Homegrown History

In April, 1931, an all-white, all-male jury quickly convicted the Scottsboro Boys and sentenced eight of them to death. But that was just the beginning. With the whole world watching this racially charged case, in 1933, the retrial of Haywood Patterson began in Decatur, Alabama with Judge James E. Horton of Athens, Alabama presiding. In this episode Rebekah and Richard welcome local author and African American historian, Peggy Towns, from Decatur, and Steven Brown, author and Professor of Political Science from Auburn University. They give a riveting account of the people and events that transpired both inside and outside the courtroom during this landmark case.

Links
https://limestonecounty-al.gov/departments/archives/

https://www.alcpl.org/
http://www.co.morgan.al.us/archivesindex.html   Morgan County Archive
https://archives.alabama.gov  Alabama Department of Archives and History
 
Music from Pixabay

Every historic home has a story and a host of families that saw them through the Civil War, Reconstruction, the Great Depression and beyond. In this episode, Rebekah once again welcomes Limestone County native and retired Professor of Art History, Lakin Boyd, for a continued talk about the houses and their residents who were pivotal players in the early days of Athens and Limestone County,
 
Links
https://limestonecounty-al.gov/departments/archives/

https://www.alcpl.org/

Limestone County Historical Society  https://limestonecountyhistoricalsociety.org/
Antebellum trail https://www.visitathensal.com/antebellum.html
Historic American Buildings Survey https://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/hh/
National Register Forms https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP

Music from Pixabay

Rebekah and Richard welcome Limestone County native and retired Professor of Art History, Lakin Boyd. Lakin shares his extensive research on historic homes of Limestone County. Dating back to the early 1800’s, he talks about the different architectural styles through the years as well as stories of the early residents, some of whom had a front row seat for the Civil War's Battle of Athens. 

Links
https://limestonecounty-al.gov/departments/archives/

https://www.alcpl.org/

Limestone County Historical Society (also the source for Mary Mason's scrapbook) https://limestonecountyhistoricalsociety.org/
Antebellum trail https://www.visitathensal.com/antebellum.html
Historic American Buildings Survey https://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/hh/
National Register Forms https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP

Music from Pixabay

Athens State University is the oldest continuously operated institution of higher education in the Alabama state system and will celebrate its bicentennial in 2022. Surviving epidemics, wars, and economic hardship, the college has overcome adversity and grown thanks to the hard work and generosity of the people of Athens and Limestone County.  Dr. Harry Joiner, Professor Emeritus at Athens State University, discusses its history from the early days as a female academy to a modern day highly-respected university .

Links
https://limestonecounty-al.gov/departments/archives/

https://www.alcpl.org/

Music from Pixabay

Straddling two states and four county lines,  Ardmore is a unique town with a storied past.  With origins dating back to the Trail of Tears and a boost from the L&N Railroad, Ardmore grew from a trading post into a thriving town.  In this episode we hear about 1930s bootlegging traffic and an incident involving the Freedom Riders during the 1960s Civil Rights movement.  Also, the murder of an Ardmore man, Kirby Cole - immortalized in song by Athens native, Aaron Sims.

Links
https://limestonecounty-al.gov/departments/archives/

https://www.alcpl.org/
https://athensdulcimerclub.wordpress.com/dulcimentaries/dulcimentary-articles/kirby-cole-1899-1921/ 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeJ5qJtTnGs 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEjb9wLr8rI 
https://athensdulcimerclub.wordpress.com 

Music from Pixabay
"The Ballad of Kirby Cole" lyrics and music by Aaron Sims.

Once again, Rebekah and Richard talk with Limestone County native and storyteller, Doug Wells. City boy (Richard) and farm boy (Doug) compare notes and remember their Athens teenage years. Listen to their stories about football rivalries, courting, and fun at the county fair while coming of age in Limestone County, Alabama in the 1950's.

Links
https://limestonecounty-al.gov/departments/archives/

https://www.alcpl.org/

Music from Pixabay

Homegrown HAUNTED History – a special Halloween ghostly episode with Rebekah, Richard, and local author Shane Black. Haunted halls, glowing balls, and noises in the night with special appearances by Charles Sarver, George Houston, and Mary....Listen if you dare……

Links
https://limestonecounty-al.gov/departments/archives/

https://www.alcpl.org/
https://www.visitathensal.com/

Music and Sound Effects from Pixabay

Rebekah and Richard talk with Limestone County native and storyteller, Doug Wells. Laugh out loud as Doug and Richard recount growing up, going to town, and getting in trouble as young boys in 1940's Limestone County. They talk about standing room only Saturday nights on the Athens Square and paint a lively picture of life in a bygone era.

Links
https://limestonecounty-al.gov/departments/archives/

https://www.alcpl.org/

Music from Pixabay

April 27, 2011. 62 tornadoes struck Alabama, 7 hit Limestone County. Richard and Rebekah talk to Kelly Kazek, a local author who witnessed this tornado and has interviewed survivors of some of Alabama’s most devastating tornadoes. From families and homes upended to survivors left for dead, their stories range from heartbreaking to inspirational.

Notes: Books available at the Limestone County Archive and Athens-Limestone Public library include:
    "A history of Alabama's deadliest tornadoes : disaster in Dixie" by Kelly Kazek
    "7 on 4/27" by Kelly Kazek
 Available at the Limestone County Archive:
   " April 3, 1974: A Night to Remember" by Charles Jordan
 
 Severe weather season across the United States is considered to be in the spring, but Alabama also has a secondary severe weather season in the fall. The severity varies from year to year, but the it’s important to remember that tornadoes in Alabama don’t just happen in the spring.
 
 
 Tornado Safety rules link:
 www.weather.gov/bmx/sps_torsafetyrules

Rebekah and Richard recount the lively early days of the Athens Square with bear fights, horse races and a jail housing pet panthers! They discuss the significance of Cottonport as a transportation hub and Wooley Springs as an early recreation and wellness resort. In telling the story of the first railroad in Limestone County, they talk about its founders and importance for early residents.

Links
https://limestonecounty-al.gov/departments/archives/

https://www.alcpl.org/

Have questions about this episode? Email [email protected]