It’s Rooster Day in Demopolis, Alabama, the second annual festival commemorating the famous Rooster Sale of 1919. The auction of over 200 roosters and one hen, donated by Helen Keller, was to be the local contribution toward a bridge across the Tombigbee River, outside “the City of the People.” It would be the last link in an overland highway from Savannah, Georgia, to San Diego. The sale garnered pledges of more than $200,000, though accounts say many were never honored. I encourage you to search the subject, and be sure to search “Tombigbee flood Rooster Bridge towboat.”
When I was a young whelp in the early 80s, I hitched on with The Jackson Daily News in Jackson, Mississippi. As I was a native of east Alabama, on the Georgia line, I would travel home several times a year to visit family. This journey took me through west Alabama on U.S. Highway 80, then a narrow two-lane road from the Mississippi line to Selma, a distance of about 100 miles. This was before the rapacious scalping of southern woodlands for the export of wood chips, and for some distance forests would grow close along both sides of the right of way. It was like something out of Hansel and Gretel. Right in the middle of this stretch of “the widows’ highway” was the original Rooster Bridge outside Demopolis. It was a rickety iron structure high above the water that carried only one lane of traffic. There actually was a stoplight at each end. If it was green, it was safe to proceed; it it was red, you waited for oncoming traffic to clear. I managed to survive many a crossing at all hours of the day and night, and it was always a macabre highlight of the long drive.
That entire stretch of road is divided four-lane now, and the old Rooster Bridge is gone, replaced by a wide modern span just upstream, also named “Rooster Bridge.” A historical marker that stood at the old bridge has been moved to the new, and it details the unusual history of the rooster sale and the ambitious plan to “span the ‘Bigbee with cocks.” Really. It says that, cast in bronze on the shoulder of U.S. Highway 80. You can look it up.
165 responses to “Rooster Day, 2017”
This evening, Mrs. Rick and I returned to the Stuart Opera House to see Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out – a bluegrass group – for the second time. Yet another great concert.
Music is always better live, I think.
Here goes: https://scontent-dft4-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17757270_1421146297947899_9048300349861072130_n.jpg?oh=5991880cdfef470253f13e1e1befd978&oe=59919365
https://scontent-dft4-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17883832_1421147211281141_1136565229685259737_n.jpg?oh=391f0e0b653ed59f298a8932b40d6413&oe=595818B7
https://scontent-dft4-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17883868_1421147351281127_2252033117171472654_n.jpg?oh=a9407d387e6c020860d911de92e58da3&oe=598DE894
Thanks Nancy.
I posted a statement here a few evenings ago that was so stupid that I am tempted to enumerate some of the ways that it was less than intelligent. I will spare you any of that further stuff and pretend that tomorrow is another day. On that note, I saw a 20 foot chicken on a trailer tonight in the Ace Hardware parking lot. I do not drink or partake in recreational drugs. Sometimes it might not be a bad idea, but I don’t.
BTW, that bridge in Michigan is very impressive. We wanted to cross over but weather prevented it as I recall. Wife insisting that we do not probably had something to do with it.
Rick:
‘Music is always better live, I think.’ That’s true only of good music. But then, ‘De gustibus non disputandam est’ raises its skeptical head.
Peace,
disputandum. Sorry
Jerry that is damned funny post. It makes up for whatever stupid thing you posted earlier. ????
That was supposed to be one of those smiley faces with sunglasses. I get question marks, not cute smileys.
Which makes me think of sandcastle and his desire for emoji. I miss you sand.
In fact, I miss so many “regulars” here. I know life moves on. Mine is too. But I miss Mindy, David, Symply, so many others. Heck, the Village is like a real town where the stores are closing, the houses going empty and dark, streets lonely.
Yesterday I came by a dozen times but didn’t post. I was the last one posting and it seemed sad to answer myself.
I’ve thought of lots to say but have been at the mercy of motel wifi. Plus, given the choice of looking at computer vs looking at nature …
Re today’s cartoon: There’s that water-glass-by-the-side-of-the-bed thing again I really can’t identify with, having never done that in my life.
Well, not counting the times there have been two glasses of wine there, but that’s different.
I ran across this on-line following a discussion with a friend about the sometimes wide disparity between how old one feels and how old one actually is. I don’t know how scientific it is, but it’s fun to think about.
For the record, my result was half my chronological age. Why was I not surprised?
https://www.age-test.com/
Jerry, speaking of large chickens, I grew up around this one:
http://www.marietta.com/attractions/the-big-chicken
Most directions given for anywhere in the area begin with “Go to the Big Chicken and turn…”
Well, poop I wrote comment that got moderated and I don’t know how to edit it to pass the posting cops.
I took test and came out at a not surprising 27 years old.
Okay, took the Ghost’s age test. Per it, at age 31 I am Jackie’s big brother.
Good morning Villagers….
JJ, love your background story on the bridge and the roosters and only one hen 🙂
Yesterday was absolutely beautiful. My friend Wilma, took Dad and me on a two hour cruise in the country, mostly around Glendale Wildlife and Fish State Park. Dad was like a little boy when we got home. He was so excited about the road trip he couldn’t recall Wilma’s name. As my Grandpa (Dad’s dad) use to say….’wound up tighter than a nine day clock”!
Here’s a link to the wildlife area, lots of fishing boats on the lake, campers, primitive campers…just an awesome sight: http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/3095.htm
Jerry, I like your little snippets…find them rather funny and challenging 🙂
Mark, love the pics of those cars.
Should be getting insurance and tags on Jeep on Tuesday. My Jeep actually has manual windows! GR showed a link of what it looks like the other day. I thought it was black, but BIL said it is blue….has to be a midnight blue it’s that deep of a color, one shade away from black I think. Wilma’s 2002 Jeep has bells and whistles, shows outside temp. I have no idea what the dashboard in my 2008 does and has, but I did notice it has a CD player…..gots to get me CD’s here~~~
I do know it’s been well maintained as my BIL was not about to let his baby daughter travel back and forth from Davenport to here. She has since moved to Louisville and has a job as a ergonomic analyst and studies physical activiites…her degree is in sports medicine. My sister’s other three children are employed as a teacher, a physician’s assistant in Indy, and an engineer at Crane Naval Ammunition Depot about 30 miles from here.
They (Crane) were testing ammunition/bombs the other day. They actually shook the windows here. You even heard the ‘boom’….if that place ever explodes, all that will be left in this southwest corner of Indiana is one big crater.
Long winded aren’t I?
love to all, and pray the good Lord blesses you and yours.
Steve, still in my thoughts and a prayer your way…….Amen
….well, I’m 34…said I was a big kid 🙂
Makes you want one for a pet 🙂
https://gfycat.com/CriminalHeavenlyAntelopegroundsquirrel
…and everybody go ‘awwww’…
http://cheezburger.com/1626885/what-this-father-cat-does-to-support-his-family-is-too-precious-for-words
This was fun. I am 27, Sand is 31, Debbe is 34, Ghost is 38. Maybe loving comic strips keeps us young? And rock music? Sundresses? Pokies?
Refusing to grow up? Peter Pan and Wendy Complex?
Rest of you take Ghostly test and let’s see if there are mature people here? I am betting there are a few and I bet I know who.
By the way, I am wearing a leopard print sundress qualifying stretch dress.
Half of Ghost’s age is 38, so Ghost is 76 years old? Need to check my driver’s license.
I am, supposedly, 30! That is less than 40% of truth….
I have reached the sweet spot of life.
I have the health and general fitness of a thirty-year-old but the levels of ambition and contentment of a senior citizen.