More than you ever wanted to know about Alabama native Joe Watts
Great trip to East Alabama a couple of weeks ago. Part of a project I’m working on with the University of Alabama’s Center for Economic Development. We’re developing a tourism plan for a five county region in East Alabama. This was taken near Sylacauga at the Kymulga Mill and covered bridge. Wish I could have made it back for the Grits Festival! Only in the South!
Have been working on a number of projects over the last couple of months. From East Alabama Tourism, several web projects with my friends at DavisDenny and a new website for the Perry County Chamber of Commerce to a newsletter and an invitation to the Garden Art Party for Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama (my favorite charity event of the year AND a great place to get some awesome deals on art), I’ve been busy, busy….
The Perry County website has some fun mapping features and audio. Visit it to learn about the many tourist attractions–loads of historical homes, two historic colleges, black heritage and so much more–complete with pictures, area natives providing an oral history and GPS coordinates so you can actually visit the sites (over 50 sites!).
One of my favorite events each year! Lots of fun, great art, great food and great folks! Just got done putting the “Save the Date” card together and dropping it to the printer.
In keeping with my yearly posting on this date (March 3), here’s a letter my mother sent me nearly 15 years ago. Here’s a link to my original posting 3 years ago. Here are a couple of videos of my Mama telling stories (she would give me a shake of the head for posting these, but I can’t help myself).
Mama died 4 years ago. I miss her so much every day. Photo at left is (from left to right) Bud Hinson, Phebe Hinson (seated), Sadie Lou Hinson (in the back), and Inez Hinson (my Mama).
Here’s the letter she sent. The stationary she refers to was some she had printed with my Birmingham-Southern college address at the top. She trimmed each piece with scissors because she hated to waste things!
Dear Joe,
Recognize this stationary? It’s your B’ham-Southern with a crew cut! It’s just my nature to salvage.
I’m enclosing the article about Emory Cunningham–you need the background of those for whom you work. He’s also a trustee of Auburn and is on the advisory board of U of A. He worked through the ranks of Progressive Farmer. You can read all about it. I did include the entire article as Laura Drinkard has two honors: Blue Key National Honor Society and Mortar Board.
I’m sending a little money. This you should “let be” to help with your change in May should you not still be with Southern Progress or should you get a permanent job, it could be used to improve your mode of transportation! Just be patient and all will work out.
The other article is about the park near Jasper. It’s a TVA financed thing–Foster Falls. It is the southern trailhead of the 12-mile Fiery Gizzard Trail–from the waterfall near Jasper to Tracy City. Are you familiar with this area? It does sound interesting. I believe I could walk 12 miles!
Hope you are doing well–it was good to see Margaret and I did enjoy hearing things about William. He’s a dear and you should make time to spend with him while he’s growing up and he will adore his Uncle Joe later in life. Otherwise there will be nothing to connect. See how Stacy adores you now? It’s because she grew up around you and you always spent time with her. She had prom Saturday night.
I must get back to the bank and post office–reluctantly.
With dear love to you,
Mama
April 15, 1996
I love her letters. She was always filled with cautious optimism, always shared information about home, tried to identify things I’d enjoy (and she LOVED mailing me clippings from the newspaper) and offering advice, all without being a hovering mother.
Mama would have been 87 years old today. I miss her each and every day. The jonquils are blooming in my yard as are the hyacinths (dug from bulbs that bloomed in Octagon for years). I’m sure the blooms in Octagon are a sea of golden yellow!
I find myself regularly turning to a box of old letters Mama wrote to me through the years. I’m sure that I discarded some letters in my youth, but I think I did a pretty good job of holding on to most of them–and Mama loved to write letters, so I have a bunch!
Here’s one, without the year:
Dear Joe,
Here I am in the middle of housecleaning–I just have to get it done today! I’ve procrastinated long enough!–and what do I remember? I wanted to get you an article on Books-A-Million so you’d know the real story behind it. It actually started in 1917 with the building of Wilson Dam in Florence. The grandfather of the current director of the business saw an opportunity to sell newspapers to workers on the dam. He was only 14 at the time and used discarded piano crates to build his newsstand. Can you imagine? It was Bookland then and not until ’66 did stores open outside Florence.
Hope you are doing fine. We’re at last getting some of the rain that has been everywhere. I called Suzanne yesterday and they are all right, but marooned as is everybody in that area unless they had to be evacuated. Today I’m worried again, I guess, to see if their well is surface water or deep well. Being out in the country you never can tell.
Wilford Hale died yesterday. It’s hard for the family, but he’s so much better off than to have to be totally dependent on others. His funeral will be tomorrow. Jan has not moved into her new house yet.
Papa and I took Mrs. Hill to the area of Dannelly Field in Montgomery Tuesday. She wanted to visit her brother and family–he’s too old to drive this far–he came last year and they spent the night to build up enough strength to get back.
The rain certainly doesn’t slow down your Papa. It’s around ten and he just came in dripping wet. Oh well!
I think Madeline is planning to come to Wilfred’s funeral. I must prepare for the storm! When I called to tell her, both James and Abe played on the other phone, so it was difficult to get a message understood.
We’ve had a bumper crop of blueberries and are enjoying them. Wish you could have some.
I must get finished with my work and go for groceries–it’s been 2 weeks. Do let us hear and take care of yourself.
I love you,
MamaJuly 8
I love her letters. They really are a conversation. I get the news, a couple of chuckles, and the latest on everything. I miss you Mama. Happy Birthday!
I have been working on a statewide birding project for the past couple of months and we happened to schedule a meeting at the Five Rivers Resource Center on February 18. Lucky for us, it turned out to be the nicest weekend in months! Ann and I went down Thursday and stayed until Sunday. The meeting was a success, and we had a great time! Stayed at the Grand Hotel outside Fairhope and enjoyed several meals in Fairhope, along with a meal along the Causeway.
Here’s an early morning shot from the pier at the Grand Hotel. The fog was beautiful!
