2024 Old Federal Road Storytelling Festival Commemorative Booklet
Presented
by
the Ridge Macon County Archaeology Project and the Town of Shorter, Alabama
https://digtheridge.com
Our mission is to provide classroom resources and educational programs and events about our region's historical and cultural significance for the benefit of students, teachers, the local community, and visitors of all ages.
Funded by a generous grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts
Ridge Project Interpretive Center 10735 County Rd 10 Union Springs, AL 36089
Physically located on Macon County Road 10 about nine miles south of Tuskegee
Shorter is a new small town with great potential for growth and development. Located strategically off U.S. Interstate 85 and U.S. Highway 80 in Macon County, Alabama, Shorter is 20 minutes from downtown Montgomery and only 35 minutes from Auburn. The town of Shorter has become the model for a small community by enacting progressive measures in economic development such as: 20 -year planning, website development, police and fire protection, water and sewer investment, recycling and creating regional partnerships in economic development. Each day, new jobs and homes are developed here. The only thing missing is you. Stop by and find out why Shorter, Alabama is “A Town on the Move!”
Thank You to the Funders, Partners, and Sponsors of all the 2024 Old Federal Road Storytelling Festival Events Funders, Sponsors, and Partners
About the Artist and Cover Art
My name is Johanna Robinson. I am an author and fine artist with a deep love for storytelling. I co-authored the play “When Freedom Came” with Dr. Shari Williams, which was performed at the 2023 Old Federal Road Storytelling Festival. Together, we also co-authored the book Warrior Stand Herbalism, the first volume in a local history series (see page 25) My newest creative endeavor is the P and V Are Kittens children’s book series Developing the series has allowed me to combine my talent for storytelling and illustration and to channel my expertise in history, genealogy, and the arts to enrich my work with depth and detail. My husband Kurling is an entrepreneur and is a descendant of the Warrior Stand community . We both serve on the board for the Ridge Project We live in California with our delightful eight-year-old identical twin daughters and grey tabby cat. We also have two adult children.
This year’s Festival booklet cover is named “Gathering” because it evokes the positivity of pulling people together and it hints at fall harvest time. It features an 18x24 inch mixed media painting on canvas that reflects the heart of storytelling traditions. Set against the backdrop of a golden autumn field, a diverse group of people gathers around a central fire, symbolizing the shared stories that bind communities together. The large tree in the background, bathed in warm hues, serves as a metaphor for deep roots and the passing of knowledge through generations. The whi te house, slightly weathered, represents a place of memory and history, while the figures each uniquely rendered embody the diverse voices that come together in storytelling.
This piece is inspired by the power of oral traditions and stories and the ways in which they preserve culture, heal communities, and foster understanding across generations. The varied textures and layers in the painting echo the complexity of the stories themselves, revealing new details with every look.
I invite you to visit my website at www.pandvarekittens.com
Sincerely,
Johanna Robinson
Author and Illustrator
pandvarekittens.com
Macon County’s Historical, Cultural, and Natural Resources Then and Now
Unless otherwise noted, sources include multiple credible websites.
1888* 2024
Size 630 square miles 614.84 square miles (Macon Co. Economic Dev. Authority)
Physiographic region Coastal Plain Coastal Plain
Economic base Agriculture
Health care & social services, educational services, government, retail
Population 17,373 18,439 (2020 census)
Soils Clay, loamy, sandy Clayey, alkaline Black Belt soils; sandy, well -drained coastal plain soils; clayey acidic Black Belt soils; river terraces and wetlands. (Alabama Cooperative Extension System)
Crops - fruit Apples, pears, peaches, grapes, cherries, walnuts, plums, figs, quinces, pomegranates, raspberries, strawberries, and melons
Post Offices
Clough's Store, Cotton Valley, Cowles Station, Creek Stand, Dick's Creek, Gabbett, La Place, Notasulga, Shorter's Depot, Society Hill, Swamp, Tuskegee, Warrior Stand
Newspapers** The Tuskegee News, Tuskegee Weekly News, The Gazette, The Weekly Gazette
Higher learning institutions Alabama Conference Female College and Alabama High School (boys and young men)
National Register of Historic Places Sites & Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage Sites
N/A
Armstrong Church, near Notasulga, Bartram Trail, Tuskegee National Forest, Butler Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church, Tuskegee (NRHP), Camp Watts, Notasulga, Creekwood, CR 79, Creek Stand, Ebenezer Baptist Church (Hardaway Baptist Church), Hardaway, Fort Davis Depot, Fort Davis, Harris Barrett School, Tuskegee, Macon County Training School and Community Historic District, Roba, Notasulga High School, Notasulga, Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, Rosenwald School, and Cemetery, Shiloh Road, Notasulga, G.C. Thompson House, Tuskegee (Moved to Montgomery - now Montgomery Visitor Center), Tuskegee Public School Gymnasium, Tuskegee c. 1939, Tuskegee Veterans Administration Medical Center, Tuskegee, Woodward-Bledsoe (The Annex), Tuskegee (DEMOLISHED)
* Source: Northern Alabama - Historical and Biographical by Smith & De Land, Birmingham, Ala 1888. https://genealogytrails.com/ala/macon/history1.html#SMITH
**Other newspapers existed but the end dates of existence are unknown for many.
Greetings!
The Ridge Project Board of Directors, the Town of Shorter, Alabama, and organizers of the 2024 Old Federal Road Storytelling Festival welcome you to this year’s Festival!
The morning after the 2023 Festival, Ridge Project Board members gathered around plates of those interesting eggs and waffles that many hotels serve as complimentary breakfast items. We were stoked about the past weekend and the ideas flowed, one of which was to incorporate a camping activity in the 2024 festival. That idea began taking shape in a previous meeting of prospective partners who wanted to host a jointly sponsored event to offer college students the opportunity to learn to camp and to learn basic archaeological techniques. In early 2024, brainstorming turned into planning to offer to a one-day indoor program and a multi-day camping expedition for college students and here we are!
The 2024 theme “Celebrating Harmony of History, Culture, and the Natural World” reflects the culmination of past events and recent brainstorming that have brought us together today. Past events include the Alabama Fever migration of nearly 500,000 persons who traveled during the 1800s on the Federal Road from Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and other states into the lush, virgin Alabama Territory (later the State of Alabama). Their migration and settlement laid the economic, social, and c ultural foundation of Alabama but also brought disruption and devastation to the Muscogee Creek Nation. Alabama Fever was a cause of the forced mass removal of Native Americans including the Creeks from their tribal lands in the eastern and southeastern U.S. to Oklahoma from 1830 to 1850. The route associated with forced removal is called the Trail of Tears. Ours is a complicated and often regrettable series of historical events of migration and displacement that the enticing natural resources and fertile soils of the Alabama Territory unwittingly helped to trigger. That series of events, combined with other cycles of in and out-migration have contributed to the many changes that Macon County has experienced over time as is evidenced by the table on page 4. We are here today to look back and reflect on complicated history with an eye on the present and future and the determination to enjoy Alabama’s continuing natural beauty with a collective mindset of conservation, preservation, respect for all people, and inclusivity. So it is with immense pleasure that we welcome Storytelling Festival attendees and college student campers and camp leaders who are participating in our very first Camping Expedition.
We extend our thanks and appreciation to our generous funders, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC, the Alabama Humanities Alliance, the Mid-South Resource & Conservation Development Council, the Southern Regional Education Board, 4Imprint, and private donors. Thank you to our generous sponsor, the Black Heritage Council of the Alabama Historical Commission, and to our faithful partners, the Educational Outreach Department of the Moundville Archaeological Park, the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts and Humanities, the Black Belt African American Historical and Genealogical Society, and the Alabama Folklife Association. We are thrilled to partner for the very first time with Shades of Adventure and BIPOC Outdoors. Each organization and private donor have made it possible for Festival plans to come to fruition
We extend a special thank you to the many volunteers and supporters who helped to present the festival. Thank you to our vendors. To all who have contributed to making the 2024 Old Federal Road Storytelling Festival a success, we appreciate you!
Sincerely,
The 2024 Old Federal Road Storytelling Festival Organizers
Mr. Dennis Powell, Town of Shorter, Alabama
Mr. Guy Trammell, Tuskegee, Alabama
Dr. Shari Williams, The Ridge Project , Warrior Stand, Alabama
Festival
Schedule
(Subject to change)
Time Presenters
9:00 – 9:30 a.m.
9:30 - 9:50 a.m.
9:50 - 10:30 a.m.
10:30 – 11:10 a.m.
Meet and greet with refreshments
Welcome, Land Acknowledgement, and Introductions
Matthew Robinson, Tribal Liaison, Horseshoe
Bend National Military Park, Daviston, Alabama
Topic: Harmony of History, Culture, & the Natural World Along the Federal Road
Sonya Covington, Outdoor Educator and Cofounder of Staples InTents
Topic: Topic: Engaging with the Outdoors: Past & Present
11:10 – 11:20 a.m. Break
11:20 a.m. -12:00 noon
12:00 – 1:15 p.m.
1:15 – 2:00 p.m.
2:00 - 2:45 p.m.
Scotty E. Kirkland, Coordinator of Exhibitions, Publications, and Programs, Alabama Department of Archives and History, Montgomery, Alabama
Topic: Lafayette’s 1825 Alabama Tour and the 2025 Bicentennial
Break for catered lunch and to visit festival exhibits and the Shorter Museum
Dr. Shari L. Williams, Executive Director, Ridge Macon County Archaeology Project, Warrior Stand, Alabama
Topic: Mosaic Templars of America Headstones in Macon County
Jesse Baskerville, Board Member, Black Belt African American Genealogical and Historical Society (BBAAGHS), Alabama
Topic: Genealogy 101
2:45 - 3:00 p.m. Break
3:00 - 3:45 p.m.
3:45 - 4:30 p.m.
Jesse Baskerville, Tyrone Kelley, and Dr. Williams
Topic: DNA Reveal
Closing discussion and remarks
Presenters
(In order of appearance)
Matthew Robinson is the Tribal Liaison at Horseshoe Bend National Military Park in Daviston, Tallapoosa County, Alabama. He has worked for the park for eight years. His duties include managing natural and cultural resources. He holds a Master’s Degree in Early American History and a Bachelor’s Degree in History from Auburn University.
Sonya Covington is the leader of the very first Old Federal Road Storytelling Festival Camping Expedition. She is the DREAM STEM Program Coordinator at North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering Physics from North Carolina A&T State University and a Master’s Degree in Statistics from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Before she transitioned to outdoor entrepreneurship, she worked as a Quality professional with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and Sodexo. Initially a "typical city girl" with a love for travel, she discovered the transformative power of nature and cofounded Staples InTents (@staplesintents) to address the lack of inclusivity and education in outdoor spaces.
Sonya is dedicated to fostering outdoor enthusiasm. Documenting her adventures alongside her partner for nearly a decade, she highlighted the positive experiences of BIPOC individuals in the pursuit of outdoor adventure through overlanding and camping. She has traversed numerous countries by vehicle, camping along the way in Colombia, Mexico, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Belize, and several trips across the United States.
In 2021, Sonya created The Gathering (@thegatheringbysi), an inclusive outdoor event aimed at fostering connections with nature and promoting comfort, confidence, and curiosity in the outdoors.
Sonya's commitment to outdoor equity has most recently led her to co-found Shades of Adventure (@shadesofadventure) and The BIPOC Outdoor Collective (@thebipocoutdoorcollective). She strives to meet people where they are in their outdoor journey, emphasizing that everyone, regardless of experience, can find solace and connection with nature sustainably.
Scotty E. Kirkland is the Coordinator of Exhibitions, Publications, and Programs at the Alabama Department of Archives and History (ADAH) in Montgomery, Alabama. He authored the catalog for the award-winning bicentennial exhibition, We the People: Alabama’s Defining Document , and is currently working on a book on politics and race in twentiethcentury Mobile. He is a 2005 graduate of Troy State University Dothan who earned his Master's Degree in History from the University of South Alabama in 2009. Kirkland worked at the University of South Alabama Archives from 2006 to 2011, and the History Museum of Mobile from 2011 to 2015. His tenure with ADAH began in the form er Public Services Division. He now works in ADAH’s Museum Division. Kirkland is a prolific author, having also written for The Alabama Review, Alabama Heritage, Mobile Bay Magazine , the New Encyclopedia of Southern Culture, and the Encyclopedia of Alabama
Dr. Shari L. Williams is a Public Historian, independent scholar, and the Ridge Project’s Executive Director. She is the first African American woman to earn a Ph.D. in History from Auburn University. She descends from Pace, Berry, Hubbard, and Ellison ancestors from Macon County, Alabama. She is thankful for her loving and supportive family, most of all her husband, two daughters, and two granddaughters. Dr. Williams’s research interests include the past, present, and future of rural historic landscapes and cultural traditions in Alabama’s Black Belt with an emphasis on social history through the lens of race, gender, and class. Her interest in the Modern American South and Public History began with her nonprofit volunteer work in historic preservation in Macon County. This work inspired her to establish The Ridge Macon County Archaeology Project. Dr. Williams is the author of the chapter “Death Can Not Make Our Souls Afraid: Mosaic Templars of America Headstones in Macon County, Alabama, 1887 -1931” in the book Grave History: Death, Race, and Gender in Southern Cemeteries (Kami Fletcher and Ashley Towle, editors UGA Press 2023). Dr. Williams currently serves on the Alabama Folklife Association ’s Board of Directors as President. She also serves on the Boards of the Alabama Historical Association, and the Black Belt African American Genealogical and Historical Society
Jesse Baskerville is a member of the Board of Directors of the Black Belt African American Genealogical and Historical Society (BBAAGHS). In this role, Jesse presents educational talks on a variety of subjects related to family history research. He is a retired Senior Environmental Program Manager and Environmental Engineer for the US Environmental Protection Agency. Jesse received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry from Clark College and a Master of Science Degree in Environmental Engineering Science from the University of Florida. Jesse has also mentored and coached youth basketball and has served as the Deputy CEO of the Atlanta Select Basketball Association. Jesse has been engaged in personal genealogical research and family history for over twenty -five 25 years and provides professional services for clients who wish to know more about their families’ ancestry.
Special guest Tyrone Kelley will join Jesse Baskerville and Dr. Williams in presenting a DNA Reveal!
What is a DNA Reveal?
To enhance the Genealogy 101 segment of today’s program, we wanted to introduce ideas for using DNA test results as a tool for building one’s family tree. To that end, we looked for a volunteer who has family roots in Macon County to take a DNA test and collaborate with us to start building their family tree. The volunteer would also share today how their DNA test results helped them to discover their roots. Tyrone Kelley, who is originally from Creek Stand, Macon County, Alabama volunteered to participate . He and Kelley family members who are in attendance will share about our collaboration thus far
Did you know that taking a DNA test can enrich traditional genealogy research? DNA test results can help you discover your ethnic background and where your ancestors came from. Test results can connect you with relatives you did not know you had, which can expand your family tree. By providing genetic clues, DNA test results can also help you to break through research challenges that sometime occur due to missing record s. DNA test results can help you preserve your family history and learn about groups of people who share your ancestry to enrich your cultural understanding. DNA test results can add new layers to your family stories by providing scientific insights!
Town of Shorter Government Officials
Mayor Willie Mae Powell
Councilman Desiev Howard
Councilman Edward Pollard
Councilwoman Betty Jeter
Councilwoman Rhonda McCloud
Councilman Derrick McCloud
2024 Festival Organizers
Dennis Powell is the Town of Shorter’s Special Projects Manager, Historian, and a D.C. Wolfe Afterschool Program Teacher. He chronicles and showcases the history of Shorter and surrounding communities of West Macon County, Alabama. He designed and curated the exhibits that are featured in the Town of Shorter’s History Museum. Dennis has partnered with Auburn University to procure grants, develop children’s books, and to successfully nominate the Cubahatchee African American Memorial Cemetery to be listed on the Alabama Historic Cemetery Register. In the afterschool program, Dennis teaches French, Spanish, and history for first through sixth graders. He is a graduate student at the University of North Alabama and is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Public History.
Guy Trammell is the Audio and Visual Technician for this year’s festival. He is a trainer for Community-based Group Therapy and, for “Family to Family” the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) approved mental illness education program, under the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI). He is the director for the Macon County Ministers’ Council Food Pantry. He is chair for The Collective 46 Inc. a communitybased telehealth fiber network provider in Macon County, Alabama. Guy is the historian for the City of Tuskegee, a member of the Tuskegee Historic P reservation Commission, and a founding member of the Macon History Network. His book Macon 365 is a calendar-based history of Macon County He is the founder and CEO of Macon Stories, an educational service interpreting the history of Macon County, Alabama to youth and tourists.
Dr. Shari L. Williams – see her bio on page 8
Ridge Project Board of Directors and Executive Director
Corlis Dallas Clark is a life-long resident of the south Macon County, Alabama community. She is an alumna of the historic South Macon High School (also called the Macon County Training School). After graduation, Ms. Clark completed coursework at Tuskegee University. She earned Lab Technician credentials from Alexander City Jr. College and went on to begin a career with the U.S. Postal Service as a Rural Route Mail Carrier. Her career spanned 30 years. After retirement in 2007, Ms. Clark worked as an adjunct data collector and instructor with an agriculture and nutrition program for youth that was housed at Tuskegee University. Ms. Clark is a member of the Sweet Pilgrim Baptist Church, Roba, Alabama.
Gary Cox is an accomplished technical support professional with extensive experience in the IT system environment as a systems administrator and specialist. His professional experience also includes business manager and financial reporting specialist. Gary serves as the Fiscal Officer for the Ridge Project.
Kurling Robinson is a founder, musician, and startup visionary with over 30 years of experience in software engineering and entrepreneurship. He is the CEO of Fōkcus, a consulting company that assists schools and other organizations with innovation programs that support entrepreneurship. He cares deeply about the community and serves in strategic board positions, including board chairman of the San Diego Workforce Partnership (SDWP) and board member of Startup San Diego, The Program Labs, and the California State University San Marcos Innovation Hub. Kurling became involved with The Ridge Project through his deep ancestral roots in Warrior Stand, Macon County, Alabama, including his Reid and Moore family tree branches.
Johanna Robinson – see her bio on page 3
Dr. Cedric G. Sanders is a descendant of ancestors from Creek Stand in Macon County, Alabama. He is an Instructional Designer in the University of Georgia’s Finance and Administration Department. Dr. Sanders’s research focus is African American men’s experiences in obtaining graduate level academic degrees in higher education. His dissertation, “Counternarratives of African American Male Doctoral Students at Predominantly White Institutions,” highlights the significance of this work and the need for intentional mentorship support, and meaningful interventions to increase the enrollment of African American men in higher education. He obtained his Ph.D. in Learning, Leadership, and Organizational Development with an emphasis on adult education from the University of Georgia. Dr. Sanders is a former police officer. In addition to a doctoral degree, he holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology and a Master of Science Degree in Adult Education Instructional Technology, both from Troy University.
Dr. Shari L. Williams, Executive Director – see her bio on page 8.
WELCOME REGISTERED STUDENTS!
Gracie Boykin University of West Alabama
Shaniya Bullock Tuskegee University
Ananda Flemings Tuskegee University
Jaiden Irving University of West Alabama
Rachel Lee Vanderbilt University
Neiaudrah Martin Auburn University, Montgomery
Ryan Stanley University of West Alabama
Ameris Wright Tuskegee University
The Ridge Project appreciates Moundville’s Educational Outreach Department. Thank you for partnering with us to offer an enriching and educational program to our campers!
WELCOME SPECIAL GUEST STUDENTS & CAMPERS!
WELCOME & THANK YOU TO CAMP LEADERS!
Sonya Covington – Expedition Manager & Co-Founder, Shades of Adventure and The BIPOC Outdoor Collective
Gary Cox – Leader & Ridge Project Board Member
Dr. Rashida Farid-Tilghman – Leader & Assistant Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Director of the Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries Program, Tuskegee University
Dr. Cedric Sanders – Leader & Ridge Project Board Member
Corey Webb – Leader & Founder of Corey Webb Travels
Moundville Archaeological Park is a University of Alabama Museum located at 634 Mound State Parkway Moundville, AL 35474-6413
Website:
https://moundville.museums.ua.edu
Phone: (205) 371-2234
History, Culture, and Natural World Highlights
This section presents three stories that mesh with the 2024 Festival’s theme "Celebrating Harmony of History, Culture, and the Natural World." These stories offer information and insights to honor the past and the present and to show that history, culture, and the natural world are intertwined, each influencing and enriching the other. These stories will inspire and foster appreciation for the intricate relationships we share with our heritage and mother earth and a deeper understanding of our collective journey.
General La Fayette and African Americans
by Guy Trammell
On January 7, 1835, Chambersville, Alabama officials renamed the town Lafayette to honor General Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Montier de La Fayette, or Marquis de La Fayette (1757-1834). Six miles away, by the foot of Buckalew Mountain, is the birthplace of Joseph Louis Barrow, an African American who was also known as Joe Louis, the Brown Bomber Shown in the photo on the left is Lewis (1914-1981), who was the world’s longest reigning boxing champion.
President James Monroe invited Lafayette, last living Revolutionary War general, for an 1824 to 1825 U.S. farewell tour, including a night in Macon County, Alabama’s Warrior Stand, March 31, 1825.
General George Washington never wanted colored soldiers. This changed when disillusioned white troops deserted due to harsh conditions, but all the colored troops kept fighting.
James Armistead’s enslaver gave him permission to enlist with Lafayette’s French allied units and he became a spy. Pretending to be a runaway slave, he did what no other spy could do, he gained access to General Cornwallis’s headquarters and the center of the British War Department.
Providing strategic information to the Continental Army, and misleading the British, he was assigned to Benedict Arnold, which gave invaluable insights about the Redcoat’s movement patterns to Lafayette. Armistead provided critical intel about the Battle of Yorktown’s approaching British reinforcements and thus was a key figure in bringing about Lord Cornwallis’ surrender on October 17, 1781, and the Continental Army’s Revolutionary War victory.
However, instead of rewarding his achievements, the State of Virginia sent Armistead back to Virginia to be enslaved again. For years Armistead petitioned Congress for his freedom. Then Lafayette learned of Armistead’s situation and immediately wrote Congress on Armistead’s behalf. In 1787, Armistead received his freedom and an annual pension. He purchased a 40-acre Virginia farm, married, raised a family, and lived the remainder of his life as a free man. He changed his name to James Armistead Lafayette to honor his French friend.
The History Channel provides this account of Lafayette’s U.S. Farewell Tour: “In February 1825, Lafayette began a swing through the South where he came face-toface with slavery, which he fervently opposed. Lafayette was an abolitionist, but during the tour he becomes the embodiment of national unity ” The History Channel quotes Julien Pierre Icher, present-day founder of the Lafayette Trail, who explained that “Lafayette is a national guest, and he doesn’t want to offend his [slaveholding] hosts.” The History Channel further explains that Lafayette “minded his words in public” but “ didn’t shy away from denouncing slavery in private conversations during his extensive stays at the Virginia estates of slaveholders Madison, and Jefferson, with whom he had drafted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.”
The Story of Camp Atkins in Tuskegee, Alabama
by Dr. Lucenia W. Dunn
The picture that you see is the old mess hall that in previous years was filled with laughter and glee of young campers at Camp Atkins. This is the oldest Boy Scout Camp for Black Boy Scouts in Alabama. It was founded in 1919 and was named after Dr. Russe ll C. Atkins, the first director of the Tuskegee Institute Agricultural Department. Dr. Atkins was being groomed to succeed Dr. Robert F. Moton, the Second President after the death of Dr. Booker T. Washington. Unfortunately, a deranged man murdered Dr. Atkins, and he did not live to fulfill this honor. (Time Magazine, April 22, 1935)
The Tuskegee Boy Scout movement grew out of the founding of the National Boy Scouts of America. After reading about the Boy Scout organization founded by Lord Baden-Powell in England, Mr. Stanley A. Harris requested a Charter from that organization. In 1908 he founded the National Boy Scouts of America.
Mr. Harris visited Tuskegee Institute and Tuskegee Institute President Robert Moton hosted the visit. Harris inspired the parents in the Tuskegee Institute Greenwood community to establish the first Boy Scout Troop for African American boys in Alabama. The Institute set aside two hundred acres for a camp for the scouts and named it after Dr. Atkins who had recently been murdered. (Greenwood Community history appears on page 20).
The camp property is located off Franklin Road. However, the original entrance was off Macon County Road 65 (Midway Road). The property is near the back entrance of the historic Tuskegee Veterans Hospital. While it is now speculation that Camp Atkins began in 1919, the earliest documented date is 1923. But we do know it was highly active from the 1930’s to the early 1990’s.
Camp Atkins was a place where boys and girls learned to camp and survive outdoors. Fresh clean water from an underground stream fed a beautiful lake. Many learned to fish, swim, and conduct water safely. Nature studies were an enjoyable occupation of the scouts who learned the difference between butterflies and moths. They caught frogs and tadpoles , and to the distress of many mothers, took them home to see how the tadpoles became frogs. It was nothing to trek through the grounds and see how many wildflowers you could identify and take home with you to place in a jar beside your bed. The Scouts (pictured below) learned about history, especially the Tuskegee Airmen .
In about the 1970’s, the camp expanded to include wooden buildings, toilets, and recreational ball sites. Later camp workers constructed a concrete block building that became the official Mess Hall.
Recently Camp Atkins fell into disrepair. The dam was broken, the lake was drained, and the campgrounds were deserted. It became overgrown with weeds and the buildings were destroyed. There is currently only one remaining cement block building on the groun ds, and it is being used for storage. But take heart, all is not lost.
Dr. Lucenia W. Dunn, President/CEO of the Tuskegee Macon County Community Foundation, Inc., and members of TM46, a community-based organization, teamed up with Dr. Rashidah FaridTilghman and Dean Olga Bolden -Tiller of the Tuskegee University College of Agriculture to restore the Camp and bring life back to this historic site.
The work started in the spring of 2023. A group from TM46 started the cleanup of the camp. They cut down trees, eliminated vines and weeds, and began to redevelop the trails through the wooded areas. They brought tractors, hoes, shovels, and weed cutters, and made considerable progress They worked until it was just too hot to continue.
Now it is fall 2024. The snakes are retreating, and the grass has turned brown. It is time to get back to work. We need electricians, farmers, gardeners, tree trimmers, bull dozers, and sweat equity. We also need contributions to purchase the necessary items such as wood, cement, cement blocks, and weed killer. Most of all, we need your help, labor, and commitment!
Our children need a place to learn, have constructive fun, get physical exercise, be creative, relieve themselves of digital interaction, and know something outside of negative experiences. Therefore, we invite you to join the movement to prepare a place f or our kids from toddlers to teens. Let us join forces, talents, and skills to make Camp Atkins a wonderful experience for our children and families in Macon County and surrounding Alabama Black Belt counties.
Finally, for those who have already experienced Camp Atkins, have pictures, want to share stories, or join the movement, please contact:
Photos above: TM46 volunteers working diligently to clean up and restore Camp Atkins
Where is the Village of Greenwood?
In 1881, Lewis Adams founded Tuskegee Normal School which later became Tuskegee Institute and is now Tuskegee University. Booker T. Washington was the school’s first principal. He developed the school into an internally known educational institution and economic empowerment center for African Americans. He started the school in a rundown building given to him by the deacons at Butler AME Church. There were so many people who were former slaves that wanted to learn, that the school grew quickly and needed more space.
Principal Washington borrowed $200 dollars and bought an abandoned plantation that became the main campus of Tuskegee University. As the school grew and he hired more people, Washington noted that he needed a place for his faculty and staff to live. So, he asked his former Hampton Institute roommate, Charles W. Green (1849-1926), to help him develop a community where people could live without being harassed by people who would do harm to African Americans at his school.
Charles Green had already married a local girl and built their house in a wooded area west of the campus. This property was carved out in 1890 across from the Institute’s campus. It consisted of approximately three hundred acres Planners laid out the property like a small city. The Institute sold lots and buyers constructed their homes. Over the years, the community grew, and Washington would name the settlement the “Village of Greenwood” to honor Green.
During the Jim Crow era, this all-African American and technically advanced community grew and thrived. Several white businesspeople established the Alabama Power in December 1906, but Greenwood already had the world’s first African American-owned and operated electric company that was established in the 1890’s. Greenwood sold electrical power to Tuskegee’s white businesses and homes. It also had a telephone exchange. The very first Black telephone operator, Ophelia Cooper, was hired to work at the exchange and she trained other Black operators.
Booker T. Washington named Greenwood’s streets after his inner circle, including Clark Avenue, for Jane E. Clark, his first Dean of Women, Scott Street, for his special secretary Emmett J. Scott, and Adams Street, for the school’s founder, Lewis Adams. These dirt streets had sidewalks, steps, curbing, and streetlights. The homes had indoor plumbing, electricity and many had a piano.
Washington instituted strict rules of community decorum. There was no crime and there were no police. The Greenwood business community sold all the necessities. A community hospital took care of the sick. There were churches from diverse denominations. Everyone attended school graduations and the Sunday Line of March. Greenwood was a great place to grow up.
Guy Trammell
Above far left: Charles W. Greene. Left and far right: home on Penny St. and home on Washington Avenue. Both are original to the historic Village of Greenwood. Center: early photo of the John A. Andrew Hospital, the first Black hospital in Alabama, opened in 1892, located on the Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) campus.
How I Started Overland Camping
By Dr. Cedric G. Sanders
My longtime friend, Dale Lomax, and his wife, Melanie, introduced me to overland camping about four years ago. We both own Toyota FJ Cruisers, and one day Dale expressed his interest in getting into overlanding camping with his FJ. Subsequently, he began modifying his FJ with various off-road/camping components: lifted suspension, rooftop tent, recovery gear, refrigerator, etc. In Dale’s process of modifying his FJ, I had the pleasure of assisting him with the build.
While my interest began to grow in overlanding and given my love for tinkering with vehicles, my initial thoughts about the gear we added to his FJ were favorable. However, I thought it impractical for me to modify my FJ in the same manner because my FJ is the vehicle I use daily, and I had concerns that the added weight of the overlanding gear would further decrease my vehicle’s already poor gas mileage. Plus, I would not be able to fit my FJ in a parking deck at my job.
Dale and Melanie took a trip out West to attend Overland Expo Pacific Northwest. Overland Expo is an organization that hosts annual overlanding events at venues from the West to East Coast. At Overland Expo events, you will find diverse groups of folks fro m the overlanding community who come together to share information about their rigs (vehicles) along with the types of camping experiences they enjoy including developed, primitive, and dispersed.
As Dale and Melanie dove deeper into overlanding and shared their experiences with me, I became more interested and started watching other overland campers on YouTube. One of the things that impressed me the most about these overland camping videos was the beauty and serenity of nature overlanding offers. This really intrigued me because as I reached my mid-sixties, I made a commitment to seek, pursue, and experience endeavors that promote peace and happiness. Having said that, my interest in overland camping grew exponentially.
Me and my set up at 2023 Overland East Expo in Virginia. Check out that marshmallow cloudy sky!
My FJ Cruiser in 2023 at the Overland East Expo before it was outfitted
In October 2023, I had the pleasure of attending Overland East in Arrington, Virginia. I, along with my buddy Dale and Melanie, and a few other friends, drove six hours from Atlanta to Virginia to attend the event. We had a blast at the event. I got a chance to meet a few of the folks that I had been watching on YouTube, along with being exposed to several vendors who sold and manufactured some of the best overlanding gear I had been researching. Every day was a new adventure for us. We spent time sitting at our campsite sharing funny stories and talking about our next overland adventure. Although I camped at this event in a ground tent and navigated through being a little uncomfortable, I learned a lot. Thus, I was hooked!
When I returned home, I was determined to outfit my FJ Cruiser with overland gear and amenities that would add comfort and joy to my next overland outing. Currently, as of this writing, I have outfitted my FJ with the following gear: rooftop tent, shower tent, 270degree awning, refrigerator/freezer, a custom-built drawer system to house all my cooking, bathroom, and other miscellaneous gear to make my overlanding camping experiences pleasurable.
One of the most important lessons that I learned from seasoned overlanders is one does not need to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars to get started, but rather, start small and build as you go. While having some of the essential items to camp does add to the enjoyment of overlanding, the most important thing is to get out and have fun and learn what best suits your personal overland camping goals. For me, experiencing the solace of nature with friends is my “why” for overlanding. I will admit that seeing all the cool overland rigs and how people build and outfit them is also exciting!
For more information on Overland Expo, visit https://www.overlandexpo.com
Friends camping at the 2023 Overland East Expo in Virginia. Front: Melanie Lomax Rear left: Dale Lomax Rear right: Gary Cox.
My FJ Cruiser today upgraded with overland gear and amenities.
Warrior Stand is named for the Muscogee Creek Chief, Big Warrior (1761-1825), who operated a tavern that was one of several stagecoach stops along the Federal Road. It is now one of a handful of unincorporated rural areas in South Macon County with a population density of about ten people per square mile. Warrior Stand is also the name of Precinct Four in Macon County and is a federal census enumeration precinct.
Warrior Stand’s earliest residents represented three cultural groups –Muscogee Creek, African American, and European American. Each cultural group that inhabited the United States in colonial and frontier times brought with them herbal medicine remedies that the y inherited from their own homelands, ancestors, and traditions. But in a new land, the herbalists in these groups had to learn about indigenous plants and how to use them for medicinal purposes. One such plant was the honeysuckle which the 1800s journalist Harriet Martineau considered to be the “grandest” of the flowers she observed during her travels through the south. Indigenous to Warrior Stand and surrounding areas, honeysuckle contains essential oils and antioxidants and can be used for making medicinal tinctures.
Herbalists who belonged to the Muscogee Creek Nation of Georgia and Alabama prior to the influx of Whites embraced plant -based medicine. They likely passed on new knowledge to White settlers on the frontier, just as Native Americans in the colonies passed on kno wledge of indigenous plants to Europeans colonists. Shared knowledge enabled the colonists to adapt to their new surroundings.
Likewise, after enslaved people arrived in the Americas, cohabitation and collaboration with Indigenous Americans meant that they were then introduced to knowledge of local plants and their medicinal ways. Similar introductions likely occurred on the Warr ior Stand frontier. African Americans would have expanded their knowledge of African remedies by learning about indigenous plants in the new land.
Excerpt from forthcoming book Warrior Stand Herbalism
Check https://digtheridge.com/news for periodic updates on the book’s release.
Alabama Department of Archives and History
https://archives.alabama.gov
Alabama Folklife Association https://www.alabamafolklife.org
