Mar 29
Today were exploring the Back Alleys of another top 10 most dangerous city in Alabama known as Fairfield.
Fairfield resides just outside of Birmingham, Alabama.
It’s ranked the #2 most dangerous city according to https://www.southwestjournal.com/us/alabama/most-dangerous-cities-in-alabama/
I felt very safe in Fairfield and met some good people!
So I hope you enjoy my latest adventure as I explore the Back Alleys of Another Top 10 Most Dangerous City in Alabama – Fairfield.
Mar 08
Inner City Sacred – In Search of 1872 Cathedral Church of the Advent
According the the Church’s website:
In 1872, the new city of Birmingham grew quickly after the Elyton Land Company established a new industrial center in what was formerly undeveloped land. Bishop Richard Hooker Wilmer sent Philip Fitts to serve area congregations in the new city. With the 16 Episcopalians he found in Birmingham, Fitts began meeting at the corner lot sold to this young congregation for $5.00. By 1893, the church’s worship space, the Nave, was completed and welcomed worshippers. The first Lenten Preaching Series began in 1908, the Advent Episcopal School opened in 1950, and the Advent became the Cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama in 1982. Various renovations and building projects added spaces and expanded the school through the years, along with our Cranmer House and Advent House satellite locations. In 2022, Craig Smalley was called as Dean and Rector and began to lead our downtown Birmingham church family.
Feb 29
Click here and join me as I explore The American Village and Festival of Tulips!
Today I’ll be exploring The American Village and Tulip Festival in Montevallo, Alabama.
The American Village and Tulip Festival in Montevallo and Tulip Festival is held once a year.
Here is the history of The Village according to https://www.americanvillage.org/history/
When the American Village opened the Board of Trustees publicly cited “The American Village is possible only because of the extraordinary vision, leadership, and perseverance of Tom Walker.” A few years later it awarded him its highest honor for his visionary leadership and persistence in founding of the American Village. He conceived of the idea of a place to engage young people in the stories of liberty – as a foundation for their becoming good citizens and leaders. In 1993 he began publicly speaking and advocating for the creation of such a place. He worked with citizens and officials. In 1995 the Citizenship Trust was officially chartered by legislative act sponsored by the late Rep. Al Knight and then Sen. Frank C. Ellis, Jr. as a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational institution, and in 1998, then State Representative Johnny Curry authored the first public funding support, and on November 30, 1999, the American Village campus opened.
Beginning in 1994 American Village Founder and President Emeritus Tom Walker collaborated with Mike Hamrick, an extraordinarily gifted architect of Eufaula, Alabama. Their collaboration focused on shaping and creating a vision of both the campus as a whole and of its individual components. Walker and Hamrick, and more recently new American Village President and CEO Alan B. Miller, with support of the Board of Trustees, and other stakeholders, have sought to create a campus that is emblematic of America’s heritage of liberty and self-government. This village “set upon a hill” is emerging more and more as a nationally-distinctive campus.
Today the American Village is sustained by broad support: by citizens and leaders in all walks of life who believe that it is important to teach youth the vital lessons of liberty, to remember the price of liberty, and to prepare new generations of Americans for their roles as stewards of our Constitution and other charters of freedom. We invite Americans to join in this work to answer Benjamin Franklin’s challenge: “…it’s a Republic, if you can keep it.”
Feb 23
In today’s micro adventure I go urban hiking in the inner city of Birmingham, Alabama in search of the historic Cathedral of St. Paul.
I’m calling my latest short film – Historic Cathedral of St. Paul- Sacred Solace in Inner City Birmingham.
According to https://stpaulsbhm.org/about/history/ …..
History
The current majestic brick building replaces a small (30′ x 60′) wooden frame church first built in 1872 on a lot adjacent to the present site. The land for the current location was purchased in January 1880; by May of the same year, under the first resident pastor, the Rev. John Browne, a rectory was built and the church was moved on site and enlarged.
The present building was planned by the Rev. Patrick O’Reilly, the second pastor. The cornerstone was laid on June 11, 1890 and the building was dedicated on November 30, 1893, having cost approximately $90,000 to complete.
The church was extensively renovated in 1955, when, among other things, air conditioning was installed. In 1972, structural repairs were effected and the sanctuary was re-ordered. In 1992, additional work was done in preparation for the Cathedral’s centennial. Most recently, a complete renovation of the exterior was finished in 2015.
The Cathedral is widely considered to be a handsome example of the American variation on the neo-gothic style. Gothic architecture is philosophically Christian: in its determined verticality, the gothic structure pulls the eye to heaven and inspires the mind to lofty thoughts. The strong contrast of color on the Cathedral’s exterior, with the native red brick and white limestone of the walls, and the polychromatic banding in the slate roof, show the taste of the international gothic revival of the 1870s.
The main entrance has a central statue of Christ above the doors. Upon entering, one sees that the church is built in basilica form, having a semicircular domed apse at one end, with a center aisle and two side aisles. Ten solid granite columns support vaults and arches indicative of the neo-gothic style.
The baptismal font stands at the door of the church to remind those entering that Baptism is the doorway to faith and the life of the Church. Those who enter dip their hand in the Holy Water and mark themselves anew with the sign in which they were baptized – the sign of the Cross.
So I hope you enjoy Historic Cathedral of St. Paul- Sacred Solace in Inner City Birmingham
Feb 16
Click here and join me as I Find Solitude on a Dreary Day Solo Hiking!
Finding Solitude on a Dreary Day – Solo Hike Short Film is my latest short film.
It’s all about a solo hike at Tannehill State Park outside of Birmingham, Alabama.
Just sit back and relax as you watch – Finding Solitude on a Dreary Day – Solo Hike Short Film
Feb 09
Urban Hiking Alabaster, Alabama which was under promised but over delivered!
While Urban Hiking, Alabaster, Alabama I was invited into what’s believed to be the oldest building in the town. It’s now a business called Creactive and I was even shown one of the original walls! Great people gave me the VIP tour!
Urban Hiking Alabaster, Alabama was an interesting experience. What seemed to be the main street wasn’t really the main street. It’s my belief that it once was but no more. Still a quaint awesome street nonetheless!
The History of Alabaster, Alabama, has origins dating back as early as 1896 according to https://www.shelbyal.com/787/Alabaster:
History
In 1896, Thomas C. Thompson organized and built on the banks of Buck Creek in Siluria a textile manufacturing plant. Soon thereafter, a village to house employees was built. In 1902, Siluria Cotton Mill Co. was incorporated; and in 1954, the Town of Siluria was incorporated, with a population of approximately 600. In 1965, Buck Creek Industries, Inc. sold the village houses to the employees. In 1925, located next door to Siluria, the “growth potential” of the community became known as Alabaster. Alabaster was officially incorporated on February 23,1953 and in 1971, the people of Siluria voted to merge with Alabaster.
So I hope you enjoy my latest cinematic short film – Urban Hiking Town with 1896 Origins – Over Delivered – Alabaster, AL.
Feb 01
Click here to see my Cinematic Short film about a Town Called Northport which was settled in 1813!
In my latest Cinematic short film I explore Northport, Alabama, settled in 1813.
This urban exploration takes place in Northport, Alabama which sits on the Black Warrior river.
Exploring towns like Northport, Alabama has become a hobby of mine so that they might be documented for future use.
Northport, Alabama is known for the Kentuck Art Center and the Kentuck Art Festival. Typically known as the Kentuck Art Center and Festival.
Northport, Alabama is also known for the Van de Graaff Arboretum & Historic Bridge Park.
So I hope you enjoy A Cinematic Film about a town Settled in 1813 – Northport, Alabama!
Jan 25
In my latest cinematic short film, Whispers of the Past – Abandoned between Hueytown and Jasper, I go rural exploring in Alabama.
My latest cinematic short film, Whispers of the Past – Abandoned between Hueytown and Jasper, was inspired by my childhood. Long Sunday rides in rural areas of Alabama, looking at abandoned places.
So, in this short film I find myself between Hueytown and Jasper, Alabama. Often just taking random roads in this area to see what we can find. I’ll spend most of the time travelling Highway 267 through Concord, Sylvan Springs and Walker County.
According to Wikipedia:
Hueytown is a city in western Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Birmingham metropolitan area, and was part of the heavy industry development in this area in the 20th century. At the 2020 census, the population was 16,776.
Hueytown was the home of the Alabama Gang, famous in NASCAR stock car racing. In 1992 the city became known for the unexplained “Hueytown Hum”, a mysterious noise later thought to be caused by large underground ventilation fans used in a nearby coal mine.
Its nearby residential and business communities were damaged by an F5 tornado on April 8, 1998 and by an EF4 tornado on April 27, 2011.
Jan 18
This week’s micro adventure takes us to the 1838 town of Eutaw, Alabama, Gateway to the Black Belt.
As I explore Eutaw, Alabama the Gateway to the Black Belt, we’ll discover a beautiful town square and antebellum homes. Simply a great example of a Southern City as it should be.
According the the National Historic Database:
In 1838, Greene County citizens voted to change the town seat from Erie to Eutaw. The City of Eutaw, Alabama was incorporated as a town by an act of the State Legislature on January 2, 1841. Greene County had been named for General Nathaniel Greene. The name, Eutaw, was chosen to commemorate the Battle of Eutaw Springs fought in South Carolina in 1781, the battle in which General Greene defeated the British. Since the county had been named for him, the people chose to name the town after his famous victory. The word, “Eutaw,” comes from the aborigines’ language, characterizing the South Carolina Indians as the “Highlanders” or “The Hill Dwellers.” The proposed town was surveyed and laid out by Robert G. Quarles in December 1838. In August 2000, Raymond Steele was elected as the first African American Mayor of Eutaw.
Jan 11
Click here as I explore Alabama’s longest covered in a cinematic short film form.
Swann Bridge is the longest Covered Bridge in the state of Alabama. It was built in 1933 in the Locus Fork area if the state in Blount County.
Swann Covered Bridge spans 324 feet over the Black Warrior River.
Wikipidia has this to say about the bridge:
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Swann Covered Bridge, also called the Joy Covered Bridge[1] or Swann-Joy Covered Bridge, is a county-owned, wood-and-metal combination style covered bridge that spans the Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River in Blount County, Alabama, United States. It is located on Swann Bridge Road off State Route 79, just west of the town of Cleveland,[1] about 10 miles (16 km) northwest of Oneonta.
Built in 1933,[1] the 324-foot-long (99 m) bridge is a Town lattice truss with three spans. Its WGCB number is 01-05-05. The Swann Covered Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 20, 1981. It is currently the longest existing historic covered bridge in Alabama and second longest in the state overall after the 334-foot-long (102 m) Twin Creek Covered Bridge in Midway, Alabama, which was built in 2000.[3] The Swann Covered Bridge is maintained by the Blount County Commission and the Alabama Department of Transportation.
History
The Swann Covered Bridge was built by a crew led by Zelma C. Tidwell[4] over a scenic gorge of the Locust Fork on property owned by the Swann Farm. It was originally dubbed the ‘Joy Covered Bridge’, as the bridge connected Cleveland with the nearby community of Joy.[1] The bridge was restored by the Blount County Commission in 1979. After the 385-foot-long (117 m) Nectar Covered Bridge (also located in Blount County) burned down in 1993,[4] the Swann Covered Bridge became the longest covered bridge existing in Alabama. It is one of three historic covered bridges remaining in Blount County.[4]
After a routine inspection, the Swann Covered Bridge was closed in 2009 due to unsafe conditions along with nearby Easley Covered Bridge. The Horton Mill Covered Bridge was already closed as a result of vandalism which occurred in 2007. Restoration of all three bridges began in late 2011. Money for these projects primarily came from the federal National Historic Covered Bridge Preservation Program as well as transportation enhancement funds. The $469,110 construction contract was awarded to Bob Smith Construction of Trussville, Alabama. The Swann Covered Bridge would be the first of the three to be restored. Wooden structural pieces were repaired or replaced as needed and new tin roofs were put on all three bridges in order to keep the weather off vital supporting timbers. Total restoration costs for the covered bridges was approximately $540,000. The difference was covered by county expenditures.
Following necessary repairs and upgrades, the Swann Covered Bridge was reopened to motor vehicle traffic on October 22, 2012. Photos of restoration to the bridge can be viewed via The Birmingham New