Well, I got lots of emails from people wondering about a couple of the questions from yesterday and I had to just tell them that they would have to wait until my next post for the answers……So, here they are.  Also, a HUGE THANK YOU to Justin Mayhew for coming up with this Scottsboro Triva.  We are going to work on some more so be on the look out for those.  I have people sending me information all the time about things, places, events and stories regarding Scottsboro and Jackson County… I litterally have a folder of what I have printed off….Keep sending because this is what “inspires” me to post.  Ha!

Robert Scott’s Grave is located on the hill on Veterans Drive (right before you go over the overpass that goes over Hwy. 72)

The Coffey House (the Big Blue House on the corner across from Regions Bank and Jimmy and John Bergman’s  great looking building- Raymond James, Inc.) was destroyed by FIRE- but it was planned by the Scottsboro Fire Department.  It was a big event that Saturday morning and there were people standing on all corners watching the “action-filled”  event- it was like a movie scene…..

The name of the Garden at the Chamber of Commerce is “Shepard’s Garden” after Dr. Ralph Shepard.  He thought, planned and worked so very hard to make that dream become a reality.  I am so glad that I was there to see it’s birth and can see it become larger and more beautiful each year.

The name of the Heritage Center’s, Historic Pioneer Buildings is Sagetown.

The two fast food establishments that once stood where Mr. Zippy’s Car Wash is now was Krystal and Central Park.  Most probably remembered Krystal but the Central Park was not there long….

If you have the 35769 zip code, you live on the East  side of Hwy 72.  The reason that the Scottsboro High School is a 35768 is BECAUSE it is on John T. Reid Parkway and every business that is on EITHER side of the “Parkway” is an (8).  The road that go off of John T. Reid Parkway/Hwy. 72 is when the zips change…

The “correct” name of the College at Powell is Northeast Alabama Community College and actually it is in Section.  I just always think it is in Powell because of the billboard sign that is right past the college.

The previous Probate Judge before Judge Hambrick was Judge Gentry.

The 1st First Monday began in 1902.

Unclaimed Baggage Center was founded in 1970.  I can barely remember what it was like  before the big building that it is housed in at present. 

The name of the Arcade on the downtown square is the Word Arcade.

How many different banks are there in Scottsboro?  What about  7.   It is hard to believe that just in Scottsboro that there is that many banks.  We need to count to see if there are as many Gas Stations/”Quick Rips” here.

The Bank that has the most beautiful Crepe Myrtles is FNB!!!  They are absolutely perfect in form, blooms and height… You have to say that Freddie does an excellent job on their landscaping!!!

Where “The Meadows” homes are now- used to be called Thunder Road. Not sure where that name came from but that was lots of noise made on that road with all the engines roaring- guess it could sound like “thunder”. ha!

The First Factory built on Goosepond Island was Revere.

The percent of Jackson County that is under water is  4.25.  Wouldn’t you think with all of the lakes, ponds and the Tennessee River that there would be more than that?

In Jackson County, there are many miles of roads……what about  1000 miles.  Amazing, huh?

In 1984, Kramer Bergman won the title of  Mr. Alabama?

The Scottsboro Wildcat Football Team won the Area Championship for three consecutive years, which three?  1995, 1996 and 1997.  Another question that I have been wondering for a while now, why is the initials SCT?  I know it stands for Scottsboro but when, why and who decided to go with those initials??  Not mad about it — just curious…..

I thought since the “HEAT” has finally kicked in and the temps. are getting hotter and hotter, that we could do a little reminiscing about places that we used to swim and cool off in….Some are still in existence while some have “bit the dust” and are only “memories” of the past……

 

The very first pool that I can remember and I will be very honest with you, it was not a place that I enjoyed going to….. The City Pool!!! It was located across the street from the present Rec Com.  I can remember my mom taking my sister and I to the American Red Cross Swim lesson (I am pretty sure that is who put them on but I could be wrong on that..) there and I promise you that each year we went (which was at least 4 years, obviously we were so traumatized with the pool that it took several years for us to finally get the hand of moving our arms and kicking our feet) to those lessons it was the exact same weather…

Foggy, cloudy, cool and and the worst weather days of the entire summer.  I think we must have started at 7:00 a.m. because I can remember it always being very early in the morning and there was “smoke” rising off of the water in the pool.  Who would be intrigued to want to learn to swim under those conditions?  I hate sitting on the sides of the pool and dangling our legs in-especially in the deep end.  That was the darkest “deep end” that I have ever seen.  I was terrified that there was “bad creatures” just lurking down in the bottom just waiting to take the kids under and suck them in the pool drain…..I know some of you  may laugh now but if you were ever one of the “unlucky” ones that was in my swim lesson classes at the City Pool— you know exactly what I am talking about. 

The one thing that kept me sane and wanting to learn to swim was those “teenagers” hanging out on the front counters that were supposedly “Life Guards” and I so wanted to wear that whistle around my neck and be able to “holler” — “Break, everyone out of the pool!”.  (But now, I cannot even remember what it was like or how good it felt to wear that whistle when I did get my “Dream Job” as a lifeguard….Ha!  Guess it was all about “wishing”….)  So after at least four miserable years of that cold dark pool–my lessons finally paid off and I did not have to suffer any longer.  I actually got my “dream” and got to be a Life Guard later on in life and even gave swim lessons for 8 years (Life-guarding and Swim Lessons were my summer income all the way through High School and College) .  Those were the good days……  I can still remember the color of those Pool Bathroom doors and the wooden panel that was “dropped” down each night to close the “Pool Front Window” and where you paid to get in….

The color was DARK  HUNTER GREEN!!!  By the way, Stan Mannon was a lifeguard there and I really wonder if he was one of my teachers back then and traumatized me for years with those swim lessons….???  And, my sister never really never got over being traumatized with swim lessons….she is still learning to swim…But would rather stay in the shallow end or on the steps….ha!

I can remember spending MANY days at Goose Pond Pool.  That was when they had the “High Dive”  and I will never forget how big and brave I felt after I took that first step off of the “Big Diving Board”.  Honestly, the “fear” of the High Dive/Big Board was the ladder that you had to climb to just get to the top.  That was scary part for me at least….  There “deep end” was so much more appealing to your eyes too. Ha! 

I can remember my mom taking her try-fold  lawn chair..  You know the ones with the plastic-soft strappy material that went across the metal frame?  Made out of the material above but you folded both ends in and it was all nice and compact….They do not make them these days…. I know that some of  you know the chairs that I am talking about.

Then the food that I remember LOVING and HAVING TO HAVE……the Hot Fries in the bag.  Those were the very best.  I bought a bag of those a few years ago at a Quick Rip and they tasted awful.  I guess it was just one of those “Pool Vending Machine” foods that you had to experience with a wet swim suit and a beach towel wrapped around you.  Another thing that I remember about Goose Pond Pool was the “gutters” around the inside of th pool.  I cannot tell you how many times that I got my foot or feet stuck in those while trying to walk around the edge of the pool.  Guess it was dumb on my part for even walking that close to the water…ha!  If you were really good while swimming- most moms and dads would let you go over to the playground beside the pool and swing and slide a little. 

The one thing that I never understood about pools- is the restrooms….. They never had any good smells going through them.  Maybe all the water turning into a mildew smell…….ugh!!!

Then it was the Jackson County Park Pool.  That is where I was a lifeguard and spent some great summers.  Carl “Cheese” Maronahired me the summer of 1987 and then I worked there for three summers.  I had the best co-workers too.  That is where I met Misty Watkins Myers.  I know she must have thought I was a crazy person but hope she thinks different now. ha!  Hard to believe that we both have kids the same age now and back then we were  “saving” kids that age…. 

First, you that were around then, remember that the “County Park” was the PLACE to be in the summer time.  If you did not have a job there (as in get a paycheck), you wanted one or sometimes you just “acted” like it.. ha!  I made so many friends during the summer months with families (moms, dads and kids) and the best memories.  I think back on those days so often. 

Cannot talk about the pool with out talking about Wendy’s — I think I lived off of their hamburgers and Frostys when each summer.  You would get off work and rush to get dinner (Wendy’s was right down the road) and then back to work a pool party.  I remember getting mad at the “Pool Manager” (I never made it that far up the ladder)one day and just leaving and basically said, “I quit”.  Have no idea what for but by the time I had got home, Carl “Cheese” Morona had called my dad and told him to tell me to get back to work….  Where else but Scottsboro would your boss call your dad and tell you to cool off and get back to work. Ha!  Got to love this place we call “home”. Ha! 

 The worst part of that job was the “Restroom Cleaning” and the “Pool Deck Washing”…..I disliked those duties worse than anything.  I also remember teaching Jill Green’s, Emily, how to jump off the High Dive.  She was not 2 feet tall and she would just explode off of that diving board.  You had your “regulars” that came all the time and you could not help but “make” nice and become friends with them.  I am so grateful for the County Park Pool being the reason that I meet Jill Green.  You cannot beat her!!

So there was this other place that people (including myself) would go cool off in but it was not a place where “Lifeguards” were on stand by nor were there any parking places to park your cars.  (You had to walk through a cow pasture where you would have to dodge many things….) You really did not want your parents to know you were there.  I like to refer to it as the place that people went to – to feel free, rebellious and maybe just a little “challenged”.  It was the “Blue Hole“.  I don’t think my parents actually ever knew that I was in the pasture of which the “Blue Hole” was located.  It was in Larkinsville, Alabama and you turned off of old Highway 35 to get there.  Now, it was not like a place that you went on a daily or weekly basis.  You went there on a “spur of the moment” and no plans were made except that you were meeting there.  It also had to be REALLY HOT outside because the water in the Blue Hole was like water that had millions of pounds of ice blocks in it at all times. 

Of course there were “Man-Made-Rigged” platforms and ropes to be daring with but there was the one area in the “Hole” that you wanted to stay within when you took the plunge. 

It was “said” that there was a family that was in a horse-drawn buggy/carriage that was crossing the Blue Hole (they thought it was just a small shallow creek and they found out soon that it was not……..).    Supposedly, the carriage along with the family is at the bottom of the “Blue Hole”………. Or at least that is the story that I remember being told about 22 years ago. 

To my parents, I am forever sorry that I went there and never told  you.  Just remember, nothing happened and I am still here with you today.. I love you!!!

Of course, we cannot forget about the Stevenson City Pool.  I actually went there with the Mannon Family.  Beth and Stan “manned” that pool when their Ellen was really little.  I remember watching Ellen swim and jump off the diving board before she could even walk and talk.  She truly was a “Human Fish”.  Ha!  That “City” Pool is still up and running.

Another City Pool that is still open is the Bridgeport City Pool.  I have never been there but I have passed by it many times.  I used to have to go to Bridgeport a lot when I worked at the Chamber.  Have you ever thought about it, most “City Pools” look the same.  Their shapes may vary but the the little “office area”, chain linked fence and parking lots are pretty much the same……I am sure that there are other “City Pools” in Jackson County but I am not familiar with any others.

I know some of you are thinking about the Tennessee River or Roseberry, Jone’s Cove or Ski Cove…..Those are another post all together. 

A couple of  PSAs on the Purse….  Gracie’s Boutique is closing.  Cindy has everything (including store fixtures) for sale.  50 – 75% off.  So you will want to go check that out….

Also, Cross Country started their summer runs yesterday.  I will be posting under “Sporting Events” their Daily Schedule for those that might be interested in giving it a try.  You can still run/walk those routes if you are not on the CC Team or have been out of School for 30 plus years…ha!

Also, have not finished updating the categories yet.  That is on the MUST DO list for today.  I did update the Reading Category for the Kids.  Make sure to check it out.  I cannot wait to share with you my finds this week.  I was overloaded last week with suggestions from people.  Of course, I had to purchase them and see for myself..Ha!  You will want to make sure to keep checking back for the post- not sure yet what day it will be.

Until next time…..