.

• Light: The traditional fisherman will want to use a Coleman propane lantern, but many others prefer to use an underwater electric light, which can provide a better spread and doesn’t create a glare on the water’s surface.

• Location: The best spot for floundering is on a solid, sandy bottom along the shoreline. The most popular locations are along Dauphin Island and the Fort Morgan peninsula.

• Ideal conditions: A calm night with very little wind and a rising tide. Avoid days following a rainfall, as the water is murkier after a storm.

• Legal requirements: A saltwater fishing license is required to go flounder gigging.

The fish must measure at least 12 inches with a bag limit of 10 fish per person.

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ABOVE Bo Carrington presents the aged gig head that once belonged to Trip Palmer, the cousins’ grandfather.

The shallow cove is a graveyard of flounder beds, but as of yet, there are no flatfish to be seen. “You either see a lot of flounder or you don’t see any at all,” Will says. It’s quickly becoming clear which kind of outing tonight will be.

But for the two cousins, the night is anything but a failure. In fact, floundering almost takes a backseat as the boys explore the Bay’s teeming nightlife. Will fetches the underwater light he got for Christmas. Some fishermen prefer this contraption, as it doesn’t reflect the ripples on the water’s surface like an above-water lantern. Will walks ahead with his light and thinks aloud.

“They call really big flounder ‘doormats,’” he says. “I’m not really sure why.”

“Well, because they’re flat and big,” Bo says. “Like a doormat.”

“Oh, yeah. I guess that makes sense.”

Bo carries a long, five-pronged gig that once belonged to the boys’ grandfather.

The weathered spear is a symbol — of family tradition, of long nights in warm, shallow waters, of flounder gigged and left ungigged.

“But y’all still had fun, right?” I ask the boys as they extinguish their lights.

“Yessir.” MB august 2017 | mobilebaymag.com 41

text by CHELSEA ADAMS AND HALLIE KING

PHOTO COURTESY NATURE CONNECT ALABAMA

INTO THE WILD

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message, the familiar vibration of a phone call, little red numbers telling you how PHOTO COURTESY NATURE CONNECT ALABAMA

I

t’s difficult to escape it. The ding of a text

much you’ve missed online. But there’s a

great big world beyond the ‘net.

Lower Alabama has much to be explored.

Wooded trails, waterfront views, swampy hideaways, critter encounters — the natural scenes all around Mobile Bay call out for curious explorers and wandering souls. Step away from the digital world for a spell. Take a look around. It’s time to venture into the wild.

NATURE CONNECT ALABAMA Just about every Mobile family has stories of past generations roaming wide open spaces. With a little help, today’s youngsters can create their own tales. At Nature Connect, a Daphne day camp at Village Point Park Preserve, the next generation makes memories just as daring and adventurous as their parents and grandparents before them. Animal knowledge, sensory skills, bird calling, plant identification, fundamental crafting and exploration are a select few of the array of skills developed.

Shaded trees, wooded streams and Mobile Bay welcome children ages 3 to 10 as they gather in their respective age groups on Wednesdays and Thursdays in the fall and spring, pictured left and above right.

The summer camps have passed, but keep watch for the announcement of the 2018 summer camp schedule, where kids can experience an entire week of primitive adventure. natureconnectalabama.org

PHOTO COURTESY CAROL M. HIGHSMITH

A day camp for kids, Daphne

THE BOARDWALK AT BLAKELEY STATE PARK Strolling with a view, Spanish Fort A day will eventually come when the weather is perfect and the kids are antsy for an adventure, but Mom and Dad aren’t keen on going too far from home. On a day like this, a short drive over the Bay to the boardwalk at Blakeley State Park is in order.

Arrive amidst a canopy of tall pine trees, then cruise through the park all the way to Washington Square. Step out of the car and watch as the kids race through the peaceful square to explore the grand yet rustic gazebo or take a look at one of the antiquated water pumps hiding near the treeline.

Keep walking toward the boardwalk that invites you to the waterfront. As the kids run ahead to watch the pelicans or wave to passing boaters, relax and stroll in the plentiful shade. The Mobile skyline winks at you from the distance. Say hello to a hiding tree on your way out, watching as the children giggle and play among the massive roots. On the way home, glance in the rearview mirror to see red-cheeked children dozing after an exciting field trip to the river. blakeleypark.com august 2017 | mobilebaymag.com 43

BLAKELEY STATE PARK SQUIRREL’S NESTS Camping, Spanish Fort Winding walking trails through Blakeley State Park take you to a wooded bluff high above the river. The spot is well hidden; it would be easy to pass them up without even noticing. Leaves crunch underfoot as you hike, and a salty scent hangs in the air from the nearby Bay. Perched atop the bluff sit several screened-in shelters, ready to protect campers from unwanted critters while preserving the forest view. Inside, a wooden platform sits up off the ground, perfect for sleeping bags. Away from the more populated RV and tent camping sites, the Squirrel’s Nest retreats give you the feel of primitive camping with slightly more shelter. blakeleypark.com/camping.asp

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CHICKASABOGUE PARK

Biking, north Mobile

Winding turns, uphill climbs and downhill slopes create a mountain biker’s paradise through the pine straw-laden hills and sandy flats of Eight Mile. Chickasabogue Park offers 14 miles of intertwining trails for beginner and experienced bikers alike. Gentle bumps of scattered rocks and protruding roots accompany the texture transitions of sand patches and wet swales.

Tweeting birds, grazing deer and resident swamp life elevate an ambient ride for all riders from young ages to experienced mountain bikers. Adventure lurks around every corner with dry, wet, soft, stiff, mild and intermediate parts of the trek. Bikers are encouraged to move in the opposite direction of hikers as they soar over bridges and bogs. Strap on a helmet and hop on two wheels for a day of lower Alabama biking. mobilecountyal.gov/living/parks_chickasabogue.html

GULF STATE PARK Activities, activities! Gulf Shores Morning alfresco yoga classes and guided kayak tours; snake and sea turtle educational encounters; pier walks to learn about the Gulf Shores ecosystems. The Gulf State Park Nature Center’s rotating weekly schedule offers varied adventures for every beachgoer or outdoorsperson. Check out this week’s schedule online. alapark.com/Gulf-State-Park-Activities

AUDUBON BIRD SANCTUARY

USA CAMPUS Urban hiking, Mobile

Life moves a little slower and a little smoother on Dauphin Island, so add another peaceful activity to your to-do list. Three miles of trails sit on 137 acres of protected wetlands in one of the country’s best spots for bird watching. Because the Island is the first spit of land migrating birds will see after the long trip across the Gulf come spring, some days the exhausted birds literally fall out of the sky. But don’t be fooled. Plenty of migrating shore birds take flight in late August, and the bon voyage continues throughout the fall, so it’s worth a visit no matter the time of year.

Bonus: The walking paths twist through swamps, around a lake and right out to the beach for those who love a mid-hike dip in the Gulf. dauphinisland.org/audubon-bird-sanctuary

PHOTO BY KATHY HICKS

Bird watching, Dauphin Island

GRAHAM CREEK NATURE PRESERVE Make your entrance to the swamps and backwaters of the Gulf of Mexico from an entirely new direction with a gentle kayak down the Graham Creek Nature Preserve. Beginning in Foley, these forest wetlands and two miles of quiet creek take you all the way to Wolf Bay. Keep an eye out for schools of fish, lush landscapes, birds in flight, and even the occasional dolphin or alligator. The venture grants a new perspective of the waters that feed the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico and an opportunity to see Foley with fresh eyes, exploring the natural wonders that our coastal ecosystems have to offer. grahamcreekpreserve.org

PHOTO BY KATHY HICKS

Kayaking, Foley

The sounds of nearby traffic filter through, muffled by the towering pine trees but not completely blocked by them.

A well-worn path stretches ahead. Placards along the way teach passersby all about the wildlife and fauna to be found.

The biggest surprise, though?

This hideaway trail sits right in a busy part of Mobile on the campus of the University of South Alabama.

Colored paths on a map outline varying trail lengths, with a yellow line representing an easy one-mile hike. Stepping into the woods, color swatches painted onto tree bark guide you through the foliage like a Southern version of the yellow brick road. The single-mile loop is perfect for a quick lunch break walk, while the longer 5K route would make for a peaceful early morning jog. Every hiker will feel at home, close to home.

For information on where to park and trail entry points, visit southalabama.edu and search “Glenn Sebastian Nature Trail.”

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BARTRAM CANOE TRAIL Canoeing to Mound Island

PHOTO COURTESY ALABAMA HISTORICAL COMMISSION

Mist rises from the still waters of the river, and the sun’s only been up for a few minutes. Tree limbs draped in vibrant green leaves dip to almost kiss the surface of the water. Today’s destination on the Bartram Canoe Trail is Mound Island.

Take in the awe-inspiring mounds left by Native Americans centuries ago at the Bottle Creek Indian Mound Complex. Built by the largest Mississippian chiefdom on the north-central Gulf Coast, the mounds comprise an important cultural, religious, trading and social complex that would have been a major part of the lives of native peoples. The tallest of the 18 mounds measures 45 feet, making for a remarkable sight to behold beneath its dense vegetation.

Only serious adventurers need apply.

As the complex is a National Historic Landmark, please practice “leave no trace” hiking: Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures. alabamacanoetrails.com/bartram

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PHOTO BY BRENT WALKER

BON SECOUR WILDLIFE REFUGE

KAYAKING

Tooling through nature, Fort Morgan

Where to launch? Where to rent? Guides? Groups?

For those looking to get a closer peek at everything Mother Nature has to offer, the Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge loans nature discovery packs. Open up the backpack to find binoculars, magnifying glasses, field guides, journals and bird identification books ­— everything you need to see and experience Alabama like never before. It’s the perfect tool to get a family walking, talking and engaged with the wild world around them.

The Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge lives up to its name (translated directly from the French as “safe harbor”), providing a home for hundreds of bird populations, barrier habitats, and threatened and endangered species. The chirping of migrating birds resonates in your ears as you watch nesting sea turtles and scurrying beach mammals navigate the coastal wetland. Slinging the backpack over your shoulder, take heart that you have the tools at hand to discover a more personal, involved relationship with the natural surroundings. Pause, listen, watch and enjoy our little corner of the world. fws.gov/refuge/bon_secour

Mobilians know water. It surrounds the Port City and beckons adventurers to step up and explore its environs. Day trips or overnight, solo or group excursions; whatever floats your boat, allow these folks to create the experience of the summer.

RENTALS 17 Turtles Outfitters Fly Creek, Fairhope $30 - $60, 3- and 8-hour rates, 1- and 2-person kayaks available 17turtlesoutfitters.org Beach ‘n’ River Rentals Gulf Shores $35 - $75, 1- and 2-person kayaks available beachnriverkayakrentals.com

MEAHER STATE PARK Shore fishing, Causeway

TOURS Wild Native Tours Wildlife Kayak EcoTour and The Stars Fell on Alabama Kayak Tour $34 - $49 wildnativetours.com PHOTO BY KATHY HICKS

Most hardcore fishermen are pretty tight-lipped about their favorite offshore haunts. But with nothing more than a freshwater fishing license and a little light tackle, those without a boat can snag their own piece of fishing glory at Meaher State Park’s 200-foot pier. Reaching out into the lower Delta with a seemingly endless expanse of water and marsh grasses stretching forward, the area surrounding the pier is home to many fresh and saltwater fish, including bass, bream, drum, redfish, speckled trout and flounder. alapark.com/meaher-state-park

OVERNIGHT KAYAK TRIPS Alabama State Lands Canoe Trails Bartram Canoe Trails (floating campsites) or Perdido River Canoe Trail (camping shelters) Reservation only: $26.50/night alabamainteractive.org/ campsite/

GROUPS Mobile Bay Canoe and Kayak Club Club meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month at the 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center. baykayaker.blogspot.com august 2017 | mobilebaymag.com 47

text by EMMETT BURNETT photos by ELIZABETH GELINEAU

WELCOME TO WILDCAT NATION

A

sk Citronelle locals for the best way to experience their town, and the answer is usually, “Take a hike.”

The response is meant in a nice way. The suggested hike is through the town’s Walking Trail with two miles of centuryold churches, “Norman Rockwell with a Southern accent” style homes and 200 years of history. Almost every able-bodied person in town has walked the trail. “I’m on it every day,” says Al McDonald, former mayor and 50-plus-year Citronelle resident. “It’s a quiet place. Relaxing, just like the city.”

You hear that a lot. Peace and quiet are attractive qualities of the town. “We benefit by virtue of our proximity,” McDonald adds. “Citronelle does not have huge shopping malls and hospitals, but we’re close enough to the cities that do.” To some,

that’s a problem. To others, it’s an advantage.

“Our location gives us easy access to Mobile, Saraland, the beaches, and the Florida and Mississippi coasts,” the former mayor adds. “And we have most of what we need right here.” For Citronelle’s almost entire existence, others have found what they need here, too. So, lace up the sneakers and walk a mile in Citronelle shoes. Let’s take a hike.

ABOVE A local Wildcat tags a player out in a recent youth baseball tournament held at the Citronelle Ball Park. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CALL NEWS OPPOSITE Local veterinarian Mike Salmon strolls the town’s famous walking path after a long day at the clinic with his wife Marie, daughter Grace and the family dog, Lacey.

The couple also owns and farms land that was homesteaded by Marie’s great-grandparents. The walking path was built on defunct railroad tracks with the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.

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CITRONELLE

The Land of Healing Waters

HISTORY IN BRIEF

In 1777, nationally proclaimed botanist William Bartram set out on a mission and canoed north from Mobile into an Indian village. He met Native Americans who told him tales of a local plant with medicinal properties that allegedly cured malaria.

The plant was named “citronella.”

News spread of the curative plant and the community north of Mobile that took on the plant’s name. Later, the railroad came to town, and in 1851, the Mobile & Ohio line changed its train stop station name from “Citronella” to “Citronelle.” The name stuck, as did the community’s reputation as a place of vigor and vitality.

“Citronelle sits on a formation of clay, sand and gravel,” explains town historian Gordon Vernon. “It is a natural aquifer, filtering the water, rendering some the purest available.” By the early 1800s, Citronelle had a national following as “The Land of Healing Waters.” The water was bottled and sold nationwide, and people from all over the country visited, not just for the water but for its very air, which was also believed to heal.

One such man was a dying New Yorker by the name of William Seward Burroughs. Burroughs moved to Citronelle in the late 1800s, hoping the town’s legendary environment would cure his tuberculosis. Sadly, in 1898, the sickly 42-year-old died in Citronelle just six years after inventing the world’s first adding machine, which launched the global conglomerate, the Burroughs Corporation.

The town also played a major role in the final days of the Civil War. On May 4, 1865, the last surrender of the Confederate Army east of the Mississippi River was signed off in Citronelle under a giant oak tree. The massive timber stood until 1906 when the “Surrender Oak” surrendered to a hurricane.

Eventually, Citronelle had another major draw for newcomers. An oil boom hit the town in the mid-1950s. “That changed everything,” recalls Vernon. “‘The Land of Healing Waters’ became the ‘Oil Capital of Alabama.’ At one time, over 400 oil wells pumped in Citronelle.”

Some are still there, still pumping.

CITRONELLE INCORPORATED

1892

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500

Books used to establish the Citronelle Library in 1893

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP The Hygeia Cottage, built in 1904, once offered overnight accomodations to travelers just off the train. It now houses exhibits as part of the Citronelle Historical Preservation Society’s Depot Museum. Former Citronelle Mayor and President of the Historical Society Al McDonald shows off the many exhibits and artifacts at the Museum.

OPPOSITE Both the old depot and a train car help house the museum’s extensive collection of historical artifacts.

9,000

Soldiers waved the white flag at the last surrender of the Confederate Army east of the Mississippi River

ELEVATION

312 ft

THINGS TO DO

DON’T MISS

“Oh, come on,” I said incredulously as curator Jo Nichols explained that there are thousands of exhibits in the Citronelle Depot Museum. And then I toured it. And then I apologized. Do not leave town without seeing this place.

The Citronelle Depot Museum runs parallel to the Walking Trail. Three sisters help run it in conjunction with the Citronelle Historical Preservation Society: Jo Nichols, Debbie Odom and Tweety Miller. “People do not realize what all we have here,” Jo says. “It is chock-full of artifacts covering centuries.” The building itself is an artifact.

Opened in 1903 as a train station, most of the building’s construction material is original. “How old do you think the floor is?” Tweety inquires. I’m guessing by the fresh shine, maybe 10 years old. Wrong. It is the original floor installed in 1903, complete with original grout — a mix of 1903 mud and sawdust.

William Burroughs’ adding machine is here, as is a pair of 1870 wedding shoes signed by President Ulysses S. Grant. A fully restored last-century doctor’s office, a movie theater seat (Citronelle once had a movie theater — you could pay a dime and stay all day) and oil-drilling equipment of bygone days are displayed, too. If that isn’t enough, step outside. Two railcars are loaded with more to see.

“I can’t pick a favorite,” Odom says, acting as tour guide and examining artifacts. “But one would be this old cane made from the Surrender Oak Tree.”

The museum’s hours are Saturday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., but visits may be scheduled on other days by special request. The admission price is pretty special, too; the museum is free.

Comments from a Google search give Citronelle’s 18-hole Municipal Golf Course a fivestar rating, which is no surprise to golf course employee Jackie Lowe. “It is one of the best-kept secrets on the Gulf Coast.”

Lowe explains, “The front nine is long and wide open, but the back nine is tight and wide.”

For you non-golfers, that means it’s challenging. And whether you ask a seasoned golf pro or someone a little greener, they all agree that the course is beautiful no matter what.

The course is embedded in piney woods beside the 100acre Mill Creek Lake. “During your game, water comes into play,” warns Lowe. The golf lake is fishable, stocked with bass, catfish and little white balls. A pro shop, cafe and other amenities cater to local golfers, visitors from Mobile and Baldwin counties, and across the nation.

6,271

YARDS OF GOLF FROM THE LONGEST TEES AT MILL CREEK

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WHERE TO SHOP AND EAT “One of the assets of small-town living is our shopping,” notes Citronelle’s Jeanna Martin, owner of Jeanna’s Flower Shop. “Unlike big-box stores, hometown shopping doesn’t overwhelm you. The store’s staff members know you and probably know what you need before you do.” Martin’s shop, where she’s been arranging and selling florals in town for 32 years, sits on 3rd Street just waiting for you to pay a visit.

Also on 3rd Street is the Iron Skillet Restaurant, which residents generally visit three times a day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The lunch buffet includes roast beef, pork chops, vegetables, cobblers and genuine server friendliness. I had not heard, “Hi, sweetheart,” or “More coffee, baby?’’ this much since my honeymoon, which did not include all-you-can-eat fried catfish.

3,905

CURRENT POPULATION

94

Years that Andrews Hardware has been in business

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Mobilian Beth Majure stops at The Iron Skillet Restaurant every time she comes to town for work. Their country cooking buffet lunch is a must.

Shoppers browse the aisles of Andrews Ace Hardware on Highway 45. It originally opened in the 1890s as Pick Hardware downtown and was purchased by the Andrews family in 1923. It is now run by Bruce and Jeanie Andrews and their two sons, who are fifth-generation owners. A few cute shops, salons and cafes line the main drag of downtown Citronelle, including Blue Eyed Boutique. Linda Tyler paints the foils in Doris’s Beauty Shop, a local mainstay that has been in business for more than 45 years.

WHO YOU OUGHTA KNOW William Gray is a fourth-generation native of Citronelle and president of the Citronelle Youth Baseball Softball Association. “If you want to see a beautiful sight, be here during ball season,” he says, referring to the town’s sports fields. “This town rocks Friday nights.

Thousands of youngsters are playing ball.”

Gray and his wife, Jessie, have two children, a 9-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy. As lifelong Citronelle residents, they’ve never considered living anywhere else. His explanation is simple: “I stay because I love it.

I want to give back to the community that has given me so much.”

Locals often joke about how the town is so familiar. Out of 3,905 residents, about 3,500 know each other. Gray adds, “Some call us a bedroom community, and I guess that is true to some extent. But my children go to school here. Their teachers are the same people I grew up with. If I need to talk with a teacher, I already know them.

It’s that personal connection we have.”

ABOVE Detective Nick King takes a break from the beat at the Municipal Building.

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PRIDE OF PLACE This past May, 17-year-old Katherine Thompson earned her place in local history. She is the first valedictorian of the new Citronelle High School, which opened in August 2016. “It hasn’t hit me yet,” the honor student shares. “I feel like I don’t deserve it. All of my classmates are hardworking.

But certainly, to be the first valedictorian in the new school is an honor.”

The $25-million campus replaced the one across the street, which began as a log house education center in 1886. You heard me: 1886.

Grover Cleveland was president.

“There are so many traditions at Citronelle High,” head principal Randy Campbell claims, pointing at the previous high school building that was built in 1913 and is currently being dismantled. “It is hard to comprehend the stories and experiences of those who graduated from that building.”

Almost everyone in town went to school here, as did their parents, their parents before and their parents before that. “Few communities are as loyal to its schools as Citronelle,” the principal adds, smiling with pride. “This is Wildcat Nation.”

Alma Johnson is a proud member of Wildcat Nation, too. Though, she points out, “I am not originally from Citronelle. I came here at the age of 5.” Today, she is 94.

“My goodness, look at the changes,” she says, referencing her alma mater, Citronelle High School. She graduated with the class of 1940. “The school is strong and survived just like the town did. Many thought our close bonds would change when oil was discovered, but they didn’t,” she explains. “Citronelle has always been a family place. The oil boom didn’t change that. It just brought in more families.”

The Citronelle School System has the largest attendance zone in Mobile County. It covers a 25-mile radius, spanning from Interstate 65 in Creola to the Mississippi state line.

As for the new facility, Thompson has mixed feelings. “I liked the old school. It was like home to me, but the new building is state-of-the-art and has electrical outlets that don’t blow up your cell phone.” Always moving forward, as they say.

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SPECIAL EVENTS

On the first Saturday of May, thousands pour into town for the Surrender Oak Festival. The highlight of the day is an annual reenactment of May 4, 1865, one of Dixie’s last stands in the Civil War. But it has evolved into a celebration of all things Citronelle, its people and its heritage.

On that fateful day of defeat, 9,000 troops were in town for the sign-off. But yesterday’s loss in war is today’s victory in funnel cakes. The Surrender Oak Festival features museum tours, historical readings, musical performances, great food, and arts and crafts. The all-day event is an opportunity for the town to shine, and its light shines bright.

Citronelle is a town that is proud of its history but celebrates its present. “We have a lot of natural beauty,” says resident Freda McDonald, wife of Al McDonald.

“Citronelle has done a good job of blending natural beauty with functionality. For example, our community center is not just lovely; it is booked well in advance.”

Long-time resident Kathy Richardson notes, “We are small but not a country town. For some it is a bedroom community, but you can get almost everything you need right here.”

Citronelle is a good place to be, in the Land of Healing Waters, Alabama’s oil capital and America’s former health spa.

Residents and visitors alike take it all in stride, every day, on a walking trail through an incredible town. MB OPPOSITE TOP Elijah Darrington, left, Owen Capps, middle, and Casten Reed, right, take a break between classes at Citronelle High School. The brand new facilty is a source of pride for the community, which has a long history of supporting education.

The first Citronelle School was built in 1886.

OPPOSITE BOTTOM A ferocious wildcat medallion greets visitors as they enter the airy main foyer.

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ANTIQUES

&

ECCENTRICITIES One Citronelle transplant has brought a vibrant new energy to an antebellum farmhouse. text by MAGGIE LACEY

• photos by SUMMER ENNIS

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D

irections to Kitty Hutty Farm in Citronelle are vague at best. “Look for the woods past the house with the nice fence.” The driveway is unmarked and the house is hidden behind a deep thicket of woods at the end of a shaded circular driveway. The approach takes you along the side of the house rather than to the front door, for the home was built before the road existed. The drama magnifies as you step out of the car and take in the wild vines growing over the deep porch filled with colorful and comfortable spots to sit and catch the summer breeze. Darlene Lane has brought panache and personality to every corner of this 1850s Greek revival farmhouse that is in a constant state of renovation and probably will be for some time. That’s how it goes with old houses. They are a living, breathing thing.

In 2002, Lane decided to close the bed-and-breakfast she owned in Downtown Mobile and downsize, looking for a sensible brick home in a sensible neighborhood. The only problem was none of her grand antique furniture fit into

the ranch bungalows she toured. She changed directions completely and fell in love at first sight with a pre-Civil War farmhouse in north Mobile County in need of more than just a little TLC. The home had no running water or electricity, and the porch was completely gone. Little by little, she brought each room back to life with her own hands, staying true to the period and using the original fixtures wherever possible.

It has been a labor of love, and the (un)finished product is an outward example of Lane’s dynamic personality.

“The tin ceilings and the wallpaper in the hall bath are bastardizations from the ‘70s,” she explains, meaning of course the 1870s. The Victorians found the simplicity and symmetry of Greek revival too staid and attempted to inflect a touch of flourish here and there. Despite this perceived vandalization of the home’s purity, Lane left the post-Civil War additions, deciding to restore and repaint the tin ceilings instead. The metallic paint perfectly reflects the warm glow of candlelight used throughout the house. It’s like stepping back in time.

ABOVE LEFT Lane displays her paintings of Native Americans alongside historical artifacts along the home’s stairway. She reasons that local tribes would certainly have been around when the house was constructed, so she wanted to honor that connection.

ABOVE RIGHT A Victorian cake topper sits sealed under glass, beautiful in all its detail. The wooden bride and groom were carved by hand, and the base of the topper is made of the original icing. Lane once regrettably opened the cloche, and the topper immediately began to deteriorate but is stable now.

OPPOSITE The living room sofa anchors a gallery wall of oil paintings and taxidermy. Stuffed pheasant, equestrian and canine paintings, turkey beards and more imply a history of landed gentry that is still a little tongue in cheek.

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To say the house has good bones is an understatement. With 13-foot ceilings, a wide central hall and beautiful architectural symmetry, the house was prime renovation material. The large double glass front doors close over what might have originally been an open-air dog trot, and the detached kitchen still stands off the back, a rare survivor for its kind. Many burned to the ground in kitchen fires long before our lifetimes (hence why antebellum builders had them detached in the first place). The way Lane celebrates each of these historical attributes is infectious.

In contrast to the spare architecture of Greek revival, Lane’s decorating style is “more is more,” but only if it is antique. She has amassed collections of every sort: china, silver, quilts, Native American art, taxidermy, antique gas lanterns, pots and pans. The list goes on, but each collection is displayed in perfect vignettes that charm the senses. The eye cannot possibly take it all in at once, and everywhere you look you are surprised and delighted.

The general aesthetic is antiques dealer meets cabinet of curiosities, with a serious Southern drawl.

Lane has opted to forgo some modern conveniences in pursuit of historical purity, and she doesn’t seem to miss a beat without them. While the thought of living in the Deep South with no air conditioning might seem abhorrent to most, with the right architecture it is not such a daunting fate. With knowledge mostly lost to the home builders of today, the way a home is situated on a piece of property and the depth and direction of porches can make all the difference in temperature. Breezes waft through the large screened doors so strongly that Lane had to remove the hall table after it blew over too many times, no doubt shattering some antique bric-a-brac to pieces. A cool OPPOSITE TOP LEFT The vintage restaurant stove has made several moves with Lane. It holds a collection of enamel-ware pots and pans.

OPPOSITE TOP RIGHT “Esmerelda” the chicken watches over the kitchen with a dizzy look on her face. The original lathe boards peek out from under the plaster on the walls. A cozy sitting area is tucked in one corner of the kitchen, and the hand-stenciled floor peeks out from beneath an assortment of oriental rugs.

OPPOSITE BOTTOM A collection of vintage mugs is on display in the curved-front china cabinet in the hall.

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shade envelops the back porch all summer long, and in winter the front porch stays bright, sunny and warm.

The house was literally built for this.

The piece de resistance for Kitty Hutty Farm is the mural in the central hall, hand-painted by local artist Pam Byrd. It depicts Lane’s family and their ancestral home along Kitty Hutty Creek in north Mississippi, in honor of which she has named her Citronelle home.

The folk art depictions are Lane’s way of bridging her own history with the world she is creating in Citronelle.

The best way to get a sneak peek of Kitty Hutty Farm is to snag an invitation to Lane’s much anticipated annual Winter Solstice party, named such so as not to offend any non-Christians in her acquaintance. The party is set aglow by candlelight while an opera singer wanders the halls, transporting guests back in time. In recent years, Lane began leaving her Christmas decorations up all year long in the dining room and parlor to save effort for next year’s soiree, but admittedly it increases the eccentric vibe of the home. History runs deep here, whether through objects, architecture or memories, but it is all accented with a large dash of Lane’s flair. It’s something you have to see to believe. MB ABOVE A silver tray holding an assortment of cordials and antique glassware welcomes guests into the living room.

OPPOSITE The kitchen is a cozy hodge-podge of quilts, silver, china and folk art. The island was custom-made from an antique table and the farm sink is from the 1920s. Several mini fridges and freezers are tucked in amidst the antique cabinetry.

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HISTORY

The Unbeatable Bill Yeager An ad man heralded as a genius by friends and opponents alike text by EMMETT BURNETT

F

ew among us have “king-maker” on our resume. Bill Yeager didn’t either. But he could have.

A south Alabama ad man and political adviser from the late 1950s to 2006, his clients included a governor, congressmen, mayors, judges, city councilmen — the mighty and the soon to be.

All had a common denominator: Their odds of winning elections greatly increased with Yeager on speed dial.

He was a shaper of political fortunes, home by 6 p.m. for dinner. He spent Sundays in church and was a friend so revered that several of this story’s sources fought back tears during interviews.

William “Bill” N. Yeager, Jr., graduated from the University of Alabama with a journalism degree, intending to become a top-notch sports writer. But he also wanted to earn money. Which meant he couldn’t be a sports writer.

In the 1950s, he joined the Mobile advertising firm of Morris Timbes, which later became Timbes & Yeager Inc. after Bill ascended to company president.

Along with long-term commercial accounts such as Joe Bullard Olds and others, he gradually migrated to working with political candidates and campaigns. “I don’t think Bill realized how good he was,” former co-worker Shirley Dean says. “He could put his finger on the pulse of Mobile. He just had a knack for it. He could see things.”

Yeager demanded undivided attention. “Before taking you as a client, he would take you behind closed doors and say, ‘Tell me everything I need to know about you,’” recalls Dean. “He had to OPPOSITE Bill Yeager at work at his desk.

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“To the teacher, my mentor, my friend. You have helped make a dream come true for a young man from Wilcox County. I only hope my service in Congress makes you as proud as your friendship has honored me all these years. Forever – Jo.” An inscription by Congressman Jo Bonner from a photograph (not shown) taken of the pair embracing on election night.

believe in you 100 percent or he would not represent you.” He commanded his clients, “Don’t listen to what everybody tells you. Listen to me.” And they did.

Clients explain that Yeager did not learn the art of politics from a book; he wrote the book. He had little need for focus groups because he was one himself.

“Dad was brutally honest; he had no filter,” said Yeager’s daughter Sherry Yeager Hall. “He told you exactly how it was.”

When gubernatorial candidate Bob Riley came to town, Yeager was quick on the draw. “Let me tell you what to do the next time you drive down here,” he told the future governor. “Get rid of that Mercedes and drive a pickup truck!”

Former Mobile mayor Mike Dow explains, “You had two choices in running for public office. You listened to Bill Yeager and won, or you thought you knew more than he did and lost.” The four-term mayor smiles. “I listened.”

Former U.S. Rep. Jack Edwards listened, too. “Bill was tough as nails,” he recalls. “Yeager told you what he thought, but he was open to what you had to say. I remember a campaign statement he wanted me to say. I argued, ‘Bill, I just can’t say that. It’s not me.’ We clashed sometimes but always reached a compromise.”

Former U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner’s recol66 mobilebaymag.com | august 2017

lections are vivid. “Without a doubt, Yeager was a genius in advertising and public relations politics,” he says. “His word was more than a recommendation; it was taken as gospel.”

Bonner noted that Bill listened to coffee shop talk, city streets and church talk, and he deeply understood Mobile.

“He could synthesize public opinion into powerful 30-second TV spots.”

Frank McRight remembers a classic TV spot that may have cost him the election in a memorable race against Yeager.

In 1984, the young Democrat challenged Republican Sonny Callahan for U.S. Congress House District 1. His ad man was Robert Squires, the nationally famous and undefeated Democratic strategist from Louisiana. The race was heated, tight and hard-fought. “I remember watching TV local news,” recalls McRight. “The race was going well.” And then Ronald Reagan came on TV. In a locally aired commercial, the president of the United States implored south Alabama: I need Sonny Callahan to help me in Washington.

Can I count on your vote?

“Apparently, Bill got President Reagan to make a commercial for Callahan,” McRight remembers with awe. Viewing the TV spot, someone patted the challenger’s shoulder and said, “That

was the winning campaign message.”

(McRight’s campaign also had to absorb the visit to Mobile by U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, inexplicably invited by other local Democratic bigwigs to come down and rally the faithful. Most Democrats who could, such as U.S. Sen. Howell Heflin, scurried to other parts of the state, regretting that their “schedules” required them to be elsewhere.)

“But I’ll say this about Bill,” adds McRight, who is now a Birmingham attorney, “Yeager was truthful. Now at times he would spin the truth in ways I wish he hadn’t, but that’s politics. He was a fighter, yet still a good man.”

Perhaps the most memorable campaign was Sonny Callahan’s legendary “You Don’t Know Me” commercial. When it ended, not only did Alabama know Sonny, but so did the whole country.

In 1982, Callahan faced an uphill battle for lieutenant governor against Bill Baxley. Yeager created a simulation of American Express’s TV commercial in which famous yet unrecognizable people held an Amex Card to the screen and said, “You don’t know me.” Sonny’s commercial did the same thing, until American Express found out about it.

The credit card company demanded that the commercial stop running or legal action would follow. “Okay,” an-

OPPOSITE LEFT From left to right, Congressman Jo Bonner, Betty Yeager, Janée Bonner and Bill Yeager at a campaign event in October 2002.

OPPOSITE RIGHT Bill Yeager, left, celebrates at Jack Edwards’ after-election victory party with coworker Shirley Dean and Charles Jackson. The photo is inscribed by Jack Edwards.

swered Yeager, but not before holding a press conference, outraged because a New York conglomerate was bullying Alabamians. Callahan’s camp announced with indignation that it was forced to withdraw the ad, although they stated they had planned to pull the ad anyway in order to save money.

The commercial made national headlines, including a segment on the Today Show. It did not cost one dime.

In 1988, a 41-year-old businessman with no political experience and little name recognition approached Yeager, asking for help in running for city council. “No, forget city council. You need to run for mayor,” Yeager told Mike Dow. “We met for dinner. I planned to interview him about running my campaign,” Dow says. “That quickly turned around. He interviewed me.”

The Dow-Yeager campaign included an all-out billboard assault, 25 years before Alexander Shunnarah. “He installed signs all over town with the message, ‘I Like Mike,’” recalls Dow. “And that’s all it said.”

Mobile was abuzz. “Who’s Mike? Who likes Mike? Should I like Mike?” By the time Dow announced his candidacy, “Mike” was an old friend you had never met. And Mike notes, “I would not have been mayor if not for Bill.”

Yeager’s placards were a frequent tool.

In 1980, strategically placed billboards throughout Mobile County teased one word: “Guilty.” A month later, the message read, “Guilty. Chris Galanos Puts Criminals Behind Bars.” “The man knew his stuff,” former four-term Mobile District Attorney Chris Galanos says. “But he not only gave his talents, he gave his heart.”

Clients say without hesitation that once Yeager was in your corner, you also had a friend for life. “People loved him because they knew he believed in them,” Jack Edwards states. “He was

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just a great guy.” He was also a devout jogger, which ironically, is how he died.

Ten years ago, Bill Yeager, a young 75-year-old in perfect health, was taking his morning neighborhood jog when an automobile struck him. The tragedy was ruled an accident.

Friends, clients, the mighty and the meek gathered in hospital waiting rooms for several days before Yeager died on August 17, 2006.

U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner delivered Yeager’s eulogy before the U.S. Congress. Quoting writer Chip Drago, the congressman listed many attributes of his friend: the tall, thin man with eyeglasses, sports coat and tie, always content to be on the fringe of a crowd. Clients were the focus, not Bill.

Currently in Bonner’s office is a framed photo of him and Bill, embracing after winning a campaign together. Gazing at the picture while being interviewed, he spoke of Yeager’s legacy. “If there’s a hall of fame in heaven for PR and advertising genius, Bill is chairman of the board.” MB  MB’s publisher Jocko Potts was lucky to be hired at Timbes & Yeager fresh out of college and worked eight years under Yeager’s wing, while getting an education much more valuable than his college degree. He thinks of Bill often and considers him a second father.

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A FEW NOTABLE VICTORIES Jo Bonner- US Congress, 1st District ‘02, ‘04, ‘06 Robert ByrdMobile County Circuit Judge ‘94 Bradley Byrne- State Board of Education ‘94, ‘98, ‘00, AL Senate ‘02, ‘06 H.L. “Sonny” CallahanAL House of Representatives ‘70, ‘74, AL Senate ‘78, Lieutenant Governor ‘82, US Congress, 1st District ‘84-‘00 Rosemary DeJuan ChambersMobile County Circuit Judge ‘94 Michael DowMayor of Mobile ‘89, ‘93, ‘97, ‘01 Jack EdwardsUS Congress 1st District ‘70-‘82 Vivian Davis FiguresMobile City Council ‘93, ‘97, AL Senate ‘98 Chris GalanosMobile County District Attorney ‘80, ‘86, ‘92 Tim Kant- Mayor of Fairhope ‘00, ‘04 Robert KendallMobile County Circuit Judge ‘04 Joseph LanganMobile County Commission ‘65 Jim MasonMobile County Commission ‘88 William McDermottMobile County Circuit Judge ‘98 Edward McDermottMobile County Circuit Judge ‘82 Ferrill McRaeMobile County Circuit Judge ‘00 Lambert MimsMobile County Commission ‘65, ‘69, ‘73, ‘81 Hap MyersAL Senate ‘94, ‘98 John PeavyMobile City Council ‘04 Pierre PelhamAL Senate ‘66, ‘70 Chris PringleAL House of Representatives ‘94, ‘98 Tommy SanduskyAL House of Representatives ‘74, ‘78 Nat SonnierAL House of Representatives ‘74 Rick StoutMobile County Circuit Judge ‘00 Jack TillmanMobile County Sheriff ‘94, ‘98 Charlie WallerMobile City Council ‘93, ‘97 Marion “Sugar” WarrenMobile County School Board ‘88 James WoodAL House of Representatives ‘70

 Visit mobilebaymag.com for a complete listing of Yeager’s political campaigns.

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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017 ON STAGE & EXHIBITS PG. 72 • SEPTEMBER HIGHLIGHTS PG. 74

DAUPHIN STREET BEER FESTIVAL

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

AUGUST HIGHLIGHTS

august 3

august 5

august 5

Southern Grace Dinner

Commemorative of the Battle of Mobile Bay at Fort Gaines

Sandstock

6:30 p.m. - 11 p.m. Some of the country’s best chefs serve up Gulf seafood and craftsman cocktails. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Southern Foodways Alliance. Tickets: $145.

FISHERS AT ORANGE BEACH MARINA FISHERSOBM.COM/SOUTHERNGRACE

august 3 Glow in the Park Summer Movie Series 8 p.m. Bring blankets and a picnic for a special night out with the family.

FAIRHOPERS COMMUNITY PARK 929-1466

8 a.m. - 5 p.m. The event highlights the role of Fort Gaines in the Civil War battle. As a part of the ceremony, a cannon will be fired every 45 minutes to honor soldiers.

Admission: $4 - $8.

DAUPHIN ISLAND • DAUPHINISLAND.ORG

august 5 Commemoration of the Battle of Mobile Bay at Fort Morgan 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Fort Morgan comes to life in celebration of the role it played in the Battle of Mobile Bay, complete with drills and historical reenactments.

GULF SHORES • FORT-MORGAN.ORG

Noon. Woodstock comes to the beach.

THE FLORA-BAMA • 980-5118 • FLORABAMA.COM

august 6 Founder’s Day 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Celebrate Mr. Bellingrath’s birthday with a day at the Gardens.

BELLINGRATH GARDENS AND HOME BELLINGRATH.ORG

august 26 Dauphin Street Beer Festival 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Get your mugs ready to sample a bevy of craft brews.

DAUPHIN STREET • SPECIALEVENTSMOBILE.ORG

 To have your event included in the online or print edition of Mobile Bay Magazine, email calendar@pmtpublishing.com.

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FOUNDER’S DAY AT BELLINGRATH ALABAMA CHEF CHALLENGE

august 31 Alabama Chef Challenge — A Challenge to End Hunger This culinary event features delicious food and drinks from local chefs along with the music of Roman Street, all in an effort to educate the public about the issue of hunger. Tickets: $60 in advance, $75 at the door.

FORT WHITING • 653-1617 FEEDINGTHEGULFCOAST.ORG

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ON STAGE & EXHIBITS

august 4 - 20 “The Little Mermaid” 7:30 p.m. F / Sa. 2 p.m. Su. Watch the Disney version of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale. Tickets: $15 - $20.

CHICKASAW CIVIC THEATRE • 457-8887 CCTSHOWS.COM

august 4 - 6 “Becky’s New Car” 8 p.m. F / Sa. 2:30 p.m. Su. Theatre 98 presents the Cinderella story of Becky Foster who is caught in middle age, middle management and in a middling marriage — until a millionaire stumbles across her path. Tickets: $12 - $20.

THEATRE 98 • 350 MORPHY AVE., FAIRHOPE 928-4366 • THEATRE98.ORG

august 5 Kenny Chesney 7:30 p.m. The country star returns to the Gulf Coast. Tickets: $73 - $368.

THE WHARF • 800-745-3000 • ALWHARF.COM

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SOUTHERN VOICES: A FILMMAKER SHOWCASE. PHOTO BY MAJOR ADAM COLBERT

august 20 Southern Voices: A Filmmaker Showcase 6 p.m. The film showcase features a number of short films by Southern filmmakers, which have debuted at international festivals such as Cannes and Sundance.

MOBILE MUSEUM OF ART • 208-5200 MOBILEMUSEUMOFART.COM

august 18 - 21, 25 - 27 “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”

8 p.m. F / Sa. 2 p.m. Su. The Mobile Theatre Guild presents Edward Albee’s award-winning play. Tickets: $15 - $20.

MOBILE THEATRE GUILD • 433-7513 MOBILETHEATREGUILD.ORG

august 25 - september 10 “Annie” 7:30 p.m. F / Sa. 2 p.m. Su. The Joe Jefferson Players stage the classic musical. Tickets: $10 - $20.

JOE JEFFERSON PLAYHOUSE • 471-1534 JOEJEFFERSONPLAYERS.COM

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SEPTEMBER HIGHLIGHTS

september 8 The Black Jacket Symphony: The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” 7 p.m. Doors open. 8 p.m. Show starts.

The Black Jacket Symphony recreates the Beatles’ masterful album.

Tickets: $22 - $32.

THE MOBILE SAENGER • MOBILESAENGER.COM BLACKJACKETSYMPHONY.COM

september 16 - 17 Massacre Island’s Pirate Seige 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Celebrate a unique aspect of Dauphin Island’s history and meet the pirates that stormed Mobile Bay. There will be treasure hunts on both days.

FORT GAINES • DAUPHINISLAND.ORG

september 20 Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue 6 p.m. Doors open. 7 p.m. Show starts.

The New Orleans native brings his unique brand to the Saenger with special guest The Record Company.

Admission: $31 - $37.

THE MOBILE SAENGER • MOBILESAENGER.COM

september 23 - 24 Jubilee Festival 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Enjoy a day of family fun with live local entertainment, Kids Art in the Park, classic festival food and a large screen TV setup.

OLD TOWNE DAPHNE • 621-8222 • 928-6387 ESCHAMBER.COM

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TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE

september 24 Curious George: Let’s Get Curious!

Explore the world of the beloved children’s book and TV series character, Curious George. Explore and play in the apartment building, construction site, city park and more.

THE GULF COAST EXPLOREUM • EXPLOREUM.COM

september 27 Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit 7 p.m. Doors open. 8 p.m. Show starts. The acclaimed singer-songwriter and his band come back to the Port City. Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls will also perform.

Tickets: $31 - $47.

THE MOBILE SAENGER • MOBILESAENGER.COM

september 29 - october 1 TenSixtyFive The weekend features performances from Cage the Elephant, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Blackberry Smoke, Riley Green, Muscadine Bloodline, Riverbend and more.

Admission: free.

DOWNTOWN MOBILE • TENSIXTYFIVE.COM

september 30 Delta Dash 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Held annually the last Saturday of September, this heart-stopping, mud-filled, amazing experience challenges anyone who enjoys outdoor experiences. Participants can run as a team or as individuals.

Registration fee: $55 - $70.

LOWER BRYANT’S LANDING, STOCKTON DELTADASH.ORG

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ASK MCGEHEE text by TOM MCGEHEE

I heard they’re restoring the park at the Loop. What’s its history?

A revitalization effort is underway for the Mothers’ Army and Navy League Memorial at the intersection of Government Street and Airport Boulevard. The National Society of Colonial Dames in Alabama has taken on the project, which includes new walkways, landscaping, benches, a larger fountain with water features and better lighting.

A Little History

The park was the idea of members of a group of Mobile women whose sons had served during World War I. Organized in 1917, the league met on a regular basis, while they sewed and knitted, to read letters from their sons overseas. They shipped the knitted items they created to men at army camps and soldiers stationed overseas.

Locally, they looked in on the families of soldiers and sailors and provided them with meals and clothing.

When the war ended, league members kept in touch and, in 1924, decided to build a lasting memorial to Mobilians lost during the war. Many of their own sons did not return. After securing the triangular piece of real estate from the city, they sought $20,000 for the construction of a memorial. To raise the funds, they sewed and sold hundreds of aprons and held countless dinners, card parties, dances and bazaars.

Dedication

In March of 1926, a large crowd gathered in front of the white marble colonnade designed by architect George B. Rogers.

Members of the American Legion took a prominent part in the ceremony. Boy 76 mobilebaymag.com | august 2017

ABOVE This photograph, taken in 1936, shows the park 10 years after its dedication. To raise funds for its creation, a league of mothers sewed and sold hundreds of aprons and held countless dinner parties.

LEFT A modern-day look at Memorial Park. Renovation plans include installing new walkways and benches and upgrading the fountain and lighting.

Scouts, the mayor and local clergy all participated while the ladies of the league stood between the columns wearing flowing white veils. As a trumpet sounded taps, the names of those who had made “the supreme sacrifice” were read aloud.

The monument has two ornate bronze plaques. One briefly tells the league’s history while memorializing “the silent dead in tragic vaults of dust.” The second

lists the Mobilians killed during the war — or at least many of them.

While the newspaper account in 1926 listed 62 war dead from Mobile, research found additional names, leading to the recent installation of a marker by the Alabama Historical Association. The names on both include a number of men from Baldwin County and even Evergreen and Camden.

Investigating the lives of the men

memorialized reveals that they came from all walks of life, ranging from farmer to telephone operator to contractor. Many died in battle, but just as many seem to have died from disease. One died from “accidental gunshot,” and another is listed as “MIA.” All seem to have been very young.

Two of the Navy dead were aboard the USS Cyclops when she disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle, while a third died when his transport ship was rammed by another in a storm. And Frank H. Beaufort, a Mobilian born in England, was a member of the British Royal Air Force at the time of his death.

Azalea Trail Stop

For many years after its dedication, the park was the setting for an annual remembrance of the war dead. In the early 1930s, it was one of several parks in town to be planted with azalea displays.

Despite the deaths of some 17 million people during the “Great War” of 1917 1918, the U.S. entered a second world war at the end of 1941. By its end, the death toll was triple that of the earlier conflict, and Memorial Park became little more than a stop on the Azalea Trail.

As the festivities surrounding the Azalea Trail peaked in the 1950s, the park became an important site. In 1956, the motorcade carrying Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher stopped so that Mobilians could share a “Kodak moment” with the visiting celebrities.

Generations of Azalea Trail Maids were photographed in their pastel dresses in front of the white marble columns.

Renovation

Ironically, it was the mother of a recently returned veteran of the war in Afghanistan who noticed that the park was looking a bit tired and in need of some upgrades. Thanks to her suggestion and the work of the Colonial Dames, Memorial Park will soon experience a rebirth. Visitors to the park will enjoy a beautiful space and have a chance to discover the names of fallen soldiers who might otherwise be forgotten. MB  For information on how you can assist the project, email memorialparkmobile@gmail.com. august 2017 | mobilebaymag.com 77

IN LIVING COLOR

UMS Band, 1905 Original photo from the Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, USA Archives • colorization by Dynamichrome Limited

University Military School, or UMS, was opened on October 2, 1893. The school’s founder, a 22-year-old educator by the name of Julius T. Wright, was the only teacher at the small brick building at 559 Conti Street.

The details surrounding this photograph of the school band, taken around 1905, are sketchy, but the image reflects the school’s emphasis on good behavior and fastidious dress. In his book “The Wright Way,” Edward Ladd writes, “Showing off his boys and their well-groomed manners was obviously a joy for Wright.” Mobile attorney Thomas Hamilton recounts that, once a year, Wright would lead the boys in a drill to girls’ schools around Mobile, where they were eventually allowed to break rank and visit with the ladies.

 Recognize someone in this photo? Email Breck Pappas bpappas@pmtpublishing.com to help us ID these old Mobilians!

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