HEM Sep-Oct 2021

VOLUME 15, ISSUE 5

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021

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Congratulations to WEDC’s 2021 Women Honoring Women >onorees!

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From left to right, Dawn Stanley, Peggy Lee Wright, Christie Finley, Ginger Harper and Patty Sykstus. They will be honored at the annual Women Honoring Women gala on September 16th.

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September / October 2021

HUNTSVILLE Event Magazine

Contents 16

12 Publisher’s Letter

30

26

HMA Gala Black Tie Dinner

Junior League Book Ball

HMA Gala Cocktail Party & Silent Auction

Events

Editorials

16

Junior League Book Ball

32

Feature: Haunted Huntsville

20

2020 Symphony Ball Debutante Mother Daughter Tea

38

Things to do this Fall

40 22

HMA Gala Luncheon

How to Host a Haunted Halloween Bash

26

HMA Gala Black Tie Dinner

44

Spotlight: Christie Finley

30

HMA Gala Cocktail Party & Silent Auction

48

Centerstage: Jessica Penot

53

Taste: Sugar or Spice

62

Encore: Cedarhurst and Sally Carter

46

Huntsville Hospital Foundation Classic

50

SWAC Commissioner's Reception

58

Tom Brown’s 1st Annual Gala

60

Porsche Taycan Unveiling

61 Huntsville Happenings

58

Tom Brown’s 1st Annual Gala

32

48 On The Cover: Dr. Beth & Mark Falkenberg at the HMA Gala Black Tie Dinner Photo by Steve Babin

10

14 Editor’s Letter

www.eventhuntsville.com

40

44

A Letter from the Publisher

President/Publisher Todd Stephenson Editor Lori Boatfield Writers Lori Connors Suzanne Conway Noah Logan Jacque Reeves Judy Ryals Nancy Wilkinson Van Valkenburgh Graphic Design/Website Jim Gharib/IG Webs Graphic Design/Creative Director Patty Satterly Graphic Design Amy Pearson

Happy fall y’all! With the onset of fall we have filled this issue with not only the events we have covered over the summer, but a great list of things to do in and around Huntsville. From the Festifall at the Huntsville Botanical Garden, a ride on the train at North Alabama Railroad Museum, the Cemetery Stroll at Maple Hill to the Roundtop Folk Festival at Burritt on the Mountain, there is a little something for everyone to enjoy in the great outdoors. The Huntsville Ghost Walk-Walking Tours begin their season September 3. If you haven’t ventured out to any of these fun and interesting activities before, I encourage you to do so.

In this issue, we have included ideas on how to throw a ghostly Halloween party, shed some light on Huntsville’s haunted places and included Jessica Penot, who’s written a number of books about haunted history in the South. Jessica is featured in our Centerstage and as we’ve started the school year for 2021-22 Christie Finley, Superintendent of Huntsville City Schools since 2018, is our Spotlight.

Events have been back in full swing and Huntsville Event Magazine has been back with camera in hand covering as much as we could over this past summer.

From the Huntsville Classic Fundraiser for Huntsville Hospital Foundation, Debutante Mother Daughter Tea to the Huntsville Museum of Art’s Gala, Huntsvillians have had the opportunity to get out and socialize for worthy causes and support the nonprofit community.

I hope you enjoy this issue and continue to look forward to seeing the many familiar and new faces at the events we’ve featured. Please shop with the advertisers you see within these pages. Don’t forget to tell them you saw them in Huntsville Event Magazine!

Have a happy fall!

Scan the QR Code below to visit our website eventhuntsville.com

Todd Stephenson President/Publisher

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Lead Photographer Steve Babin Photographers Pete Dobbs Mark Jaeger Stephanie E. Jennings Director of Sales Carolyn Stephenson Account Executives Michelle Epling Noah Logan Distribution Glenda Mace HUNTSVILLE EVENT Magazine is published bi-monthly by Event Magazine, LLC, P.O. Box 14219, Huntsville, AL 35815 For advertising information please call 256.533.8078 or e-mail advertise@eventhuntsville.com For editorial information or to request coverage of an event, please visit our web site at www.eventhuntsville.com

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Huntsville event Magazine is published bi-monthly by event Magazine, llC. although the magazine is distributed free throughout the area in athens, Decatur, Fayetteville, guntersville, Huntsville, Madison and Owens Cross Roads, paid subscriptions are available for $50.00 annually. For new subscriptions or changes of address, call 256.533.8078 or email subscriptions@eventhuntsville.com. all contents © 2021. all rights reserved. Reproduction or use in whole or in part of the contents without the prior written permission of the publisher is prohibited.

Huntsville event Magazine is a registered trademark of event Magazine, llC. all rights reserved. unsolicited photographs or articles are submitted at the risk of the photographer or author. event Magazine, llC assumes no liability for the return of any unsolicited materials and may use them at its discretion.

To Submit an Ad or Event to HUNTSVILLE EVENT MAGAZINE please call us 256.533.8078 or visit our website eventhuntsville.com

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Editor’s Note

Halloween? How can it be, with temperatures still soaring and the oh-so-heavy humidity? But it’s coming. And we are ready. For the fun, for the costumes, and for the candy. And though it’s unprecedented, I got a bit of my haunting décor done early. Take a peek at the preparations at my house in How to Host a Halloween Bash.

With ghost stories that will make you shiver and look over your shoulder, we have organized our spookiest featured editorial – Haunted Huntsville. Inside you’ll find the spirits of the scary season and their stories, from historical spots all over town!

At Centerstage is Jessica Penot, whose book Haunted Alabama fits right in with our theme. And on a more serious note, we shine our Spotlight on Huntsville City Schools Superintendent Christie Finley, who talks about how the system and staff met the challenges of COVID head-on and are kicking off this school year with anticipation.

With the event season safely continuing, we’ve been there to showcase the people and organizations that make a difference for our area. It has been an honor to be invited.

Whether you’re reading about Huntsville’s haunted history or checking out your friends and neighbors supporting worthy causes at their favorite haunts, take note of the advertisers within the pages. Our aim is to not just to entertain, but to raise awareness for nonprofits who do so much good. Our advertisers are the sole reason we can do that. Eat at their tables, shop in their stores, utilize their services. And when you do, make sure they know you saw them in Huntsville Event Magazine.

Here’s to Halloween,

Lori Boatfield Editor

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15

Raven & Bradley Nall

Ginny Waggoner, Heather Ives

Lindsey Cluche, Jennifer White

Aaron & Lindsay Schliesman

Junior League Hosts 3rd Annual Book Ball PEOPLE • PLACES • PARTIES

Photos by Steve Babin The Junior League of Huntsville hosted their 3rd Annual Book Ball on May 8 at the historic Roundhouse Depot in Downtown Huntsville. The theme of the event was A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Guests enjoyed charcuterie baskets by Cured & Company paired with wine, provided by All Shook Up, who also served signature cocktails, with beer by Yellowhammer Brewing. The event featured entertainment by dancers from Element Dance Studio, as well as an exciting silent auction.

Sponsors included Platinum Sponsor Limbaugh Orthodontics; Gold Sponsors Avion Solutions Incorporated, Crossflow Technologies, Inc. and Van Valkenburgh & Wilkinson REALTORS; and Silver Sponsors HomeTown Lenders, Inc., North Alabama Oral & Facial Surgery, Redstone Federal Credit Union, the Doris Burwell Foundation, and Warren Averett, LLC. n continued on page 18

Drew & Lauren Battle, Jessica & Nathan Johnson

Marcie Woodard, Jessica Johnson, Brittany Pruitt, Valerie Johnson

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William & Kate Messervy, Sallie Keene, Matt Denton

See and purchase photos from this event at www.eventhuntsville.com

Junior League Book Ball continued

Hayley & Taylor Lamberth

Amanda Elliott, Whitley Kelley

PEOPLE • PLACES • PARTIES

Nicole Fisher, Stephanie Coulter, Holly Brockman

Dominica Johnson, Sarah Swain, Ginny Waggoner, Heather Ives

Kate Moon, Kaitlynn & Amy Roark, Anna Stinson

Scott & Marcie Woodard

Chris Taylor, Cody Martin

Danny Parker, Tavi Ford

Graem & Elizabeth Cook

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See and purchase photos from this event at www.eventhuntsville.com

Zacairi Turner, Kristina Hendrix

www.eventhuntsville.com

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Debbie Washburn, Terri Coomer, Johanna Hutchens, Tambra Davis

Tabby Ragland, Ashley Walker, Ashley Mitchell

Elizabeth & Patricia Ann Rankin

2020 Symphony Ball Debutante Mother Daughter Tea PEOPLE • PLACES • PARTIES

Photos by Steve Babin 2020 Symphony Ball Debutantes and their mothers enjoyed a lovely afternoon tea July 25 at the home of Kim Hartley. The previous year’s Ball Chairman hosts the annual event and this year, Rosemary Latham continued the tradition.

Attending were 27 young women making their debut at the 57th Symphony Ball, October 23, their mothers, members of the 2020 Ball Committee, past Guild Presidents, officers and past Ball Chairmen. Guests were greeted by Hartley; 2020 Ball Chairman, Kim Johnson; 2020 Symphony Guild President, Janet Skidmore; and Rosemary Latham. A silver wine cooler overflowing with flowers graced the foyer table. The container, given by past Ball Chairmen in memory of Robin Lanier Stewart, 1988 Ball Chairman, has been used yearly at the tea since 1993.

Rosemary Latham, Janet Skidmore, Kim Johnson, Kim Hartley

The young women savored a tea menu prepared by Catering by Narvell. The centerpiece in the dining room, as well as the flowers in the entry, were arrangements

by Charlotte Wessel of Buckets and Blooms. Fruit punch and sparkling juice were served by past Ball Chairmen Patti Thornton, Shelia Irby, Marie Newbery and Suzanne O’Conner.

The Symphony Ball, sponsored by the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild since 1964, is an annual fundraiser benefitting the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra. n

Kitty Scripp, Kathy Wiliford, Bobsy Ingram

Lynda Beason, Wendy & Mary Wynne Tucker

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Sarah & Tina Beck

Mary Wynne Tucker, Riley Kamelchuk, Sydney Scoggins, Britt Webber, Elizabeth Evans

See and purchase photos from this event at www.eventhuntsville.com

Frances Schultz, Christopher Madkour

Sheree Barnes, Amy Darby

HMA’s Gala Luncheon

Jim & Carolyn Rountree

Ginger Harper, Christopher Madkour, Michelle Driggs

PEOPLE • PLACES • PARTIES

Photos by Steve Babin The Huntsville Museum of Art and the Museum's Gala Committee hosted the 30th Anniversary Gala the week of June 7. One of Huntsville's premier events, the Gala consisted of three occasions that benefit Museum programming throughout the year.

The community showed its support for the Museum even before the event, with the Luncheon and Dinner being sold-out in advance.

The first of the three events, the Gala Luncheon was on June 8 and featured celebrated lifestyle author and tastemaker Frances Schultz as the distinguished guest speaker, who was available for a book signing at the end of the event. “Purveyor served a wonderful meal complete with southern hospitality,” said 30th Gala co-chair Betty Hornsby. n continued on page 24

Mandy Selman, Amy Cosgrove, Courtney Allen, Margaret Gleason

Danny & Erin Owen

22

Tabby Ragland, Lori Meyer

Dabsey Maxwell, Beth Martin Richardson, Bhavani Kakani, Katiya McKinney, Carolyn Stephenson

Beverly Weiner, Mary Grace Evans, Michelle Driggs, Jennifer Wu

Jennifer Wu, Kathi Tew

See and purchase photos from this event at www.eventhuntsville.com

Phil & Linda Rosentrater

HMA’s Gala Luncheon continued

Kristin Davis, Lee Lee Ray

Katie Shaver, Joyce Crim

PEOPLE • PLACES • PARTIES

Mandy Selman, Amy Cosgrove, Andrea Petroff

Donna DeLisle, Lisa Edwards, Marcie Wingo, Shelia Irby

Kate Noble Purvis, Xan Curran, Carolyn Stewart

Kacey Stvan, Mary-Rogers Bridgforth, Brandy Ellingsworth

Emily Alcorn, Hallie Lang, Elena Buckley, Camille Sommer

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Brandy Smith, Christopher Madkour

See and purchase photos from this event at www.eventhuntsville.com

Beth Martin Richardson, Dabsey Maxwell

www.eventhuntsville.com

25

Amy Cosgrove, Andrea Petroff

Danny & Erin Owen

Gala Black Tie Dinner and Live Auction

David & Samantha Holt, Dorothy & Bartley Loftin

Photos by Steve Babin

PEOPLE • PLACES • PARTIES

The Huntsville Museum of Art’s 30th Gala, presented by the Gala Committee, a series of premier gatherings, took place in early June.

The second of the Gala events was a Black-Tie Dinner and Live Auction on June 10.

The organization offered a pre-event Buy Now Take Later program in which a variety of treasures could be purchased in advance of the event. “The Gala Live Auction Dinner is an elegant evening where the focus is on supporting the Museum. Gorgeous art and over-the-top trips and parties were auctioned off in a sale by bid, and it is always an exciting night to watch the bidding, even if you don’t participate,” said Betty Hornsby, Gala co-chair. Hornsby continued, “Chef James Boyce created a delectable menu for guests’ enjoyment.” n

Dr. John & Kim Hartley, Jean & Jerre Penney

John & Patsy Shields, Tracy & George Jones

Portia Speyer, Beverly Alm, Joy Hall, Katie Waite

Calame Sammons, Steve Johnson, Dianne Sammons

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Penn & Marissa Garvich

See and purchase photos from this event at www.eventhuntsville.com

Amy Cosgrove, Christopher Madkour

Connor Brookman, Brooke Jock, Bernie Tomkies, Cinthia Darden, Shalu Holman, Angie Kloote

Lewis & Kathryn Price

Joyce Griffin, Christopher Madkour

Lee & David Nast

George Jones, Hank Isenberg

Betty Hornsby, Xan Curran, Kathy Campbell

Kelly & Thomas O'Connor

Christine & Mike Wicks

www.eventhuntsville.com

Parker & Sarah Jones, Stephen & Kristin Davis

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HMA’s Gala Black Tie and Live Auction continued

Trent & Caitlin Thomas

Angie Kloote, Rich Ortiz

PEOPLE • PLACES • PARTIES

George & Tracy Jones

Connor Brookman, Bernie Tomkies, Cinthia Darden, Brooke Jock

Bill & Marie Schneider

Becky Smedstad, Nancy Siniard

Rob & Challice Warren, Marissa & Penn Garvich

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Cathy & Brian Scholl

See and purchase photos from this event at www.eventhuntsville.com

Tabby & Ward Ragland

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Rick & Eleanor Loring

Julien & Portia Speyer Daiven & Ginger Harper, Andrea Petroff, Hank Isenberg

PEOPLE • PLACES • PARTIES

Gala Cocktail Party and Silent Auction Photos by Stephanie E. Jennings HMA’s 30th Anniversary Gala concluded with the Gala Cocktail Party on June 12.

“The Gala Cocktail Party and Silent Auction is the only event away inside museum galleries surrounded by fabulous art and amazing trips and other treasures available for purchase. There is something for everyone!” Gala co-chair Betty Hornsby said.

She explained that this year’s event looked a little different, “This year we have transitioned to a mobile bidding platform for the silent auction, so guests who haven’t been vaccinated or were wary about being at events had an opportunity to bid.”

Andrea Petroff, Margaret Gleason, Chris Penney, Erin Bailey

Guests had the opportunity to meet the Gala featured artist, Plein Air painter Millie Gosch, a highly accomplished and collectible artist with original oil paintings displayed in the corporate offices of Synovus Bank, Bank of America, St. Francis Hospital and Price Waterhouse Coopers. In addition, the artist provided 17 paintings for the silent and live auctions. n

Paul & Rachel Matheny, Danny & Johnette Davis

Margaret Gleason, Sara Ahearn, Parker & Sarah Jones

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Robin Loftin, Robert Moores

See and purchase photos from this event at www.eventhuntsville.com

Kendall Blasi, Jessica Ivey

Will & Kristin King

Alden & Brian Cayse Melissa Gimenez, Marie Schneider, Emily Bourgeois

PEOPLE • PLACES • PARTIES

Katie Cochran, Rebecca Bawcom, Kelly Durham, Melissa Gimenez, Chris Penney

Natalie Patterson, Andrea Petroff, Tinsley Shedd

Mayor Tommy Battle, Lee & David Nast

Ron & Kim Moody, Toni & Gary Turner

See and purchase photos from this event at www.eventhuntsville.com

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Haunted Huntsville Did you ever step into a building and feel an inexplicable chill? Walk around an old house and feel as though you’re not alone? Well, we have some stories that will give credence to those feelings, and they happened right here in Huntsville. Believe or not, either way, enjoy!

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DEAD CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND Tucked away near the walls of a historic limestone quarry, and adjacent to Maple Hill Cemetery, lies a small park. Within the park is a playground said to be haunted by the spirits of children buried in Maple Hill. Between the young victims of the influenza epidemic of 1918 and the mysterious murders of local children in the middle of the 20th century, “evidence” of the paranormal abounds: swings that swing in sync by themselves with no wind blowing; dust rising as if a child has jumped off the swings; photographs with orbs or ghostly figures; even tales of laughter and children’s voices being heard.

The activity is most common during the hours of 10 p.m. and 3 a.m.

The stories are so prevalent, in fact, that according to aparanormalthing.com, the playground was investigated by the Alabama Paranormal Society in 2008, and a post from June 2011 shows that the site was investigated by the Alabama Paranormal Association: “The investigation at the Dead Children’s Playground proved to be a hotbed of activity.

The combination of probable limestone or quartz rock, the events that seemed to have unfolded there, and the fact that there is a 2 mile wide and long cemetery bordering the playground were probably all contributors to the activity here. Swings moving on their own with no breezes in the air, voices of children and people, apparitions, orbs, you name it, it was there! Most definitely a well-deserved location to be on the Alabama index of haunted places.”

Jacque Reeves is a native of New Mexico, though her ancestors are among the earliest settlers of North Alabama and Tennessee. She is past president of the HuntsvilleMadison County Historical Society, Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll, and past curator of the Historic Donnell House in Athens. She is the author of 15 books on true crime and history.

Reeves is the founder of Avalon Tours and The Huntsville Ghost Walk. She extensively researched Huntsville history and discovered a medium who provided information that corresponds to historic facts. “I happened to be gathering information to put together the ghost walk, so I asked him to walk with me throughout Huntsville to see what he could find. He is not from here, does not know our history, and I was shocked at how accurate the information was that he picked up by communicating with the ghosts.

If he found something I didn't already know from research, I was able to verify through further research,” said Reeves. “The work with a medium is what really sets us apart from ghost tours in other places. What we have found, and what the medium has found, has been echoed by other mediums who take our tours.”

The following are firsthand excerpts from her books.

HISTORIC HUNTSVILLE DEPOT Sometimes, when I’m in the depot lobby alone, I like to imagine all the people that once passed through in the 100 years when it was a working train depot. There were Civil War soldiers, both North and South, who either occupied the depot, were imprisoned on the third floor, or were leaving for their next duty station. There were some who left to fight in the Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.

Some of them returned in coffins. Then there were the people who went to visit relatives, go off to college, or see the world. Many famous people passed through - presidents, generals, suffragists, and movie stars.

The Huntsville Depot has many Civil War ghosts who remain here even though they know they are dead and that the war is over. Many are veterans who congregate here to talk about events of the war. It is like they are at a lodge meeting. Upstairs, where the Confederate prisoners were kept, there is a feeling of being crowded, confined, and hot.

One ghost showed our medium where his writing was left on the wall. Others complain about the Union soldiers forcing the young ladies out of the academy on Randolph Street so they could use it for barracks. One is frantically trying to get someone to put out a fire in the depot vault. “If you won’t help, then get out of my way!” he yells.

Back when the depot was open, the ghosts liked to see children come visit, and especially enjoyed watching them laugh as they ran around the grounds. One tells our medium that he sometimes playfully pulls the hair of the little girls. “Ask the guides, they’ll tell you!” the ghost says.

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Many sightings have been reported by employees and visitors. Employees of Channel 19 were once driving by and saw a man walking toward the front door. They pulled over to ask him a question, but when they looked up, he was gone. They went to the door to find him inside, but the door was locked and the building was closed.

Employees have seen the ghost of a railroad employee walk up and down the passenger platform, even though there is no access except from inside the building.

One employee was standing at the door and verified that no one had passed her.

Visitors at night have seen a ball of fire come out of a window on the third floor and hit the ground below. One visitor saw a wall of fire inside the same room. Another employee who could see ghosts refused to go to the third floor.

MAPLE HILL CEMETERY ON WELLS AVENUE While walking through an area near the fence with no headstones, there was a voice saying over and over, “get him off my feet!” It is the voice of a woman, and it could mean that someone was buried partially over her. Our medium said it was so clear that he was sure we must have heard it too.

We walked down to another grave of interest, that of Philip Flanigan, the second husband of Elizabeth Dale Gibbons Flanigan Jeffries High Brown Routt, known as the Black Widow of Hazel Green. The ghost of Philip Flanigan tells our medium that the headstone is not in the right spot; that it was broken at some time in the past and replaced adjacent to where it should be.

up and someone examined his fingernails for evidence of arsenic poisoning. In the final moments, he had no strength to walk up the stairs and he sat back in the kitchen.

He called to his wife, but she wouldn’t answer. He wants water, but he can’t get any.

There is food cooking on the stove, and he is getting weaker all the time. He thinks he is too young to die. He did not die suddenly, he says, and he thinks it wasn’t something he ate, but something he drank. As he was dying however, he remembered thinking, “there are no rats in the house.” People are coming to gather him up (his wife didn’t find him, and he is disappointed that she wasn’t there for him) and he has been pronounced dead, but he isn’t dead yet. However, he is looking down at his own body on the floor.

Rumor says he was killed by his wife, whose many husbands died similarly and with the exception of the first husband who lived 17 years after marrying Elizabeth, the other five marriages were much shorter.

His ghost says that it isn’t what you think it is. “The bloodline is most important.”

Perhaps he thinks we should be more concerned about our bloodline, and less about his death. ***

A look at his probate packet at the library reveals that three months after his marriage to Elizabeth, he started to get ill and in the last 90 days of his life, he consulted a doctor 45 times, an average of every other day. He was deep in debt, in spite of the fact that he dressed very well for the time and his personal belongings were the best money could buy. Did Elizabeth kill him to keep him from getting the money and land she inherited from her first husband?

My personal experience…one day when I was doing some research at Maple Hill, a man walked up to me and said he walks through the cemetery every day and he also sees ghosts. One story was of special interest to me. He walks every day past the grave of a Confederate Colonel, who died in the Civil War. The colonel bows his head, and this man bids him good morning every day.

“What does he want?” I asked.

“He wants to be acknowledged,” was his reply.

“What does he say?”

“He doesn’t say anything.”

“What is his name?”

“I can’t remember his name, but I’ll take you to his grave.”

He talks about his death [his ghost speaking to the medium] - it was a complete surprise, his body swelled, puffed up and his limbs became stiff. His body was dug

Imagine my surprise. It was the grave of my great-great-grandfather, General William Hundley.

Philip Flanagan, Elizabeth’s new husband, was 35 years old. Their marriage took place on October 3, 1831, but he survived only six months after the wedding. He was buried at Maple Hill Cemetery. Elizabeth had the following inscription in his tombstone: “he was the sincear Friend, the agreeable companion, affectionate husband, the honest man.” Unfortunately, Elizabeth misspelled his name.

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continued on page 36

THE HUNTSVILLE TIMES BUILDING History remembers J. Emory Pierce as the founder of the Huntsville Times. Perhaps he was more successful – and certainly more creative – as a con artist and a fraud.

Flamboyant to the end, there were 101 pallbearers at his 1952 funeral at Maple Hill Cemetery. His ghost, however, still lingers at the art deco building he erected in 1928.

Jacob Emory Pierce was 14 when he took a job as a newspaper boy at the Huntsville Daily Tribune for a whopping $2.50 per month. He eventually founded a rival newspaper, the Huntsville Daily Times first printed on March 23, 1910.

In 1928, plans were underway to build two “skyscrapers” in Huntsville. The Hotel Russel Erskine was planned to be a 12-story luxury hotel on Clinton Street, near the heart of downtown. J. Emory Pierce could not be outdone. The new Huntsville Times Building was built a few blocks away on the corner of Greene Street and Holmes Avenue.

The building was designed to be 10 stories tall with art deco details. When Pierce found out about the Russel Erskine Hotel, he decided the Times Building would have to be 12 stories high as well. The biggest problem was that the elevator had already been ordered and it would only go to the 11th floor.

Pierce told the Otis Elevator Company that he would not make payment until the elevator was installed to his satisfaction. After it was installed, he told the elevator company that he wanted them to remove it, but warned that if they damaged the building, he would sue the company. The rumor was that he got the elevator at no cost. Access to the 12th floor could only be made by taking the stairway from the 11th floor.

Like the Hotel Russel Erskine, the Times Building was finished just in time to usher in the Great Depression. It was not a good time for businesses in America! In 1931, the Huntsville Daily Times went into receivership. Pierce defaulted on a construction loan and lost everything.

Not surprising, there is some ghostly activity present in the building. Nannie Pierce, wife of J. Emory Pierce, is pleading his case. She says he was a good man, and there are people out to get him. The ghost of J. Emory Pierce is trying to return. His energy is here, but he is unable to get back.

J. Emory Pierce wasn’t finished with the newspaper business yet. In 1935, his son started the Huntsville Daily Register and J. Emory Pierce became the publisher. He traveled in a chauffeur-driven car to visit rural farmers in Alabama and neighboring states. He sold advertising to them for a special TVA edition of the newspaper, but his sales pitch was worded in such a way that farmers thought they were buying TVA stock that would ensure they would get electricity sooner to their farms. The money was handed over and when they later looked at their receipts, farmers discovered they had been duped. The misrepresentation was his undoing. Complaints from various farmers led to Pierce’s arrest in Winchester, Tennessee.

Pierce and his chauffer were tried in Memphis. His chauffer testified that they sold advertisement to as many as 5,000 people in 92 different counties. Pierce was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Pierce’s ghost looks out the window to the street below. Someone has been killed and he knows it should have been him, he was the intended victim.

J. Emory Pierce died of a heart attack in Houston in September 1952. The Huntsville Times reported that “at one time he was engaged in 52 different businesses of various kinds.” His obituary, published on September 14, went on to say he had spent the previous 15 years in Memphis and Houston in connection with a “national advertising concern.”

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The obituary couldn’t have been better if he had written it himself. He “pushed for cheaper power, lower taxes, and better roads.” He was buried at Huntsville’s Maple Hill Cemetery near his parents and the future final resting places of his siblings and children.

THE CALHOUN HOUSE A small parking lot in downtown Huntsville holds residue of a tragic event that took place in the large house razed in the early 1900s. A Civil War ghost looks for an answer to a question that, until recently, could not be explained. A little background information is necessary to understand why the ghost, as well as the residue of the past, still remains.

Mr. Meredith Calhoun was born in 1805. Over the course of several decades, he came to own several plantations and various pieces of property. He and his family traveled extensively and sent fine art pieces and statuary to furnish their three-story mansion in Huntsville, located on the corner of Greene Street and Eustis Avenue.

Union soldiers entered Huntsville in April 1862 for the first of several occupations.

The Calhoun’s imposing mansion was unoccupied and vulnerable to unwanted guests.

Located just off the courthouse square and near four large churches, the showpiece home was admired by many who passed by. A Union soldier, Henry Ackerman Smith of the 21st Ohio Infantry, wrote a letter home to his wife in May 1862 describing the home. He said the flower beds were “tastefully laid off” and “it is certainly one of the attractions of Huntsville and is well worth the visit.”

Union General Ormsby Mitchel took as his temporary living quarters, the home of Hugh Lawson Clay on Madison Street. Mitchel confiscated furniture, beds, linens and even a piano from a local hotel. In addition, he confiscated fine statuary and artwork from the Calhoun home.

The large roomy Calhoun mansion was the perfect place to house sick soldiers, especially those with contagious diseases. In June 1862, a smallpox epidemic spread through the ranks of Union soldiers. A local citizen wrote that the city had been “visited by pestilence and sword.” Local ladies, aware that even those boys in blue were someone’s son, brother, husband, and father, volunteered their services to bring them back to health. Their surgeon published a letter in the local newspaper thanking the ladies for their care and kindness.

The armies, of both the North and the South, came and went. Brigadier General George Crook used the Calhoun house as his headquarters when his troops came in November 1863. It was a hospital again in the summer and fall of 1864 when a typhoid fever epidemic decimated the ranks of the Union army, leaving as many as 32 soldiers dead. At that time, one soldier suffering from delirium due to his high fever, jumped from the window of the building’s third floor. He did not survive. Those who witnessed the event described the soldier as out of his mind. Those around him were afraid of catching the disease themselves and were reluctant to touch his body.

On April 9, 1865, General Robert E. Lee officially surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox, Virginia. Celebrations were held throughout the country, and Huntsville was no exception. On May 1, 1865, Union soldiers erected a flagpole in front of the Calhoun house and flew the stars and stripes.

Many of the Union soldiers who died in the area were buried in Huntsville’s Maple Hill Cemetery, while others were buried in plantation graveyards throughout the area.

After the war, men were sent to dig up those bodies from all cemeteries in the South and either send them to their loved ones in the North, or re-inter them in Chattanooga National Cemetery.

The history of the Calhoun house did not end there. The house later served as Huntsville Academy. [After having a price put on the heads of the James Brothers, Frank James was eventually brought to Huntsville to be tried for the robbery of Alexander Smith, a government paymaster at Muscle Shoals. The Federal Courthouse at that time was the Calhoun House.] James was acquitted, however, and spent his final 31 years in honest employment. Of this era, the spirits remain silent. n

The residue of that event remains. A medium, upon visiting the site for the first time, described a feeling of confusion, nausea, high fever, and the sensation of falling.

He said it was if the ground was rushing toward his face. Unaware that a house had once been on that site, he asked if there had ever been a hospital there, because of the overwhelming feeling of sickness he was experiencing.

Another ghost appeared, an amputee, who wanted to know what happened to the amputated arms and legs of the soldiers. “They were buried,” the medium answered.

“Yes,” the ghost answers, “but where?” That question remained unanswered until a few years ago when a man on a bicycle rode up to me and said that renovation had been going on in and under an old building very near the old Calhoun site. While digging the basement underneath the floor, workers found numerous arm and leg bones bearing saw marks. During the Civil War, the site had been a vacant lot and because it was near the hospital, it seemed like a good place to discard limbs.

Leslie Stout as the ghost of Sally Carter, Huntsville’s most famous ghost, on the Huntsville Ghost Tour

Huntsville Times Building and Historic Huntsville Depot photos courtesy of Huntsville Madison County Public Library Colonel Hundley, Leslie Stout as the ghost of Sally Carter, and Calhoun House photos courtesy of Jacque Reeves Jacque Reeves’ Ghost Walk photo by Pete Dobbs

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T hings To Do T his Fall

Photos by Steve Babin; Photos provided by Huntsville Botanical Garden

Huntsville Botanical Garden presents: Festifall – September 4 through October 31 The Garden’s two-month celebration of the changing seasons features pumpkins, scarecrows, campouts, nature hikes and more. As the air turns crisp and the leaves begin to change, there’s no better place to connect with nature and enjoy the beauty of autumn. Visit hsvbg.org for more info

North Alabama Railroad Museum Punkin’ Pickin Extravaganza – Saturday, October 16 at 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Take the train to the western terminus and pick your own pumpkin (sized perfectly for children to carry) Fall Color Special – Saturday, October 30 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

--and Saturday, November 6 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

There’s nothing like a scenic train trip through the colorful foliage on the Mercury & Chase Railroad – featuring a ten-mile train ride lasting over an hour.

Visit northalabamarailroadmuseum.com for info

Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll Sunday, October 17 at 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.

203 Maple Hill Drive (at California St. and McClung Ave.) The Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll has become one of the largest living history strolls in one of the oldest cemeteries in America. History comes to life all along the path with

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more than 75 costumed characters living out Huntsville’s rich history. Sponsored by the Huntsville Pilgrimage Association, the event is free; donations received are designated for repair and preservation of the walls and tombstones of this historic municipal cemetery. Visit huntsville.org for more info.

The Huntsville Ghost Walk Walking tours every Friday and Saturday in September and October The Huntsville Ghost Walk begins another chilling season Friday, September 3. Tours begin at Harrison Brothers Hardware Store, at 124 South Side Square at 6 p.m. Choose one of three guided tours through the Twickenham District, the Old Town District or the Downtown District. Hear stories from Huntsville's haunted past and learn why the spirits remain. Visit www.huntsvilleghostwalk.com for more info.

Roundtop Folk Festival at Burritt on the Mountain Friday, November 5 and Saturday November 6 The Roundtop Folk Festival is where traditional art and music come alive. The festival features Burritt Folk School instructors and other local artists with traditional craft demonstrations, artists vendors, and music from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Includes foodtrucks, craft beer, wine, and s’mores at The View.

Microwave Dave & the Nukes, Friday at 6 p.m. Valley Road Bluegrass Band, Saturday at 2 p.m. Visit burrittonthemountain.com for more info. n

Busy fall schedules mean family time can be hard to come by. Gaylord Opryland makes quality time

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How to Host a

Haunted Halloween Bash

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Written by Lori Boatfield Charcuterie design by Ashley Johnson Design and photos by Ashley Johnson, Jamie Robertson & Lori Boatfield When I became a wife, at the ripe old age of 26 – after being the sole mistress of a couple of my own humble abodes – I had very specific ideas about how I would decorate our house for special occasions. In fall, I loved to gather leaves and pumpkins, make wreaths and floral arrangements, tastefully combining the holidays of Halloween and Thanksgiving in my efforts. My husband, who was born on Halloween, has, in the ensuing 20 years, completely corrupted my tasteful fall decorating. I balked at first, at the creepy décor. I shuddered at the specter of the Grim Reaper’s gruesome rictus at my piano, and the gargoyles guarding the fireplace. Early on, my sensibilities were offended by salsa served from a hollowed-skull bowl. I have, however, grown to embrace the macabre, and adopt a bit of the Gothic in my approach to decorating for the now-annual costume party that we throw to celebrate his Halloween birthday.

Our 122-year-old home creates the perfect backdrop for our Haunted Halloween Bashes.

High ceilings and creaking floorboards only add to the ambiance – along with cobwebs (some organic, others added) and candlelight.

We add to our collection of startling serving pieces each year, like the skull salsa bowl and the skeleton hands salad tongs that we use year-round. And we inevitably end up with a few new grinning ghouls perched on the porch. Our children have gotten into the “spirit” and enjoy putting out the mummy and his treasure, hanging caged skulls from their hooks. They delight in arranging gravestones in the front flowerbed, and wonder what dark décor their dad will devise next! n

If you’re looking to HOST your own Haunted Halloween Bash, here are a few steps to get started: The invitations – check out Smilebox for customizable creations with music and ghostly sound effects to email or text to your guests

The decor – we’ve amassed a collection of creepy decorations, but dim lights, synthetic spider webs and candles go a long way in creating a haunted backdrop

The table – I like to use platforms of varying heights (I put my Amazon boxes to good use) covered with a black tablecloth, then drape with creepy cloth to set a scary serving space

The fare – we keep it simple, serving hors d’oeuvres/finger foods - sometimes even fingers as food, a skeletal charcuterie, and always creepy cocktails - see next page for recipes

The finishing touches – setting up a motion-detectedtalking gravestone in the guest bath makes for a fun surprise; floating an icy hand in the punchbowl is chilling in every way; dripping red candle wax onto the outside of inexpensive stemware creates a bloody good drinking glass 41

Fun Recipes to get you in the

Halloween Spirit Witches Finger Bread Sticks from cooknourishbliss.com 1 pizza dough 1 egg 1 tablespoon water sesame seeds and/or poppy seeds, optional 8 whole raw almonds Preheat the oven to 450ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

Place the pizza dough on a lightly floured work surface. Using lightly floured hands, divide the dough into 8 equal pieces (about 2 ounces each.)

Shape each piece into a rope about 9 to 10 inches long.

Shape each rope to make knuckles and lines.

Place on the prepared baking sheet about 1 to 2 inches apart. Let rest for about 20 minutes.

In a small bowl, beat together the egg and water. Brush each “finger” with the mixture. Press one almond into the end of each “finger” - be sure to press down hard or they will come off during baking.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown.

Bloody good witches brew 1 (1.5 fluid ounce) jigger vodka 1/2 fluid ounce cointreau 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice 1.5 fluid ounces cranberry juice Decorate glasses with black sugar and serve

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Christie Finley Huntsville City Schools Superintendent 44

Written by Lori J. Connors Photos by Steve Babin

When Huntsville City Schools Board of Education selected Christie Finley as its new leader in August 2018, she inherited a robust school district. However, it was initially fraught with challenges of a fiscal variety.

Fast forward 19 months later, neither Finley, the school board, nor her city’s constituents could truly anticipate how crucial her role as superintendent would be when faced with an unprecedented crisis of global proportions, an ongoing situation that continues to play out as the 20212022 school year begins.

With nearly 30 years’ proven academic excellence in both the classroom and as an administrator, Finley is a third-generation educator. Her career has encompassed the three school districts of Madison County, Alabama: Huntsville City, Madison City, and Madison County.

Finley grew up in Madison and earned her Bachelor of Science in Education from Auburn University, followed by a Master of Education in School Counseling from Alabama A&M University, then an Educational Leadership Degree from the University of South Alabama.

Before her selection as Superintendent of Huntsville City Schools, Finley served in a variety of progressive roles, including Deputy Superintendent of Strategy and Innovation, Director of Secondary Programs, school principal and classroom teacher.

Among many accolades in her noteworthy career as an educator and administrator, Finley received the honorable distinction of being named one of nine finalists for the 2021 Alabama Superintendent of the Year. She was also one of the area’s five businesswomen nominated by the WEDC Foundation for making a significant impact in the Huntsville community while overcoming considerable obstacles as they strive for success in their respective fields.

Growing up in a family of educators, teaching was a natural career progression for Finley. Her grandfather was a principal at Owens Crossroads, later becoming the president of the Madison County Board of Education upon retiring. Her mother followed in his footsteps, teaching second grade for over 27 years in Madison County/ Madison City. Her father also was a teacher in Madison County/Madison City.

Spotlight Finley was strongly influenced by her mother’s approach to education. “It was just something I would watch my mother do. I would go with her to work; we’d get to school at 6:30 in the morning and I would watch her fill the chalkboard up with arithmetic,” she said. “As a second-grade teacher, she was teaching 3-digit subtraction and regrouping. That’s typically something that’s introduced toward the end of second grade and even a little bit in the 3rd grade back in the day. I’d say, ‘That sure is a lot of problems on the board.’ And she would reply, ‘I want my students to be ready now, and in third grade, they’re already moving into multiplication.’”

“That’s something that already resonated with me, that you don’t have to just look at the average, or do the average or the standard, but extend those standards so that all students have that opportunity.” said Finley.

“Whether it be because of the pandemic, you can look at workforce development and the needs of our community,” said Finley.

“Because we see now there’s a high demand and a short supply of workers.” The next step beyond ensuring students’ safety is to prepare them to transition right into the work force after graduation.

Huntsville City Schools was ahead of the game because in 2010, they went to 1-to-1 school district for grades 3-12.

The lower grades had iPads that were available to students. For more than ten years, technology was part of the daily instruction landscape. “Technology is not the instructional delivery piece, it is a tool for instruction,” said Finley. “That teacher component is the most critical for the student - making sure they have that highly effective teacher that drives that instructional piece using the tools in their toolkit, such as technology.”

Although devices were available during the pandemic, dedicated connectivity and WiFi for all students might not have been. To that end, Huntsville City Schools deployed sixty-five WiFi equipped school buses into the Huntsville neighborhoods.

Huntsville Utilities and ADTRAN stepped in by providing all Huntsville City schools perimeters with WiFi access so that parents and students could have WiFi access outside of the campuses.

Additionally, the State of Alabama initiated the Alabama Bandwidth Connectivity program to help families that needed WiFi connectivity to complete their schoolwork.

“We are a team here,” said Finley. “At the end of the day we know that the single most critical factor for a child to be successful is a highly effective teacher and a support system in every school building.” n

COVID-19 may have upended the 20192020 school year, but the academic focus and needs of the students and educators were never compromised. “Quite honestly, the landscape may have changed in terms of how we ‘do’ education, but at the at the end of the day, the focus has still been the same since I started teaching in 1991,” said Finley. “And that’s making sure that whatever decision we make, it’s in the best in the interest of our students and in the best interest of our teachers, so that all students have opportunities to achieve at high levels.”

During the pandemic, Finley and her team were able to find opportunities to reframe education. “Although the pandemic was and still is a health concern, it really made us rethink how we teach; how instruction is provided,” she explained. “If we look at the grand scheme of things that came out of this, it’s how we really individualized instruction for our students. It made us take a deeper dive in how we deliver that instruction to all students and that’s a positive thing. It also reminds us that we must continuously change.”

Selected as Superintendent in a time for which many can now nostalgically refer to as the kinder, gentler time before COVID, Finley believes that Huntsville City Schools were ahead of the curve with regards to preparedness. Not only for the pandemic, but for the future work force.

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Dave Hargrove, Gerry Shannon, Alex Johnson, David Spillers, George Jones, Charlie Vaughn, David Nast

PEOPLE • PLACES • PARTIES

Charlie Vaughn, Gerry Shannon, Nick Rockhill, Sarah Savage-Jones

Huntsville Classic with a Twist Photos by Stephanie E. Jennings Huntsville Hospital Foundation’s 32nd annual Huntsville Classic featured Anderson East, with performances by Joy Oladokun and Briston Maroney. The virtual concert was May 14. The Foundation hosted a drive-through dinner at John Hunt Park before the concert.

Sarah Savage-Jones, Gerry Shannon, Chris Hanback

The concert was a unique opportunity for ticket holders to see three powerful artists from the comfort of their own homes. East, an Athens, Ala. native has been on the rise since his first major-label album in 2015. He received a 2019 GRAMMY-Award nomination for his song “All on my Mind.” Oladokun is a singer-songwriter who recently performed on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon and The Today Show.

Maroney has performed at South by Southwest and the Austin City Limits Music Festival. His songs have been streamed millions of times, and the majority of his 2021 performances are now sold out.

All proceeds supported the needs of not-for-profit Huntsville Hospital, Madison Hospital, and Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children through Huntsville Hospital Foundation. n

Jordan Wallace, Tracey James

HH Foundation Event Team

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Past HH Classic Chairmen

See and purchase photos from this event at www.eventhuntsville.com

Tara Speigle, Anna Smith

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Centerstage

Jessica Penot

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Written by Noah Logan

Photos by Steve Babin

Jessica Penot is a best-selling author and Huntsville resident whose writing spans different genres - but all of her work is sure to keep her readers up at night. Focusing on dark fantasy, horror and the paranormal, Penot’s career officially started with a short story published in 2006 entitled “The Stone Queen.” She has since published numerous novels and is currently working on the third and final entry in “The Accidental Witch” series. In addition to her collection of fiction, Penot also established her voice in southern ghost folklore when she published “Haunted North Alabama” and “Haunted Chattanooga.”

Penot is the owner of Tree of Life Behavioral Health in Huntsville where she is also a Licensed Professional Counselor. Tree of Life offers a variety of outpatient services to adults, children, families and couples.

NL: How long have you known that you wanted to be a writer?

JP: I’ve pretty much always wanted to be a writer. I remember I had a journal when I was seven years old and inside of it, I wrote about how I wanted to be a “Riter” when I was older. I read anything I could get my hands on when I was younger whether it was from my parent’s library or wherever. The first horror related books I read were by Anne Rice even though they might not have been appropriate for a 10-year-old to read.

NL: Have there been any real life experiences that you have used for inspiration for your writing?

JP: The first novel I wrote was called “Circe.” The inspiration came from my internship at Searcy State Hospital in Mount Vernon, Alabama. The history of that institution was just insanely fascinating to me and it felt like a sin that no one had written anything about it sooner. I had to do a lot of digging to even come up with any details. Originally it was a fort that was owned by the French, transferred to the Spanish and eventually to the Americans. While I was there, it was a normal state hospital but before that, it was used as a psychiatric hospital for African Americans and during that period, it was home to a lot of atrocities. After I wrote the book, I was contacted by several African American women who were wondering if I could look at the records and find out what had happened to their family members who were sent to Searcy Hospital and never heard from again.

NL: What about locally?

JP: Dead Children’s Playground is legendary here. I also have soft spot for The Lowry House with their room from the Underground Railroad. It’s always fun to see them do the Civil War reenactments there. Both Athens State and UNA both have a lot of Civil

War history so the ghost stories just count up as you walk through there. There’s a lot of folklore that is fun and engaging to use for ghost stories.

NL: Is there anything about the writing and publishing industry that is different from how you thought it might be before you became a published author?

JP: When my career began, the country was going through a financial recession after the collapse of the housing market among other things. During that time, a lot of the publishing houses had to shut their doors and some of them were ones that I had sold my books to. That was a rude awakening because since most publishing houses refuse to touch any work that has been previously published, a lot of that work was lost to the wind. But with the way publishing market is changing a lot right now, there is more room for self-publishing and e-books. I’ve thought about taking that route but it’s hard to focus on old works when I’m usually fixated on a new project. So we’ll see.

NL: Do you personally believe in ghosts?

JP: I want to say yes but at the same time there’s the large, rational part of my brain that wants to see proof. It’s one of those things that you have faith in but it’s not necessarily rational. I enjoy telling the stories but at the same time, I wouldn’t be heart-broken if I found out it was all nonsense because I think it’s the stories and the folklore that make the idea wonderful and fun.

NL: When did you first start to venture into non-fiction projects such as “Haunted Northern Alabama?”

JP: Initially, my inspiration was a marketing ploy. My novel “Circe” was about to come out and the biggest thing you can have as a fiction writer is a platform. Since “Circe” was inspired by a supposedly haunted institution in Alabama, I started a blog where I would write one local ghost story a day. Eventually the publishing company approached me and asked if we could turn the stories into a book and I said yes. And it has been really fun.

NL: How does your career in mental health integrate with your writing?

JP: Well, most of my novels have something to do with mental health. “Circe” deals with a psychiatric hospital. “The Accidental Witch” series is about a psychologist who is having trouble helping her patients so she turns to witchcraft. I feel that when I write about mental illness, I’m trying to destroy the stigma that surrounds it because I’m trying to make people real instead of promoting stereotypes. For anyone that works in mental health, you see these people are just individuals who are hurting. Unfortunately, a lot of fiction, especially on T.V., tragically misrepresents mental health. n

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Dale Strong, Charles McClelland, Madison Mayor Paul Finley

James Lomax, Charles McClelland, Clayton Hinchman

SWAC Commissioner’s Reception

Andrew Roberts, Chris Robinson, Dr. Jason Cable

PEOPLE • PLACES • PARTIES

Photos by Stephanie E. Jennings A reception was held May 18 to welcome the SWAC commissioner, Dr. Charles McClelland to the city and for local dignitaries and athletic directors that were attending the SWAC baseball tournament at Toyota Stadium. The event took place at the at the Historic Terry Hutchens Building in the office meeting space of Scott McClain.

Among the 40 attendees were Madison Mayor Paul Finley, Commissioner Dale Strong, Representative Anthony Daniels, Representative Laura Hall, organizer AJ Smith, Mark Russell, Joey Ceci, Trustee Chris Robinson, Scott McClain, Patrick Wynn, Michael Maddox, other VIPs and local sports media. The reception was catered by Gulf Distributing.

Dale Strong, Chris Robinson, Charles McClelland, A.J. Smith

“We hope the SWAC will consider Huntsville, Madison City and Madison County for future events,” said Chris Robinson. n

Scott McLain, Madison Mayor Paul Finley, Joey Ceci

A.J. Smith, Charles McClelland, Chris Robinson, Arthur Seaton

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Linwood Curry, Arthur Seaton

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Laura Hall, Anthony Daniels

FROM THE FOUNDATION TO FOREVER, WE CAN INSURE YOUR HOME. BUILDERS RISK HOMEOWNERS CONDO LANDLORD (256) 890-0070 900 BOB WALLACE AVE SW STE 108 HUNTSVILLE, AL 35801

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EQUAL HOUSING

LENDER

Taste

Sugar or Spice With fall upon us, we have treats on our minds.

Whether it’s enjoying decadent sweets or sipping a spiced drink, we’ve got you covered with choices from your favorite Huntsville haunts.

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Spicy Margarita Fresh lime juice, house made sour mix and Ancho Reyes chile poblano liqueur

Pourhouse Punch Pourhouse Vodka, coconut rum, lime juice, pineapple juice and Blue Curaçao

Photo by Steve Babin

Strawberry Pretzel Salad Main Street Cafe

Photo by Steve Babin

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Perfect Pies

Gibson’s Bar-B-Q

Coconut, lemon icebox and chocolate pies, all made in-house Photo by Steve Babin

Pumpkin Spice Cream Cake Hildegard’s German Cuisine

Photo by Steve Babin

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Pamapagne Tom Brown’s Restaurant PAMA, Champagne, Pomegranate seeds

Photo by Steve Babin

Spiced Lemon Cake Lavender Cherry Delight

The Bottle

With candied nuts and Citrus Anglaise

Photo by Steve Babin

Titos vodka, house cherry lavender syrup, fresh lemon juice, house cherry bitters, Cointreau

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Tom & Ashley Brown

Logan & Stephanie Mitchell, Brett Ball

Tom Brown’s First Annual Gala

Trey & Angelica Bishop, Leslie Chittam, Gavin Pellegrini, Mark Ardin (baby Charlotte Deshazo & child JJ Deshazo)

PEOPLE • PLACES • PARTIES

Photos by Stephanie E. Jennings; Bouquet photo below by Vic Vergara Tom Brown’s restaurant in Madison held an invitation-only event to celebrate their first year serving the community. At Tom Brown’s their family atmosphere is first priority. Owners Tom and Ashley Brown planned the event to showcase their employees’ accomplishments, show gratitude for each employee, celebrate their hard-work and dedication, and the love they have for their team.

Among the 115 guests were employees, along with community members and businesses that work closely with the restaurant. Awards included Employee of the Year – John Deshazo; Top Three in Sales – Amy Stahl, Demetrius Baker, and Scott Nelson.

Flowers and décor were arranged by Ashley Brown with entertainment provided by Sean Mac. Ashley Brown said of the event, “Restaurant employees are not accustomed to being recognized. We are in the hospitality industry, but I like to say we’re in the people business. Without our people (employees) we would be nothing. We have so much gratitude for each employee, and we hope they felt valued and seen while in attendance.

The event exceeded my greatest expectation. We’re looking forward to another amazing year serving this community and celebrating our employees!” n

Demetrius Baker, Amy Stahl, Scott Nelson

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Alaina Lewis, Keaton King, Briley Haggard, Dawson Crow, Erica Horvath, Derrick Patterson

Dustin, Whitney & baby Gus Pritchett

Scott Nelson, Lexi Andreoni

Brandi Furr

Demetrius Baker

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~The Original~

Covering Events in and around Huntsville for over 14 Years!

To submit your event visit:

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Ric & Linda Patterson

Charles & Jane Stull

George & Tracy Jones

Porsche Taycan Launch Party PEOPLE • PLACES • PARTIES

Photos by Steve Babin Century Automotive Group threw a launch party and unveiling of the iconic Porsche Taycan at the state-of-the-art Porsche of Huntsville dealership on June 17. The event allowed guests to view and even drive the vehicle.

Porsche celebrates new designs launched on a regular basis. On hand to greet attendees were George and Tracy Jones and the staff of Porsche of Huntsville. Guests feasted on fare catered by The Standard Market and Catering Company. n Ray Diaz, Tino Bethig, Kelly Ann Sparks-Berger

Ron Volinski, Raymond Jones, George Jones

Earl Freeman, Amanda Delponte

Ric Patterson, George Jones

Jake Campbell, Emily Evans, Arthur Ignatiadis

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Huntsville Happenings Written by Judy S. Ryals, Pres./CEO Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau

Cooler temperatures and an abundance of activities makes fall one of my favorite seasons!

Enjoy the panoramic view at Burritt on the Mountain. Hike or bike some of the Land Trust of North Alabama trails. Monte Sano State Park was recently named one of the Top 10 State Parks in America. See for yourself why they’re so deserving of this recognition.

The Rocket City Trash Pandas inaugural season is nearing its conclusion, so be sure to catch some exciting baseball at Toyota Field while you can. Several outstanding summer special activities at area attractions will be wrapping up soon as well. Night Blooms at the Huntsville Botanical Garden will finish a fantastic summer on September 26, and the butterfly house will also be concluding another successful year soon. Uncaged: Birds, Nature & You, is there until the end of October, so make your plans to visit the garden today!

Take part in the free walking tours in the Old Town Historic District on October 2, and the Five Points Historic District on October 9. Make it a point to go to the Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll on October 17, where Huntsville and Madison County history will come back to life as dozens of costumed interpreters take on the personas of historically significant and fascinating former residents of the area, telling their stories in first-person accounts.

Head out to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center for a day of family-friendly fun. See exhibits like Drones: Is the Sky the Limit? and don’t forget to include the Intuitive® Planetarium during your visit. It’s one of the best places on Earth to marvel at the wonders of our galaxy.

The Von Braun Center is hosting numerous sporting events, performances and shows for our enjoyment. Watch for new and rising stars in Mars Music Hall. An All-Star Salute to Lee Greenwood will be held in the Propst Arena on September 12. At the Taste of Huntsville on September 15 you can sample dishes from some of the top restaurants in the area and help local charities as well. The 7th Annual Crush Wine & Food Festival will be held in Big Spring Park East on Saturday, September 25. Crush was recognized as a Top Twenty Event by the Southeast Tourism Society in 2019, so this year’s event will undoubtedly be awesome!

The Huntsville Museum of Art galleries are filled with permanent collections and traveling exhibitions. The 9/11 & Beyond: Photographs from the Associated Press exhibit opens on September 11. Don’t miss WE THE PEOPLE: Portraits of Veterans in America by Mary Whyte ending on September 26.

For loads of family-friendly fun, the Madison Street Festival will be held Saturday, October 2, in historic downtown Madison. It’s a day full of great arts and crafts, exhibits, demonstrations, entertainment, a variety of food vendors, a community parade, and a children’s tent with lots of activities and free inflatables.

The events and activities listed below are scheduled for September and October. Please use this list as a starting point and visit huntsville.org for updates. Invite your friends and family to visit, so they can experience the true southern hospitality that’s so much a part of our community.

Ongoing events: Drones: Is the Sky the Limit?, U.S. Space & Rocket Center Rocket City Trash Pandas (AA Baseball) inaugural season at Toyota Field in Town Madison – through mid-September Madison County Marker Challenge, countywide Rocket City Civil Rights Driving Tour (virtual)

Tweetsville & Purdy Butterfly House, Uncaged: Birds, Nature & You, Huntsville Botanical Garden Spotlight on the Collection: Buccellati; WE THE PEOPLE: Portraits of Veterans in America by Mary Whyte (through September 26), 9/11 & Beyond: Photographs from the Associated Press (opening September 11), Huntsville Museum of Art GeoQuest (through September 9), Burritt on the Mountain Rooted in History: Interpreting Alabama’s Folk Art Traditions (through September 7), Harrison Brothers Hardware Night Blooms, Wednesday through Sunday nights (through September 26), Huntsville Botanical Garden Toys: The Inside Story (through September 10), EarlyWorks Children’s Museum Recurring events: Rocket City Rover Mixer Rides, downtown Huntsville – weekly on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays Cocktails at the View, Burritt on the Mountain – weekly on Wednesdays through October 27 $5 After 5, Huntsville Museum of Art – weekly on Thursdays through October 7 Greene Street Market at Nativity – weekly on Thursdays through October 28 Friday Night Art Walk, downtown Huntsville – monthly on the 2nd Friday through October 8 Bikes & Brews, downtown Huntsville – monthly on the first Friday Rocket City Improv Presents, Shenanigans Comedy Theatre – monthly on the first Friday Trucks vs. Trailers food truck events, downtown Huntsville – first and third Fridays Downtown Walking Tours presented by Scenethat Walking Tours – weekly on Saturdays and Sundays Outdoor Market, Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment – weekly on Saturdays through October 23 The Market at Leigh Acres – weekly on Saturdays The Market at MidCity – weekly on Sundays Movies on the Leisure Lawn, Stovehouse – weekly on Mondays through October 4 One-time events: Cotton Row Run, downtown Huntsville, September 6 Voices of Our Times with P. Allen Smith, Huntsville Museum of Art, September 9 City Lights and Stars Concert Series, Burritt on the Mountain, Huntsville in the Mood Band, September 10 An Evening with David Sedaris, Mark C. Smith Concert Hall, Von Braun Center, September 14 Oktoberfest, Redstone Arsenal Activity Field, September 16-19 Moon Taxi, Mars Music Hall, Von Braun Center, September 24 LANCO, Mars Music Hall, Von Braun Center, September 25 Crush Wine & Food Festival, Big Spring Park East, September 25 Band of Horses, Mars Music Hall, Von Braun Center, September 29 Madison Street Festival, downtown Madison, October 2 Modest Mouse, Mars Music Hall, Von Braun Center, October 11 Boz Scaggs, Mark C. Smith Concert Hall, Von Braun Center, October 12 An All-Star Tribute to Lee Greenwood, Propst Arena, Von Braun Center, October 12 Three Dog Night, Mark C. Smith Concert Hall, Von Braun Center, October 14 Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, Von Braun Center Playhouse, October 15-17 Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll, October 17 Chicago, Mark C. Smith Concert Hall, Von Braun Center, October 17 Yung Gravy, Mars Music Hall, Von Braun Center, October 19 Escape to Margaritaville, Mark C. Smith Concert Hall, Von Braun Center, November 5-7 n

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Image is representation of Sally Carter’s unmarked grave with original inscription added

ENCORE

CEDARHURST, SALLY CARTER AND THE HUNTSVILLE MUSEUM OF ART Written by Nancy Wilkinson Van Valkenburgh

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Menu images provided by Nancy Van Valkenburgh

Huntsvillians today know Cedarhurst as a gated community of lovely homes convenient to the central city and on streets conveniently leading to the Medical District, downtown, shopping and entrances to Redstone Arsenal. But other than those who live there, many may not think of the original house, now the clubhouse, that lent its name to the neighborhood.

The first major event after restoration and renovation of the house was the 1985 Decorators’ Show House, April 27 through May 19, sponsored by the Women’s Guild of the Huntsville Museum of Art to benefit the Museum. Tours, luncheons at the Tea Room and special events such as an International Dinner and a Champagne Brunch were held during each of the three weeks of the event.

When Stephen S. Ewing bought the land on December 13, 1823, to build his home, Cedarhurst, little did he know that his home would be the scene of many lovely events as well as the home of what some say is Huntsville’s most famous ghost. It is believed that he built the house between 1825 and 1828. The Federal period home is in the neo-classical style.

The Women’s Guild volunteers were aware of the ghost stories. The most well-known story was from 1919 when Mrs. Thornton’s cousin was visiting. He was sleeping in a hall outside the bedroom where Sally had died. He was wakened during the night to see a beautiful but troubled young girl standing by his bed. She told the young man that her tombstone was overturned in the thunderstorm and asked him to set it back up. In the morning, when he told about the young lady, no one believed his story but he persuaded them to go to the grave. Indeed the stone had fallen.

Virginians by birth, the Ewings were large property owners; some of their holdings included the area now called Haysland Square. He was a commissioner of the Indian Creek Navigation Company which proposed the canal from Big Spring Branch to the Tennessee River.

He was involved in banking as a director of the local branch of the State Bank.

Mrs. Ewing’s sister, 16 year old Sally Carter, came for a visit. Unfortunately, she became ill and died in 1837 and was buried on the property. The Ewings owned the house until 1865 and it had several owners until 1919 when Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Thornton bought the house and 350 acres of adjoining land. It was in their family until 1983 when it was sold to a developer who built private homes.

The original house was completely restored but many of the original features were retained.

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One family visitor was staying in Sally’s bedroom. He enjoyed smoking, but frequently found ash trays overturned and the ashes dumped out. He was puzzled until the family told him it must be Sally. She didn’t like smoking!

During the 1970’s many teenagers came on the property looking for the family graveyard. When the development began after the property transferred in 1982, the developers obtained permission to move the graves.

Mrs. Ewing’s remains were located, but the story is that nothing was found in Sally’s grave. In 1983 the graves were put in an undisclosed location to avoid vandals and thrill seekers.

If Sally’s ghost is real, she almost surely visited The Show House. Not a threatening ghost, but a petulant mischievous young girl, she seemed annoyed that her room was actually across the hall from the one the volunteers were describing as hers.

One Show House morning, silk flowers from an overturned vase were strewn across the bed. A week later she must have had a tantrum. Before the volunteers left for day, they inspected the house and the door was locked and the security guard was on duty. No one entered but the next morning when volunteers came, her bedroom was found with the artificial flowers dumped out and an antique diary on the floor. But the most surprising disturbance was the bed coverings in disarray.

Residents of the Cedarhurst neighborhood have not been bothered, but occasionally people in the house will hear a door slam. Or a noise. And no one is there.

Sally’s ghost may or may not be there. But the influence of those who have gone before surely is. And they were dedicated to improving life in the area in many ways through growing food, transportation, providing homes and promoting the art museum and other civic endeavors. And even through passing down interesting stories of time gone by. n

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