Name: Gadsden:
Brand: Robert Paul Wilbanks
SKU: 9780738503486
Price: 24.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Gadsden:

9780738503486

$24.99

The 1930s were an unparalleled period in American history. Never before or since - and probably never again - has the gamut of human emotions swung so far, and so fast. On October 29, 1929, the stock market crashed and soon after, the nation of plenty was in turmoil and fast becoming a wasteland. No sacred institution was left untouched; banks failed, factories shut down, stores closed, and almost every business seemed paralyzed with economic stagnation. A generation raised in these conditions could not help but be changed by such foreboding circumstances. It was a period in which new trends of thought emerged in economic matters, social activity, and moral conduct - all leaving the pockmark of progress upon the nation's young. This book presents a revealing portrait of one man's life during the Depression. His particular story is derived from a specific location in the state of Alabama; however, it is an intimately familiar tale to anyone who survived that horrible economic period, and to younger generations who have allowed the stories to endure in their family lore.

Haunted Shelby County, Alabama

9781609499273

$21.99

Join author Kim Johnston as she recalls the ghostly history and sinister past of Shelby County, Alabama.

Shelby County, Alabama, is at the heart of the state. The area is home to Alabama's forgotten plantations, a deep history of the Creek Indians who died during the Trail of Tears and dark secrets from areas such as Harpersville, Calera, Chelsea, Montevallo and Leeds. From eerie images of Civil War ghosts at Shelby Springs Manor to the downright sinister happenings in the Devil's Corridor of Chelsea, the scars of the past have left Shelby County a major hot spot of paranormal activity. Author and paranormal researcher Kim Johnston delivers a fascinating collection of haunts and legends from around Shelby County.

Haunted Tuscaloosa

9781609495732

$21.99

Tuscaloosa was first inhabited by ancient native tribes tied to the land by centuries-old traditions. Pioneering settlers later moved in, establishing a town and a university that would prove vital to the state. Some say these early inhabitants never truly left. Voices from the Civil War to the civil rights movement still echo in Tuscaloosa, where the past refuses to lie dormant. Now, take a terrifying trek through Tuscaloosa with authors David Higdon and Brett Talley as they delve into the city's shadowy history with tales of the jettisoned insane asylum, lingering antebellum mansions housing the ghosts of the original dwellers and haunted cemeteries where the specters of Confederate soldiers still march. From ghostly hot spots on campus to the shady outskirts of town, this is Haunted Tuscaloosa.

Birmingham Beer

9781626194564

$21.99

Less than fifteen years after the birth of Birmingham, its brewing history began, and soon saloons dotted nearly every corner. Prohibition, however, decimated the brewing scene for eighty-five years. Although national Prohibition began in 1920, Jefferson County voted to go dry in 1907. Alabama beer saw a brief resurgence after the Brewpub Act of 1992, as craft beer's popularity grew nationwide. But the brewpubs and breweries that emerged struggled against the state's restrictive laws, which included such stipulations as locating brewpubs in historic districts and limiting beer bottle sizes to sixteen ounces. By the time grass-roots lobbying organization Free the Hops formed in 2004 to fight those restrictive laws, every Birmingham brewery had closed. Join author Carla Jean Whitley as she uncovers the struggle to make local beer a Birmingham staple.

Christmas in Birmingham

9781626197022

$24.99

For decades, the Christmas season in Birmingham was not complete without the sights and sounds of the retail district. During the season, the Magic City made magic with elaborate light displays and the Living Christmas Tree in Woodrow Wilson Park. Many remember the battling Santas of Loveman's and Pizitz, each vying for the hearts of the community. The elaborate Enchanted Forest dazzled shoppers on the sixth floor at Pizitz. In the 1940s, more than 200,000 people lined the streets each year to make merry for the Christmas Carnival parade. Author and local historian Tim Hollis celebrates the happy history of Birmingham's holiday season, reviving the traditions and festivities, the food and shopping of days gone by.

Lincoln

9780738517032

$24.99

Located near the convergence of the Choccolocco Creek, the Blue Eye Creek, and the Coosa River, whose Native American names pay tribute to the Muskogee who once populated the town, Lincoln attracted early settlers after the Cusseta Treaty was signed with the Creek Indians on March 24, 1832. Andrew Jackson passed through Lincoln on his way to the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, when the town was still known as Kingsville and before it was renamed in 1856 for a famous soldier who fought in the War of Independence. Though Lincoln suffered during the Depression-closing its two banks and many businesses-it has recovered to become the eighth-fastest growing city in Alabama.

Eufaula and Barbour County in Vintage Postcards

9780738515953

$24.99

View postcards of charming images of the striking homes and historic scenes from this part of Alabama.

Boasting one of the largest historic districts in the state of Alabama, Eufaula attracts thousand of visitors each year to tour its homes, many of which are highlighted in this engaging volume. Eufaula and Barbour County in Vintage Postcards includes not only these striking architectural treasures, but images of local businesses, railroad depots, and political campaigns as well. Longtime residents of the community and those who come to tour its charming streets will delight in this entertaining glimpse into the past.

Eufaula and Barbour County in Vintage Postcards

Lucky to Live in Alabama

9780738527895

$16.99

What do you get when you cross a read-aloud storybook with a write-in memory book? Magic moments between kids and adults! The Lucky To Live in Alabama book is the perfect tool to jump-start meaningful conversations between generations. Read-aloud rhymes set up interesting topics. Then write-in prompts invite children to record their own views to create a personal Yellowhammer State keepsake. The real gift lies in the interactive nature of the book as it offers the perfect opportunity for adults to share their own stories and wisdom about such issues as friendship, community, team spirit, and other topics that help develop a child's social and emotional skills. Customized Alabama content—from favorite local cuisine (fried green tomatoes) to interesting attractions (McWane Science Center)—provides an even more personalized experience.

Oak Park and the Montgomery Zoo

9780738553115

$24.99

Established at the beginning of the 20th century with a total of 41 acres, Oak Park was the social and recreational center of Alabama's capital city, Montgomery. It was here in 1935 that a menagerie of animals was housed in facilities built by the Works Progress Administration called the Oak Park Zoo. As the civil rights movement gathered steam in the 1950s, there was a class action suit to desegregate the city's parks, including the zoo. In response, all parks were closed, including Oak Park. In 1967, plans were approved for a 34-acre recreational park in north Montgomery, which included acreage for a small zoo. Unfortunately, although the zoo was scheduled to open in 1971, thirteen years after the closing of Oak Park, the opening was delayed for almost a year when the zoo's first director died in a car accident just 37 days after accepting his post. The opening of the new Montgomery Zoo was finally celebrated in 1972 and included the happy homecoming of a female capuchin monkey, an original resident of Oak Park.

Memories of Downtown Birmingham:

9781626192218

$21.99

The bright lights of Birmingham's theater and retail district have shone over the Magic City for nearly one hundred years during the good times and the bad. During the early 1900s, small businesses, largely founded by immigrants who arrived in Birmingham with almost nothing, exploded into immensely popular shopping and entertainment destinations. The stories of entrepreneurs and immigrants like Louis Pizitz and his business rival, Adolph Loveman, exemplify the kind of rags-to-riches tales that make up much of the city's character. The theaters in the district, some with themed restrooms, inspired the head of Paramount Pictures to dub Birmingham's Alabama Theatre the Showplace of the South." Author Tim Hollis celebrates and revives the spirit of the beloved department stores and famous theaters from the era of silent movies to the days of integration and change to today."

The Wise Animal Handbook Alabama

9780738528090

$16.99

Read-aloud time is about to get a lot more fun! The Alabama Wise Animal Handbook offers laugh-out-loud animal kingdom advice for kids of every age! Engaging animal photos entertain while charming read-aloud rhymes help jump-start conversations about practical life solutions. The Read Together/Do Together™ experience continues with pull out coloring pages in the back of the book featuring fun facts about special Yellowhammer State animals including the black bear and the Alabama red-bellied turtle. Enjoy the opportunity to share your own practical wisdom with your favorite little one as you read-aloud… and laugh-aloud….again and again.

Wetumpka

9781467111249

$24.99

Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, seeking to create a strategic outpost for New France, built Fort Toulouse in Creek territory. This area would eventually become Wetumpka, located on the banks of the Coosa River and standing at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains. The fort became the headquarters for Gen. Andrew Jackson during the War of 1812, and later it was where Creek Indians ceded their lands to the federal government. Wetumpka's presence was also large outside of military endeavors. During the cotton boom, two years after the city's incorporation in 1834, a New York newspaper declared it and Chicago, Illinois, the "two most promising cities in the West." Although fire, floods, and the Civil War hindered growth, infrastructural transformations and cultural additions have helped mold modern Wetumpka into the "City of Natural Beauty" and propel it to occasional roles on the big screen.

The A.G. Gaston Motel in Birmingham: A Civil Rights Landmark

9781626195950

$21.99

Traveling throughout the South during the 1950s was hazardous for African Americans. There were precious few hotels and restaurants that opened their doors to minorities, and fewer still had accommodations above the bare minimum, to say nothing of the racism and violence that followed. But in Birmingham, black entrepreneur and eventual millionaire A.G. Gaston created a first-class motel and lounge for African Americans that became a symbol of pride of his community. It served as the headquarters for Birmingham's civil rights movement and became a revolving door for famous entertainers, activists, politicians and other pillars of the national black community. Author Marie Sutton chronicles the fascinating story of the motel and how it became a refuge during a time when African Americans could find none.

The A.G. Gaston Motel in Birmingham: A Civil Rights Landmark

History of Weiss Lake, A

9781596295605

$21.99

The History of Weiss Lake was filled with debate. Read how the past of this area was reshaped and the area matured.

Until the late 1950s, the major body of water for residents of northeast Alabama was the Coosa River, which wove prominently through the rural landscape of the region. When Alabama Power Company decided to dam the river in order to build a thirty-thousand-acre reservoir, locals were divided about whether to welcome the hydroelectricity and potential prosperity or resist losing their land and proud agrarian heritage. Three years and millions of cubic yards of earth later, Weiss Lake emerged to alter Cherokee County history permanently. Post editor and county native Scott Wright presents a captivating collection of personal recollections and historical vignettes to illustrate the magnitude of the lake's influence in shaping the future of the area--and damming its past.

Alabama Musicians

9781609491574

$21.99

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, legendary artists like Aretha Franklin, the Rolling Stones, Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan traveled to North Alabama to record with the Muscle Shoals Rhythm section, also known as the Swampers. But Alabama hasn't just attracted musical stars with its talent--it also has a history of creating stars of its own. Join author and musician C.S. Fuqua as he showcases the breadth of Alabama's musical talent through the profiles and stories of its historic performers and innovators. From the "father of the blues," W.C. Handy, to Hank Williams, the originator of modern country music, to folk music hero Odetta and everyone in between, this is an unprecedented compendium of Alabama's groundbreaking music makers.

The Adventures of Riverboat John

9781596298521

$21.99

For years, "Riverboat John" Ferguson has captivated audiences the world over as a guitar pickin', song singin', storytellin' original. Now, for the first time ever, you can take home Riverboat's strolling song and story act in this collection of boyhood hijinks, long lost traditions and unmistakable southern charm. Born on the blue-collar banks of the Tennessee River in Huntsville, Alabama, Ferguson's homespun memories are sure to resonate with anyone who remembers life in the 1950s. Read about the time he took a wrong turn and drove his first pickup truck into the Elk River, his first--disastrous--attempt at eating barbeque chicken with silverware, the day television came to town, the time he "left home on a train" and so many more. So settle in, kick up your feet and enjoy this one-of-a-kind glimpse into Huntsville in the 1950s from the man heralded by The New York Times as "a true American minstrel." Just don't say nothin' bad about Gene Autry!

Walker County High School Athletics

9780738544342

$24.99

This volume documents the achievements of great and
average athletes who made Walker a name that commands
respect across the state of Alabama. Read about the greats of the olden days--men such as Bruce Jones, Wick Hudson, Al Blanton, Jelly McDanal, and Billy Richardson--as well as feats of modern-day heroes Ronnie Coleman, Glen Clem, Linnie Patrick, Tommy Cole, Peggy Keebler, and Mary Catherine McColluch, along with hundreds of others. Included are men's and women's sports as well as everything from cheerleading to parades and pep rallies.

Haunted Alabama Black Belt

9781609499440

$21.99

There is a place in Alabama, a region that stretches across its lower middle from Georgia to Mississippi. It is a place steeped in history--a place where a people were enslaved, a nation was broken and a new dream of freedom was born. It is a place where the past is always near at hand. And sometimes, that past takes a moment to whisper in your ear. They call this place the Black Belt. From the Cato-Thorn House in Barbour County to the Snow Hill Institute in Wilcox County, Alabama's Black Belt has a great number of restless spirits that still haunt it. Join authors David Higdon and Brett Talley as they uncover the ghosts and hauntings of one of Alabama's most historic areas.

Loveman's:

9781609493424

$21.99

In an era when local department stores still thrived, Birmingham shoppers had different stores from which to choose. But when customers sought more than bargain prices, when they demanded unparalleled quality and outright luxury, they chose Loveman's. The first store opened in Birmingham in 1887, and the chain eventually grew to include locations in Huntsville and Montgomery, embracing those from throughout the state who valued an upscale shopping experience. Weathering the Great Depression, a devastating fire that destroyed the original location in 1934 and historic civil rights protests in the early 1960s, Loveman's proved to be an enduring name through many eras of change until finally closing its doors in 1980. Now, Birmingham historian Tim Hollis chronicles the sterling history of this celebrated store's commitment to excellence.

Legends, Lore and True Tales of the Chattahoochee

9781626190221

$21.99

The Chattahoochee Trace in southeast Alabama and west Georgia is steeped in Native, African and early American tradition--stories often deeply rooted in folklore. Unusual beasts such as the Kolowa, the Wampus Cat and even Bigfoot roam the area. Crossroads magic, hoodoo and Huggin' Molly make their homes in the storied region. The Native American trickster rabbit, the Nunnehi Cherokee watchers, the tales of the Indian mounds and the saga of Brookside Drive are forever etched in Chattahoochee lore. From the Creek wars to Indian removal and Sherman's March to the Sea, the legends of the Hooch" have left an indelible mark on Georgia and Alabama. Join author Michelle Smith as she reveals many of the strange creatures and myths that sing "the Song of the Chattahoochee."

Legends, Lore and True Tales of the Chattahoochee

The Maid

9781455625079

$18.99

The story of Joan of Arc is detailed here in rhyme for young adults. From humble beginnings in Domrémy to her end at the pyre, her tale is told in its entirety.

Katie Comma

9781455624614

$16.99

When Katie Comma is blown out of her book, she must search for her home. She deals with rejections from the sentences in which she tries to hide. Through this engaging character, young readers learn the proper uses for commas.

Welcome to Bombingham

9781455624928

$14.95

Earl B. Peterson is angry after the Ku Klux Klan bombs his house, killing his mother. When his plummeting grades put him in danger of losing his college scholarship, a teacher asks ace student Shirley Dupree to tutor him in algebra. But there is constant tension between the classmates, as she is active in the nonviolence movement and he's only interested in revenge. In this novel for young people set against the backdrop of the Birmingham Children's March in the 1960s, the characters help where adults had failed in transforming public opinion and energizing the civil-rights movement.

Swashbarklers of the Sea

9781455624140

$16.99

"Come hither, ye seadogs, and listen to me. I speak of a pirate who taunts this great sea. His name is Barkbeard. He's fearsome and bold. He's taken me treasure of emeralds and gold." But as the captain and his crew load up the cannons and hoist up the sails, thar be a few twists of tails in this puppy pirate tale for young readers.

Railroading around Dothan and the Wiregrass Region

9780738517193

$24.99

The Wiregrass Region of southeast Alabama, southwest Georgia, and north Florida--named for the perennial grass that covered the long-leaf pine forest floor--is a product of the railroads that arose with the New South. All kinds of railroads served all kinds of purposes in the Wiregrass. Shortlines and even temporary tracks moved timber and pine resin from forest to mill a century ago--they move raw materials and manufactured goods between ports and factories today. Longer lines created business links between Wiregrass towns and the cities of Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and the world. Some of these roads lasted only a few years; others merged into complex systems connecting the Wiregrass Region with the rest of the world in a way early settlers could not even imagine.

Railroading around Dothan and the Wiregrass Region

Greene County and Mesopotamia Cemetery

9780738552774

$24.99

The lovingly restored homes of many Eutaw citizens now laid to rest at Mesopotamia Cemetery depict the grace of the antebellum South. First known as Oak Hill Cemetery, Mesopotamia Cemetery was established around 1822 on present-day Mesopotamia Street. Eutaw, the seat of Greene County, boasts 50 structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with many more eligible for nomination. Greene was the most populous county in Alabama in 1850 and was widely regarded for its thriving and elegant communities. Greene County and Mesopotamia Cemetery ties the beautifully carved marble tombstones in the Mesopotamia Cemetery to the extraordinary people who have shaped Greene County's history.

Hueytown

9780738586908

$24.99

The City of Hueytown was incorporated on May 6, 1960. Since then, city officials, past and present, have provided excellent laws and codes that offer a well-designed city for its citizens. Native Americans were the first to settle along Valley Creek, while the following prominent names helped develop and establish the area: the Huey, Waldrop, Salter, Knight, Dabbs, Parsons, Vines, Crooks, and Robertson families. The Woodward Iron Company was the first major employer, and the Tennessee Coal and Iron Company, later called United Steel Company, also provided jobs and security for many citizens. A group of famous NASCAR race car drivers from Hueytown, "The Alabama Gang," helped create an interest in racing. In addition, Hueytown has had many devoted educators who staffed the area's schools and encouraged students to strive for the best.

Fire on the Mountain:

9781596297593

$21.99

In 1985, a high school football team in Sand Rock, Alabama, made history. Through the excitement of an undefeated season and a championship-winning game, the lives of players, coaches and everyone in the community were changed. Join author Scott Wright, a lifelong resident of Cherokee County, as he recounts the story with the flair of a sports journalist and the warmth of a local fan.

Birmingham Foot Soldiers

9781626192201

$21.99

Reverends Martin Luther King Jr., Andrew Young and Fred Shuttlesworth are iconic names associated with the Birmingham campaign of the civil rights movement. Credit also is due to many local residents who risked their lives for the cause. Myrna Carter Jackson holds no shame in the police record she garnered in protest of the harsh treatment of African Americans in the city. Carolyn Walker Williams, who knew the injustice blacks faced in East Birmingham even as a child, was arrested in protest for the first time while still in school. Gerald Wren grew up in the Smithfield neighborhood, part of which was nicknamed Dynamite Hill" as a result of the bombings of blacks' houses, churches and schools. Join author Nick Patterson as he interviews some of Birmingham's foot soldiers and recounts the struggle and adversity overcome."