Faces and Places 2020

2020

A GUIDE TO

CHILTON COUNTY a special publication of

FACES AND PLACES 2020

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FACES AND PLACES 2020

PUBLISHER TIM PRINCE GENERAL MANAGER BRANDY CLACKLEY

2020

EDITORIAL JOYANNA LOVE, MANAGING EDITOR ANTHONY RICHARDS, WRITER ELISABETH ALTAMIRANO-SMITH, FREELANCE WRITER MARKETING ZACK BATES, MARKETING CONSULTANT CUSTOMER SERVICE KACY BARRETT PRESSROOM & MAILROOM CHRIS LOVE, PRODUCTION MANAGER MICHAEL TURNER ASSISTANT PRODUCTION MANAGER MALINDA NANCE, MAILROOM MANAGER

Chilton County....................Chilton County CSI: Crime Scene Investigation............................ 4 Clanton.................................................... Dessert or Breakfast?............................................. 14 Jemison.............................................. From Donkey to Motorcycle........................................ 19 Thorsby..................................................... Preserving the past............................................... 24 Maplesville................................................Delivering smiles................................................. 29

CHILTON COUNTY

CHILTON COUNTY CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION Sheriff’s Office collects evidence to close the case

When evidence is collected Chilton County Evidence Custodian Jamie Johnson is assigned as the sole person that delivers the locked evidence to Montgomery forensics. The evidence is stored in a locker in Montgomery until Johnson returns for the results.

Johnson is also the assigned person to log the results in the county’s computer system.

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STORY BY ELISABETH ALTAMIRANO-SMITH PHOTOS BY ELISABETH ALTAMIRANO-SMITH AND CONTRIBUTED

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hilton County provides the community with something one might not expect when visiting the peaceful countryside. The Chilton County Sheriff’s Department Crime Scene Investigative Unit works endlessly to establish what happens during crime scenes and to identify the person(s) responsible. Unlike Gil Grissom and the sto-

FACES AND PLACES 2020

ryline on the popular television series “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” forensic results do not usually come back by the end of the day.

Working crime scenes and collecting the evidence usually mean long grueling hours, days, months or years.

“When you go into a crime scene, it is important to look at everything,” said Sheriff John Shearon.

“When a crime has been committed it is important to preserve and collect the evidence while we are there. Sometimes that can take a while. If the crime scene is a person’s home, there may be family members that can’t go back home until you

finish collecting the information. Waiting to collect evidence later can mean that the crime scene has been contaminated.”

“There are many different felony crime scene scenarios like burglary, homicide, assault and money laundering,” said Lt. Lee Faulkner. “When we are at a crime scene the evidence can be anything from the DNA on a cigarette butt to a computer.

While Chilton CSI does not analyze the forensic evidence samples themselves, they collect and send the evidence to different forensic specialists and agencies like the Alabama Department of Forensic Science in Montgomery. Other agencies that specialize in resources such as cadaver dogs and lie detector tests are also used.

The members of the Chilton CSI Unit are motivated in their investigative work to find the answers the victim and their family deserve.

Unfortunately, sometimes it may be years before those answers are given to the family.

One recent example of receiving answers at a later date is known to locals as the “Hog Creek Murder.” On Oct. 21, 1984 the body of a deceased, Caucasian male was discovered in Chilton County on a bridge. The cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma to the head and was ruled as a homicide. During the investigation, a witness came forward with information on who was responsible for killing the victim. The defendant, later pled guilty to manslaughter, was sentenced

to prison and released after he served his time.

However, the identity of the victim was never determined. He did not have any identification, and no one knew who he was. The “John Doe” victim was buried at a local cemetery in Chilton County and that is where the body stayed until April 23, 2016.

“As I was talking to Investigator, Billy Fulmer one day in the office about the case, he mentioned the idea of obtaining the victims DNA and sending it to a lab,” Shearon said. “We put that plan into motion and obtained an order to exhume the body.”

Shearon with his investigative kit. Kits include specimen containers, swabs, gloves, finger print kit, camera and labels.

Contrary to popular belief, specimens are not placed into test tubes when sent to the lab.

CHILTON COUNTY FAST FACTS COUNTY COURTHOUSE 500 Second Ave. N Clanton, AL 35045 MAILING ADDRESS P.O. Box 1948 Clanton, AL 35046 PHONE NUMBER (205) 755-1551

WEBSITE chiltoncounty.org POPULATION 44,428 (2019 estimate) LAND AREA 693.98 square miles

COMMISSION CHAIRMAN Allen Caton 205-351-2107 COUNTY COMMISSION Joe Headley 205-287-1689 Jimmie Hardee 205-389-2181

Joseph Parnell 205-688-6991 Steve Langston 205-755-1551 Greg Moore 205-351-1266 Matt Mims 205-389-6161 FACES AND PLACES 2020

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In 2019, a person with a positive DNA result matched to the deceased came back from South Carolina. Contact was made with the Winston Salem Police Department and they were able to track down the brother of the victim. On June 23, 2020, Chilton CSI was notified that the DNA from the siblings matched the DNA of the deceased. After 36 years, the victim was identified as Dwight Michael Gordon of Winston Salem, North Carolina.

“We were pleased to be able to assist them in their case as well as give closure to the family,” Shearon said.

In a seperate case now closed, Shearon found a dime-sized portion of a broken bracelet and was able to match it to remains of a broken bracelet at the assailant’s home.

“There is always some type of evidence left behind at a crime scene. We are going to find it,” said Shearon. “There are still other cases out there that have remained unsolved over the years and those families have my word that we will not stop working on them until there is closure for them as well.”

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FACES AND PLACES 2020

Chilton County CSI hosts a CSI program in their Junior League Academy.

Pictured are students learning about dusting and finger prints.

(Contributed)

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HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW CHILTON COUNTY? 1

What fruit is Chilton County famous for?

2 Who is the longest serving mayor in Chilton County?

3 What event commemorates the history of Thorsby?

4 What theatrical production began as a Chilton

County High School fundraiser?

5 Where is the Black and Blue Berry Festival held?

6 Who sponsors the Miss Peach Pageant?

7 What three consecutive years did Maplesville

High School win the state football championship?

8 What local church was the site of a civil

war battle?

9 What music festival is held in Verbena?

1. Peach 2. Billy Joe Driver 3. Swedish Festival 4. Blast From the Past 5. Jemison

6. Clanton Lions Club 7. 2014, 2015 and 2016 8. Ebenezer Baptist Church 9. En Fuego 10. Up to 50

ANSWERS:

10 How many varieties of peaches can be found

in one Chilton County orchard?

Pancake Day

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ancake Day is held at First United Methodist Church of Clanton on the second Saturday of February each year. It is a fundraiser organized by the United Methodist Men. All proceeds go toward charity and mission work.

Plates consist of about three pancakes and two sausage patties, plus all the seconds (or thirds) you can handle.

The Methodist Men work a dry run the Friday night before each Pancake Day to ensure things go smoothly the following morning. Ten men usually come in at midnight to grill the sausage ahead of time, which takes between four and five hours.

Just a few hours later, at 5:30 a.m., the real show starts. To purchase a ticket, see a Methodist Men member or call the church office at 205-755-0490.

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Peach Festival

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erhaps Chilton County’s best known annual event is the Peach Festival, which occurs during harvest time in June.

For two weeks, many events occur throughout the county, including a 5K run, cook-off, pageants, parade, auction and the Peach Jam.

PEACH RUN

The annual Peach Run is sponsored by Cornerstone Fitness & Wellness in Clanton. There are both a 5K and a 10K run through downtown Clanton. One of the best places to watch the race is along Alabama Highway 145 between Cornerstone and downtown.

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FACES AND PLACES 2020

There are cash prizes and winners named in several age divisions in both male and female categories. For more information, call fitness director Lesia Childress at 205-280-6450.

PEACH COOK-OFF

The annual Peach Cook-off is held at Senior Connection in Clanton. It is sponsored by the Alabama Cooperative Extension Chilton County Office, Chilton County Farmers Federation Women’s Committee and the Clanton Lions Club.

The contest includes all kinds of dishes — and they must include Chilton County peaches.

There is always a guest chef demonstrating a dish. Admission

is free, and people do not have to compete to attend. Cash prizes are awarded in two age divisions, adult and youth in sweet and savory.

After judging, people in attendance have a chance to sample all the entries.

For more information, call the local office of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System at 205-280-6268.

MISS PEACH PAGEANTS

There are four categories in the Miss Peach Pageants: Little Miss (ages 5-7), Young Miss (8-11), Junior Miss (12-14) and Miss (15-18). The pageants are always on Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday night during the Peach Festival. Winners earn scholarships and other prizes.

PEACH JAM JUBILEE

The annual Peach Jam Jubilee, sponsored by the Chilton County Chamber of Commerce, is held the last Saturday in June.

Local entertainment also performs. There are food vendors and arts and crafts vendors, as well as kids’ rides, games and more.

Call the Chilton County Chamber of Commerce at 205-7552400 for more information.

PEACH PARADE

The annual Peach Parade is held the last Saturday in June. It starts at the Park Plaza shopping center near Clanton City Park and circles through downtown Clanton. For more information, contact the Clanton Lions Club on Facebook.

PEACH AUCTION

The Peach Auction is held at Senior Connection, and always directly follows the Peach Parade. The 2019 event raised $18,750.

The fundraiser benefits Clanton Lions Club and its charitable work, which includes providing glasses and eye care to children through Alabama Sight as well as supporting a number of local organizations.

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Relay for Life

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hilton County’s Relay for Life event, held every April, raises money for the American Cancer Society. The event includes entertainment, cookouts and fun activities. Cancer survivors and their supporters walk around downtown to celebrate the continued fight against the disease. For more information, contact Kalyn Frederick at kalyn.frederick@cancer.org.

Art Festival

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he Chilton County Arts Council sponsors an annual art festival featuring a variety of works from regional artists. More than 40 artists participated. The event is held at the Clanton Performing Arts Center. For more information, contact the Arts Council at chiltoncountyartscouncil@hotmail.com.

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FACES AND PLACES 2020

Summer theater production

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ach summer the Central Alabama Performing Arts Guild local actors produces a play. For more information, visit the Central Alabama Performing Arts Guild Facebook page.

Christmas in Chilton

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very year, the towns of Clanton, Thorsby, Jemison and Maplesville get into the holiday spirit by hosting Christmas activities.

Clanton, Thorsby and Jemison host parades.

Each parade features marching bands, pageant queens, rescue vehicles, politicians, children, flashy vehicles and lots of candy.

Clanton’s Christmas Parade is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Chilton County and is held the first Friday in December at 6 p.m. It involves a route that weaves through downtown and showcases Peach Queens and the Pride of Chilton County High School Band.

Jemison’s parade will be on the first Saturday in December and prominently features Jemison High School’s Blue Regiment Marching Band.

Thorsby’s parade is traditionally held the first weekend in December and features the Swedish Queens and the Thorsby High band.

Maplesville hosts Old Fashioned Christmas on the first Sunday afternoon in December. The event traditionally features food, vendors, music, reading of the Biblical account and carriage rides as well as a visit from Santa.

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Independence Day Celebrations

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ach year, Chilton County hosts several events to celebrate the United States of America’s birthday. Clanton’s annual fireworks show is held on July 4 at 9 p.m. in Clanton City Park. For more information, contact City Hall at 205-755-1105.

The town of Thorsby traditionally holds an annual celebration the last Wednesday in June. Each year, the event is held at Richard Wood Memorial Park and is filled with music and fireworks. For more information, contact Thorsby Town Hall at 205-646-3575.

A couple of celebrations are also

Veterans Memorial

held on Lake Mitchell, including the Cargile Creek Fourth of July fireworks show and boat parades.

For more information, contact Jim McCormick with Lake Mitchell HOBO at jmac51@bellsouth.net.

Maplesville hosts fireworks on July 4. For more information, call town hall at 334-366-4212.

En Fuego

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he Chilton County Veterans Memorial stands in front of the county courthouse on Second Avenue North in Clanton as a reminder of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.

The memorial bears the names of Chilton County residents who died in combat in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon and Iraq.

Veteran Morris Price is credited for coming up with the idea while he worked as a property tax appraiser in the courthouse. Price, once a prisoner of war in Korea, also lost a brother in combat.

A drive was started to raise funds for a monument in 1985, and the dream became reality on Memorial Day 1986. The committee that oversees the memorial is made up of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and Disabled American Veterans Associations.

Every Memorial Day, each name is read aloud as a crowd of citizens gathers to pay tribute to the fallen heroes.

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FACES AND PLACES 2020

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n Fuego is a large, outdoor Christian music festival traditionally held every August in Chilton County. This event has been canceled for 2020.

More than 15,000 people come to a hillside along County Road 23 near Verbena to enjoy some of the top Christian recording artists from around the country.

Over the years, En Fuego has grown to be one of the biggest

Christian music festivals in the Southeast. En Fuego has hosted many acts, including Third Day, For King and Country, TobyMac, Kari Jobe and Kutless.

The all-day event is attended by all ages but especially targets student groups.

For more information, including directions, complete band lineup and how to volunteer, visit www. enfuegoinfo.com.

Confederate Memorial Park

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he Alabama Historical Commission’s Confederate Memorial Park near Verbena is a museum, research facility, authentic historical structures, ruins and two cemeteries with more than 300 Confederate soldiers.

The 102-acre park hosts both local guests and tourists, and has the only museum in Alabama that is strictly devoted to the Civil War. New additions to the park include a pavilion for visitor use, signs built along Interstate 65 North and South attracting tourists, a replica of Civil War barracks and a nature trail.

The park hosts an annual battle in April to offer an up-close and personal view of the Civil War. Confederate Memorial Park is located at 437 County Road 63 near Verbena. For more information about the park, call 205-755-1990.

Lake Mitchell

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ake Mitchell is a component of the Coosa River that lies 10 miles east of Clanton.

The 5,850-acre lake averages 29 feet in depth and includes 147 miles of shoreline. Alabama Power constructed Lay Dam in 1923 to provide flood control and hydroelectricity to central Alabama. Since then, Lake Mitchell has become a source of recreation with attractions such as boating, swimming, and fishing.

The lake supports high densities of sport fish, such as largemouth bass, spotted bass, bluegill, crappie, catfish, walleye, striped bass, hybrid, and white bass.

The Lay Dam tailwater area at the upper end of the lake is a popular recreational area for fishermen.

The Marina restaurant offers food seasonally and specializes in crawfish, gumbo and barbecue.

The Higgins Ferry boat launch is open to the public, and can be accessed by taking the Lake Mitchell exit off I-65, and taking County Road 28 until it dead-ends at Higgins Ferry Park.

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CLANTON

DESSERT OR BREAKFAST? Pies By Mike offers sweet and savory treats

Mike Graham takes some Toll House pies out of the oven.

STORY BY JOYANNA LOVE PHOTOS BY KEITH MCCOY

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ie is not just for dessert at Pies by Mike.

It can also be for breakfast.

Mike Graham started his Southern Breakfast Pie as an alternative to quiche when someone suggested he offer it on his breakfast menu.

“I think it might be a little richer than a quiche,” Graham said. “I don’t put vegetables in them, so I call them Southern Breakfast Pies. They are basically eggs, salt, pepper, three kinds of cheese and whatever meat we put it. It’s good.”

A variety of dessert pies ranging from classics like pecan to Graham’s own creations are also sold whole or by the slice.

“My personal favorite is the praline mousse, a 14

FACES AND PLACES 2020

second close is the fudge,” Graham said.

The Praline Mousse Pie features chocolate mousse on top of a pecan praline layer in a graham cracker shell. The pie is one he has made for years.

Customers favorites are the pecan and the Toll House.

Graham said the menu developed from inspiration or requests from customers.

“I had a buddy from church, Jack Willis, stay after me for two years to make a sweet potato pie,” Graham said.

Finally, Graham decided to do some research and develop a recipe.

“He loved it, so we have stuck with that recipe,” Graham said.

The Pineapple Cream Pie was created when Graham tweaked his strawberry cream recipe.

Pies By Mike moved to its current location at

LEFT: Alice and Mike Graham inside Pies By Mike.

TRY THESE OTHER LOCAL CLANTON FAVORITES:

RIGHT: Toll House is one of the most popular pies that Mike makes.

Breakfast Main Street Café 613 Second Ave. N l

Lunch Maddogs Grill 202 Seventh St South l

Lunch and Dinner Neighborhood Grill 309 Seventh St. N l

Bone’s Backstreet BBQ 310 Sixth St. S l

Hickory Chip 4966 Alabama Highway 145 l

Bertolone Italian Restaurant 605 Second Ave N l

(Source: Peach Living’s Best of the Best 2020 contest nominees)

1015 Lay Dam Road on Jan. 22, which allowed them to offer an eat-in option.

“I’m a people person so I thoroughly enjoy being here and being on the retail side and being able to get to know people and know their regulars,” Graham said.

Graham expanded the breakfast options to include Quilted Pigs, sausage wrapped in a crescent roll, which customers have loved. He also began researching a good coffee to sell. After extensive taste testing with customers, Graham asked the coffee roasters Messenger Coffee Company

if they would do a blend of the customers top two favorites. After more taste tests to find the right blend, a one-of-a kind created just for Pies by Mike.

“It’s a high-end coffee,” Graham said. “We’ve had people who started asking, so we will sell the whole beans by the pound … or we can ground it for them.”

The store celebrated its grand opening on Pie Day — March 14. This was also one of the last possible days restaurants could be open at full capacity before the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions went into place.

CLANTON FAST FACTS CITY HALL 505 Second Ave. N., P.O. Box 580 Clanton, AL 35046-0580

WEBSITE www.clanton.al.us

PHONE NUMBER 205-755-1105

LAND AREA 21.93 square miles

FAX NUMBER 205-755-7650

ZIP CODE 35046-0580

POPULATION 8,794 (2019 estimate)

ELEVATION 600 feet (183 meters) MAYOR Billy Joe Driver, 205-755-4051 CITY COUNCIL District 1: Jeffrey Price 205-280-1792

District 2: Bobby Cook 205-755-3418 District 3: Sammy Wilson, 205-755-4841 District 4: Awlahjaday Agee, 205-755-5075 District 5: Mary Mell Smith, 205-755-0410 FACES AND PLACES 2020

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LEFT: Fans can purchase some pie swag while picking up a pie.

RIGHT: The Pies By Mike storefront is on Lay Dam Road/ Alabama Highway 145 in Clanton.

“Business has been good,” Graham said. “We have been very, very blessed.”

He said the majority of his business had been carryout, but some customers had just started to take advantage of the eat-in option before the restrictions were put in place.

Previously, the business had been located in a less visible location in Clanton near a cattle sales lot. Graham had opened this location in 2018 after building the business out of his home under the Cottage Food Law provision. “(The Cottage Food Law) allows people to do small businesses … baking goods, things that

don’t have to be refrigerated, and there are a lot of restrictions on that,” Graham said.

Sales also had to be directly to the consumer.

After several years of friends and family telling him he should sell his pies, Graham started selling during the holiday season of 2014 after getting his home kitchen certified.

“I have always just enjoyed cooking, baking,” Graham said. “We would have friends over, and I would make a dessert.”

His Toll House pie, similar to a pecan pie with chocolate pieces instead of pecans, was a favorite.

It was the passing of the Cottage Food Law that gave Graham the inspiration to start selling his pies. That first holiday season he sold over 200 pies to the community.

Graham wanted to be able to sell to local restaurants, but this was not permitted under the Cottage Law restrictions. This led to him looking for a location. He has been able to sell to 12 to 15 restaurants over the past few years.

A typical work day for Graham starts at 4-4:30 a.m. Wednesday through Friday. His wife Alice comes in for a while to help out before going to her regular job.

Pies By Mike is open Tuesdays 1-4:30 p.m.

Wednesday- Friday 7 a.m-1 p.m. and select Saturdays. The full variety of pies available can be viewed at piesbymike.com.

207 6th Street, North

angie@angiemayfieldlaw.com 16

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Emergency Management Agency

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oth the Chilton County and Alabama Emergency Management Agency Headquarters are located in Clanton, separated by just a few miles on U.S. Highway 31.

The AEMA serves as the coordinating agency for disaster preparation, response and recovery statewide. The fact that the AEMA is headquartered here provides the county with an estimated 100 jobs, not to mention the revenue that comes with it.

On the county level, the Chilton County EMA helps prepare residents for all kinds of disasters and threats to the area. This includes winter storms, tornados, fires, drought and hazardous material spills.

For more information on the AEMA, visit www.ema. alabama.gov, and for the Chilton County EMA, visit www.chiltonema.org.

St. Vincent’s Chilton

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t. Vincent’s Chilton is Chilton county’s only hospital. Established in 2016, the hospital has an emergency room, intensive care, surgery and a wing of specialty clinics. The hospital is a part of St. Vincent’s Health System allowing for shared electronic medical records by request among the six locations in three cities.

St. Vincent’s Chilton was designed to be one of the most energy efficient hospitals in the country with the latest medical technology.

Blast from the Past

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ne of the most enduring events in Chilton County has been the musical fundraiser “Blast from the Past.” A tradition that started at Chilton County High School, this opportunity is now open to public high school students from around the county. Students sing and dance to popular songs from past decades.

Ricky and Sheri McKee started the program in 1993. The cast practices for two months leading up to the opening night.

The show is offered three times during the last weekend in February.

Tickets are $7 and can be purchased from CCHS starting in January.

Yellowleaf Creek Mill

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ellowleaf Creek Mill is a grist mill in Clanton that dates back to the 1850s.

While most of the original equipment—such as the millstones, sifter, grain elevator and pulleys— are still in good shape, Brogdon made several improvements and additions to the mill, including new plumbing, patios and décor suitable for gatherings.

A popular wedding venue, the grist mill contains furnishings that provide a

modern flair to the historic site, while still restoring its original beauty.

In addition to weddings, Yellowleaf also hosts parties, banquets, receptions, proms, reunions and other events.

Previously owned by the H.H. Miller family, the mill is connected to Yellowleaf Creek, which runs into Lay Lake.

Although the machinery isn’t currently producing corn meal, the site is excellent for tourists who wish to reconnect with

19th century history.

To make an event reservation or schedule a tour, visit the website at yellowleafcreekmill.com.

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Highway Sweet Stops

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hilton County has several attractions located right off Interstate 65.

PEACH PARK

The park, located off Exit 205 includes a fruit market with homemade peach ice cream, homemade cobbler, fried pies and a gift shop.

TODD’S PRODUCE

Located off Exit 205, Todd’s Produce offers fresh fruits and vegetables, an ice cream parlor and a children’s boutique.

In addition to fresh produce and ice cream, Todd’s specializes in peach bread and peach preserves.

Todd’s Produce is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. during peach season.

For more information, call Todd’s Produce at 205-2945157.

Peach Park has added a garden area with a walking path, a food menu featuring barbecue and a playground. Peach Park is open during the peach season from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. For more information, contact Peach Park at 205-755-2065.

HEATON PECAN FARM

Heaton Pecan Farm, located off Interstate 65 Exit 208, features treats and homemade delights for everyone to enjoy.

The business is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with extended hours in the

summer of 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Milk chocolate and white chocolate pecan halves are the farm’s best sellers.

Several flavors of homemade ice cream and milkshakes, Belgian Waffles, salads, soups and grilled gourmet, specialty and deli-style sandwiches are also served.

Favorites include their pecan chicken salad plates and homemade cakes. For more information, call 800-446-3531 or visit www.heaton.com.

DURBIN FARMS MARKET

Durbin Farms Market, located off Exit 205, began as a seasonal fruit market and now features a sandwich shop, fruits and vegetables and a selection of plants and gifts at LJ’s Boutique. During the summer months, the business is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. During the rest of the year, the business is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. For more information, contact Durbin Farms Market at 205-755-1672.

Chilton County Extension

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he Chilton County Extension Office serves as the county’s branch of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, which connects Alabamians on the significant issues the state is facing at any given time.

The system’s mission inlcudes 4-H and youth development, economic and community development, food safety and preservation, animal science, farm management, forestry and 18

FACES AND PLACES 2020

nutrition. Chilton County’s office offers several programs throughout the year, including canning workshops, gardening classes, youth outdoor adventure camps and volunteer opportunities.

For more information on the Chilton County Extension Office, contact County Extension agent Gay West at 205280-6268.

JEMISON

FROM DONKEY TO MOTORCYCLE Polly Watley is a living testament to an Alabama Pioneer STORY BY ELISABETH ALTAMIRANO-SMITH PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

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n the rural back roads of Chilton County is a community hidden from the world. Here cows graze under big blue skies in a community called Pates Chapel. The church at Pates Chapel, which is now a part of Jemison, was built in 1913. Back in those

days, the building also doubled as a school for many of the rural children that lived on the farms nearby. Polly Watley, age 99, was one of the children that attended school there and remembers the sweet, simple beginnings of her country life.

Polly Watley and her twin Lester were born in 1921 to farmers Jim and Rodie Ann Robinson. They were the 11th and 12th born of 14 children.

JEMISON FAST FACTS

FAX NUMBER 205-688-1109

ZIP CODE 35085

WEBSITE www.jemisonalabama.org

ELEVATION 719 feet (219 meters)

MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 609 Jemison, AL 35085

POPULATION 2,637 (2018 estimate)

PHONE NUMBER 205-688-4492

LAND AREA 8.1 square miles

MAYOR Eddie Reed P.O. Box 609 Jemison, AL 35085 (205) 688-4492

CITY HALL 14 Padgett Lane Jemison, AL 35085

LEFT: Family Portrait, 1970: Bernie, Polly, Joyce, Bobby, Tish and Carol.

RIGHT: Polly and husband, Bernie, in 1940 during World War II.

CITY COUNCIL District 1: George Brasher 205-688-2560 District 2: Donnie Lane 205-688-2898 District 3: Robert Morris 205-688-2538 District 4: Rex Bittle 205-396-4145 District 5: Sam Reed 205-238-9288

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LEFT: Polly’s parents, Jim and Rhodie Ann Robinson, homesteaders to the Pates Chapel community.

RIGHT: Polly, pictured last year at the age of 98 riding with granddaughter Teresa.

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“People use to say that Lester was born holding on to my foot,” Watley said jokingly when asked who was born first.

Watley came from humble beginnings. The Robinson homestead consisted of two small wooden buildings that were connected by a wooden plank. The family slept in one room and the other room was used as a kitchen.

“When you looked down, you could see the chickens walking under the house through the cracks in the floor,” she said. “We had a fireplace in one room and a pot-bellied stove in the other.”

Watley, her siblings and other community children walked to the school at Pates Chapel. In 1932, when Watley was in the third grade, an infamous tornado swept through Thorsby, devastating many homes and lives in Chilton County. Not only was the church and school destroyed but her aunt and grandmother also died during the storm.

“After the tornado, I didn’t go back to school. I went to work on the farm,” Watley said. “I would dig up an onion, and take a piece of cornbread off the stove and eat it on the way to the fields.”

Her family farmed corn, tomatoes and the common produce found on most farms in Alabama.

Cotton was grown to keep the family finances afloat, but another crop regularly farmed was sorghum. Sorghum is a sweet cane, similar to sugar cane that was used to make sweeteners and syrups. The Robinson family would cut the canes and cook them until the liquid thickened.

The Robinsons would trade their goods with local families for other items needed.

The doctor nearest to Pates Chapel was the next town over. Medicines were not easy to come by and the family mainly relied on the medicinal properties of plants and home remedies. Not only was sorghum used in cooking but is also known

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today as being a high source of fiber, having enzymes that help diabetics balance their blood sugar and is half of the daily required intake of protein. In the spring, the Robinson family would look for “coon root” in the woodlands. Coon root, also known as “bloodroot,” was made into a tea to treat coughing. Turpentine bags were tied around the neck to further assist the person in breathing easier. Sassafras root was used to treat upset stomach and several other natural remedies are remembered by the family today.

The Robinson family had ways to get everything they needed. A natural spring was located just a few miles away which was a valuable source for washing clothes. They visited the storefronts of Jemison or Thorsby when in need of something commercial. At age 12, Watley rode her donkey 11 miles to get items needed at home.

“My groceries, or whatever I bought, I just laid across the donkey’s back,” she said.

As her life progressed, Watley’s enduring spirit continued. She has witnessed the Great Depression, diphtheria passing through Alabama, World War II and the wave of technology that has changed the world including by way of television and indoor plumbing.

She and her family enjoy reminiscing about the early days of television. They received their first television set in 1954. Watching wrestling became a family tradition.

“I will never forget one time, she loaded us up in the car and took us to Birmingham to see Wrestler, Tojo Yamamoto fight at the Boutwell Auditorium,” said granddaughter Teresa Evans.

“Mamaw was saying ‘Let me at ‘em! I can take care of those cheating!’”

Teresa said that her “Mamaw Polly” has always had a pioneering spirit.

“Just last year at the age of 98, she went riding on a motorcycle with us!” she said.

Watley continues to socialize and celebrate life with her family. She has three children, nine grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, 19 greatgreat grandchildren and two lapdogs, Bella and Fannie.

“I have everything I have and lived to be my age, only because God has allowed it,” she said.

Minooka Park

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inooka Park located between Jemison and Calera in North Chilton County on U.S. Highway 31 offers a 25-mile trail system, used for ATV and dirt bike riding, walking, hiking and horseback riding.

The trails offer views of some of Central Alabama’s most breathtaking scenery and cover various terrain. A wide variety of birds can also be seen, which has led to this trail being added to the Piedmont Plateau Trail. Minooka’s trails are also part of the National Trails System and the Passport to Fitness, a project of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs to promote fitness opportunities in Alabama.

The park offers several piers for fishing in Minooka Lake. The lake is also visible from a large deck behind the main office building, the main pavilion and an overlook below the pavilion.

Minooka offers many RV campsites equipped with 30- and 50-amp electrical service and water supply, and 10 sites offer sewage hookup. A dump station is located just outside the campground.

For more information, including maps and complete list of fees and regulations, visit the park’s website at newchiltoncounty.org/minookapark/ minookaparkhome.htm.

Miss Blackberry Pageant

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he Jemison Lions Club holds the annual Blackberry Pageant in April. The pageant raises funds for the club’s efforts to

help the community. The Queens participate in the Black and Blue Berry Festival and various events throughout the year.

City Hall Complex Center

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he Jemison City Hall Complex Center is available for events. It is also the site of the annual Jemison Library Fairytale Show and Master Gardener meetings.

It can hold up to 440 people and has

a sound board, microphones, a laptop plug in, two screens and two projectors available for use. Reservation of the space is available by appointment. To reserve, call the library at (205) 688-4491, ext. 318.

Starwood II Farm

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tarwood II Farm is located in Jemison and was purchased by Buddy and Diane Stith in 2005.

Starwood offers a rustic setting with a lakefront, covered pavilion and ventilated barn creating the dream wedding scene.

Four cabins are available for the bride, bridesmaids, groom, groomsmen and family to have a comfortable environment to prepare and dress for the big day.

Valet parking, tables and chairs are provided.

Corporate meetings or outings also can be hosted with fly fishing, skeet shooting, an outdoor pavilion and more available.

Fly Fishing offered onsite teaches the techniques of casting, tackle, cleaning and catching. It usually runs around four hours for beginners with breakfast and brunch provided.

This is a great way for Boy Scouts to earn their “fly fishing” badge.

Team building events for up to 10-35 people are offered to conduct off-site meetings, manage sessions or provide director meetings.

The scenery provides great photo opportunities for engagement, family, senior portraits and more. For more information, call (205) 936-5308 or stithbuddy@gmail.com.

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A stroll down Main Street

JEMISON PUBLIC LIBRARY

Formerly located in city hall, the library is now located on Main Street in what is said to be the original city hall for Jemison. The building was also a fire station at one time and the bay door remains intact. The building had undergone a beautiful transformation during the remodel and library relocation. The character of the brick structure remains intact with modern elements, such as computers and comfortable reading areas to serve city residents.

TRUE BLADES BARBER SHOP

Owner Orlando Weeks set up shop at 170 Main Street in 2008. He offers a wide variety of styles, depending on what a customer wants. The atmosphere has a man cave vibe that invites customers to come and relax. Weeks said he sees his role as a barber as an opportunity to share knowledge and wisdom, especially with younger clients. The shop is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 6 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

OLD TOWN EATERY

Specializing in Southern favorites with a focus on healthier options, Old Town Eatery opened at 134 Main Street in the spring of 2019. Owner Rachel Rachels takes a farm-to-table approach using produce that is in season. With an everchanging menu, there are many options to choose 22

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from. The weekly and daily specials can be found on the restaurant’s Facebook page — Old Town Eatery Jemison.

IGLESIA CENTRO PENTECOSTAL JEMISON

This church holds service twice a week: Sunday at 11 a.m. and Wednesday at 8 p.m.

OLDE TOWN BOUTIQUE & GIFTS

Opened on July 11, this store offers a wide variety of women’s clothing, baby gifts, jewelry, themed-tumblers and specialty items with personalization options available. Owner Tiffany Gaines said she wants to have something for everyone.

The store is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. as well as Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

SON LIGHT CENTER

Established in 2005, the Son Light Center seeks to meet the needs of the community by providing food and worship services. The thrift store on Main Street helps finance the ministry is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The ministry has expanded to include outreach to those bread cannot leave their homes, a food pantry and a bred distribution program. Volunteers are essential to the Center. For more information, visit the Son Light Center Facebook page or call 205-287-1703.

Black and Blue Berry Festival

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etals from the Past, a nursery specializing in heirloom plants, sponsors blackberry an annual festival in early June in celebration of the and blueberry harvest. The event usually features tastings, agricultural earning opportunities, vendors, music, a petting zoo and hay rides. For more information, call 205-646-0069 or visit their website at www. petalsfromthepast.com.

Hidden Meadow Vineyard

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his four-acre vineyard at 664 County Road 606 features a variety of wine crafted on site.

There are 15 varieties including those made from muscadines, grapes local blueberries, blackberries and Chilton County peaches. The winery includes a family-built wine selling and tasting house with a processing room behind it. In addition to buying bottled wine, visitors can sit out on the winery’s wooden porch overlooking the vineyard and have a glass of wine.

The winery is open Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For questions or more information, call 205-688-4648 or visit the website at www.hiddenmeadowvineyard.com.

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THORSBY

PRESERVING

THE PAST Helen Jenkins Chapel continues to be a historical landmark in Thorsby

LEFT: The outside of Helen Jenkins Chapel in Thorsby.

RIGHT/TOP: The chapel is named after Helen Jenkins, who was a longtime Thorsby principal.

RIGHT/BOTTOM: Updating light fixtures was part of a refurbishment project in 1998.

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BY ANTHONY RICHARDS STAFF WRITER

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horsby is a tight knit community with a rich history that has developed over the years.

During that time, there are few buildings that have represented Thorsby’s history and town pride more than Helen Jenkins Chapel.

The Town of Thorsby was officially settled in 1865, and the chapel was constructed roughly four decades later as a Norwegian Lutheran Church.

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The chapel still stands at its original location along what is now Concordia Street across from Thorsby School.

For 117 years, the chapel has stood as a landmark in the middle of Thorsby, and although it no longer serves religious purposes, it continues to entwine the town’s past with that of its future.

The building is currently rented out to residents to host events, such as wedding parties, graduations and other community get-togethers.

“We have a lot of people that come look at it,”

chapel events coordinator Julie Adams said. “It’s just real pretty on the inside.”

Helen Jenkins Chapel is owned and operated by the Town of Thorsby, and all events at the chapel must be reserved by contacting the town hall at 205-646-3575.

“It’s a great asset for the town, and something people really take advantage of,” Thorsby Mayor Robert Hight said.

Thorsby residents must pay $300 per day with a $65 initial deposit required to rent the space, while anyone living outside the town’s limits are charged $350 per day with a $75 deposit.

The deposit is refunded following a check of the building and property to make sure no damage was done after an event.

Events can be scheduled for the chapel from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

The chapel can hold a capacity of about 125 people.

According to Adams, the building has a rustic charm that really adds to its appeal.

“There’s not a lot of additional decorating that you have to do,” Adams said.

Thorsby Councilman Glenn Littleton has helped with repair and maintenance of the chapel’s stain-glassed window displays.

The chapel has not had to go through too many refurbishments during its time, but the largest one came in 1998 with a project that included replacing the roof, updating the light fixtures and providing a fresh coat of paint.

New flooring was laid at a later date.

“We didn’t want to change the look,” Adams said.

Unlike some older buildings, Helen Jenkins Chapel never endured a lengthy period of time

TOWN HALL P.O. Box 608 Thorsby, AL 35171 PHONE NUMBER 205-646-3575

THORSBY FAST FACTS POPULATION 1,938 (2018 estimate)

ELEVATION 696 feet (212 meters)

LAND AREA 5.2 square miles

MAYOR Robert Hight 205-646-3575

ZIP CODE 35171

TOWN COUNCIL Neil Benson 205-646-2936

FAX NUMBER 205-646-2414 WEBSITE www.townofthorsby.com

where it was unused and not maintained.

The holidays are a busy time of year with people wanting to book the chapel for their festive shindigs.

Summertime is another season when the interest in the chapel increases.

TOP: Helen Jenkins Chapel’s tall ceiling offers a spacious feeling.

BOTTOM: Stained-glass windows line the walls of the chapel.

Marilyn Collins 205-646-3782 Chastity Chapman 205-646-3575 Marvin Crumpton 205-646-3575 Glenn Littleton 205-646-3638

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The chapel has a capacity of about 125.

“Sometimes when it’s too hot to be at the park, they’ll use it a lot,” Adams said.

However, despite moments of higher interest throughout the year there is always consistent events being reserved for the facility regardless of the month.

“It’s really not as expensive as a lot of the venues around,” Adams said. “We have a lot of

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people from out of town that come in to use it.”

According to Adams, it doesn’t take much for people to fall in love with the place not long after taking a tour of it.

Usually if the situation allows it, people will be allowed to go in the night before and make sure things are in place for their scheduled event the next day.

Richard Wood Park

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ichard Wood Park is near the intersection of Alabama Avenue and Franklin Street.

Individuals can enjoy a walking track, playground, exercise equipment, pavilion, picnic area and grills.

Swedish Festival

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he town of Thorsby gets together every October to celebrate its heritage by hosting the annual Swedish Festival at Richard Wood Park.

The event will be held Oct. 10 this year from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The festival features numerous activities for the entire family, including a parade, car show and 5K Viking Run. Richard Wood Park has most of the activity with arts and crafts booths, food vendors, games and other attractions.

The beauty pageant takes place on the Saturday before the festival with the official date to be announced.

For more information regarding the event, contact Thorsby Town Hall at 205-646-3575.

Scandinavian Cemetery

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he Scandinavian Cemetery in Thorsby came into existence when Swedish Lutheran Church members bought the land in the late 1800s. Two founders of Thorsby, T.T. Thorson and J.F. Peterson, have sev-

eral relatives buried in the Scandinavian Cemetery, formerly known as the Concordia Lutheran Cemetery. In 2009, the cemetery was added to the Alabama Historical Commission’s Alabama Historical Cemetery Registry.

Helen Jenkins Chapel

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elen Jenkins Chapel, located on Concordia Avenue, is named after Helen Jenkins, a former principal of Thorsby School.

Built in 1903 by Norwegian Lutherans, the building served as a church until the early 1960s. The last Lutheran pastor, however, served until 1911, and the church was sold to the Congregational Church.

The Congregational Church was a major supporter of Thorsby Institute, a private school open from 1906 through 1957. Many students and faculty members attended the church, so when the school disbanded, the church followed soon thereafter. But the school would ultimately be what helped save the chapel.

In the early 1960s, the building was sold to the Masons and became the Thorsby Masonic Lodge. The Masons gave it to the town in the late 1980s. It was used by the Thorsby High School band until 1997.

The following year, the town formed a committee to restore the structure, which was in despair. Graduates of Thorsby Institute, along with local businesses and other generous individuals, raised the money to restore the chapel back to its former glory.

Farmhouse Café

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his destination lunch spot works with local farmers whenever possible when purchasing vegetables.

Although there is a consistent menu, the majority of regulars opt to go with the featured daily specials on the food bar. The food bar offers the option for one of two meat choices along with a selection from several vegetables. Each day has varying meat and vegetables options with certain meats on a rotating basis. Farmhouse Café is open Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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MAPLESVILLE

DELIVERING SMILES Deborah Ruddick-Blais enjoys work with meal program “There’s just no place like Maplesville.” —

Deborah Ruddick-Blais

STORY AND PHOTOS BY JOYANNA LOVE

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ny weekday morning in Maplesville one will find Deborah Ruddick-Blais delivering hot meals as a part of the Middle Alabama Area Agency on Aging meal

program.

The program is a partnership with the town and provides meals for those who cannot get out or cook for themselves due to health issues. Many of the 13 people who Ruddick-Blais delivers to are dealing with type-two diabetes, COPD or arthritis.

Ruddick-Blais has been a part of the program for the past four years and said she enjoys visiting with each person and making sure they have what they need.

Her job goes beyond just delivering meals as she talks to each of the people on her route about following their specific dietary restrictions and how they are doing.

“Always making sure that they have something in their house that they can eat like fresh fruits or fresh vegetables,” Ruddick-Blais said.

If individuals have other needs that M4A’s program in Maplesville does not provide, then she will recommend other groups that can help.

TOWN HALL P.O. Box 9 Maplesville, AL 36750 PHONE NUMBER 334-366-4212 FAX NUMBER 334-366-4210 WEBSITE www.townofmaplesville.com

“We have lots of good programs in Chilton County, if they’ll just utilize them,” Ruddick-Blais said.

A day of delivering can be full of unexpected obstacles.

“Goats on the loose, donkeys on the loose, yard snakes,” Ruddick-Blais said. “We could just run into anything.”

She genuinely cares about each person she delivers to and often takes a few minutes to stop and talk to each person. When social distancing regulations are not in place, Ruddick-Blais will sometimes step inside to visit.

During the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, Ruddick-Blais mostly talked to clients from their front door. She said it had been hard not being able to follow the normal visiting routine.

All of the meals for the program are prepared at an M4A facility.

MAPLESVILLE FAST FACTS POPULATION 752 (2018 estimate) LAND AREA 3.3 square miles (8.5 square kilometers) ZIP CODE 36750

ELEVATION 351 feet (107 meters) MAYOR W.C. Hayes Jr., 334-366-4383 TOWN COUNCIL District 1: John Caudle 334-366-4211

Deborah Ruddick-Blais has been a part of getting hot meals to Maplesville residents in need for the past four years.

District 2: Sheila Hall 334-366-0052 District 3: Hal Harrison 334-645-7026 District 4: Richard Davis 334-366-5214 District 5: Patty Crocker 334-366-4432

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Ruddick-Blais had first heard about the meal program when she reached out for help for her father when he was on hospice.

She had moved back to Stanton from Mississippi to be closer to him and take care of him.

After her father died, Ruddick-Blais chose to stay in the area and be a regular driver for the meal program.

“I know everyone on my route,” she said.

She commented that she is also related to many people in Maplesville.

“My granddaddy helped build this town,” Ruddick-Blais said.

After growing up in the town, she moved away because her husband was in the military.

“We were in the Air Force, and we got stationed overseas in Italy,” Ruddick-Blais said. “Well, we had an earthquake. It was 1980 … I thought I was cut off from everybody being in a foreign country anyway. I would wear my Maplesville Red Devils sweatshirt … about every day.”

That little piece of home brought comfort, as did a package she received when the mail could finally be delivered.

Ruddick-Blais said the large box was filled with presents from family and friends in Maplesville.

“The thing I remember about it the most was it smelled like woodchips and those windmill cookies with the little pecans in them,” Ruddick-Blais said. “So, every time we would have a tremor, I would go get my box and stick my little nose in it.”

Those smells from home helped Ruddick-Blais make it through until the last after effects of the earthquake subsided.

Despite changes in the town, the thoughtfulness of the Maplesville community remains the same to this day, RuddickBlais said.

“There’s just no place like Maplesville,” Ruddick-Blais said.

She said community members look out for each other and help each other whenever they can.

Maplesville Railroad Depot

F

irst built in the 1850s, Maplesville’s train depot marked the end of the age of the stagecoach in the town, as businesses moved to create the current downtown around the railroad.

But as the automobile became the preferred means of transportation, the depot fell into disuse.

The Maplesville Historical Society has worked to transform the depot into a museum.

The society was founded in 2007 in an effort to prepare the town for its bicentennial celebration as part of former Gov. Bob Riley’s Great Alabama Homecoming initiative.

One of the group’s first projects was to build a pictorial museum in the town’s historic depot, and several other projects are in the works.

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Heards BBQ and Soul Food

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his small eatery has become a local favorite since it was opened in 2017 by Roman and Shakira Heard.

They have been a finalist or semifinalist in several

24-Hour Challenge

food contests statewide. Roman is always changing the menu to find new favorites. Hours and specials can be found on the Heards BBQ and Soul Food Facebook page.

T

he Perry Mountain 24-Hour Challenge is an annual motorcycle race held at Perry Mountain Motorcycle Club on the first weekend in June. The event pits riders from all across the country against each other, against the 10-mile course and against the clock.

The concept is simple: Go as hard as you can as long as you can. The team/rider with the most laps completed after 24 hours wins the event. Riders tackle all kinds of terrain and elevation changes, along with mechanical issues. There are more than 14 classes of riders, with most entries coming from teams. Riders in the Ironman class, however, choose to take the challenge by themselves.

The event brings in dozens of vendors and hundreds of motorcycle enthusiasts from all across the country into Chilton County, as it is only one of two events like it in the nation.

Ebenezer Baptist Church

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benezer Baptist Church in Stanton was the site of a Civil War battle on April 1, 1865.

According to the marker in front of the church, Lt. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest led 1,500 Confederate cavalrymen into Union Army General James H. Wilson’s force of 7,500 near Ebenezer, hoping to stall Wilson on his march toward an arsenal at Selma.

Ebenezer’s pastor, Bro. Danny Rasberry, said people still

visit the church hoping to find a rumored bullet hole on the exterior, but that was likely located at a previous building that burned in 1916. One clue to the past is the cedar trees that tower over a cemetery up the hill behind the church. On a tombstone is written that the federal government asked the church not to cut down the trees because Union soldiers are buried there and the trees would serve as a memorial to the dead. The church is celebrated its 200th anniversary in July.

Maplesville Heritage Day

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he town of Maplesville’s first Heritage Day was held in 2010 as part of The Year of Small Towns and Downtowns in Alabama. The event was turned into an annual homecoming for those who call or once called the Maplesville area home. It also encompasses surrounding communities such as Lawley, Randolph and Stanton.

Heritage Day is traditionally held the first Saturday in April and sponsored by the Maplesville Volunteer Fire Department.

Aside from street vendors and the typical festival fun, the Southern Depot Museum is also open for visitors to browse 100-plus historic pictures and documents. To learn more, call Town Clerk Dawn Smitherman at 334-366-4211.

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