Oxford Access Magazine Vol 4-2

Oxford

ACCESS

FALL 2019

SEASON OF CELEBRATIONS OPAC PRESENTS NEW SERIES, NEW ARTISTS, AND NEW PROJECTS

Page 18

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

1

2

oxfordalabama.org

Please continue to separate your curbside debris piles containing the following items: · Tree and shrubbery trimmings cut to a maximum of six feet in length · Loose Leaves (November–April) · Bagged Leaves and Grass Clippings · Eligible Household Items for Pickup A list of prohibited and eligible items may be obtained by calling 256-835-6124

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

1

CONTENTS

FALL 2019

4 MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR 8 HOW SWEET IT IS - SAL GARDNER 10 FREEDOM FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS 12 SPOTLIGHT: BEN STEWART 18 OPAC 2019-2020 SEASON 24 OXFORD PERFORMING ARTS CENTER UPDATE 28 CITY OF OXFORD - CITY SERVICES 31 MESSAGE FROM THE OXFORD POLICE CHIEF 35 MESSAGE FROM THE OXFORD FIRE CHIEF 36 HISTORIC MAIN STREET UPDATE 41 OXFORD PUBLIC WORKS UPDATE 42 OXFORD ARTS COUNCIL FALL CELEBRATION EVENTS 44 TOURS OF HISTORIC OXFORD CHURCHES 58 EPHEMERAL EDEN 64 SPOTLIGHT: MARTIN LETT GALLERY - MILA HIRSCH 67 MESSAGE FROM THE OXFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY 71 CIDER RIDGE GOLF CLUB UPDATE 73 CALENDAR OF COMMUNITY CENTER EVENTS 75 WELCOME TO OXFORD: NEW BUSINESSES 83 NOTABLE PEOPLE OF OXFORD 89 OXFORD COMMUNITY CHORUS FALL CONCERT 91 OXFORD CITY SCHOOLS UPDATE 94 WHY I TEACH - TRACY RAY 98 GREENPOWER USA - CHOCCOLOCCO GREEN PRIX

Community conversations are important and we encourage residents to engage directly with city staff—this is your city and your mayor and council are here for you.

Don't hesitate to reach out and let us know how we can help. Big or small, we’re happy and honored to listen.

City of Oxford Mayor Alton Craft Oxford City Council Phil Gardner Mike Henderson Charlotte Hubbard Chris Spurlin Steven Waits If you are a citizen living within the Oxford city limits and are not receiving an Oxford Access magazine and would like to receive them, let us know! We want all of our citizens to be able to have access to the Access!

You can pick-up a free copy at the Oxford Public Library, Oxford Civic Center, Bynum Community Center, Friendship Community Center, and Oxford City Hall.

OXFORD ACCESS P. O. BOX 3383 OXFORD, AL 36203 WWW.OXFORDACCESS.COM

103 CHRISTMAS DECORATION CONTEST

Cover photo: CJ Foster

2

oxfordalabama.org

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for highlights of community news, city events, and special moments as they happen in our beautiful city.

CHOCCOLOCCO PARK HOSTED A LACROSSE CAMP THIS SUMMER, AND IT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS! THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA LACROSSE TEAM COACHES INSTRUCTED THE CAMP AND SHARED BASIC KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS WITH OVER 30 PARTICIPANTS. THE CAMP GENERATED A LOT OF EXCITEMENT FOR WHAT’S TO COME WITH LACROSSE AT CHOCCOLOCCO PARK! OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

3

Message from the

Oxford Mayor Dear citizens, I would like to begin my letter by congratulating you for helping Oxford continue to break records over the summer. We have had so much success – from college tournaments at Choccolocco Park to new capital improvements at the Oxford Performing Arts Center – and I am glad you are continuing to be an active part of it.

Over the summer, our East Metro Area Crime Center, containing the fire administration offices and IT department, as well as police and crime-fighting organizations, officially opened. In the few months it has been open, criminal activity in Oxford has dropped. We are solving crimes faster and have clearer avenues of investigation at EMACC. Our emergency services have been leaders in Alabama for several years, and now we are leaders across the southeast.

Oxford also has many capital projects that are either wrapping up or just beginning. Downtown Oxford renovations are projected to be completed in the next couple of months, and I am anxious to see the finished product. Along with that, we are also in the planning stages of the new children’s museum that will be located in the downtown area.

On the other side of Oxford, we have a new 18-hole disc golf course at Choccolocco Park that will be opening in the coming weeks, and we have also begun groundwork for our first annual Magic of Lights Holiday Show and Christmas Village, and we have scheduled the opening for that around the end of November. We also have a few more capital projects that are progressing nicely, and we have a few that we have not announced yet, so be on the lookout for new and exciting things coming to Oxford in the next few months.

We also have many events that are happening next year. We are hosting the 2020 Dixie Youth Softball World Series at Choccolocco Park, and we are projecting to have thousands of fans at that tournament alone. We also have college softball and baseball tournaments coming back to our nationally ranked recreation complex, and our track and field is preparing to host regional meets that will have more than 1,600 athletes participating. We are continuing to grow at a record speed in recreation, and I am proud that my staff members are actively pursuing new ways to improve the park experience. The Oxford Public Library is also offering many different classes for kids and adults. For example, OPL has computer classes, book clubs, adult literacy classes, and even crochet, knitting, and quilting classes, just to name a few. All of these things at the library are offered free of charge, so I encourage you to try one of them out.

Speaking of free things, Oxford offers many programs that are free of charge to our residents, and there is a section of this issue that is dedicated to letting you know what our departments offer for free to the citizens.

Lastly, I would like to wish you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas. We have many things to be thankful for during this holiday season, and I am thankful that you, the citizen, are continuing to make Oxford better every day.

May God continue to bless us, and may His Eternal Light continue to shine on Oxford.

Kindest regards, Mayor Alton Craft

4

oxfordalabama.org

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

5

6

oxfordalabama.org

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

7

“HOW SWEET IT IS” ON

July 9th, longtime Oxford youth coach Sal Gardner was honored by the mayor and city council at the city council meeting. His career–spanning almost five decades–has a strong legacy in our city. He has coached over 2,000 athletes in three sports, and many of those athletes have grown up to become leaders in our community, state, and around the country. Here are some of “Coach Sal’s” accomplishments and his coaching history: 46 YEARS COACHING FOOTBALL · 1967-81- Pee-wee football (head coach) · 1982-07- Oxford 7th & 8th-grade football (head coach) · 2008-11- Donoho School (offensive coordinator) · 2012-13- PARD football · 225+ wins as a head coach · 49 game winning streak from 1999-2005 · 1400+ kids coached in football 47 YEARS COACHING BASEBALL · PARD baseball coach for 36 years · Donoho School head baseball coach for eight years (won or tied four area championships and went to playoffs six out of eight years) · Trinity Christian School head baseball coach for three years · 550+ athletes coached in baseball 12 YEARS COACHING BASKETBALL · All basketball coaching done at Oxford PARD · 80+ kids coached in basketball Mayor Alton Craft, who coached alongside Sal for over three decades in football and several years in basketball, was honored to present him with a proclamation declaring July 9th “Sal Gardner Day,” along with city council members. His wife Pam, son Ty, grandson Tate, and other family members and friends filled the council chambers as the proclamation was read aloud.

BY JOSHUA CRAFT 8

oxfordalabama.org

“It is an honor to recognize Sal for his hard work in the lives of the children of Oxford and the surrounding area. The sacrifices he has made for our kids make all of us that have been coached by him and all of us that have coached with him better. I am honored to be his good friend, and the love that he has shown me and others makes me proud to call him my brother.”

On behalf of the City of Oxford, we thank you, Coach Sal, for your dedication to youth sports in Oxford. Our lives have been enriched by your presence on and off the field. I will end with a personal note: as someone who played for and coached with Sal, I learned so much just from watching him at practice and on the sidelines. I want to think I became just a little better because of him. I was blessed to be part of the 49-game undefeated streak as a player and as a coach, and I will always remember the words Coach Sal had the team say after each victory, “Guys, you know what we do now…one, two, three,” and we would all exclaim in unison, “How sweet it is!”

You deserve it, Coach Sal, and for old time’s sake, “How sweet it is!”

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

9

4TH OF JULY 10

oxfordalabama.org

FREEDOM FESTIVAL | OXFORD LAKE & CIVIC CENTER

Freedom Fest brought people from all over the area to celebrate our independence!

Here are some of the highlights of the events at Oxford Lake.

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

11

SPOTLIGHT

B

BEN STEWART CITY OF OXFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT

Ben Stewart, Oxford’s Assistant Fire Chief, is known as the ultimate team player, and that is for a good reason. Ben gives his all when leading and serving alongside his fellow firefighters, but his efforts go far beyond the fire service. He is a go-getter, he is selfless, and he takes great pride in his work. Ben has an arsenal of knowledge and experience, and one can often find him taking charge of new projects, events, and partnerships designed to make Oxford a better place to live, work, and visit. To many of my coworkers and me, Ben has become a role model. I admire his ability to take the initiative–even when the challenge is great, and I often find myself wondering how he developed such a passion for serving and helping others.

Ben’s story and the many experiences that helped shape him into the leader he is today began at Ohatchee High School. Also known as “Jot” among his friends, Ben was a talented runner.

Although very fast, Ben was one of the smallest guys on Ohatchee’s football and track & field teams, and his friends would question whether he was up to certain tasks. Never discouraged, the comments would inspire Ben always to give his very best. He told us, “That is just what my mom and dad instilled in me, to always give 110%. I like to think I honor them in that way.”

This drive laid the foundation for what was to come next in his life.

Ben’s parents played a significant role in influencing his career choices. His dad worked as a welding instructor at Ayers State Technical College, and his mom was a nurse. Naturally, his interests were in the welding and medical professions. At the age of sixteen, Ben had what he refers to as a “life-changing moment.” He was in a substantial wreck in his father’s truck. The truck was totaled. Ben was rushed to the hospital, the same hospital his mother worked at as a trauma nurse. He said, “It was at that time–while watching my mother–that I grew a love for helping people. Had I not received help myself, what would’ve happened to me?”

Ben knew his heart pulled him towards helping others, but he was not sure whether he wanted to become a trauma nurse like his mother. Instead, Ben chose the welding route for his career. He attended Ayers College where he took welding courses and began a career at FabArc Steel and later at Honeywell in welding technology. While at Honeywell, Ben advanced to the position of Health Safety and Environmental Supervisor. As a supervisor, he learned to manage groups of people, tasks, and logistics. Even though he enjoyed his job, Ben still held on to his passion for helping others, and when the chance came, he was excited.

According to Ben, the stars aligned, and there was an opportunity to become a volunteer firefighter in Oxford. After serving as a volunteer firefighter for some time, Ben was hired on part-time. Under the leadership of Chief Sonny Smallwood and Assistant Chief Earl Haynes, he was promoted to lieutenant and then captain. When the fire department went full-time, Chief Smallwood offered Ben full-time status. Eventually, Ben left Honeywell and became a full-time firefighter.

continued on next page

BY TAYLOR SLOAN 12

oxfordalabama.org

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

13

“WHEN WE WERE DEVELOPING THE FULL-TIME DEPARTMENT THERE WAS NO DOUBT WHO I WAS GOING TO SELECT AS

ASSISTANT CHIEF. BEN IS A TRUE ASSET TO NOT ONLY OUR

DEPARTMENT BUT THE ENTIRE CITY.”

- CHIEF GARY SPARKS

Gary Sparks, who is the current Chief of the Oxford Fire Department, appointed Ben as his Assistant Chief. According to Ben, he had previously worked with Chief Sparks as volunteer firefighters. He shared it was a privilege knowing Chief had confidence in him to fulfill the role as Assistant Chief. Both Sparks and Ben say they work great together and rely on each other.

They bring different skill sets and experiences to the fire department and lean on each other to provide the best fire and emergency service possible to Oxford residents and businesses. Chief Sparks comes from a firefighter background, whereas Ben comes from corporate America. Even when ideas differ, they always agree upon the solution that is best for their department and city.

City of Oxford Mayor Alton Craft, learned of Ben’s corporate background and recognized the asset he would be to developing city projects and partnerships. Ben plays an essential role in city operations, whether planning for new events, creating alliances with other organizations, or defining the city’s goals, objectives, and identity. When asked about Ben’s characteristics, Mayor Craft said, “Ben is truly the concept of a team player. Ben will do everything in his power to help you–no matter who you are, and that is what makes him so valuable to me and the city.”

According to Ben, his favorite part of taking on roles outside of the fire service includes seeing partnerships form in the community, with the Oxford City Schools, and between city staff and across departments.

“Mayor Craft has such a great vision for the city and wants all of us to be successful–businesses and residents alike. It’s an exciting time for Oxford, and I am honored to play a small role,” Ben said.“I have been blown away by the talent we have in the city. We only need to tap into that resource more.”

When we asked Ben what drives him to get up every day and do all that he does, his answer was simple: SERVICE. Being a firefighter is not a job to Ben; it is a service. Serving his coworkers and the people of Oxford will always be his reason for doing what he does. “I wish people could see how hard our firefighters train to serve Oxford in the best way possible. There is so much that goes into being a firefighter, and our guys do a wonderful job,” Ben said.

Being the Assistant Chief to such a great staff is something that makes Ben proud. Mayor Craft agrees and adds, “The fire department, in my opinion, has always bought into what we are trying to do. I appreciate all the fine people and leadership in their department.”

Ben Stewart is an exceptional firefighter, a man of many hats, and the ultimate team player.

Thank you, Assistant Chief Ben Stewart, for your hard work and dedication. May we all buy into your “never stop learning, accept failure, and grow” mentality.

14

oxfordalabama.org

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

15

16

oxfordalabama.org

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

17

OXFORD PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

18

oxfordalabama.org

2019-2020 SEASON

OXFORD PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

2019-2020 SEASON

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

19

OXFORD PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

20

oxfordalabama.org

2019-2020 SEASON

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

256-241-3322

RMC CONCERT SERIES Michael Bolton - September 15, 2019 The Righteous Brothers - February 9, 2020 REO Speedwagon - February 27, 2020 Gladys Knight - March 7, 2020 Rick Springfield - April 24, 2020

POTTS CHILDREN’S THEATRE SERIES Dino-Light with Lightwire Theatre September 19, 2019

NOBLEBANK & TRUST BROADWAY SERIES The Color Purple - November 7, 2019 Beautiful - December 10, 2019 Bandstand - February 1, 2020 Finding Neverland - March 26, 2020 Waitress - June 25, 2020

A Christmas Carol - December 17, 2019 Dinosaur World - February 18, 2020 Cat In The Hat - February 22, 2020

WEBB CONCRETE COUNTRY MUSIC SERIES Holiday & Hits with Lonestar & Phil Vassar - December 19, 2019 Amy Grant - January 19, 2020 Rodney Atkins - April 9, 2020 Homefree - April 16, 2020 EDWARD JONES LEGENDS SERIES The Simon & Garfunkel Story November 3, 2019

Spookley the Square Pumpkin Presented by Foothills Stage October 26, 2019

BERNARDI FAMILY POPS SERIES On Broadway with Sutton Foster and the Atlanta Pops - October 6, 2019 Dennis DeYoung - The Music of Styx and the Atlanta Pops - November 15, 2019 Christmas with the Atlanta Pops December 13, 2019 Valentine’s with Oleta Adams and the Atlanta Pops - February 14, 2020 An Irish Heart with Chloë Agnew and the Atlanta Pops - March 14, 2020

Classic Albums Live presents Rolling Stones: Let It Bleed January 16, 2020

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES Celli - September 6, 2019 Fei Fei - November 24, 2019 Calmus - January 19, 2020 Akropolis - February 21, 2020

Simply Sinatra with Steve Lippia April 17, 2020

Berlin Philharmonic Piano Quartet March 5, 2020

Shadows of the Sixties November 10, 2019

50 Years of Rock & Roll 2 - May 2, 2020

OXFORDPAC.ORG

FOOTHILLS STAGE COMPANY Hairspray The Musical September 1-4, 2019 Spookley The Square Pumpkin October 25, 2019 A Tuna Christmas - December 20, 2019 Cat In The Hat - February 22, 2019 SEASON EXTRAS The Four Italian Tenors September 27, 2019 Classic Albums Live presents Pink Floyd: The Wall - October 11, 2019 Marty Stuart - The Pilgrim October 18, 2019 The Brasil Guitar Duo - October 20, 2019 Lee Ann Womack - November 17, 2019 John Michael Montgomery December 15, 2019 New Year's Eve with Roberta Donnay and the Prohibition Mob Band December 31, 2019 Restless Heart - January 3, 2020 Jim Stafford - February 16, 2020 Zofo - March 1, 2020 An American in Paris: The Broadway Musical National Tour - April 3, 2020 The Heart Behind the Music April 25, 2020 Spongebob Squarepants: The Broadway Musical National Tour - May 5, 2020

Buy online at OXFORDPAC.org with no convenience fees! Charge by phone by calling 256-241-3322.

Purchase at the OPAC Box Office in advance: Tuesday – Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Purchase at the door beginning 90 minutes prior to most ticketed events.

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

21

BERNARDI FAMILY POPS On Broadway with Sutton Foster and the Atlanta Pops

EDWARD JONES LEGENDS SERIES The Simon & Garfunkel Story

October 6, 2019

November 3, 2019

SEASON EXTRAS Classic Albums Live presents Pink Floyd: The Wall

NOBLEBANK & TRUST BROADWAY SERIES The Color Purple

October 11, 2019

SEASON EXTRAS Marty Stuart The Pilgrim

EDWARD JONES LEGENDS SERIES Shadows of the Sixties

October 18, 2019

November 10, 2019

SEASON EXTRAS The Brasil Guitar Duo

BERNARDI FAMILY POPS Dennis DeYoung - The Music of Styx and the Atlanta Pops

October 20, 2019

FOOTHILLS STAGE COMPANY Spookley The Square Pumpkin October 25, 2019

22

November 7, 2019

November 15, 2019

SEASON EXTRAS Lee Ann Womack November 17, 20199

POTTS CHILDREN’S THEATRE SERIES Spookley the Square Pumpkin Presented by Foothills Stage

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION CHAMBER MUSIC Fei Fei

October 26, 2019

November 24, 2019

oxfordalabama.org

NOBLEBANK & TRUST BROADWAY SERIES Beautiful December 10, 2019

BERNARDI FAMILY POPS Christmas with the Atlanta Pops December 13, 2019

SEASON EXTRAS John Michael Montgomery December 15, 2019

POTTS CHILDREN’S THEATRE SERIES A Christmas Carol December 17, 2019

WEBB CONCRETE COUNTRY MUSIC SERIES Holiday & Hits with Lonestar & Phil Vassar December 19, 2019

SEASON EXTRAS New Year’s Eve with Roberta Donnay and the Prohibition Mob Band December 31, 2019

SEASON EXTRAS Restless Heart January 3, 2020

TICKETS ON SALE

NOW OXFORDPAC.ORG

256-241-3322

Buy online at OXFORDPAC.org with no convenience fees! Charge by phone by calling 256-241-3322.

Purchase at the OPAC Box Office in advance: Tuesday – Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Purchase at the door 90 minutes prior to most ticketed events.

FOOTHILLS STAGE COMPANY A Tuna Christmas December 20-22, 2019

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

23

UPDATE OXFORD PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Just a few months ago, we proudly announced the development of a new center to house the Alabama Children’s Museum, a state-of-the-art Exhibition Hall, and a School for the Arts. The center will be located within walking distance of the existing Oxford Performing Arts Center in Historic Downtown Oxford.

A couple of years ago, the team at OPAC began to explore what our next chapter might look like and how we could reach and impact a broader audience. We quickly learned that our community is missing a place for hands-on, interactive learning for children and families. We set out to explore what other regions and communities had done to meet this need. Our team set off to visit seven other children’s museums in three days on a “vision quest” of sorts. On this trip, we could see first-hand the tremendous impact a children’s museum could make on our community. Back in Oxford, during a recap session with our staff, the dream of the Alabama Children’s Museum was born.

As we worked to define what a new building might look like and how it might function, two additions became part of the concept. Within the new center, a new exhibition hall will be created which will host traveling exhibitions catering not only to children but to adults as well.

Also, a School for the Arts will be developed which will provide performing and visual arts instruction for ages 4 to 104.

ALABAMA CHILDREN’S MUSEUM The Alabama Children’s Museum in Oxford will feature interactive spaces where students can Learn, Explore, And Play. The word LEAP sums up this approach. Children’s museums are places that stimulate play and learning. Whereas traditional museums typically protect exhibits from being touched, children’s museums feature exhibits that are designed to be touched and explored. Children’s museums make learning fun.

The heart of the Alabama Children’s Museum is the Main Street Experience. An entire kid-sized town will come to life with interactive learning opportunities from the grocery store to the “build-it zone.” Children of all ages can explore what it’s like to be a doctor, fireman, teacher, builder, actor, dancer, mechanic, designer, architect, and even an explorer!

Children (and their parents and guardians) will Learn, Explore, And Play with: • Giant building blocks that provide exciting opportunities for children and parents to build castles, houses, routes for giant rolling balls, and whatever one’s imagination leads to create.

• An extensive town area where children and families can play in an exciting themed environment.

OXFORD PERFORMING ARTS CENTER • 100 CHOCCOLOCCO STREET, OXFORD, AL 36203 256-241-3322 • OXFORDPAC.ORG 24

oxfordalabama.org

• Visitors can play on a real fire truck, police car, or ambulance. They can also shop in a kid-sized grocery store, and kitchen.

• A toddler zone where small children and their parents can climb, jump, and play in an area designed specifically with that age group in mind.

• A water feature where visitors can explore the role of water in our lives and see how rivers and streams work.

• A dinosaur dig where visitors can be awed by these prehistoric creatures and become a paleontologist.

• And MUCH, MUCH more.

EXHIBITION HALL Imagine staring down a larger-than-life T-Rex, seeing a part of the Titanic, getting creeped out by giant bugs, or even exploring a rocket that has been to outer space. In the Exhibition Hall, anything is possible with several major exhibitions each year.

The center will include a rotating exhibit hall that will bring fresh and dynamic exhibits to visitors. Typically, exhibits will be hosted for three to six months and might consist of: • Science, such as dinosaurs, giant insects, inventions, and constellations • History, such as artifacts and dioramas • Children’s literature, such as fairy tales and Clifford the Big Red Dog • Children’s entertainment, such as DC Super Heroes, Doc McStuffins, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles continued on next page • Ethnic and international cultures, such as tribal families, and Chinese culture

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

25

SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS Arts Education in the region will make a big LEAP forward with an all-new School for the Arts. We are forming key partnerships with several of the foremost performing arts companies in the Southeast so that students in our region have access to the best and brightest instructors in music, theatre, and dance.

PLAY A LEADING ROLE

To begin construction, we need your help to raise $2 million. Every contribution, no matter how small or large, will help reach this goal. Let’s LEAP together and build an incredible experience for the region’s children.

Community members making a gift or pledge of $500 or more before December 31, 2019, will be recognized as part of the Founder’s Circle on a permanent display inside the atrium of the Alabama Children's Museum in Historic Downtown Oxford.

We extended the Founder’s Circle deadline from September 1 to December 31 in recognition of the high level of interest in this transformative project.

Opportunities are available for small exhibit and room naming starting at $2,500.

Major naming rights opportunities are also available for corporations, organizations, and individuals. As the project nears completion, the Founder’s Circle will be among the first to experience the museum. For more information, visit AlabamaCM.org or call 256-770-6065.

26

oxfordalabama.org

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

27

CITY OF

OXFORD The City of Oxford prides itself in being one of the friendliest and most service-oriented areas in the nation. Not only are we a major retail, recreation, and performing arts center for the state, we also provide many services at no charge to our citizens and to residents from around the area and visitors from across the country.

On these pages, you will find a list of services that the City of Oxford offers at no charge. Please continue to use these services that we offer, and if you have any questions about how to enroll in one of the many programs, call our 311 Customer Service Helpline (256-241-4311) for more information.

311 CUSTOMER SERVICE HELPLINE FREE PRESCRIPTION DISCOUNT CARD FOR ALL OXFORD RESIDENTS OXFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT • Open locked car doors within the City limits • Take back drugs dispenser located at the police department • Coffee with a cop • Ring doorbell raffle • School traffic • Law enforcement training site • Gave high school a monitor for lunchroom • Active shooter drills for businesses/churches • Battery service (jump off) • Funeral escorts • Motorcycle ride escorts • Bank escorts for businesses • Public Safety Night Out OXFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT • Free smoke detectors to city residents in need of one • Child car seat installation • Fire prevention talks to schools and community groups • Public Safety Night Out OXFORD FLEET SERVICES • Seasonal mosquito spraying

OXFORD CITY HALL • 145 HAMRIC DRIVE E., OXFORD, AL 36203 28

oxfordalabama.org

OXFORD PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT • Weekly curbside pickup (limbs, leaves, etc) WEEKLY HOUSEHOLD GARBAGE PICKUP (contracted out) OXFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY (more services may be found at oxfordpl.org) • E books • Adult Literacy Class • Book Art • Book Club • Books to share • Bring your own device to learn to use (offered at different locations) • Tech Talk • Driver’s license books upon request • Crochet, knitting, and quilting classes • Homebound program for citizens • Access to online programs and information (Merck Manuals, Ancestry.com, ABC Mouse...)

• Notary public services • My Library Bag for special needs patrons • Oxford Room – documents and pictures of the history of Oxford • Story time for children • Study rooms and homework help • Free wifi • Express check out services offered • Scanning services • Volunteer programs • Provide location for free tax services during tax season • Summer reading program • 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten • TAB - Teen Advisory Board • Weird Science program • Adult Tuesdays (Bunco, Card sharks, Dominoes) • Reader’s Advisory • Grief counseling • Medicare classes OXFORD MARKETING AND PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS • Oxford Access magazine mailed to city residents OXFORD MAIN STREET • Main Street Farmers and Makers Market • Trick or Treat on Main OXFORD BUSINESS LEAGUE • Assistance with ribbon cutting, grand-opening, and ground-breaking • Business workshops

continued on next page OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

29

CITY OF OXFORD

OXFORD PARKS & RECREATION • Halloween Carnival • Easter egg hunt • Freedom Festival • Splash pad at Freedom Park • “League of Our Own” baseball and soccer leagues • Tennis courts/walking trails • Fishing in Oxford Lake and Choccolocco Park Lake • Shows at Civic Center – quartets, quilt shows, job training • Christmas decorations – downtown • Free play basketball in the community centers and civic center • Playgrounds • Free use of weight room at Friendship with Driver’s License and proof of insurance • Senior Adult Day – twice a year • Free senior aerobics (Civic Center and Bynum) OXFORD PERFORMING ARTS CENTER OPAC used at no charge by the Community and Schools (see detail listing below)

• Barbershop Harmony Society • Community Chorus Rehearsals • Oxfordfest (OPAC is open for restrooms, tours and ticket sales) • Christmas Parade (OPAC open for restrooms and hot chocolate) • Community Chorus Christmas Concert • GSCC Adult Edu. Graduation • Community Chorus Spring Concert • Jacket Sings Spring Choir Concert (space used by city schools at no charge) • OHS Spring Choir Concert (space used by city schools at no charge) • OMS Spring Choir Concert (space used by city schools at no charge) • OCS Band Spring Concert (space used by city schools at no charge) • Scholarship Banquet (space used by city schools at no charge) • Baccalaureate (space used by city schools at no charge) • Kindergarten Graduation & Rehearsal (space used by city schools at no charge) • City Schools Institute (space used by city schools at no charge) • Jacket Singsations Christmas Choir Concert (space used by city schools at no charge)

• OHS Christmas Choir Concert (space used by city schools at no charge) • Dancing Through the Decades- Rehearsal & Performances (space used by city schools at no charge)

• City Schools Band Exhibition (space used by city schools at no charge) • OMS Christmas Choir Concert (space used by city schools at no charge) • City Schools Bands Christmas Concert (space used by city schools at no charge)

OXFORD CITY HALL • 145 HAMRIC DRIVE E., OXFORD, AL 36203 30

oxfordalabama.org

Oxford Police Department

600 Stanley Merrill Drive, Oxford, AL 36203

In this release, I would like to provide only a few updates on the continuous and upcoming advancements at the Oxford Police Department. Though it is often unseen, we continue to work hard in providing superior law enforcement services to the City of Oxford.

As many are aware, the department’s East Metro Area Crime Center is in full operation. Success rates are high as we have been able to solve multiple crimes and apprehend many offenders. As we add new strategies and tools for the EMACC, we can expect those success rates to increase, while crime rates continue to fall.

In the upcoming months, we are making advancements in other areas of our special operations. Our Aviation Unit will be adding additional assets to support the missions of our Uniform and Criminal Investigations Divisions as well as the EMACC. We will fully implement the Aviation Unit, making its status mission capable in 2020. The new assets will allow us to offer increased night operations and services during emergency events such as natural disaster response, search, and rescues.

We are always finding ways to improve the operations and capabilities of our agency, and without the support of our citizens and city leaders, this would be greatly altered.

We appreciate the support we receive and hope that our improvements are noticed and well perceived by all. We manage the agency in the best interests of all, and the members of the Oxford Police Department, and I, are truly grateful for the support we’ve been shown.

Respectfully, Chief Bill Partridge

Message from the

Police Chief

INVESTIGATIONS 256-835-6136 • ANIMAL CONTROL 256-591-4103 • GENERAL (NON-EMERGENCY) 256-831-3121 OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

31

32

oxfordalabama.org

Thank you for voting Miller Funeral Home for 9 years in a row!

#

1

Anniston Star Reader’s Choice Award

Family Owned and Operated 6 Licensed Funeral Directors Largest Facility in Calhoun County Voted #1 in Technology

PERSONAL, CARING AND COMPASSIONATE SERVICE

Thank you for voting Miller Florist & Gifts #1 for 9 years in a row!

Family owned and operated since 1984 Custom designs and one-of-a-kind arrangements Delivery always available

MILLER

MILLER MONUMENT AND LASER COMPANY 34 Hamric Drive East Oxford, AL. 36203

MILLER FUNERAL HOME 50 Hamric Drive East Oxford, AL. 36203

MILLER FLORIST AND GIFTS 38 Hamric Drive East Oxford, AL. 36203

256-835-3001

256-831-4611

256-835-0911

DOGWOOD TRAIL MEMORIAL GARDENS

ASK ABOUT MILLER EVENT CENTER

www.millerfuneralhomeoxford.com

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

33

NEED A SMOKE DETECTOR?

Go by Oxford Fire Station #1 located at 70 East 6th Street, and receive one for free.

You can also call them at 256-831-3208 if you would like for a firefighter to come out and make sure your smoke detector is working properly and/or does not need new batteries.

For emergencies, call the Fire Department at 831-3125 or 911

34

oxfordalabama.org

CITY OF OXFORD | FIRE DEPARTMENT

Message from the

Oxford Fire Chief Fall is in the air, and it’s the most wonderful time of the year! The holiday season is fast approaching, and I look forward to celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. I want to encourage you to be mindful of your safety, and to protect your family and home from the devastating effects of a fire. It is everyone’s responsibility to “Turn Your Attention to Fire Prevention.”

In this edition of the Oxford Access, you will see ads concerning fire safety during Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

October is Fire Prevention Month, and the week of October 6-12 is Fire Prevention Week. Fire Prevention Week is observed in memory of the “Great Chicago Fire,” which started on October 8, 1871, and burned until October 10. The fire killed an estimated 300 people, destroyed over 17,400 structures, and left 100,000 people homeless.

President Calvin Coolidge declared the first Fire Prevention Week in 1925. Oxford Fire Department will be out in some of our neighborhoods during this week on our Smoke Detector Blitz. If you need a smoke detector for your house and can’t afford one, please give us a call at 256-831-3208. We'll give you the smoke detector and install it for you free of charge.

As you will see in this issue, there are many activities and events over the next three months for you and your family to attend. We at the Oxford Fire Department, along with the Police Department, Oxford EMS, and other city departments will be there to ensure your safety and to help make this be the most wonderful time of the year.

Happy Halloween, Happy Thanksgiving, and Merry Christmas!

- Chief Gary Sparks P.S. Remember to shop locally to support our local businesses which in turn supports the City of Oxford and the services that we provide.

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

35

UPDATE

M

HISTORIC MAIN STREET OXFORD Main Street Alabama celebrated local program successes at its sixth annual Awards of Excellence Banquet. The banquet, which was held on Main Street Alabama Day, is the highlight of a threeday conference that bolsters the efforts of communities part of the Main Street Program. At the banquet, Mary Helmer, the program’s President and State Coordinator, honored and recognized projects and individuals that made a significant impact in their communities.

Awards were given to Charlotte Hubbard, Oxford Cleaners, and Southern Girl Coffee.

Council member Charlotte Hubbard received the Main Street Hero Award. The award recognizes one community leader, or public figure, who has made an outstanding contribution his or her local Main Street organization.

Oxford Cleaners received the Excellence in Historic Preservation award. The award recognizes outstanding historic rehabilitation projects that continue the economical use of the building.

Southern Girl Coffee Company received the Excellence in Business Promotion award.

The award recognizes the development of effective promotion in conjunction with district merchants.

Charlotte Hubbard HUBBARD’S OFF MAIN

Marilyn Duncan and Kathy Bentley Hall

Bradley Cleghorn and Leah Sparks Cleghorn

OXFORD CLEANERS

SOUTHERN GIRL COFFEE COMPANY

Historic Downtown, the heart of the City of Oxford, is currently undergoing a streetscape project, transforming the area into a more inviting, pedestrian-friendly destination. The project is an ongoing investment in the revitalization and preservation of our city’s oldest area. The project entails new sidewalks lined with brick pavers, underground utilities, landscaping, and lighting that restores the historic aesthetic to the character and charm of Oxford’s quaint downtown.

36

oxfordalabama.org

MONTHLY CASH MOB Cash Mob is a local downtown effort to gather friends, families, and residents of Oxford to support small business and build community. On a specific date, the community gathers together and spends $20 at one particular downtown location and time. Check out our Facebook page at Historic Main Street Oxford for more details.

Think Local. Shop Local. Buy Local.

UPCOMING EVENTS TRICK OR TREAT ON MAIN Saturday, October 26, 2019 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM Candy, food trucks, games, hayrides, pet contest, a costume contest for all ages, free admission

DOWNTOWN CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE & MARKET Saturday, November 23, 2019 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM Holiday shopping deals, caroling, chili-cook off, photos with Santa

BLACK FRIDAY Friday, November 29, 2019

SHOP SMALL SATURDAYS Saturday, November 2, 2019 Saturday, November 9, 2019 Saturday, November 16, 2019 Saturday, November 23, 2019 Saturday, November 30, 2019

FARM TO FORK FUNDRAISER Coming in Spring 2020!

Five-course dinner fundraiser featuring local farmers and restaurants, dancing and live music, ticket information can be found at MainStreetOxford.org

More details on each event can be found at MainStreetOxford.org

For more information: 256-241-6667 | P.O. Box 3383 | Oxford, AL 36203 | hgentry@mainstreetoxford.org

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

37

38

oxfordalabama.org

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

39

40

oxfordalabama.org

UPDATE OXFORD PUBLIC WORKS Dear Citizen, I hope this letter finds you well. It’s an honor to come to you again with a quarterly update on Public Works projects in our great city! The scheduled work along Snow Street is progressing. The drainage work is complete, and the new pavement surface will be wrapping up soon.

Thank you all for your patience and understanding during this project. This should help with the flooding issues that occur in the area.

The design phase of the planned widening along Leon Smith Parkway is near its final stages.

We are anticipating work to begin on this project in the spring of 2020. We also have another planned roadway improvement project currently under design. The intersection of Barry Street and Highway 78 will be widened to allow for a dedicated left turn, through movement and right turn lane on either side of Barry Street. This will enable this intersection to function much safer and more efficiently. Both of these projects are currently in the right-of-way acquisition phase.

As you know, fall is upon us with winter quickly approaching. Our curbside leaf vacuum pickup will begin in mid-November and run through mid-April 2020. The service only collects loose, non-bagged leaves. Bagged leaves are picked up year-round by our weekly curbside service. Due to demand, please keep in mind that our leaf vacuum trucks do not move at the same pace as our weekly curbside service. Our service begins at the western end of our city and progresses eastward. The route is repeated multiple times throughout the season but requires some time to complete a full circuit. Due to the operational nature of our vacuums, loose leaves must be placed in a separate pile. It must not be mixed with limbs, brush or other curbside pickup items. Leaves will not be vacuumed if there are other objects mixed in.

Please continue to separate your curbside debris piles containing the following items: • Tree and shrubbery trimmings cut to a maximum of six feet in length • Loose Leaves (November–April) • Bagged Leaves and Grass Clippings • Eligible Household Items for Pickup (a list of prohibited and eligible items may be obtained by calling 256-835-6124) Help us spread the word and help yourself stay informed by liking and following us on Facebook. Search City of Oxford Department of Public works or @oxfordpublicworks.

Thanks and I hope you have a great holiday season. God Bless.

Sincerely, Rusty V. Gann, P.E. Public Works Director/City Engineer

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

41

Celebration

THE OXFORD ARTS COUNCIL PRESENTS

OF THE ALABAMA BICENTENNIAL

T

he Oxford Arts Council, established by then Oxford Mayor Earl Martin and the Oxford City Council in 1981, and as recommended by Don Hudson, Director of the Oxford Parks and Recreation Department, continues to adhere to its original mission statement:

To aid, encourage, advise, and correlate all the activities dedicated to the promotion

of cultural arts in Oxford, and to integrate such activities into the life of the

communities served by the council.

Through the years, the council has promoted the arts and artistic performances for the enjoyment of Oxford’s citizens. The council is most proud of its role in the development of the highly successful Oxford Performing Arts Center which houses the Martin-Lett Gallery of Art commemorating founding member of the council, Norma Martin, and the council’s first President, Bobbie Lett.

The Council’s 2019 Fall Project is A CELEBRATION OF THE ALABAMA BICENTENNIAL. Celebration events include: Tours of Oxford’s Historic Churches Oxford Community Chorus Fall Concert City of Oxford Christmas Decorating Contest Citizens of Oxford and surrounding communities are encouraged to participate in these events and Celebrate Alabama. Thanks to our city leaders and Oxford for your continuing support of the Oxford Arts Council.

Oxford Arts Council: Jane Hamric Batey, President and Charter Member; Mike “Tex” Carter, Vice-President; Marilyn Lipscomb Clark, Historian and Parliamentarian; Jean Schrader, Secretary Front Row (Left to Right) Elaine Edmondson, Debbie Aderholt, Jane Hamric Batey, Jean Schrader, Cindy Lett Williams Back Row (Left to Right) Patricia Jack, Greg Turner, Marilyn Lipscomb Clark, Renee Rice, Mike “Tex” Carter, Merl Haynes Not Pictured Theresa Haynes, Jenny Howell

42

oxfordalabama.org

Celebration

THE OXFORD ARTS COUNCIL PRESENTS

OF THE ALABAMA BICENTENNIAL

TOURS OF HISTORIC OXFORD CHURCHES Various Sunday Afternoons 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.

First United Methodist Church (est. 1840) 216 Snow Street Tour Date: October 13, 2019 Oxford Church of Christ (est. 1940) 89 East Hamric Drive Tour Date: October 20, 2019 First Baptist Church of Oxford (est. 1836) 95 East Oak Street Tour Date: October 27, 2019 Lakeview Baptist Church (est. 1935) 131 Central Avenue Tour Date: November 3, 2019 Dodson Memorial Presbyterian Church (est. 1857) 825 South Main Street Tour Date: November 10, 2019

OXFORD COMMUNITY CHORUS FALL CONCERT Tuesday, November 19, 2019 7:00 p.m.

Oxford Performing Arts Center

CITY OF OXFORD CHRISTMAS DECORATING CONTEST November 27 - December 9, 2019 Awards Presentation Tuesday, December 10, 2019 6:30 p.m.

Oxford City Hall

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

43

Celebration

THE OXFORD ARTS COUNCIL PRESENTS

OF THE ALABAMA BICENTENNIAL

TOURS OF HISTORIC OXFORD CHURCHES Five historic Oxford churches have been selected by the Oxford Arts Council to host tours of their church on varied Sunday afternoons from 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. as follows: October 13, 2019 October 20, 2019 October 27, 2019 November 3, 2019 November 10, 2019

First United Methodist Church of Oxford Oxford Church of Christ First Baptist Church of Oxford Lakeview Baptist Church Dodson Memorial Presbyterian Church

The format at each event will include an introduction by the Oxford Arts Council, presentations/tours as determined by individual churches, and a reception. A commemorative booklet, including a summation of the history of each church, will be presented to all attendees at this free event.

This project will commemorate and inform citizens of the roles that these historic churches have played in the history of Alabama and the city of Oxford. Residents of Oxford will hear and see the stories of community leaders as they labored to provide a legacy for those who would come after them.

BY MARILYN LIPSCOMB CLARK

44

oxfordalabama.org

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

45

The date of the organization of the Methodist Church in Oxford is uncertain. Due to historical notes, however, it is believed that a building was erected around 1840, making it one of the oldest churches in the North Alabama Conference. The lot on which the structure was built had been donated to the congregation by Mr. Dudley Snow in 1831. The church was named The Oxford Methodist Episcopal Church South, and land records of this transaction read as follows: “…in Trust that shall erect and build or cause to be erected and built thereon a house or place of worship for the use of the members of the Methodist Episcopal South church in the United States of America according to the rules and disci-

pline …” The first building was made of hand-cut weather boarding with shutters, and candles were used for lighting. This rough little building housed the congregation for over 30 years.

The congregation outgrew the wooden structure, and a decision to build was made. The Panic of 1872 caused a delay in the construction, and the building was not completed for three years. The church was completed in 1875.

During the construction, the Methodist congregation worshiped with the Presbyterians, and upon completion of the building, the hymnals and literature

BY MARILYN LIPSCOMB CLARK

46

oxfordalabama.org

The First United Methodist Church of Oxford The Oxford Methodist Episcopal Church South

were divided between the two churches. The minutes of the conference report for April 18, 1875, reads, in part, as follows: “the most perfect harmony and satisfaction to any member of said committee” when referencing the division of materials.

The construction of the present building located at 212 Snow Street began in 1872. It was built on the same site as the original structure. The rough wooden building gave way to a structure which is of the Normanesque architectural design and constructed of over-sized brick. This was typical for many of the buildings built in Oxford during that period of time: tall round arched windows and drip corbel cornices featuring a large central entrance tower with a triple-arched belfry and saw-tooth cornices and topped by a copper-sheathed dome and iron weather vane.

The interior of the main sanctuary has been changed twice. Initially, the pulpit was on the south end of the sanctuary, and at some point, the congregation decided to move it to the north end of the sanctuary.

During the 1960s, the congregation decided to level the inclined flooring which led down to the pulpit on the north side and to return the pulpit to its original place on the south side of the sanctuary.

The tower bell, dated 1856, was manufactured by the McNeely Company; Elbert Green Morris built the pulpit of solid walnut. A rose-colored stained glass above and behind the choir loft was designed and constructed by member Mr. Ed Lee. The sanctuary features rose-colored windows, and the stained glass portrait of “Christ in Gethsemane” above the choir

loft replaced the Lee stained glass. In 1969, funds were given by Mrs. H. T. Stanford to purchase an organ in honor of her husband, who was a dedicated, beloved member and former principal of Oxford High School. Members of the church donated funds to purchase the pipes which made the unit complete.

In 1952, a parsonage was built at the corner of Snow Street and Stewart Street on property purchased in July 1885 from J. B. and Louisa Clardy. In 1977, the members purchased the Dawson Haynes property at the corner of Snow Street and McCain Street (now Whiteside Drive). In 1978, the B. B. Walker home was bought and was renovated to be used as a church parlor. The Tommy Moore Memorial Center was completed in August of 1986 as a Family Life Center.

Rev. William H. Mabry is listed among the first pastors of Oxford Methodist. He is mentioned in Anson West’s History of Methodism as one of the ministers on the official polls of Talladega Circuit from 1833 to 1845.

Painting by Jerry Marks

Sources: Laurie Martin, Beverly Carlee, and especially June Land Reaves for her dedicated assistance. It is also noted that the quality and extensive research of Mrs. Ruth Carpenter has been invaluable to this First United Methodist Church of Oxford summary.

Marilyn Lipscomb Clark OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

47

Formed as a territory on March 3, 1817, ALABAMA became the nation’s twenty-second state on December 14, 1819.

This milestone lets us commemorate the people, places, and events that form our rich history. It’s a moment to celebrate the people who made our state and to nurture the generations who will carry us forward.

48

oxfordalabama.org

Historical Highlights of the Oxford Church of Christ

In April of 1940, Paul F. Edwards, the minister of the 16th Street Church of Christ on Noble Street in Anniston, conducted an evangelistic gospel meeting.

During this meeting, 12 were baptized and converted to Christ. After the meeting, about 23 Oxford area families and some from the 16th and Noble Street congregation organized and became the Oxford Church of Christ congregation.

Services were held for a time in the then-vacant frame church building on the south side of Choccolocco Street. In June of 1940, the members of this new congregation began meeting upstairs in a building on Main Street in Oxford. The building was next door to the old Oxford Fire Hall and Oxford City Hall. It was near the present location of Cotton’s Antiques.

In 1944, the Oxford Church of Christ, consisting of about 50 members, completed its first building located at 213 Choccolocco Street. It was a new brick structure on the north side of Choccolocco Street near the first place of worship. It served the congregation well for over 30 years.

Due to the growth of the membership, a new building was erected on Hamric Drive. The congregation began worshiping at the new building on September 18, 1977. The building on Choccolocco Street was purchased by the city to house the Oxford Public Library. Additions to the building on Hamric Drive have accommodated the congregation’s growth as the church has been blessed through the years.

Sources: I would like to thank Karen Jewell, Patricia Jack, and Linda McKleroy for their help on this Oxford Church of Christ history. Additional material was gleaned from the “Oxford Centennial Edition,” Anniston Star, February 21, 1960.

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

49

The migration of pioneer settlers to the Choccolocco Valley began in 1832 when the federal government obtained the land from the Creek Indians through the Treaty of Cusseta. Records indicate that Dudley Snow was the first settler of the area and that he arrived in 1833. Sylvanus Simmons came a short time later. Soon, a small village and trading center was formed.

On March 5, 1836, a group of pioneer settlers met in the Benjamin Mattison home at Mattison Springs to organize a church. Friendship United Baptist Church

was organized, and a church covenant was written and signed by every person present. The congregation grew, and by 1841, 131 members were meeting in a log structure that served as a church and a school near what is today west 9th Street in Oxford.

By an act of the Alabama legislature, Oxford was first incorporated as a town February 7, 1852. On February 12, 1853, the congregation decided to move to Oxford “proper� and in 1860, Sylvanus Simmons donated the land at 95 East Oak Street to build the Friendship United Baptist Church.

BY MARILYN LIPSCOMB CLARK

50

oxfordalabama.org

First Baptist Church of Oxford, Alabama

The congregation built a substantial frame Italianate structure, which included two front entrance doors with the one on the left being utilized by the men and the door on the right being utilized by the women. The pulpit was located on the left, or men’s, side of the church. Men and women did not sit together during the services. The building was unheated and evening services were held by candlelight.

In January of 1887, the congregation voted to change its name to First Baptist Church of Oxford, but just ten months later, the congregation voted to change its name back to Oxford Baptist Church and kept this name until August of 1949, when it was officially changed back to the First Baptist Church of Oxford, Alabama.

The frame structure was torn down in 1910 to make room for a modified Richardsonian Romanesque brick building. This structure has been renovated and expanded many times, including the most recent one in October of 2001.

The First Baptist Church of Oxford has been instrumental in the establishment of Baptist missions in the surrounding area, including the following:

1840 Antioch Baptist Church

1936 Lakeview Baptist Church

1939 Blue Springs Baptist Church

1957 Meadowbrook Baptist Church

2008 Celebrate Recovery Ministry

2009 Faith Baptist Deaf Church

2011 Berea Hispanic Church

Sources: History of The First Baptist Church Oxford, Alabama 150 Years 1836-1986. Mr. Sep Love, Church Historian, and Church Librarian, Dorothy Clifton Bishop authors. Oxford Public Library-Oxford Room Collections; Public Library of Anniston-Calhoun County-Special Collections Alabama Room; Shirley Mellon Dewberry - Photograph from her Roberts Embry collection.

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

51

The beautiful red brick church on the hill is aptly named–an amazing view of Oxford Lake greeted the fledgling congregation when they met for the first time upstairs in the dance hall at the Jim Knighton residence. The group of believers met on August 28, 1934, to organize a Union Sunday School. Mr. N. W. Head from Oxford Baptist Church taught Sunday School lessons to the people in the community living near land that was once Barnett McCulley’s farm. The group met at “The Magnolias” under a pavilion that had been erected on the site of the old Confederate camping ground. Overlooking the lake, the property which was the scene of many skirmishes during the War is now a ball field where battles and skirmishes of a completely different nature occur. After the stock market crash of 1929, attendance at the park changed. People were dealing with the Great Depression, and some of the properties had been remodeled and used as residences.

“The Magnolias”

After several months of meeting for the classes, the believers gathered for a spring revival which was held in May of 1935. Rev. Carl Cornett was the evangelist. There were 45 conversions during the revival.

The small band of believers decided that they needed to organize into a church and did so at a meeting on

BY MARILYN LIPSCOMB CLARK

52

oxfordalabama.org

Lakeview Baptist Church

May 9, 1935. The Union Sunday School Classes were attended by Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian believers. Mrs. Bill Dunn recorded in her historian’s notes that Chairman F. L. Hulsey prayed for the Holy Spirit to lead the people as they voted for the denomination of the new church. The votes were counted, and the Baptists were in the majority. At this meeting, N. W. Head was elected superintendent and F. L. Hulsey secretary.

The first baptismal service was held in May of 1935.

The congregation used McCulley’s spring (Oxford Lake) to baptize new members. One hundred years earlier, the same spring had provided fresh water to Creek Native Americans living in the area.

The official organization of the church was at a conference held on June 2, 1935. Two land lots numbering 16 and 17 were deeded to the church by Mrs. L. M. Burns. In March of 1936, a fish fry was held at Oxford Lake with the proceeds to go toward the building of Lakeview Baptist Church. In September 1936, the foundation was laid, and with work done mostly by donated labor, the building was completed in May of 1937. The membership grew, and a frame building was erected. That building served the congregation for close to twenty years.

In 1951, the little church building was sold for $800.

The church received $25,000 for its land, which was needed for the new Bankhead Highway being constructed under President Eisenhower. Construc-

tion of the new church building began in 1952.

Completed in 1954, the congregation moved into the brick building located at 132 Central Avenue and Highway 78 East.

Lakeview Baptist Church has had a heart for missions that has been evident throughout the years. 17 members of Holley Springs Baptist joined Lakeview Baptist on June 23, 1957. Those members, sponsored

by Lakeview Baptist Church, organized the Lakeview Baptist Mission on June 6, 1957. Lakeview pastor Rev. Webb Brooks and Pastor George C. Vines of the Lakeview Baptist Mission led the dedication, and groundbreaking ceremony for the Lakeview Baptist Mission held on the property at the corner of Robertson Road and Choccolocco Road. In October of 1962, Lakeview Baptist Church and Parker Memorial Baptist Church assisted the Lakeview Baptist Mission financially to finish the interior and Sunday school rooms. On October 18, 1964, Lakeview Baptist Mission was constituted as Golden Springs Baptist Church.

To accommodate the growth of Lakeview Baptist Church, several renovations and beautiful additions have occurred. A mission house was purchased in 1968. In 1994, the sanctuary was completely renovated, and stained glass windows were installed. In August 2007, the growing congregation welcomed members to its newest and largest addition. The new facility houses the following: daycare, preschool and nursery, kitchen, gym, and health ministry.

Sources: Mrs. Billie Dunn’s Church Minutes History Notes, F. L. Hulsey’s Remembrances, Jane Hamric Batey, Rev. Buddy Nelson, Mr. Gary Taylor, Dr. Roland Brown’s 50th Anniversary Welcome Golden Springs Baptist, 150 Years of First Baptist of Oxford, Alabama by Sep Love and Dorothy Clifton Bishop.

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

53

Intimate, warm, friendly, informal, and committed are appropriate adjectives for the congregation of Dodson Memorial Presbyterian Church located at 825 South Main Street, Oxford, Alabama.

After a series of spring revivals held in the small but booming town of Oxford, the church was organized

by Rev. R. A. Houston with just 11 members. These members selected and purchased the present site from the Dudley Snow estate in 1856 for $200. This was only four years after the original incorporation of Oxford. The original structure had been built in

early 1857 out of massive hand-hewn timbers. These were fashioned for the floor sills and corner posts.

Mr. John McIver Forbes spearheaded the building and made sure that the timber was of the best quality.

Because he gave so generously of his means and his time, the building's construction was completed within the year. Many of Oxford’s influential pioneer leaders were members of this early congregation.

The congregation of Dodson Memorial has carefully maintained their beloved building. The main auditorium is fifty by thirty-six feet, with the outside

BY MARILYN LIPSCOMB CLARK

54

oxfordalabama.org

Dodson Memorial Presbyterian Church

perimeter being sixty by forty. The church’s original bell tower and 16th Century oak pews remain. The church houses a session room and two entrances, one at the side and one at the front. The sanctuary features High Victorian Gothic architecture with tall ceilings, hand-oiled dark wood interior, and beautiful arched stained glass windows. The church building has stood the test of time and nature. In the 1800s, the building was severely damaged by lightning, and charred timbers in the bell tower still testify to the church’s encounter with fire. The church’s records pre Civil War were destroyed by this fire.

On April 10, 1919, by the High Church Court, the Oxford Presbyterian Church was renamed Dodson Memorial Presbyterian Church of Oxford, Alabama.

This was in honor of Professor John Lafayette Dodson, L.L.D. for outstanding work in giving collegiate education to young men studying for the Ministry of Protestant Denominations. At the age of 29, Professor Dodson took the reins of Oxford College and served from 1868 until its closing in 1899. He mentored over 50 young men who became ministers.

On August 31, 1886, an earthquake shook Oxford Presbyterian off its foundation, damaging the structure and causing a need for significant repairs. The 7.3 magnitude earthquake’s epicenter was in Charleston, South Carolina, and killed more than 100 people. Damage to buildings as far away as Ohio and Alabama were recorded.

In the spring of 1867, a mass meeting was held at the Oxford Presbyterian Church to discuss plans for establishing a school of higher learning in Oxford.

After careful and various deliberations, the people decided to attempt the opening and operation of a college in Oxford. John L. Dodson from Jacksonville was invited to the meeting and asked to speak. He was later chosen to head the school. The birth of Oxford College was in the Oxford Presbyterian Church.

The church underwent an extensive remodel in 1891.

The one-story framed building took on new High Victorian Gothic Church Architecture design with an open interior plan, open trusswork roof, and Eastlake style choir railing. The substructure framing was incorporated and used from the original 1857 building.

continued on next page

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

55

56

oxfordalabama.org

Whispered Stories — Dodson Memorial Presbyterian Church The leadership of Oxford Presbyterian and the building itself both have a rich, exciting story to tell, but they tell it in a subtle whisper. Nancy Whitley recalls her father removing the floor registers and lighting the church's furnace each year and of him talking about “the tunnel,” back in 1958. Many of the congregation knew of the whispered stories of their church. Linda Crow, Dodson’s historian, knew personally of the whispered legend as far back as the 1990s. One of Oxford's oldest citizens, Denman Croley, could recall hearing the legend about Dodson Memorial Church when he was a small boy. What is the subject of all of these whispered stories? The whispers are of fugitive slaves finding refuge beneath the sacred building’s wooden floors.

In 2014, Mr. John Berry was hired to remove and seal the floor furnace register at the front of the sanctuary. He made an unusual discovery. Dug out of the foundation of the church and situated below the choir loft, Mr. Berry discovered a dirt tunnel with stone walls. The hole was like a small, rough cellar, about ten feet long and just wide enough for two people to stand shoulder to shoulder. At some point during the construction of the church, the hole was created by carving out walls from the stone and Alabama red clay. There is a trench or tunnel that extends from the cellar's corner toward the church's brick foundation. The tunnel is blocked, leaving only speculation as to where it might have led.

As the whispered story goes, there was once a door that led to the hole where slaves could hide before sneaking out under cover of darkness. Rumor had it that the door was somewhere beneath those beautiful wooden pews of the choir loft. Always there and hidden in plain sight. Could this be a type of redemption for a building built with slave labor?

Or, since the tunnel dates back to the origin of the building, did slaves themselves help prepare the tunnel? So many whispered questions.

To try and answer a few of those questions, one must look at the very men responsible for the construction of the original church building.

A planter named John McIver Forbes owned the slaves who built the church. He was a pioneer settler descended from a family line of Presbyterians.

His grandfather, John McIver, was from Pennsylvania and had fought for America's freedom under George Washington. He was widely known and esteemed in Choccolocco Valley as being straight and honorable, just and kind. He served as Justice of the Peace for many years. He owned 1,000 acres between Boiling Springs and Mellon Apple Orchard–what is today known as Cider Ridge Golf Course. According to records, Forbes relocated his sawmill and several slaves to the newly acquired property purchased from Dudley Snow. Hand hewn timbers were used for the sills and corner post, and costs were kept to a minimum by using wooden pins instead of expensive and hard to come by nails. They were able to keep the cost of building the new house of worship to $2,500. Mr. Forbes moved his sawmill and camped out on the grounds during the building’s construction–this was in early 1857 when planting crops should have been his top priority.

The first pastor and close associate of Mr. Forbes was Rev. William Hall. He served the congregation from 1856 to 1864 when he resigned his Oxford pastorate to move to Kentucky. It was rumored that he was a conductor or guide for the Underground Railroad.

The Underground Railroad was a secret network of abolitionists and safe houses that fugitive slaves relied upon to escape to freedom. The Underground Railroad stretched from the Deep South to slavery-free northern states and Canada. It is important to note that this part of Alabama was an essential corridor for travel in the 19th Century.

Many of these heroes were motivated by religious beliefs and regarded it as their duty of conscience.

One only needs to examine the doctrine of the church to realize that the Presbyterian Church accepted that all men were created equal in God's eyes. In 1861, the Presbyterian Church decreed that slave owners could not be a member of any Presbyterian Church.

Sources: Session Minutes, the meticulous record keeping of Mrs. Linda Crow, previous histories by Mrs. Estelle G. Orr, Mrs. W. A. Orr, Mrs. C. E. Wilson, private records of John L. Dodson L.L.D., Menara Foundation’s North Star Underground Railroad, Alice Duckett, The Forbes biography, James Spann, Tom Mullins, Mark Fuller The Oxford Sun, 150 Years of Oxford, Martha Moon Fluker History Collection at the University of West Alabama, “Alabama’s Black Heritage by Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel”, page 32, and Christina Smith The Anniston Star Anniversary Edition.

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

57

58

oxfordalabama.org

© 2019 ALL IMAGES AND TEXT COPYRIGHT BY DR. LARRY K. MARTIN

“Ephemeral Eden”

BY LARRY K. MARTIN

This is a painting of a young indian boy, lost in his solitary thoughts.

The painting was mentally composed in 1972, during a two-week medical mission in a village called “Mekranoti—People of the Great Painted Faces,” the most remote of “contacted” indians in the Amazon rainforest of Brazil.

Some 47 years later, the painting is only now being completed.

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

59

EPHEMERAL EDEN

T

The year 1972 was a time of monumental change.

The Amazon Rainforest had been, from prehistory, the world’s most mysterious, dark, moody, and deadly of wild places. That image was now (in the early 1970’s) becoming redefined, to be glorified as the world’s most ambitious engineering and agricultural achievements, and sociological experiments of all recorded history. Brazil’s still-in-progress “TRANSAMAZONICA HIGHWAY” was to become a source of great pride for all of South America. It would soon open this dark, harsh, insular forest, to a naïve, curious world. The highway would, when completed, span the entire continent, from Belem at the mouth of the Amazon River (at the Atlantic Ocean), westward to the Pacific, to ports in several other South American countries. The great highway was, in essence, just a dirt road-chert layered over the graded red clay soil of the jungle. Amenities such as a tarmac surface would have to come later. But it was broad in places, with ample right-of-way much like the groundwork for an interstate highway.

TransAmazonica was more ambitious than merely to become a thoroughfare. It was a means of penetrating the most daunting of natural enclaves… of bringing fellow humans, the most impoverished humans from the hinterlands and slums (favelas) of Southeast and Northeast Brazil, into a mecca of opportunities. Each pilgrim would receive materials to build a home (a Spartan but “luxurious” two-room house with plank floors and walls–and the ultimate dream, a tin roof ) plus a generous tract of land to farm. These homesteaders would not be isolated. There would be a community of kindred spirits, a nucleus for group support conveniently located every 50-100 km along the highway. These “Agrovillas” would have a communal well, electricity from a generator, limited radio contact, and an air-conditioned office with all the bureaucratic ambiance of desks, files, and a General Manager. “Work the farm for two years, grow specified crops, and it’s yours.”

60

oxfordalabama.org

By 1972, it was becoming evident to the powers that be that everything wouldn’t be as smooth as it had appeared to be on paper. The endless road was being built despite the inherent obstacles. The process involved a wide swath of clearing of arrow-straight lines of raw, red clay laid bare by heavy equipment and chain saws. Hills (of which, surprisingly, the Amazon basin has its share) were of no consequence. This was a job for heavy bulldozers and road graders. The road was impressive, some sections with plenty of room for multi-lane expansion.

It was packed hard and smooth—for a while. Within a brief time, the road began to deteriorate from heavy, seasonal rains, and so did the Agrovillas, and the crops. Just as the extreme heat and rains swept away the roadbed, they assaulted the red soil and gardens, and the farmers’ hopes for success. The technique of massive slash/burn soil preparation failed miserably. The forest soil was not the rich, dark topsoil that one might imagine. Just below the surface, there was pure, acidic, red clay. In contrast to the red clay and rich topsoil that we find on our Alabama farms, the subsoil that supported the gigantic trees of the Amazon was nutrient-poor. All the valuable nutrients were contained in the trees themselves, which were anchored by wide, shallow networks of roots. The native indians’ success with gardens was due to thousands of years of practice giving them an intimate knowledge of how to manage the forest by cultivating only tiny parcels of land, cutting a few trees and later burning them within the perimeter of each garden. Then the ashes would be there for the essential minerals to leach into the soil, which provided sufficient fertilizer for a couple of years of planting a surprising variety of particular crops.

I WAS IN AN IDEAL CIRCUMSTANCE FOR A RELATIVELY YOUNG RESEARCHER WHO LOVED THE TROPICS.

BY LARRY K. MARTIN

Some ideas work well. Some do not work as well, and some simply do not work. It seemed that in TransAmazonica, each obstacle would be followed by another unrelated, but a life-threatening menace.

Two daunting problems were obviously in need of addressing. It was time to evaluate, scientifically, the Amazon’s massive arsenal of tropical diseases. Diseases awaiting the relatively virgin immune systems of people with no history of exposure to countless diseases such as malaria, dengue, hookworms, and many other soil-transmitted worms, schistosomiasis and Chagas Disease, insect-transmitted viruses and bacterial and fungal infections—and the list goes on. What diseases were they likely to bring into the Amazon, and what were they likely to spread among themselves in the new ecological setting? And so, an immediate study was soon underway, to describe and define this Pandora’s box of possibilities. A team of Brazilian experts specializing in five areas of scientific research, along with an American team of their counterparts with specific research experience, was dispatched to travel the length of the almost complete highway, evaluating each threat and projecting the likeliest prognoses for transmission, from sporadic infections to full epidemics.

The American team was composed of officers from the U.S. Army and other institutions of research in Tropical Medicine. As the team’s Parasitologist, I would be working with the epidemiologists to assess the hazards for these (above) diseases and their potential spread among the immigrants. I think back of the good fortune for everyone in having the two teams who worked so well together and the rugged professionalism of the Brazilian scientists. I was in an ideal circumstance for a relatively young researcher who loved the tropics. It couldn’t get any better than this.

But it did. After six weeks of travel by Jeep wagon, short and long flights with crazy bush pilots, and a few river trips, the study was winding down. Back in

Belem, Dr. Francisco Pinhiero (head of the Brazilian team) called me into his office and said, “I’ve noticed that you’re fascinated by the bows and arrows and headdresses in my lobby. You must really like the Injuns”–not a derogatory word, just his Portuguese accent. I nodded, and he said, “A few days after you’re scheduled to leave Brazil, I’m headed into a part of the Amazon that most people haven’t seen.

I’m going to a village called Mekranoti to immunize against many of the ‘white man’s diseases’ and test them for the same diseases that we’ve been worried about with the immigrants. I need a Parasitologist.

It would mean that you need to get permission to extend your mission for a couple more weeks. Are you interested?” I couldn’t answer. My smile got in my way. Francisco smiled back and said, “I’ll take that as a ‘yes.’”

“

I WAS ABLE TO WITNESS A LIFESTYLE . . .

RICH CULTURAL TRADITIONS AND CEREMONY

”

Knowing then what I know now, there was one group of humans whom I would select amongst all the tribal peoples of the world for a two-week live-in: the Mekranoti. And given the choice of a window in time for that visit; I wouldn’t alter it by even a day. The 200 individuals living in the circular village of about 20 huts offered me everything an indian enthusiast might want to experience–a culture of rituals acquired over thousands of years. I was able to witness a lifestyle that allowed an earthy, sometimes simple, daily routine interspersed with rich cultural traditions and ceremony. The beautifully painted faces of ucuru or achiote pigment and black patterns of genipap dye decorating most of their nude bodies was remarkable to behold.

continued on next page

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

61

EPHEMERAL EDEN

There were intrigue and drama enough to make a stranger feel that he was living in an old western movie. The men were fierce warriors, feared by tribes living even great distances away. Their arch-enemy was the Kreen Akrore tribe, with whom they practiced generations-old warfare, reciprocal raids that included the massacre of the men and the capturing of women and children. The Mekranoti had made the latest raid, killing some 20 Kreen Akrore men and capturing three children. The missionary mentioned to me upon our arrival, “We’re due for an attack from The Kreen Akrore. It’s their turn.” The village held one remnant of long-ago battle with white interlopers; a boy had been captured, and he had spent most of his life as a Mekranoti warrior. He and another Mekranoti brave were diagnosed as having tuberculosis and were evacuated for treatment when our missionary plane returned for us. Sitting behind our four seats in the little Cessna, the two men made it clear that they were not frequent flyers. I could feel the firm grip on the back of my seat from the “white Indian” as we departed the little landing strip. And within minutes we were aloft and flying directly into a thunderstorm. Even Edward, our missionary pilot would jump by reflex each time the lightning would engulf our plane. The grip on the back of my seat became stronger as the wind shears bounced us around and through the clouds. I tried to keep myself occupied by reassuring the two Indians that it was OK by using the customary “thumbs-up” that the Brazilians love to use. The two men would smile back and return the gesture. Then they would both hide their heads in their laps. We repeated this signaling a few times, but as the turbulence intensified, the signaling changed. The men kept their heads in their laps but maintaining a thumbs-up, followed by pointing to the ground in a very animated gesture of “get us down, now.” I passed the word to the pilot that if we stay in this storm, we’re about to have two very wild indians in our plane. Needless to say, it ended well.

Both men received tuberculosis treatment in Belem for the next year.

62

oxfordalabama.org

For almost a half-century, I have carried the memory of a lone Mekranoti boy wearing only a jaguar-tooth necklace, sitting by the small river near the village.

The boy was oblivious to the world around us, not even seeing me as I eased around with my Nikon camera that early morning. This was the essence of an earthly Garden of Eden. But, it was only a minute slice of time. I don’t especially like the term “Ephemeral,” but it best describes this moment, and in a broader sense, the dilemma of the native tribes of the Amazon basin. The future of this tribe was in doubt, as a strange new world was being ushered in by the fire and heavy, yellow monsters.

During the intervening years, I have, with some hesitation, sought to learn the fate of my friends in this isolated village. Under the remarkable leadership of their Chief, Bepgogoti, the Mekranoti managed to avoid a section of road aimed directly toward their village. The Chief ’s solution was a traditional one; move the village and stay sequestered as long as possible, rather than to seek the protection of the government. The new village split after a few years, and then split again, resulting in four communities, each with the same approximate size as the original. Like most complicated subjects, there are no clear answers as to the wisdom of their decisions. They seem to have fared much better than I had feared–despite other massive construction projects including huge dams along the magnificent Xingu River. The battle continues every day. Today our headlines again declare that

BY LARRY K. MARTIN

“The Amazon is Burning” with inane photos of fire and smoke. The maps can also be deceiving. Having been there when the fires were burning, raising incredible clouds of reddish-gray smoke crowding both sides of the TransAmazonica dirt road, I can be optimistic about the current dilemma.

It is tough to quantify a problem such as the fires of a massive rainforest. We justifiably become jaded by the politicization of every topic. I always try to encourage the objective analysis of any issue, but I have to admit that I still get a knot in the gut when I see pictures of wanton destruction of nature. There has been widespread devastation and waste in the history of this greatest of rainforests–but I find comfort in the fact that I would have predicted a worse outcome if I’d been asked back in 1972. Now, in 2019, I’m relatively optimistic. Let the already-wasted pieces of the forest become productive farmland. Let the fires and heavy machinery do their worst–in the vast wastelands of a failed project called TransAmazonica. Make that land productive for agriculture and industry, but as far as is practicable, leave the primal, virgin forests as a last resort for a greedy world. It contains more beauty, more answers to nature’s puzzles than we can fathom.

As with most questions of existential importance in today's world, we seldom find either side of a controversy to be accurate. The truth almost always seems to lie in between. There remains on the earth, humans who call themselves the Mekranoti. During the past few decades, there have been some changes in their culture and lifestyle. That’s true for virtually

“

every human on this planet. The Kreen Akrore were contacted by the outside world in 1973. According to a letter from my missionary friend, Mickey Stout, this first contact was not good, and an influenza epidemic almost wiped out the tribe only a few months after our efforts to find and protect them. This tribe had successfully evaded (or killed) both the whites and other indians (the Mekranoti) for many centuries, but when the first contact was established, apparently the hordes of media personalities included one “carrier” of a strain of influenza. The small tribe was decimated. But, again, after almost five decades, the full story is encouraging. The survivors were moved to the vast protected area along the Xingu River, and they are now known as the Parana.

Of course, there were countless memories from our time with the Mekranoti. I often have to remind myself that not everyone is as captivated by indians as I am.

By the way, I am reminded of one incident involving Chief Bepgogoti. But that’s another story.

IT WAS THE BEST OF TIMES, IT WAS THE WORST OF TIMES, IT WAS THE AGE OF WISDOM, IT WAS THE AGE OF FOOLISHNESS, IT WAS THE EPOCH OF BELIEF, IT WAS THE EPOCH OF INCREDULITY, IT WAS THE SEASON OF LIGHT, IT WAS THE SEASON OF DARKNESS, IT WAS THE SPRING OF HOPE, IT WAS THE WINTER OF DESPAIR.

— Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

”

ALL IMAGES AND COPY ARE PROTECTED BY US COPYRIGHT, LARRY K. MARTIN, 2019 WREN’S NEST 100 Choccolocco St, Suite 200, Oxford Performing Arts Center, Oxford, AL 36203

CRYSTAL D. HANCOCK 2019

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

63

SPOTLIGHT MARTIN LETT GALLERY

BY CRYSTAL HANCOCK

Mila Hirsch Mila Hirsch was born in 1985 and grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. As a child, she experienced art from an early age as her mother was a portrait broker. Mila spent much of her youth pursuing art. She studied at the Chicago Art Institute one summer before deciding to attend the Southern Methodist University in Dallas on a fine arts scholarship. While at Southern Methodist University, Mila had the privilege of spending a summer semester studying at the Art Institute of Florence in Italy. She spent another summer at the New York Studio School.

Mila graduated with honors, receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts in academic painting and a minor in art history. She has continued to expand her skills as an artist and takes workshops from Master Artist.

Mila continues to paint full time in her studio to this day. Her focus in on back-lit flowers and antique frames. She collects antique frames from all over, but most of her finds are from Scotts in Atlanta. She lives in Birmingham with her husband, Joe, and their two children, Rex and Ida.

“All painting is capturing light–without light, there would be no subject matter.”

– Mila

MARTIN LETT GALLERY AT THE OXFORD PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

64

oxfordalabama.org

100 CHOCCOLOCCO STREET, OXFORD, AL 36203

256-241-3322

“PEONIES IN A TEAPOT” OIL ON PANEL 23 X 19 IN MILA HIRSCH

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

65

66

oxfordalabama.org

UPDATE OXFORD LIBRARY

The Oxford Library is honored to welcome veterans into the library. We know that finding the correct information or guidance to wade through the red tape is sometimes daunting, and we want to help! After a successful kickoff of a partnership with OPL and the Veterans Association in the form of a Veterans Resource Fair, we will continue our partnership with the VA through a Veterans Resource Corner housed in the library. The Veterans Corner has forms, information, and resources to help the veterans in our community receive the services that they deserve because of the service they provided to our country. If assistance is needed, OPL staff can offer appropriate guidance.

Resources abound at OPL for other parts of our community, too! For adults who cannot read, OPL has an adult literacy program that will help them reach their reading goals. For school-age kids or teens who are having trouble with homework, live help is available online via homeworkalabama.org. Also, they can join classmates in-house during Study Time on Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 3:00-4:30; you can help each other. Find other resources online to help patrons of all ages on our website, www.oxfordpl.org/online-resources.

StoryTime is a hugely popular program at OPL, and we want to bring it to Bynum! Join us at the Bynum Community Center on the last Wednesday of each month at 10:00, where we will sing, dance, play, and, of course, read! Miss Beth and Mrs. Jeanna will be there to have fun with preschoolers.

OPL has lots of programs, resources, information, and circulating materials to suit the needs of our community. Check out our calendar at www.oxfordpl.org/calendar to see what’s happening, and check out www.oxfordpl.org/services to see what else OPL offers!

I look forward to seeing you at the library!

Amy E. Henderson, Library Director

MONDAY - FRIDAY 9 TO 5 • SATURDAY 9 TO 1 • SUNDAY 1 TO 5 • (256) 831-1750 • 110 East 6th Street, Oxford

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

67

68

oxfordalabama.org

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

69

70

oxfordalabama.org

UPDATE CIDER RIDGE

Greetings to everyone from Cider Ridge!

It’s hard to believe, but we’re getting ready to put the finishing touches on another golf season here in Oxford. The temperatures are starting to cool and football season has finally come back in full stride. On behalf of myself and the entire staff here at Cider Ridge, I would like to thank everyone for another great year.

As the good days of golfing weather get fewer and fewer over the next few months, we want to encourage everyone to continue to take advantage of the greens when we do get a break from the cold. Going to the driving range once or twice per week to hit a bucket of balls will do wonders to keep your golf game in shape during the winter layoff. It will put you in a great position to beat your buddies when the springtime rolls around.

Also, as we approach the holiday season, don’t forget to check out the great merchandise we have in the shop. Our selection of items makes it easy to shop for everyone on your gift list, whether they are golfers or not. If we don’t have what you’re looking for, we can order almost anything for your golfer: clubs, clothing, customized golf balls, and lots of other options!

I would also like to remind everyone that if you’re looking for a spot to entertain guests during your Christmas, family, or office holiday parties, be sure to check out Cider Ridge! We’ve got several space options for your events, regardless of the size. Be sure to contact us early to secure your date.

Lastly, I want to wish everyone a happy holiday season from the staff at Cider Ridge. We all hope that the next few months will be an excellent time for everyone to spend with friends and family and that many great memories are made. Again, thank you to all guests and members for a great year. We’re all looking forward to next year!

Lee Shurden, PGA Director of Golf/Club Manager Cider Ridge Golf Club

CIDER RIDGE GOLF CLUB • 200 APPLE BLOSSOM WAY, OXFORD, AL 36203 LEE SHURDEN, PGA, DIRECTOR OF GOLF/CLUB MANAGER • LEE.SHURDEN@HONOURSGOLF.COM OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

71

72

oxfordalabama.org

COMMUNITY CENTERS CALENDAR BYNUM COMMUNITY CENTER

FRIENDSHIP COMMUNITY CENTER

DANCE FITNESS Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 5:30pm – 6:30pm Led by Rachael Cramer. $3 per class or $25 for a 10 class punch card.

PRE-SCHOOL – Accepting new students Teacher: Mary Wood. 256-405-5088 For 3, 4, and 5 year olds. Must be potty-trained.

Immunization Blue Slip Required.

Classes are on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 8:30am to noon; Throughout the school year $100 per month. $45 Registration & Supply Fee.

200 Victory Dr, Eastaboga, AL 36260 (256) 241-2716

2930 Friendship Rd, Oxford, AL 36203 (256) 831-2679

FITNESS & FLEXIBILITY CLASS Tuesday and Thursday 3:15pm – 4:15pm A free, low impact class led by Lyn Brown.

YOGA Certified instructor: Holly Box Tuesdays and Thursday 9:30am. Bring your own yoga mat. $10 per class or 4 for $35 or 8 for $70

SENIOR DANCE 1st Saturday of the month 6:30pm – 9:30pm Featuring live music. $5 admission.

SQUARE DANCE 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month 6:30pm – 9:00pm

YOSHUKAI KARATE Monday and Wednesday 6:30pm - 8:00pm Instructor Mike Mangham. Ages 7 to adult. $45 per month.

SENIOR VOLLEYBALL Tuesday and Thursday 9:00am - 11:00am

OXFORD CIVIC CENTER

401 McCullars Lane, Oxford, AL 36203 (256) 831-2660

BLUEGRASS Tuesday 4:00pm - 7:30pm. Bring your favorite instrument.

SENIOR DANCES 7:00pm – 10:00pm Admission $5- includes meal and entertainment.

October 11 - Sundance November 15 - Duo Sonix December 13 - Ryan Robertson

ART CLASS Several times per year, art instructor Jack Hadder offers four-week courses in various types of art.

Cost: $60 per month. 10:30am to 12:30pm Call (256) 831-2679 for sessions and times.

SENIOR LOW-IMPACT AEROBICS Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 10:00am Free class. Led by Lyn Brown.

SENIOR CITIZEN CENTER

TENNIS LESSONS & CLINICS Individual and group lessons for all ages and skill levels Contact Gene for pricing. 256-453-3037

MONDAY: Travel to nursing homes sing/visit at 10:00am WEDNESDAY: Grocery shopping at 9:00am THURSDAY: Senior Citizen Center Sing at 9:30am FRIDAY: A free biscuit breakfast is served on Friday mornings and sponsored by area businesses.

MONTHLY: A dinner outing on the second Thursday of the month. Transportation is provided.

424 Main Street, Oxford, AL 36203 (256) 831-5900

2020 SENIOR ADULT DAY February 10, 2020. Ryan Robertson performing.

Call for more details.

C I T Y

O F

O X F O R D OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

73

HISTORIC MAIN STREET OXFORD 4 Free Admission 4 Candy 4 Food Vendors 4 Music 4 Costume Contest 4 Hayride 4 Bounce House & Slide 4 Games 4 Photo Booth 4 Pet Contest 4 Much More!

Y

A D R U T A S

9 1 0 2 , 6 BER 2

OCTO PM - 7 PM 4

TRICK-OR

-TREAT

ON MAIN

For more information please visit our Facebook page at Historic Main Street Oxford or our website at Mainstreetoxford.org

74

oxfordalabama.org

W E L C OM E TO OX F OR D | N EW BUSIN E S S SP OT LIGH T

Dirty Dog’s Car Wash Grand Opening of Oxford, AL Location “We are very excited to bring a new car wash experience to this great community. Our extra-long tunnel is equipped with the latest in car wash technology and will allow us to provide a high quality exterior clean. We’ll also be the only car wash in the area to offer auto detailing, while customers have the option to wait in our air-conditioned lobby or outside patio,” said Yeovany Perez, Director of Operations.

Dirty Dog’s Car Wash will offer unlimited car wash memberships and features a “Helping Heroes” wash package that provides a portion of its proceeds to local first responders. Monthly unlimited wash packages will cost between $19 and $29 depending on the level of service. They will also offer all customers the free use of vacuums, compressed air, glass cleaner, and towels.

Dirty Dog’s Car Wash is an Equal Opportunity Employer with locations in Georgia and Alabama. We pride ourselves on not just being clean, but spot on! For more information on Dirty Dog’s Car Wash, visit at www.dirtydogscarwash.com 1826 US 78, OXFORD, AL 36203

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

75

July 10, 2019: Grand Opening of Choccolocco Kayak A partnership between Choccolocco Creek Watershed and the City of Oxford

76

oxfordalabama.org

Kayak rental facility and parking are located across from the Choccolocco Park entrance at the Leon Smith Parkway and Boiling Springs Road intersection.

1506 Boiling Springs Road, Oxford, AL 36203 For more information, please call (256) 847-5191.

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

77

78

oxfordalabama.org

W E L C OM E TO OX F OR D | N EW BUSIN E S S SP OT LIGH T

Chicken Salad Chick of Oxford - A Tasty & Healthy Place to Eat! Have you been looking for a casual dining experience that blends delicious flavors with healthy food options? Do you want to have a fast bite in a place that treats you like an old friend coming by for a visit? It sounds like you want to check out Chicken Salad Chick of Oxford, Alabama! We are known for our large variety of chicken salad and other dishes that all taste great and keep health in mind, and for our genuine southern hospitality. We are sure to have something for everyone in your family, even the little ones.

At Chicken Salad Chick, you can swing by to grab a scrumptious meal in a hurry. Or, you can bring the whole family for a sit-down dinner you’ll all remember. Or, let us cater your next special event, like a corporate meeting, birthday party, or football game. Our customizable catering menu will fit everyone’s preferences while also fitting your budget.

Want to know more about our tasty traditional and innovative chicken salad offerings?

Call Chicken Salad Chick of Oxford, Alabama at (256) 391-4715 today!

501 OXFORD EXCHANGE BLVD, OXFORD, AL 36203

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

79

80

oxfordalabama.org

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

81

JOHN WILLIAM ABERCROMBIE

82

oxfordalabama.org

BY HUNTER C. GENTRY

Notable People As we will celebrate Alabama’s Bicentennial on December 14, it is most appropriate to honor our residents who have made contributions–in some way or another–to the great State of Alabama. OXFORD’S PEOPLE TRAVELING EXHIBIT will feature people of Oxford that are educators, council members, civic, and religious leaders. Of the fifty individuals included in the exhibition, this article features seven of those leaders that made a positive contribution to our city, state, country, and even the world.

of Oxford

HONORABLE JOHN WILLIAM ABERCROMBIE, son of Henry Monroe Abercrombie and Sarah Anne Kendrick, was born May 17, 1866, near Kelly’s Creek, St. Clair, Alabama and died on July 2, 1940, in Montgomery. On January 8, 1891, Abercrombie married Miss Rosa Bell Merrill in Cleburne County. Rosa, daughter of Honorable James Benjamin Merrill and Mary Elizabeth Faver, was born January 1875 in Franklin, Georgia and died August 8, 1952, in Montgomery. Their known children are Myrl Elizabeth Abercrombie, Sarah Clare Abercrombie, Ruth Ann Abercrombie, Rose Abercrombie, and Jane Abercrombie. He started his education at the Oxford College where he earned his Bachelors of Arts Degree in 1886. Soon after, he attended and graduated from The University of Alabama in 1888. Abercrombie’s career in education began as the President of the Ashland College. Soon after, he served as the principal of the Cleburne County Institute, President of Bowden College, superintendent of Anniston Public Schools, President of the Anniston College for Young Ladies, State Superintendent of Education, and President of the University of Alabama. Abercrombie entered into politics as the mayor of Edwardsville, and later served in the Alabama Senate representing Calhoun and Cleburne Counties, and eventually U.S. Congress.

Alabama Pioneers, Ancestry.com, Findagrave.com, and Newspapers.com HONORABLE LAFAYETTE HOYT SMITH DEFRIESE, son of Joseph C. Smith and Lucy DeFriese, was born August 1, 1852, in Delta, Alabama (then located in Talladega County) and died June 17, 1928, in San Francisco, California. On August 30, 1876, DeFriese marred Miss Sarah Katherine Johnson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Johnson, daughter of Perry Johnson and Margaret Susan Lynch, was born April 5, 1857, in Delaware and died December 21, 1933, in San Francisco. Both are buried at Cypress Lawn Cemetery in San Francisco. DeFriese walked on foot to Oxford at a young age from Talladega County and was employed by Daniel Perry

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

83

DR. ROBERT ANDREW HINGSON, JR.

84

oxfordalabama.org

Gunnels at his mercantile business. DeFriese attended the Oxford College and soon after in 1869 moved to California. There in California, he graduated from the University of California and later graduated from Harvard University with a law degree. In 1877, DeFriese was admitted to the New York bar and mainly practiced international and corporate law. He was also admitted to the bar of the United States Supreme Court. For fifteen years, DeFriese worked in international law in London representing the United States as well as serving as the legal advisor to Queen Victoria.

Ancestry.com, History of Clay County, Alabama, and Newspapers.com

HONORABLE HARRY CUNNINGHAM GUNNELS, son of Daniel Perry Gunnels and Susan Elizabeth, Cunningham was born October 1, 1868, in Oxford and died on September 18, 1911, in Atlanta, Georgia. On November 25, 1895, Gunnels married Miss Ladie Emily Goss of Commerce, Georgia. Ladie, daughter of William Judson Goss and Louise Paralee Carithers was born November 13, 1873, and died January 7, 1952. Their known children are Louise Gunnels and Edith Gunnels. The Gunnels family was among the earliest families that settled in the area that would later become Oxford. Gunnels was an 1886 graduate of the Oxford College. He later attended Vanderbilt University and graduated from the University of Alabama with a law degree. His career in education started as a professor at the Oxford College and later principal of Anniston High School, superintendent of Anniston City Schools eventually leading to his position as Chief Clerk in the Department of Education, State Superintendent of Education, and President of the University of Alabama.

Ancestry.com, Findagrave.com, and Newspapers.com

DR. ROBERT ANDREW HINGSON, JR., son of Robert Andrew Hingson, Sr. and Eloree Elizabeth Haynes was born April 13, 1913, in Oxford and died October 9, 1996, in Lake City, Florida. Hingson married Miss Gussie Dickson. Gussie, daughter of George F.P. Dickson and Augusta Henderson, was born July 23, 1916, in Oiserfield, Georgia and died December 11, 2011, in Seneca, South Carolina. Hingson’s maternal grandfather, Dreadzil Pace Haynes served as Oxford’s mayor in the early 1900s as well as owned a mercantile business. Hingson was a 1935 graduate of the University of Alabama and 1938 graduate of Emory University where he received a degree in medicine. After graduation, he worked as a Public Health Officer and ship doctor in the United States Coast Guard and Navy. In 1958, Hingson founded the Brother’s Brother Foundation which expanded healthcare to all. Among many achievements, Hingson is famed for the creation of the Jet Injector, which is vital in the eradication of smallpox and other diseases. In 1962, Hingson vaccinated one million Liberians, and in 1967, he vaccinated and immunized 846,000 Costa Rican’s. Through his career, Hingson served as Director of Research and Anesthesia at Jefferson Medical College, Professor of Anesthesiology at the University of Tennessee, and Professor of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Ancestry.com, Brother's Brother Foundation, Findagrave.com, and Newspapers.com

Hingson is famed for the creation of the Jet Injector, which is vital in the eradication of smallpox and other diseases.

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

85

MAUD MCLURE KELLY

86

oxfordalabama.org

DR. THOMAS BLAKE HOWLE, son of Thomas Alexander Howle and Flora Caroline Cooper, was born August 20, 1893, in Oxford, Calhoun, Alabama and died June 3, 1973, in Tuskegee, Macon, Alabama. On June 7, 1923, Howle married Miss Janie Merritt Constantine in Calhoun County, Alabama. Janie, daughter of Dominique Frank Constantine and Mary Liss Merritt was born December 11, 1894, in Columbus, Lowndes, Mississippi and died August 19, 1983, in Anniston, Calhoun, Alabama. Howle was a graduate of Calhoun County High School and a 1915 graduate of Auburn University. He was enlisted as Lieutenant in the United States Army by purchasing livestock during World War I. Howle father served as mayor of Oxford in the early 1900s. Dr. Howle served as mayor of Oxford from 1932 to 1936 and 1940 to 1944.

From 1947 to 1951, he served in the Alabama State Senate.

Ancestry.com, Findagrave.com, and Newspapers.com

MAUD MCLURE KELLY, daughter of Judge Richard Bussey Kelly and Leona Bledsoe, was born July 10, 1887, in Talladega County and died on April 2, 1973, in Talladega. She is buried at Hillside Cemetery in Anniston. Kelly was the granddaughter of Samuel Camp Kelly and grandniece of James Sims Kelly, both of who served as Mayors of Oxford during the Reconstruction Era in the 1870s. Kelly graduated from the Noble Institute for Ladies in 1904 and moved to Birmingham in 1905 with her family. Kelly’s interest in law started at her father’s practice, where she was employed as a stenographer. Kelly was the second female to attend and graduate from the University of Alabama School of Law. In 1908, she was admitted to the bar after the Code of Alabama was changed. John McDuffie, Kelly’s close friend, lobbied the state legislature in 1907 to change“his diploma” to “his or her diploma.” In law, she practiced criminal and civil cases. In 1914, she was nominated by William Jennings Bryan as the first Southern Woman admitted to the bar of the United States Supreme Court. Kelly was also instrumental in Women’s Suffrage and involved in the Al Smith Presidential Election Campaign in 1928.

After retirement from law, Kelly worked at the Alabama Department of Archives and History from 1943 to 1956.

Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame, Ancestry.com, Encyclopedia of Alabama, Findagrave.com, and Newspapers.com

HONORABLE HUGH DAVIS MERRILL, son of James Benjamin Merrill and Mary Elizabeth Faver, was born December 20, 1877, in Franklin, Georgia and died January 5, 1954, in Anniston. On April 2, 1899, Merrill married Miss Mary Frances Abercrombie in Cleburne County. Mary Frances Abercrombie, daughter of Henry Monroe Abercrombie and Sarah Anne Kendrick, was born October 11, 1878, in Kelly’s Creek, Alabama and died July 10, 1904, in Anniston. She is buried at Edgemont Cemetery in Anniston. Their only child was Ralph Abercrombie Merrill. On December 28, 1906, Merrill married Miss Martha Catherine Chitwood in Calhoun County. Chitwood, daughter of James William Chitwood and Georgia Anne Humphries, was born July 17, 1885, in Cleburne County and died June 12, 1952, in

Kelly was the second female to attend and graduate from the University of Alabama School of Law.

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

87

HUGH DAVIS MERRILL

Anniston. Their children are Hugh Davis Merrill, Jr., Elizabeth Merrill, and James William Merrill. Merrill was an 1897 graduate of the Oxford College and an 1898 graduate of the University of Alabama where he obtained a degree in law. After his studies, he practiced law in Edwardsville and was appointed a judge in the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court. Merrill was elected as one of the youngest members of the Alabama House of Representatives in 1899. He also served in the position from 1923 to 1931 and 1939 to 1943. From 1931 to 1935, Merrill served as Alabama's 12th Lieutenant Governor.

Alabama Department of Archives & History, Ancestry.com, Findagrave.com, and Newspapers.com

In November 2017, the Oxford City Council passed a resolution endorsing the efforts of the Alabama Bicentennial Commission to promote, plan, and execute the commissions’ historical, educational, celebratory, and cultural initiatives by creating our own Bicentennial Committee. Our committee composed of Amy Henderson (Library Director), Pam Harris (PARD Program Director), Gary Sparks (Fire Chief), and Hunter Gentry (Main Street Director). Through the bicentennial commission, we received a grant of $2,500 for our two projects, OXFORD’S PEOPLE TRAVELING EXHIBIT and OXFORD’S ORAL HISTORY. The Oral History project will be conducted by the Oxford Public Library; stories from Oxford residents about Oxford through the years will be collected. Oxford’s People Traveling Exhibit is expected to be completed in the next few weeks. The exhibition will feature people of Oxford that are educators, council members, civic, and religious leaders.

More information on the exhibition can be found at www.oxfordpl.org/peopleofoxford

88

oxfordalabama.org

THE OXFORD ARTS COUNCIL PRESENTS

CELEBRATION OF THE ALABAMA BICENTENNIAL OXFORD COMMUNITY CHORUS FALL CONCERT The Oxford Community Chorus Fall Concert on November 19 will be an Alabama Bicentennial Celebration event featuring selections composed or performed by Alabamians. The Chorus is composed of approximately 60 musicians from Oxford and surrounding communities. Also, Teresa Cheatham Crosby, a native of Wellington, Alabama, the 1978 Miss Alabama, the 1979 Miss America 1st runner-up, and Vocal Instructor at Jacksonville State University, will be featured as Guest Soloist.

This community cultural event will educate the audience as to the importance of Alabama composers in the History of Alabama and American music. All selections will be entertaining and will include a brief history as narrated by Chorus members. A commemorative program will be presented to all attendees at this free event.

“Alabama” (Adopted as State Song

by Act of Legislature March 4, 1931) Lyrics by Julia Tutwiler.

Music by Edna Gockel-Gusson.

Tutwiler was born in Havana, Alabama.

Gockel-Gusson is a resident of Birmingham, Alabama.

“Non Nobis Domine” and “Still I Rise” Composer Rosephanye Powell.

Rosephanye was born in Lanett, Alabama and is a music instructor at Auburn University.

“Ev’ry Time I Feel the Spirit” Composer William Dawson.

Dawson was born in Anniston, Alabama and was a music instructor at Tuskegee University.

“We Are the World” Composed and performed

by Lionel Richie.

Richie was born in Tuskegee, Alabama and a graduate of Tuskegee University.

“St. Louis Blues” Composer W. C. Handy.

Known as “Father of the Blues,” Handy was born in Florence, Alabama.

“Stars Fell on Alabama” Jazz Standard recorded by Guy Lombardo Orchestra on August 27, 1934.

Refers to a meteor shower observed in Alabama in November 1833.

Also known as the unofficial anthem of the Jacksonville State University Marching Southerners.

“Carol of the Drum” and “Do You Hear What I Hear” Songs performed by Nat King Cole.

Cole was born in Montgomery, Alabama.

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

89

90

oxfordalabama.org

OXFORD CITY SCHOOLS

UPDATE OXFORD CITY SCHOOLS

BY DR. GOODWIN WELCOME BACK! With these words, the dedicated employees of the Oxford City School System greeted over 4,000 children ages three and up returning to the classrooms, buses, cafeterias, and extra-curricular venues that make up the Oxford School District. Our teachers and staff worked all summer in anticipation of “opening day,” and their efforts paid off with a productive start to the 2019-20 school year.

Our theme for this year as a district is “IMPACT.” Impact, as in making a positive contribution in the lives of the children educated in our schools; impact, as in how our district affects the quality of life of the citizens of our communities, and impact as in the Oxford City School System being leaders in our state and nation in educating children.

Our district has always carried high expectations for quality services, performance, and opportunities for students. Residents of our city, students who attend our schools, and individuals who choose to work here are aware of Oxford’s core beliefs, but it is always rewarding when recognized by others at the national level. That recognition has been realized again this year with the release of the 2019-2020 NICHE® rankings for public schools. In the latest iteration of these results, the Oxford City School District is rated in the top eight percent of school systems nationwide. This equates to #16 out of 136 school systems in Alabama (in academics, extra-curricular, food services, and safety). In athletics, the Oxford City School District ranks sixth, while we are ranked twelveth best in safety.

It is without question that the most important work with our children is done in the classrooms daily by our teachers, and for that, we are truly grateful. We are also thankful for other staff throughout the district in all capacities for their dedication to our students. Added to this is the leadership of our school board: Dr. Tony Bolton, President; Mrs. Karen Phillips, Vice-President; Mr. Alex Davenport; Mrs. Cristy C. Humphries; Mr. Marvin Jones; and Mr. Pat Wayne Shaddix.

This group’s tireless dedication to advancing the education of all students is truly special. Our district also benefits from a supportive city government, including our mayor Alton Craft, and council members Phil Gardner, Mike Henderson, Charlotte Hubbard, Chris Spurlin, and Steven Waits. We are also blessed with first responders led by police chief Bill Partridge and fire chief Gary Sparks, who staff our schools daily with police and firefighters.

At our 2019 Institute held at the Oxford Performing Arts Center on August 1, I issued a challenge to all members of our school system to have a positive impact on those around them every day.

The results of our efforts, though not always immediately apparent, can be monumental in the academic career and life of a student.

“Go Big O!”

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

91

OXFORD CITY SCHOOLS

The Safest Form of Student Transportation When you talk about Oxford City Schools, there are a lot of great things to celebrate. Among these include the student transportation department and its record of safely transporting the children of Oxford to and from school and other related activities. The National Association of Pupil Transportation says that riding a bus to school is “the safest form of student transportation.” In recognition of this fact, the third week of October has been designated as “National Bus Safety Week.” With this in mind, let’s take a look at what makes riding an Oxford City Schools bus such a safe choice for children.

Each school day morning around 5:15 am, Oxford City School transportation staff begins conducting pre-trip inspections of 49 buses to ensure all are safe for transporting students. Once cleared for use, OCS buses begin running a maze of approximately 1,050 miles of routes that provide all Oxford City School students access to transportation to one of six different schools.

At the end of the school day, the same process is repeated. In all, OCS school buses travel over 2,100 miles per day while transporting approximately 2,600 children to and from school.

In addition to the daily transportation provided to and from school, during the 2018-19 school year, OCS buses provided transportation for more than 360 extra-curricular trips. Over 200 of these involved away athletic events, while the remaining 160 were educational field trips for students. In all, OCS school buses traveled over 55,000 miles last year while transporting students and athletes to various extra-curricular events.

What’s significant about all this data? Simply stated, in 2018-19 Oxford City School bus drivers drove over 365,000 miles in daily bus routes while delivering over 450,000 student passengers safely to school and home. Add to this the miles driven while transporting students to extra-curricular events and you have OCS bus drivers driving over 420,000 miles. That’s close to 17 trips around the world in one year! What’s significant about all these traveled miles and trips? OCS buses were not involved in any accidents, proving that the school bus is “the safest form of student transportation.”

What makes the Oxford City Schools bus transportation such a safe option for children?

It’s all the bus drivers and the people that support them.

Imagine driving down the highway at 50 mph with your back to the equivalent of three classrooms of elementary students, and you are the only adult on the bus. This is a small picture of the responsibility a school bus driver deals with each day. As a part of their preparation, all bus drivers are required to obtain a CDL license with a passenger and school bus endorse-

By Marty Livingston | Oxford City Schools Transportation Supervisor

92

oxfordalabama.org

ment. Also, before receiving his or her bus license, each driver must complete 10 hours of local training along with three full days of training by the state.

Locally, there is also related professional development provided by the school district along with an annual required recertification class by the state. In all, OCS bus drivers are thoroughly trained in safe driving practices, safe mechanical condition of a bus, emergency procedures, and student management. Safety-minded, well-trained drivers, with love for children, are the most important factors when it comes to the safe transportation of our children!

There are also others that support and play a key role in the safe transportation of students: the Oxford Police Department, Oxford Public Works Department, and City Garage.

The Oxford Police Department can be seen each morning and afternoon at the major intersections near schools helping to monitor and direct the safe flow of traffic, which allows the safe passage of buses. The police also provide escorts for certain athletic events, as well as assistance in route planning for long trips.

When a large number of buses are involved, there is collaboration with other police departments to assist with getting buses safely through major intersections to their destination.

One of the threats to student safety is the vehicle that does not stop when the bus stop sign is deployed. This is one of the most significant concerns a bus driver has as students load/unload a bus. Likewise, this concern is shared by the Oxford Police Department. In an effort to both educate and warn drivers, the OPD produced a Public Service Announcement (emphasizing the law as it pertains to the deployed stop sign of a bus, along with the safety risk posed to children by vehicles that do not stop.) This year, during the first two weeks of school, police issued 12 citations to drivers for running a bus stop sign. Our police are serious about keeping students safe on a bus!

Of course, the condition of city roads plays a big part in a bus driver’s ability to safely transport students to and from school. Whether it’s the trimming of limbs from the right of way, smoothing a rough section of road, filling pot holes, or repairing signage, the City of Oxford Public Works Department is quick to respond to issues affecting the roadways traveled by the school buses.

To help ensure school buses are safe for transporting students, the State of Alabama requires a monthly inspection of the entire fleet. These inspections are conducted daily by the certified mechanics at the City of Oxford garage. If an issue is identified that prohibits the safe operation of a bus, the mechanics remove it from the fleet until repairs can be made. Also, if a bus breaks down or has other mechanical issues while out on a route or trip, the mechanics are on-call to assist drivers.

In addition to the driver and all those providing support contributing to bus safety, the Oxford City Schools student also has an important role to play.

In an effort to teach this role early, all three elementary schools held a summer camp for kindergarten students. Among the many things these first-year students learned, bus procedures and safety were taught. Students were taught bus stop safety, loading and unloading procedures, proper bus behavior, seating safety, and other general rules for safely riding a school bus. Drivers, as well as each school, also cover the same topics throughout the year.

How are our school buses able to safely transport 450,000 passengers over 420,000 miles a year without an accident? Credit goes to the group of highly trained, professional bus drivers, and the professionals who support them. In all, it’s a group of Oxford citizens who love the children of Oxford and work together daily to ensure “the safest form of student transportation” to school each day is the school bus. #GoBigO

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

93

WHY I TEACH

Oxford City School System Teacher Spotlight — Tracy Ray

THE CITY OF OXFORD IS PROUD TO HAVE SOME OF THE BEST EDUCATORS AND HIGHEST RATED SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN THE STATE. RECENTLY, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW TRACY MICHELLE LINDQUIST RAY, WHO WAS AWARDED AND RECOGNIZED AS “EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH” BY THE OXFORD CITY SCHOOLS EDUCATION FOUNDATION. Ray, originally from Franklin, North Carolina, moved to Oxford and started attending Oxford High School in 1991. She graduated with honors in 1996. Ray has been married to her husband Nicholas, who also is an Oxford High School graduate, for 18 years. Together, they have two sons. Dylan, 17, is a senior at Oxford High School, and Austin, 13, is in seventh grade at Oxford Middle School. After completing high school, Ray continued her studies at Jacksonville State University where she sought a Bachelors of Science in Education. She graduated Cum Laude in 2000, with Special Honors in Education. Ray then went on to obtain her master degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix in 2006. At Oxford City Schools, Ray works as a third-grade teacher at DeArmanville Elementary School, where she has a focus on math and science education. She is also the third-grade team representative, meaning she’s responsible for planning lessons and professional development across the third-grade team of teachers. We invite you to join us in congratulating Mrs. Ray with the Employee of the Month recognition and hope you enjoy getting to know her better in the Q&A that follows:

How long have you been part of the Oxford City School System?

I began my teaching career at Coldwater Elementary School (CES) when it was part of the Calhoun County School District in 2000. After Oxford City Schools took over CES in 2003, I was blessed to be offered a position to continue my career within the Oxford City Schools.

What grades have you taught?

I began teaching at Coldwater Elementary School as a Kindergarten teacher in the fall of 2000. I was the lead Kindergarten teacher for nine years before transferring to third grade for three more years at CES. I then transferred to DeArmanville Elementary, where I taught fourth grade for one year before moving back into the third grade for the past five years.

94

oxfordalabama.org

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

95

Teacher Spotlight — TRACY RAY

What made you want to become a teacher?

Many outstanding teachers impacted me personally. Dr. Mally Moody, who was my A.P. Trigonometry and A.P. Calculus teacher at Oxford High School, made a significant impact on my career in education. Dr. Moody was one of the first educators who encouraged me to set goals (goals I had previously thought were unobtainable) and then work diligently to meet them. She taught us about respecting each other as “professionals” by referring to us as Mr. Smith or Miss.

Ray. Dr. Moody would also call our parents to discuss our strengths and weaknesses (which was unheard of for a high school teacher at that time). She let us know we could come to see her if we needed extra support, time to talk, or wanted to discuss our future. When I went to college, I thought it would be a privilege and an honor to impact future students myself, as Dr. Moody did for me.

What is the most satisfying thing about teaching?

If I could convey one message that I feel makes the greatest impact on my teaching, classroom management, and student achievement, it would be the importance of building relationships with students and their families. There are many ways that teachers can positively impact their students' academic scores and a lifelong love of learning. Taking time to find out the students’ interests, hobbies, and cultures can help teachers communicate more effectively. I take the time to do this daily when I eat lunch with my students. Sometimes I listen to their conversations with each other, while at other times, I ask them questions about their favorite T.V. shows, movies, or foods. Students love to talk and laugh while they eat and will even request to sit close to me on days they feel like talking about their lives. Finally, taking the time to attend students’ functions outside of school can have a significant impact on our students, families, and community. Telling my students and their parents at the beginning of the school year that I would love an invitation to attend their kids’ recitals, games, and other events help set the tone for our classroom community. Students remember the educators in their lives that made the most significant impact. Sometimes this is the teacher that just took the time to have a conversation with them, or came to see them perform in a football game, pageant, recital or play. In the educational world of data points and outcome objectives, it’s nice to be reminded that taking one’s time to get to know ones’ students is an important factor in the students’ growth.

What do you look forward to most at the beginning of each year?

At the beginning of the year, I look forward to meeting my new students and their families.

What’s the most challenging part of being a teacher?

Even in today’s world of social media and smart devices, it is still challenging to ensure students stay connected to the world around them. Developmentally, elementary students are egocentric–meaning they tend to focus on their own lives and local environments. I feel that it is important to build my students’ empathy and interest in the world around them through lessons, problem-solving, and discussions. Teaching students to be empathetic to classmates is the first steps in ensuring they understand that words and actions affect others. By gradually opening up my students’ eyes and minds to their classmates, schools, and communities, I want them to understand that they can make a positive impression on the world by working together towards a common goal–even though they may feel like a small piece of the puzzle.

96

oxfordalabama.org

Teacher Spotlight — TRACY RAY

How do you want former students to remember you?

I hope that my students remember me as a teacher that cared for them, helped them reach their educational goals, and encouraged them to strive for success in all areas of life.

What methods do you use to bring out the best in students?

The demands of the 21st century require a new approach to education to adequately prepare students for college, careers, and citizenship. Research, practice, and common sense confirm that a whole-child approach to education will develop and prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of today and tomorrow by addressing students’ comprehensive needs through the shared responsibility of students, families, schools, and communities. In my classroom, there is a hum of learning, openness to individual differences, respectful courtesy between students, staff, and their corresponding peers, and quality questioning. This is the positive atmosphere we all want to work and learn in—the place students love to go to every day!

What are your thoughts on receiving the teacher of the month award?

I am humbled and honored to be recognized as the teacher of the month. I am blessed to go to work every day with the very best teachers, administrators, and co-workers within Oxford City Schools.

What extracurricular activities/groups are you part of?

I enjoy traveling around the country with my family. We enjoy visiting new places and meeting new people. We are an active family that enjoys baseball, football, fishing, and kayaking.

When you see former students who are now older, what's one thing they typically say they remember about your classroom?

My husband is always amazed by the number of students and parents that stop me when we are in public to “say hello,” and get a quick hug. I explain to him that is how I know that I have done a great job of building positive relationships throughout my career. My students usually say, “Your class was so much fun!” “You were always so funny!” “You were one of my favorite teachers!” “I wish I was in your classroom again!”

Do you have any hobbies? What do you like to do when not teaching?

I enjoy reading a good book, cooking my family’s favorite recipes, traveling to new places, walking my Jack Russell Terrier, “Mater,” and sitting on my back porch watching the hummingbirds visit our feeders.

Honors, Achievements, and Grants Awarded: Technology Grant Awarded By Aerospace Coatings $500, 2007 Coldwater Elementary School Teacher of the Year 2011 Oxford City Schools Teacher of the Year 2011 DeArmanville Teacher of the Month, September 2018 Oxford City Schools Teacher of the Year, 2018 Oxford Education Foundation Technology Grant, $5,000, 2018 Became and AMSTI (Alabama Math Science Technology Imitative) Science Trainer, 2019

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

97

GREENPOWER USA

COME CHEER ON OUR HOME TEAMS FROM OXFORD HIGH AND OXFORD MIDDLE ON JANUARY 24TH AND 25TH AS THEY COMPETE AGAINST OTHER TEAMS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

98

oxfordalabama.org

//

////////////////////////////////////// CHOCCOLOCCO GREEN PRIX

G

Green Power USA is our national division of a global initiative that began in the United Kingdom and currently includes the USA, China, India, Singapore, Malaysia, and Poland.

The initiative aims to help unlock potential and spark enthusiasm for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) through the excitement of motorsports. Through the effort, students design and build electric cars to compete in 90-minute races. The goal is to achieve as many laps as possible with every team using the same supplied electric motor and two 12volt batteries. Scores from the competition are combined with the score of the team’s build and design presentation. Individual race scores accumulate through the entire season to determine the national rankings.

The Green Power Initiative at Oxford City Schools began at Oxford Middle School four years ago. The OHS Green Power team, however, has been a work in progress for the past three years.

In the 2016/2017 school year, students began assembling the kit car and designing potential

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

99

CHOCCOLOCCO GREEN PRIX

bodies to cover the frame. Body designs had to keep in mind both weight and aerodynamics. In the 2017/2018 school year, students completed assembly and participated as a testing session in their first Green Power sanctioned event. They discovered in that event that their designed car was not efficient enough to be competitive. They spent the rest of the 2017/2018 season making adjustments, creating a more competitive car for the next season.

This 2018/2019 season, the team competed in eight events. They raced with 134 other middle and high school teams from across the country. At each race, they collected data on temperature, gear ratio, tire pressure, and seven other points to guide them in providing the proper setup for the next event. They also collaborated with other teams, learning from them to make further adjustments to their car to improve efficiency. This effort resulted in a third-place national finish in the F24 modified category, and all this in their rookie season no less. The third-place finish represents an enormous amount of hard work. The students applied the knowledge of math and science they learned in middle school and combined it with the mechanical and electrical engineering skills learned in high school.

All of the students on the Green Power USA team are hard workers and bring so much enthusiasm to the event. It has helped the students learn teamwork, dedication, and how to apply what they learn at school to a real-world situation. According to OHS student Juan Martinez, Green Power USA is an incredible experience. “The people I have met are welcoming and helpful, and the amount of dedication these teams put into an electric race car is astonishing,” Juan said. “It is one of the most interesting and best experiences that someone like me could have. I am thankful to Oxford City Schools for providing this resource, making it fun to apply our learning.”

The team has big goals and has already begun work for the 2019/2020 season. They would like to win the modified category and to qualify for the international championship race at Rockingham Speedway in the United Kingdom. They are also looking forward to showing off their hard work at their first-ever local event, the Choccolocco Green Prix. Come cheer on our home teams from Oxford High and Oxford Middle on January 24th and 25th as they compete against other teams from across the country.

100

oxfordalabama.org

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

101

102

oxfordalabama.org

Celebration

THE OXFORD ARTS COUNCIL PRESENTS

OF THE ALABAMA BICENTENNIAL

Christmas DECORATING CONTEST

The annual City of Oxford Christmas Decorating Contest has been sponsored for many years by the Oxford Arts Council. Awards presented this Alabama Bicentennial year, 2019, will include presentations to homeowners of decorated historic homes (constructed before 1910). Awards will be presented by Mayor Alton Craft and will consist of certificates and yard signs. The Awards Presentation for the announcement of winners will be at the Oxford City Hall in the Council Chambers on December 10 at 6:30 p.m. A reception for the winners will be at 6:00 p.m. before the Awards Presentation.

The 2019 contest begins on November 27 and ends on December 9.

Nominations are encouraged and will be accepted at the Oxford Performing Arts Center at 100 Choccolocco Street or online at oxfordpac.org/christmascontest.

THE CATEGORIES ARE: Business, Lighting Award, Main Street, Most Beautiful, Most Christmas Spirit Most Creative, Most Traditional, and Reason for the Season.

In addition, this event will recognize the many Oxford historic homes built before 1910, which have been maintained and restored by former and current homeowners. Spotlighting these historic homes will bring attention to their significance in the beauty and culture of Alabama and the City of Oxford. Adding historic home awards to this annual event will bring attention to the Alabama Bicentennial and the enduring legacy of these homes to the Oxford community.

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

103

104

oxfordalabama.org

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | FALL 2019

105

106

oxfordalabama.org