GUIN'S TORNADO OF NOV. 1973 DESTROYED 14 HOMES

On a Monday afternoon in November of 1973, a tornado struck Guin,
destroying some 14 homes. The tornado first struck about 1.5 miles north of
Guin destroying the mobile homes of Mr. and Mrs. Charles GREEN and J. B.
SIZEMORE and the homes of Inez and Dorothy EASTMAN, Mr. and Mrs. Colvin
FINCH and the home and grocery store of Mr. and Mrs. Rover GANN. The GREENS
and Mr. SIZEMORE were not at home at the time but the others were not as
fortunate. Inez EASTMAN and her daughter Dorothy were slightly injured and
Mr. and Mrs. FINCH and Mr. and Mrs. GANN were hospitalized and treated for
cuts and bruises.

The twister moved north up the hill and lifted over a mobile owned by James
MILES but set back down into the home of Joe AKERS, injuring his wife and
two young sons and destroying their house. Directly across the street there
was some damage done to the home of Larkin ERWIN and 93 year old Ida ERWIN
was shook up and later had to be admitted to the Guin Hospital to be
treated for shock. A mobile home next to ERWIN's was picked up, turned over
and set down on a new Buick which still had the price tag in the window.
Moving up the hill the wind destroyed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Vince WEBB
and caused minimal damage t the home of Ruth NIX and Davis BOYETTE.

But after all this the tornado was not yet finished. It tore the roof off
the home of Junior DOCKERY and demolished the home of John HAYNES.

The twister continued on its northward path occasionally destroying a house
or a barn between Guin, Yampertown and Brilliant. A total of 9 houses, and
5 mobile homes were destroyed in Guin alone and other damages were done
over the county.
 

The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition
Thursday, July 1, 1976
Section D, Page 11

GUIN'S TORNADO OF NOV. 1973 DESTROYED 14 HOMES

On a Monday afternoon in November of 1973, a tornado struck Guin,
destroying some 14 homes. The tornado first struck about 1.5 miles north of
Guin destroying the mobile homes of Mr. and Mrs. Charles GREEN and J. B.
SIZEMORE and the homes of Inez and Dorothy EASTMAN, Mr. and Mrs. Colvin
FINCH and the home and grocery store of Mr. and Mrs. Rover GANN. The GREENS
and Mr. SIZEMORE were not at home at the time but the others were not as
fortunate. Inez EASTMAN and her daughter Dorothy were slightly injured and
Mr. and Mrs. FINCH and Mr. and Mrs. GANN were hospitalized and treated for
cuts and bruises.

The twister moved north up the hill and lifted over a mobile owned by James
MILES but set back down into the home of Joe AKERS, injuring his wife and
two young sons and destroying their house. Directly across the street there
was some damage done to the home of Larkin ERWIN and 93 year old Ida ERWIN
was shook up and later had to be admitted to the Guin Hospital to be
treated for shock. A mobile home next to ERWIN's was picked up, turned over
and set down on a new Buick which still had the price tag in the window.
Moving up the hill the wind destroyed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Vince WEBB
and caused minimal damage t the home of Ruth NIX and Davis BOYETTE.

But after all this the tornado was not yet finished. It tore the roof off
the home of Junior DOCKERY and demolished the home of John HAYNES.

The twister continued on its northward path occasionally destroying a house
or a barn between Guin, Yampertown and Brilliant. A total of 9 houses, and
5 mobile homes were destroyed in Guin alone and other damages were done
over the county.
 

The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition
Thursday, July 1, 1976
Section D, Page 11

MARION COUNTY WAS ONCE INDIAN LANDS

Marion County is situated in what was once the Chicksaw(sic) Indian Domain.
No Indian settlements were found in the county, but it was thought to be
the hunting ground of this trible(sic). An Indian mound about ten feet high
is located at Military Ford and places where Indians ground corn have been
found on some of the rocks near Hackleburg, and around Winfield, Arrowheads
have been found in many parts of the county. It is bounded on the west by
Mssissippi(sic), on the north by Franklin County, on the east by Winston
and Walker Counties, on the South by Fayette and Lamar Counties.

The first settlers came from Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Georgia
and Virginia. The western part of the county seems to have been settled
first and some of the family names of the earliest descendants are still
found here. Among these are the MOOREMANS, STONES, NORTHINGTON, and
WEATHERFORDS, and also some of the early salves(sic) families are still
found. These are the McFADDENS, SWANIGANS, HISBORNS, SMITHS, BOBOS,
LOCKRIDGE, and KEYS.

The county is located in the northern coastal plains area and has an
elevation of from 492 feet at Hamilton to 931 at Hackleburg, Winfield 468
of Guin to 434. Most of the county is hilly. In the southern part the hills
are low and rounded in outline, but in the central and northern part the
surface is rough and broken, some parts being mountainous. The northern
part of the county is the beginning of the Apalachian(sic) Highland and the
similar soil and rock formations are found there. Frequently the streams
flow against sandstone cliffs 50 to 100 feet high.

The northeastern part of the county is drained by Bear Creek and the steams
flowing into it. It flows in a northwestwardly direction and into the
Tennessee River near Riverton. The northwestern part of the county is
drained by Bull Mountain Ceek(sic), which flows in a southwestwardly
direction. Te(sic) remainder of the western part of the county is drained
by Sipsey and its tributaries and flows in a southern direction. The
southeastern part of the county is drained by steams flowing in a southern
direction. The largest of these are: Sipsy, New River, Little New River,
Louxapalilla(sic) and Beaver Creek.

The central and major part of the County is drained by Buttahatchee River,
which flows from near Haleyville, from east to west across two thirds of
the county, to Sulligent. Most of the tributaries of this river flow in
from the north. With the exception of Bear Creek, all of these streams flow
into the Tombigbee and its tributaries. Hackleburg is the dividing line
between the Tennessee and Tombigbee Rivers. It is said to be the highest
point on the I. C. Railroad from Chicago to Miami.
 

The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition
Thursday, July 1, 1976
Section D, Page 9

THE RYE JUG FACTORY WAS ONCE A PROSPEROUS BUSINESS

In the early 1870's the RYE Jug Factory was started in Hamilton. The
factory was located in what was then known as the Cross Roads near
Hamilton, and operated through 1944 or 1945.

The RYE family that operated the factory used raw materials such as white
clay (which is now known as kaolin), water and wood for the jug making
process. The glaze used to coat the finished product was generally made
form ashes, that were mixed with water to form a paste. the items were
dipped in this solution and when it dried it formed a glossy, hard glaze on
the finished produce. The glaze had nothing in it added for color, but
turned out different colored jars and jugs that were very pretty.

James A. (Jimmy) RYE was one of the early operators, and John and Curt RYE
who still live in the Hamilton area worked in the factory also. Curt RYE's
son, Jessie, helped his father and grandfather around the factory when he
was a small lad.

The making of the various pots, jugs and jars was not an easy task. The raw
materials, clay wood and water had to be hauled by wagon to the factory.
And, just any clay, and wood would not suffice. The clay had to be tested
and mixed to just the right consistency or when the pottery items were
placed in the kiln to be fired, they would burst.

Some of the various items produced by the RYE Jug Factory included: one,
two, three and five gallon jugs, chicken jugs, used to water chickens,
churns ranging in size from two gallon to five gallon, pitchers, one and
two gallon and flower pots of different sizes.

They also made some 10 gallon jars for preserving meat. These jars wee
somewhat straighter up and had larger mouths generally. The factory did
some custom work for customers. Syrup makers used special jugs for storing
their syrup and of course, moonshiners came in and ordered special size
containers to store their goods.

The RYE descendants traveled miles and miles to sell their goods. They sold
in Sulligent, Carbon Hill, Leighton, Vina, Bear Creek, Hackleburg, Hodges,
Winfield, Fayette and in the edge of Mississippi. The churns were sold at 7
1/2c per gallon, thus a four gallon churn sold for 30 cents. Later the
price of the churns were raised to ten cents per gallon, or 40c for a four
gallon churn.

To make a jug or jar, the person first began with a ball of clay. It was
placed on a type of spinning machine that was pumped by foot, and as the
ball of clay was spinning the man would use his hands to bring the clay up,
one hand on the inside and one on the outside of the jug until it was
rounded out and perfectly molded. The rings inside of old churns and jars
seen today are the fingerprints of the man who made it, or "turned it" as
it was known to pottery men.

After the jug was turned, it was placed in the kiln, a large stone
apparatus that was built in the ground. It was then fired for anywhere from
14 to 18 hours. It generally took three or four cords of wood to fire a
kiln of pottery. Considering that all this wood had to be chopped with
axes, it took a lot of hard work to just fire the green pottery.

The fire was started low, and gradually it was built up until it was so hot
that inside the kiln was so bright the pottery men said it hurt their eyes
to look at it. Then the air vent sin the kiln were closed off and the fire
gradually died down. The pottery then had to set, closed up air tight, for
about three days before it could be taken from the kiln.

Remains of the old kiln, that was built of fetal stone and clay still
remain in a wooded area near the old house place. The Jug Factory was also
used as the polling place for the RYE Beat. After th factory shut down, the
old RYE home was used for voting and later the polls were moved to the Byrd
School where citizens presently do their voting.

______________________________
 

 Subject:
            [ALFAYETT] Early Marion Co Boundaries article
     Date:
            Mon, 27 Nov 2000 21:14:36 -0500
    From:
            Monya Havekost <MonyaH@conterra.com>
       To:
            ALFAYETT-L@rootsweb.com
 
 

The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition
Thursday, July 1, 1976
Section D, Page 9

MARION COUNTY MANY YEARS OLD

One hundred and forty years ago Marion County was created as one of the
counties of the Alabama Territory. This was done on December 13, 1818. When
first created, the county included all the territory east of the headwaters
of the Tombigbee River from its source near the Franklin County line, to a
point of northern Clark County on this river. Then it extended up the
Warrior River to a point north of Tuscaloosa, then in a northwest direction
to the southern boundary of Franklin County, then west of the Tombigbee
River. This included the present counties of Lamar, Pickens, part of
Tuscaloosa, Green, Sumpter, part of Coctaw, Fayette, Walker and Winston
counties. The present towns included in this area were: Aberdeen, Columbus,
Vernon, Carellton, Eutaw, Fayette, Cordova, Carbon Hill, Jasper, Double
Springs, and Haleyville.

In 1820 the legislature changed the boundaries from a line near Columbus,
Mississippi, east to the Warrior River and to the Jefferson County line,
then north to the southeastern corner of Lawrence County, or all the
territory west of Blount County. (At that time Cullman County was a part of
Blount County).

The county was further reduced in size in 1824 by the formation of Fayette
and Walker Counties, in 1850 by Winston and in 1866 by the formation of
Lamar County.

The county was named from General Francis Marion of South Carolina. In the
Revolutionary War he was known as the "Swamp Fox."

______________________________
The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition
Thursday, July 1, 1976
Section D, Page 9

NEW MT. CARMEL WAS ORGANIZED IN 1948

New Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Chruch was organized May 30, 1948. They
shared a building belonging to Mt. Carmel Primitive Baptist Church until
February 1972. They moved inot their new church building four miles
southwest of Hodges on the Bull Mountain Road. First pastor was Rev. Kermit
BOBO. Present pastor is Rev. John OLIVER and the Deacons are Olen PALMER,
Mack EMERSON, Tom EMERSON and Henderson EMERSON. Clerk is Mrs. Essie Fay
PALMER, treasurer is Mrs. Alma HOLLAND.

The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition
Thursday, July 1, 1976
Section D, Page 9

HODGES CONVENTION BAPTIST CHURCH WAS ORGANIZED IN 1938

Hodges Convention Baptist Church was organized in 1938 with Rev. L. C.
TUCKER as first pastor, and Rev. Frank M. BARNES of Montgomery as the first
Evangelist. Deacons are Leburn MASON, Travis SHEDD, Roman GOBER, and Roger
DAVIS. Clerk is Mrs. Treva MASON, treasurer is Travis SHEDD,  and the
pastor is Rev. Loyd Ray GRIFFUS. There are 40 active members.
 

The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition
Thursday, July 1, 1976
Section D, Page 9

MARION COUNTY MANY YEARS OLD

One hundred and forty years ago Marion County was created as one of the
counties of the Alabama Territory. This was done on December 13, 1818. When
first created, the county included all the territory east of the headwaters
of the Tombigbee River from its source near the Franklin County line, to a
point of northern Clark County on this river. Then it extended up the
Warrior River to a point north of Tuscaloosa, then in a northwest direction
to the southern boundary of Franklin County, then west of the Tombigbee
River. This included the present counties of Lamar, Pickens, part of
Tuscaloosa, Green, Sumpter, part of Coctaw, Fayette, Walker and Winston
counties. The present towns included in this area were: Aberdeen, Columbus,
Vernon, Carellton, Eutaw, Fayette, Cordova, Carbon Hill, Jasper, Double
Springs, and Haleyville.

In 1820 the legislature changed the boundaries from a line near Columbus,
Mississippi, east to the Warrior River and to the Jefferson County line,
then north to the southeastern corner of Lawrence County, or all the
territory west of Blount County. (At that time Cullman County was a part of
Blount County).

The county was further reduced in size in 1824 by the formation of Fayette
and Walker Counties, in 1850 by Winston and in 1866 by the formation of
Lamar County.

The county was named from General Francis Marion of South Carolina. In the
Revolutionary War he was known as the "Swamp Fox."

NEW MT. CARMEL WAS ORGANIZED IN 1948

New Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Chruch was organized May 30, 1948. They
shared a building belonging to Mt. Carmel Primitive Baptist Church until
February 1972. They moved inot their new church building four miles
southwest of Hodges on the Bull Mountain Road. First pastor was Rev. Kermit
BOBO. Present pastor is Rev. John OLIVER and the Deacons are Olen PALMER,
Mack EMERSON, Tom EMERSON and Henderson EMERSON. Clerk is Mrs. Essie Fay
PALMER, treasurer is Mrs. Alma HOLLAND.

The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition
Thursday, July 1, 1976
Section D, Page 9

HODGES CONVENTION BAPTIST CHURCH WAS ORGANIZED IN 1938

Hodges Convention Baptist Church was organized in 1938 with Rev. L. C.
TUCKER as first pastor, and Rev. Frank M. BARNES of Montgomery as the first
Evangelist. Deacons are Leburn MASON, Travis SHEDD, Roman GOBER, and Roger
DAVIS. Clerk is Mrs. Treva MASON, treasurer is Travis SHEDD,  and the
pastor is Rev. Loyd Ray GRIFFUS. There are 40 active members.
 

BYRD SCHOOL BEGAN 1883

In the Byrd School Community one early school, not now in existence, was
Mount Joy, a one-teacher school. This was in operation from about
1883-1908. About 1908 a new school building was erected on land given by
Mr. John REAL, and the name of the school changed form Mount Joy to Real
School. Byrd School at that time was a two-teacher school. Another
one-teacher school in the community was Waterson School. In 1930 a tornado
destroyed Byrd School house.

In 1921 a new building was erected on land given by Mr. H. R. RIGGS. The
Red Cross gave $5,000 to help finance the building with the understanding
that Real and Watson Schools would consolidate with Byrd.

The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition
Thursday, July 1, 1976
Section D, Page 9

HAMILTON HAD A "TOLL GATE FARM"

About 1818 William RAGSDALE settled the place where Hamilton now stands. He
was the first judge of the county and built a mill and cleared much of the
land known as "Toll Gate Farm." The site was later owned by Col.
HELVINGTON. He is aid to have owned a thousand acres of land between
Williams Creek and Buttahatchee River. Slave labor was used to work the
farm.

Some of the earliest settlers were William RAGSDALE, Robert CLARK, Morris
HALL, HOLLOWAYS, CRENSHAWS, McKAYS, MEADORS and McFADDEN families. Among
the early builders of Toll Gate were: Col. HELVINGTON, Gen. CHOLSON, Dr.
KEY, David HUBBARD,  FRAZIER and SARGENT families.

Fragmentary records give some accounts of Toll gate as far back as 1815 and
the first post office seems to have been established soon after that date.
It is definitely known that General Andrew JACKSON came back from the
Battle of New Orleans and camped at Military Ford, three miles south of
Hamilton. In 1820 he was appointed by the War Department to improve the
highways so as to have a good road to operate the Grand Southern Mail,
which ran from New Orleans to Nashville. Toll Gate was selected as one of
the post offices and a stop over to change teams and pay tolls. It is said
that a stage coach from the south would blow a horn for the number of meals
the passengers wanted when they were on Cashion or Lewis Hill about four
miles away. In this way the inn keeper could have the meals ready since the
stop was short. Later a telegraph line was established from New Orleans to
Nashville through Toll Gate. Messages could be sent over this line from
Toll Gate to all points of U.S.

When Toll Gate was first established the charges were set. For each wagon
and team, seventy-five cents, for each four wheel pleasure carriage
seventy-five cents, for each two wheel pleasure cart fifty cents, for one
man and horse twelve and one half cents, for each loose or led horse six
and one fourth cents, for each head of cattle, four cents, for each head of
hogs, sheep or goats two cents, U.S. Mail and express wee to go free, also
all people on foot or people going to or from a mill, or going to church
could go free. Lemuel and Jacob FRANKS were the First Toll Gate keepers.

In 1886 Hamilton had a few dozen people. Some of these families were:
FITES, FORDS, HAMILTONS, CASHIONS, MIXONS, FRASIERS, CLARKS, KEYS and
MARTINS. Barnes HOLLOWAY lived for many years. Only during the past 30
years has it been called Key Branch. There wee the TERRELLS, GASKINS,
CARPENTERS, DUNNS, RIGGINS.

Mail came each Saturday afternoon from Aberdeen, Miss., and went to the
store of WHITE and HAMILTON. J. R. WHITE was postmaster.

Early in the history of the town William NEAL came from Pikeville and built
the first store. It was located where MIXON's Hardware Store now stands. He
also built the old house called the FITE House, now owned by Miss Mattie
FITE. FRASIER and GOST built a store where e Clint CANTRELL is now located.

The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition
Thursday, July 1, 1976
Section D, Page 9

HAMILTON HAD A "TOLL GATE FARM"

About 1818 William RAGSDALE settled the place where Hamilton now stands. He
was the first judge of the county and built a mill and cleared much of the
land known as "Toll Gate Farm." The site was later owned by Col.
HELVINGTON. He is aid to have owned a thousand acres of land between
Williams Creek and Buttahatchee River. Slave labor was used to work the
farm.

Some of the earliest settlers were William RAGSDALE, Robert CLARK, Morris
HALL, HOLLOWAYS, CRENSHAWS, McKAYS, MEADORS and McFADDEN families. Among
the early builders of Toll Gate were: Col. HELVINGTON, Gen. CHOLSON, Dr.
KEY, David HUBBARD,  FRAZIER and SARGENT families.

Fragmentary records give some accounts of Toll gate as far back as 1815 and
the first post office seems to have been established soon after that date.
It is definitely known that General Andrew JACKSON came back from the
Battle of New Orleans and camped at Military Ford, three miles south of
Hamilton. In 1820 he was appointed by the War Department to improve the
highways so as to have a good road to operate the Grand Southern Mail,
which ran from New Orleans to Nashville. Toll Gate was selected as one of
the post offices and a stop over to change teams and pay tolls. It is said
that a stage coach from the south would blow a horn for the number of meals
the passengers wanted when they were on Cashion or Lewis Hill about four
miles away. In this way the inn keeper could have the meals ready since the
stop was short. Later a telegraph line was established from New Orleans to
Nashville through Toll Gate. Messages could be sent over this line from
Toll Gate to all points of U.S.

When Toll Gate was first established the charges were set. For each wagon
and team, seventy-five cents, for each four wheel pleasure carriage
seventy-five cents, for each two wheel pleasure cart fifty cents, for one
man and horse twelve and one half cents, for each loose or led horse six
and one fourth cents, for each head of cattle, four cents, for each head of
hogs, sheep or goats two cents, U.S. Mail and express wee to go free, also
all people on foot or people going to or from a mill, or going to church
could go free. Lemuel and Jacob FRANKS were the First Toll Gate keepers.

In 1886 Hamilton had a few dozen people. Some of these families were:
FITES, FORDS, HAMILTONS, CASHIONS, MIXONS, FRASIERS, CLARKS, KEYS and
MARTINS. Barnes HOLLOWAY lived for many years. Only during the past 30
years has it been called Key Branch. There wee the TERRELLS, GASKINS,
CARPENTERS, DUNNS, RIGGINS.

Mail came each Saturday afternoon from Aberdeen, Miss., and went to the
store of WHITE and HAMILTON. J. R. WHITE was postmaster.

Early in the history of the town William NEAL came from Pikeville and built
the first store. It was located where MIXON's Hardware Store now stands. He
also built the old house called the FITE House, now owned by Miss Mattie
FITE. FRASIER and GOST built a store where e Clint CANTRELL is now located.
 

bject:
                   [ALMARION] HOLLOWAY, SANDERSON, &
                   TERRELL articles
  Resent-Date:
                   Mon, 27 Nov 2000 14:51:59 -0800
 Resent-From:
                   ALMARION-L@rootsweb.com
            Date:
                   Mon, 27 Nov 2000 17:51:52 EST
           From:
                   KYHORNE@aol.com
              To:
                   ALMARION-L@rootsweb.com
 
 
 

Barnes HOLLOWAY that was mentioned in one of the past articles of Marion
County was my GGGGgreatfather married to Sarah MEADOR.  I've got very little
info on him. I know he migrated from Bedford, Va.>Putnam County, Ga.>Marion
County, Ala.  He is buried next to the Birkhead Highway (near a creek called
Holloway at the time.)  Roy SANDERSON and Judge TERRELL are also related.
Anyone with more info on these relatives?  Please get in touch.

The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition
Thursday, July 1, 1976
Section D, Page 9

THE RYE JUG FACTORY WAS ONCE A PROSPEROUS BUSINESS

In the early 1870's the RYE Jug Factory was started in Hamilton. The
factory was located in what was then known as the Cross Roads near
Hamilton, and operated through 1944 or 1945.

The RYE family that operated the factory used raw materials such as white
clay (which is now known as kaolin), water and wood for the jug making
process. The glaze used to coat the finished product was generally made
form ashes, that were mixed with water to form a paste. the items were
dipped in this solution and when it dried it formed a glossy, hard glaze on
the finished produce. The glaze had nothing in it added for color, but
turned out different colored jars and jugs that were very pretty.

James A. (Jimmy) RYE was one of the early operators, and John and Curt RYE
who still live in the Hamilton area worked in the factory also. Curt RYE's
son, Jessie, helped his father and grandfather around the factory when he
was a small lad.

The making of the various pots, jugs and jars was not an easy task. The raw
materials, clay wood and water had to be hauled by wagon to the factory.
And, just any clay, and wood would not suffice. The clay had to be tested
and mixed to just the right consistency or when the pottery items were
placed in the kiln to be fired, they would burst.

Some of the various items produced by the RYE Jug Factory included: one,
two, three and five gallon jugs, chicken jugs, used to water chickens,
churns ranging in size from two gallon to five gallon, pitchers, one and
two gallon and flower pots of different sizes.

They also made some 10 gallon jars for preserving meat. These jars wee
somewhat straighter up and had larger mouths generally. The factory did
some custom work for customers. Syrup makers used special jugs for storing
their syrup and of course, moonshiners came in and ordered special size
containers to store their goods.

The RYE descendants traveled miles and miles to sell their goods. They sold
in Sulligent, Carbon Hill, Leighton, Vina, Bear Creek, Hackleburg, Hodges,
Winfield, Fayette and in the edge of Mississippi. The churns were sold at 7
1/2c per gallon, thus a four gallon churn sold for 30 cents. Later the
price of the churns were raised to ten cents per gallon, or 40c for a four
gallon churn.

To make a jug or jar, the person first began with a ball of clay. It was
placed on a type of spinning machine that was pumped by foot, and as the
ball of clay was spinning the man would use his hands to bring the clay up,
one hand on the inside and one on the outside of the jug until it was
rounded out and perfectly molded. The rings inside of old churns and jars
seen today are the fingerprints of the man who made it, or "turned it" as
it was known to pottery men.

After the jug was turned, it was placed in the kiln, a large stone
apparatus that was built in the ground. It was then fired for anywhere from
14 to 18 hours. It generally took three or four cords of wood to fire a
kiln of pottery. Considering that all this wood had to be chopped with
axes, it took a lot of hard work to just fire the green pottery.

The fire was started low, and gradually it was built up until it was so hot
that inside the kiln was so bright the pottery men said it hurt their eyes
to look at it. Then the air vent sin the kiln were closed off and the fire
gradually died down. The pottery then had to set, closed up air tight, for
about three days before it could be taken from the kiln.

Remains of the old kiln, that was built of fetal stone and clay still
remain in a wooded area near the old house place. The Jug Factory was also
used as the polling place for the RYE Beat. After th factory shut down, the
old RYE home was used for voting and later the polls were moved to the Byrd
School where citizens presently do their voting.
 

The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition
Thursday, July 1, 1976
Section D, Page 9

MARION COUNTY MANY YEARS OLD

One hundred and forty years ago Marion County was created as one of the
counties of the Alabama Territory. This was done on December 13, 1818. When
first created, the county included all the territory east of the headwaters
of the Tombigbee River from its source near the Franklin County line, to a
point of northern Clark County on this river. Then it extended up the
Warrior River to a point north of Tuscaloosa, then in a northwest direction
to the southern boundary of Franklin County, then west of the Tombigbee
River. This included the present counties of Lamar, Pickens, part of
Tuscaloosa, Green, Sumpter, part of Coctaw, Fayette, Walker and Winston
counties. The present towns included in this area were: Aberdeen, Columbus,
Vernon, Carellton, Eutaw, Fayette, Cordova, Carbon Hill, Jasper, Double
Springs, and Haleyville.

In 1820 the legislature changed the boundaries from a line near Columbus,
Mississippi, east to the Warrior River and to the Jefferson County line,
then north to the southeastern corner of Lawrence County, or all the
territory west of Blount County. (At that time Cullman County was a part of
Blount County).

The county was further reduced in size in 1824 by the formation of Fayette
and Walker Counties, in 1850 by Winston and in 1866 by the formation of
Lamar County.

The county was named from General Francis Marion of South Carolina. In the
Revolutionary War he was known as the "Swamp Fox."
 

The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition
Thursday, July 1, 1976
Section D, Page 9

NEW MT. CARMEL WAS ORGANIZED IN 1948

New Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Chruch was organized May 30, 1948. They
shared a building belonging to Mt. Carmel Primitive Baptist Church until
February 1972. They moved inot their new church building four miles
southwest of Hodges on the Bull Mountain Road. First pastor was Rev. Kermit
BOBO. Present pastor is Rev. John OLIVER and the Deacons are Olen PALMER,
Mack EMERSON, Tom EMERSON and Henderson EMERSON. Clerk is Mrs. Essie Fay
PALMER, treasurer is Mrs. Alma HOLLAND.

The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition
Thursday, July 1, 1976
Section D, Page 9

HODGES CONVENTION BAPTIST CHURCH WAS ORGANIZED IN 1938

Hodges Convention Baptist Church was organized in 1938 with Rev. L. C.
TUCKER as first pastor, and Rev. Frank M. BARNES of Montgomery as the first
Evangelist. Deacons are Leburn MASON, Travis SHEDD, Roman GOBER, and Roger
DAVIS. Clerk is Mrs. Treva MASON, treasurer is Travis SHEDD,  and the
pastor is Rev. Loyd Ray GRIFFUS. There are 40 active members.

The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition
Thursday, July 1, 1976
Section D, Page 9

BYRD SCHOOL BEGAN 1883

In the Byrd School Community one early school, not now in existence, was
Mount Joy, a one-teacher school. This was in operation from about
1883-1908. About 1908 a new school building was erected on land given by
Mr. John REAL, and the name of the school changed form Mount Joy to Real
School. Byrd School at that time was a two-teacher school. Another
one-teacher school in the community was Waterson School. In 1930 a tornado
destroyed Byrd School house.

In 1921 a new building was erected on land given by Mr. H. R. RIGGS. The
Red Cross gave $5,000 to help finance the building with the understanding
that Real and Watson Schools would consolidate with Byrd.