Our last town in Alabama was Eufaula.
It is nestled high
upon a bluff overlooking the beautiful 45,000-acre Lake Eufaula, along the
Alabama-Georgia border. Eufalula Alabama is rich in history. On November 3,
1874, during statewide elections in Alabama, deadly riots occurred in the city of
Eufaula, a result of social tensions brought about by Reconstruction Era
societal changes. The immediate practical effect was that many black voters
were turned away from the polls in Eufaula and had their ballots burned in
Spring Hill. These events also drew national attention and a congressional
investigation. In Eufaula, racial and political tensions were especially high
during that election season. During this period, local Democrats felt
threatened by blacks voting, particularly because they tended to vote
Republican. These Eufaula Democrats had supported secession in the Civil War
and frequently feared that freed blacks would rise up against them.
Voting began smoothly until an argument arose between a
black Republican, and white Democrat over an underage black voter. The young
man admitted being underage and was turned away before voting. White Democrats
then took that same under-aged man into the alley, and the youth agreed to vote
Democratic. Lawrence confronted the young man for his choice, and a white man stabbed
Lawrence in the shoulder. Gunfire began almost immediately as Democrats took
arms, possibly stored in anticipation of conflict, from a militia storage area
above the polls and another location across the street in an organized fashion.
Most of the shooting came from whites as blacks retreated before they were able
to vote. Military records showed that either seven or eight black men were
killed or died later from injuries, and 70 to 80 men were wounded. Fewer than a
dozen were white. Aided by a lack of black voting in the aftermath of the
Eufaula riot and the burned ballots at Spring Hill, Democrats swept the county.
As we drove down Hwy 82, this historic town’s gorgeous
Seth Lore Historic District really showcases wonderful old homes. With over 700
historic and architecturally significant structures, the district includes
Alabama's most coherent collection of intact mid-to-late 19th century small
town commercial buildings, as well as the state's most extensive collection of
domestic Italianate architecture. The period of architectural, commercial,
industrial and political significance is from 1825 to 1949. Architectural
styles include Craftsman, Late Victorian, Classical Revival, Gothic Revival,
and Greek Revival. I could not find information on all of them, but I did find
a few!
The Shorter Mansion is located in the Seth Lore
Historic District. It is graced with bold Corinthian columns that support an
entablature extending around three sides of the structure. It was originally
built in 1884 by Eli Sims Shorter II, a wealthy cotton planter, and his wife, a
Georgia-born heiress to the SSS Tonic fortune. When the mansion was put up for
auction by the builder’s granddaughter in 1965, it was purchased by a group of
civic-minded citizens who organized the Eufaula Heritage Association.
The Raney-Conner-Blackmon-Taylor House, which had
construction begin in 1857, but underwent 19 months of restoration by Jimmy
Willoughby, including new columns, masonry, a paint job, decorations, and
artwork in the house’s foyer. Officially classified as an Antebellum home,
construction was not completed until 1863 due to the interruption by the Civil
War. Considered a Greek Revival Style, the home has endured many owners. In
1883, it was sold at a public auction for $3,000 to MB Wellborn. Eight years
later, the home was inherited by Emma Wellborn, who sold it for $2,500 to
Mildred Thweatt. Anna Crawford purchased the home, for $2,500, in 1909, but the
home reverted back to Mildred and JM Thweatt before they sold it in 1911 to EP
Thomas. HH Conner bought the home in 1918 for $10,000 after it had become
rental property for two years. Bobby and Celia Taylor completed a large
renovation of the home in 1972. The house stayed in the Conner, Blackmon and
Taylor families for the better part of a century until Willoughby made his
purchase in 2015.
Lake Eufaula, also known as Walter F George Lake, is located
on the Chattahoocee River between the states of Alabama and Georgia. The lake
is nationally known for its bass and crappie fishing. The lock, located at Ft.
Gaines, Georgia, has the second highest drop east of the Mississippi River. Eufaula
National Wildlife Refuge is located on the northern end of the lake offering
excellent bird viewing all year. Lake Eufaula was formed with the construction
of the Walter F George Dam in 1963.
The Corps of Engineers built the dam to provide flood
control, produce hydroelectric power, create a navigable shipping channel and
offer recreational opportunities. The COE manages the lake and its shoreline. Since
the lake is a border water, part of it lies in Alabama and part in Georgia, a
reciprocal agreement has been reached between the states which allows anyone
with a valid fishing license in either state to fish the entire lake. This
holds true when on the water but when shore fishing a valid license for the
state you are in is required.
We thought we had picked a route that was far enough
north, to miss the storm damage left by the path of Michael, but we were wrong.
Cuthbert is one of the most architecturally
interesting towns in all of South Georgia. The city boasts a large collection
of Victorian houses and is home to Fletcher Henderson Jr, an African-American
leader in the jazz and swing movement.
Today, it is home to much devastation from Hurricane
Mathew.
This home owner was very lucky.
More trees that missed a historic home.
In Shellman Georgia, the pecan orchards suffered
damage too.
In Sasser, the cotton yet to be picked and
the rolled cotton was not affected by the winds of Hurricane Michael.
But I
wonder if it water logged?
In Albany Georgia, Hwy 82 and US 19 come tighter and
create a bypass around the heart of Albany. It is here that we could see more
storm damage and the strength of the wind.
Not sure if this was an old unused or new gas
station, but you can see the force of the winds. It blew over all of the pumps
and ripped apart the canopies.
The force of the wind, bent these road signs over …
WOW.
The Pecan Orchards south of Albany GA saw damage too.
You can see the twist in the wind, by how this tree
was damaged.
Heading further south, we reached Camilla Georgia.
There is still heavy destruction as evident in the way the roof was rolled back
on this gas station. But just a few feet away, the pumps and canopy are
untouched.
In Pelham, there was more wind damage.
This hotel had blue tarps all over the roof and this green house did not fare
well.
The damage is decreasing as we arrived in Thomasville
Georgia.
My reflection today is to be thankful for each day and cherish all that God has given us, because he can take it away in the blink of an eye, too.
We are almost home! We are back in the state we live
in and love!
In Monticello Florida, I love this courthouse and the
fact that it is literally the center of the town. It just screams old town, and
it is one of my favorite places! I have blogged about this place a few times already ... so I won't bore you with it all again!
We arrived in Perry Florida. We are spending the
night at the Perry KOA. We stayed here on our way out of Florida in June and we
wanted to see how the new owners from New York, are making out. They just
purchased the campground in April of 2018. I’ll let you know in tomorrows blog!
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