We departed the Starkville KOA in Mississippi, of
course it was another rainy dreary and overcast morning. We waited a bit too
long to unhook the utilities, because the rain started to come down harder. Oh,
well … a little rain never hurt anyone!
The campground is located on the sandy shores of
Oktibbeha County Lake, it is a 513-acres. It is the largest state fishing lake
in North Region, was first opened in 1967. It is one of the 19 state fishing
lakes operated by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.
Columbus, Mississippi, is a noteworthy heritage
destination on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. With three National Register
Districts, the city boasts nearly 700 nationally significant properties and one
of the largest collections of 19th century homes in Mississippi. It is also
noted as the birthplace of renowned playwright Tennessee Williams. The modern
city traces its history to 1810, when Choctaw interpreter John Pitchlynn
established a home four miles from what is now Columbus. Pitchlynn's farm on
Plymouth Bluff was fortified during the Creek War of 1813-1814 and became an
important strong point on the Choctaw frontier.
Columbus Air Force Base's history began 26 June 1941,
when the War Department approved establishment of an Army Air Field for the
Columbus area. Behind this approval were months of concerted efforts by the
local citizens. The citizens' efforts bore fruit. Six months before Pearl
Harbor the War Department announced that a pilot training base would be
established in Columbus. The base began as a training facility for fighters and
bombers. No one designated or suggested a name for the new base until 22
January 1942. On that date, the War Department announced the installation would
be named Kaye Field, in honor of Captain Sam Kaye, a World War I flying ace
from Columbus. That designation went into effect on 24 February. However, the
name issue soon became one of confusion because another nearby base of Key
Field, Meridian, Mississippi, had a similar sounding name. To correct the
problem, in March 1942, the War Department changed the name of the base from
Kaye Field to Columbus Army Flying School.
We crossed from Mississippi into Alabama with a
little bit more sunshine and a few less clouds. In 2003, forty-one years after
Lynyrd Skynrd recorded "Sweet Home Alabama," the state began adding
the slogan for signs welcoming visitors at the state lines. Alabama had
previously used the song title on state license plates and in tourism
promotions. The song is recognized all over the world and the phrase
"Sweet Home Alabama" makes people happy.
Present-day Gordo Alabama sits on land that was part
of some of the earliest US land grants in the area, issued around 1821.
Tradition has it that a soldier returning from the Battle of Sierra Gordo
during the Mexican Revolution dubbed the area Gordo. A sawmill opened in the
area in 1831 and a post office was established in 1847. During the Civil War,
men in Gordo formed a company that was attached to the 19th Alabama Regiment.
The railroad came through in the late 1890s, and the town was relocated to be
closer to the rail line. The first school was built in 1898. Gordo incorporated
in 1900, with initial municipal elections being held the following year. By
1905, Gordo had grown enough to support six businesses; by 1913, that number
had increased to around 30. A new brick schoolhouse was built in 1911, and by
1913, the town had a telephone system, a bank, a bottling works, and two cotton
gins. An elementary school was built in 1936.
The City of Tuscaloosa is one day older than the
State of Alabama. In 1831, the University of Alabama was established.
Establishment of the Bryce State Hospital for the Insane in Tuscaloosa in the
1850's helped restore the City's fortunes. During the Civil War, Tuscaloosa
County furnished about 3,500 men to the Confederate armies. During the last
weeks of the War, a Federal raiding party burned the campus of the University.
Tuscaloosa shared fully in the South's economic sufferings which followed the
defeat. By the advent of the 20th Century, the growth of the University of
Alabama and a strong national economy fueled a steady growth in Tuscaloosa
which continued unabated for 100 years. University of Alabama says “Roll Tide” …
their shuttle busses are called “Crimson Ride.” It’s a cute play on their motto
and their color!
We passed the Tallledega Forest, to the south of our
route. The Talladega National Forest offers a peaceful atmosphere that is
filled in wild game, camping, and hiking utopias. The forest also features
picturesque scenic waterfalls throughout its striking setting. The total Forest
covers almost 400,000-acres. Before it was bought by the federal government in
the 1930s, the area that comprises the Talladega was extensively logged and
represented some of the most abused, eroded wastelands in all of Alabama. Pine
forest regrowth now hosts a diverse eco-system.
There are few cities that have affected the flow of
American history as much as the state capital city of Montgomery, Alabama. Men
and women who dramatically impacted the course of our nation did so within view
of the capitol steps. It was here that Jefferson Davis took the oath of office
as President of the Confederate States of America. The capitol building in
Montgomery was the first capitol of the Confederacy and the orders to open fire
on Fort Sumter and inaugurate the Civil War were sent by telegraph from a
building just down the hill. Were the view not blocked by buildings, you would
also be able to see the bus stop where Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat
in 1955, sparking a movement that shook the nation.
The Montgomery Bus Boycott
was organized within sight of the capitol at the Dexter Avenue King Memorial
Baptist Church, then served by a young minister named Martin Luther King, Jr.
In 1965, one of the most powerful marches of the Civil Rights movement came up
Dexter Avenue to the capitol. The marchers had come from Selma, joined by
others along the way, to demand their right to vote from Governor George C.
Wallace, then known for his "segregation today, segregation tomorrow,
segregation forever!" declaration. The march on Montgomery is now
commemorated by the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail, a national
park area. The trail incorporates U.S. Highway 80 from Selma to Montgomery and
introduces visitors to the significance of the march and its impact on American
culture.
We called ahead and I spoke to Karen, to be sure they
had a site for us. She said, we would be greeted by her husband, Rick, when we
arrived. Eufaula Lake Campground was just off Route 82, which is perfect for
us! It is a 46 acre family owned campground, Karen and Rick purchased it in the
spring of 2014. They believe that is offers a place where everyone can relax
and enjoy the outdoors. It is a mix of modern amenities and rustic charm. It
offers their own nature trail, but the cities rails to trails is just outside
the campground and you can take it all the way into downtown.
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