If you have not heard of the group, “Friends Helping Friends”, I wanted to share what I know about it.  We all remember the Tornado that hit Jackson County (Pisgah, Alabama area) in February 2008.  A short time after that, a group of Jackson County Residents came together calling themselves, “Friends Helping Friends” and their purpose was simply that- to help their friends when “disasterous events” happen.  They wanted to raise money for a Disaster Relief  Fund in Jackson County.  Their very first fundraiser brought in approximately $16,000 which is not too bad considering that that was the beginning of the downturn in our economy.  The Group continued meeting after the fundraiser and soon became “Friends Helping Friends” – (legally).   They have formed a Board of Directors and soon hope to begin working as a non-profit designation.

Their next Fundraiser that is scheduled is a Golf  Tournament that will be taking place this  Thursday, June 4, 2009 at Goose Pond Colony.  They have also commissioned, local artist John Warr to  paint the B.B. Comer Bridge.  These paintings will be sold as “Limited Edition Prints” and proceeds will go to the disaster relief fund.  The FHF Group were hoping to raise money so that they would be ahead of the game when disaster struck our county again.  With Easter Weekend’s Tornado and Gravity Wave still fresh on our minds, it is obvious that a group like this is so very much needed in our County.  Whoever actually was the “Master-Mind” behind this group should be greatly commended for the wonderful idea.  We hope we do not have disasters like the one in 2008 and early this year, but we can never be too prepared for those unfortunate situations.

As for the “B.B.  Comer Bridge” Painting (you cannot tell me that this is not a beautiful painting- it looks as close to a photo as you can possibly get…..),who would not want to have a picture of such a memorable landmark in our County.  I do not think there is a person living in this county who has not seen or traveled over that bridge at least one time in their life.  I know my family loves that bridge whether we are going over it in the car (how many of you try to or do hold your breath over the bridge and let out that big breath when you get to the end of it??? Ha!) or going under it in the boat.  My family along with several other families started a tradition called  the “River Float” a couple of years ago.  We start on the other side of the B.B. Comer Bridge and literally “float” down the river and then get back in the boat at the “mouth of Roseberry”.  I know some of you are thinking, “How crazy and how dangerous”- don’t worry, Jimmy has our boat in front of us and if anyone wants to get on, they are welcome to at any time.  What I love most, is that it has got my girls so “bridge” curious and they want to know all about the B.B. Comer Bridge.  We have had some of the best memories made doing those “River Floats” and hope to have a few more before the Bridge is a thing of the past.

  The painting is $100 and would make a great Birthday gift, Father’s Day Gift or just a “Keepsake” for your family.  I would have loved getting something like this for a wedding gift too.  If you are interested in one of the “B.B. Comer Bridge” Paintings, you may contact Glenda Pylant at (256) 683-5800.  You may also go to John’s Site by clicking here to find out more about him and his work.  He is a fabulous artist and I personally think everyone in Jackson County should have at least one of his paintings in your home.  He is known for his Civil War Paintings also.

So back to the FHF Golf Tournament- it is scheduled for this Thursday at Goose Pond Colony.  Registration will begin at 10:00 a.m. with a Shotgun starting at noon.  For registration forms, you may go by the EMA office located in the Jackson County Courthouse.  I know that you may also pick one up at Goose Pond Colony Golf Course.

With the BB Comer Bridge being a part of this post, I decided that I would tell you a little “history” on this beautiful bridge.  I will admit that I had to do a little research but I was very glad that I did because I have to say that I learn quite a bit about Jackson County and the Tennessee River too.  I thought I would share a little with you.  Hope you learn something new about Jackson County that you did not know before reading my “Purse” today.

Prior to Scottsboro’s founding, the area encompassing the present-day city was inhabited by the Cherokee Indians.  While the Tennessee Valley did not have large Native American settlements at the time of the first white settlers, there was a Cherokee town named “Crow Town” near where Scottsboro is located today.

As settlers began pouring into the Tennessee region, they found the Tennessee River to be an excellent source of  food, water and a way of shipping goods to the big cities.  John Hunt, in 1805, decided to migrate to the area and built a small log cabin in the woods near the river.  More people settled in the area and Huntsville was formally incorporated in 1811.

More settlers moved into the Mississippi Territory, resulting in the statehood of Mississippi, and the creation of the Alabama Territory in 1818.  Delegates from Tennessee and the newly formed Madison County met in Sauta Cave and decided to admit a new county.  On December 13, 1819, Jackson County was formed.  Then, only one day later, the State of Alabama was admitted into the Union as the 22nd state on December 14, 1819.

The first county seat of Jackson County was at Sauta Cave, in the Northern part of the county, nowhere near the Tennessee River. (That was information that I was not aware of)  Sauta did not survive after the courthouse was moved to Bellefonte in 1821.  Since Bellefonte is closer to the Tennessee River than Sauta, and closer to the future site of Scottsboro.

Beginning  in 1908, a ferry began transporting passengers and automobiles to and from Sand Mountain.   Construction of the bridge began in 1929 and was complete in 1931.  It connects the county seat to Sand Mountain, almost tripling the town’s population.  The bridge entered use in July, 1930.   In 1932, a couple were wed on top of the bridge. (what about that?  That was new to me too.)  The newlywed wife commented “I wanted to be married where the light-blue water touches and meets the light-blue sky….”  In the 1980’s, a second bridge was built to increase travel and reduce travel and reduce traffic on the B.B. Comer bridge.

In 1913, the city purchased approximately 30 acres for a water system on Sand Mountain.  The first electric lights in Scottsboro became operational on January 21, 1916.  Scottsboro’s first hospital was established in 1923. (that will later be a post within itself)

In 1932, Scottsboro officially became a “city” when an act of the Alabama Legislature bestowed that title on towns with more than 2000 inhabitants.  Scottsboro’s population at the time was about 2304.

When you look at all of the water (river, backwaters, lakes) that we have in Jackson County, you would think that we had miles and miles of water.  But actually we have around 4.4 square miles of water. Which I guess that really is  a lot but it just appears to be so much more…..  This covers the Tennessee River and its backwaters.

So the “Comer Bridge” which many refer to it as is really the B.B. Comer Bridge.  It is two-lane (but both going one direction), 2, 143-foot long and is made of steel truss. (I never-ever pass on the bridge either- I actually “ride” the middle and do not care if I am given ugly looks while doing it….) The bridge spans the Tennessee River along Alabama State Route 35 in Scottsboro, Alabama.  The bridge takes its name from former Alabama Governor Braxton Bragg Comer, who served from 1907 to 1911.

As of 2007, this was the only remaining bridge of the 15 memorial toll bridges originally constructed by the Alabama Bridge Company.

So, I hope I enlightened you on some Jackson County and  B.B. Comer Bridge “history”.  As we all know by now, there is a new bridge being built now to take the place of the B.B. Comer Bridge which was classified as a structurally deficient bridge in 2007. 

So, consider purchasing one of John Warr’s B.B. Comer Bridge Paintings and you will not only be getting a little piece of Jackson County that you will have forever BUT you will also be giving to a great cause, the Jackson County Disaster Relief Fund- which is “Friends Helping Friends”.  You golfers, this is another great golf tournament that you can take part in right here in Jackson County.

Remember, for more information on “Friends Helping Friends”, you may contact Victor Manning at the Emergency Management Agency (EMA) which is located in the Jackson County Courthouse.

As I have said many times on my “Purse”, you just cannot get any better that Jackson County Sunsets.  If you ever have any doubt if Scottsboro and Jackson County is a  beautiful place to live- then just remember this picture.  By the way, I have to thank my Jimmy for many of the B.B. Comer Pictures- he was so nice to share them with me…..Ha!

Tomorrow, I will be sharing with you my “Finds” for the week. 

Wishing you a great week!!!