Visit Athens Alabama - Limestone Co 200

Athens Big Spring Park - 30 Years

8/12/2019

Athens’ Big Spring Memorial Park Marks 30 Years Since Dedication to Early Settlers and Veterans

Big Spring Memorial Park or otherwise known as the Duck Pond in Athens’ historic Beaty District is a place of relaxation, history and commemoration. The City of Athens dedicated the park to the settlers and veterans of Athens and Limestone County on August 12, 1989 with a stone marker that now rest at the base of the park’s name board. The fading inscription remarks, “Dedicated to the early settlers, men and women who served in the armed forces and kept our country free. August 12, 1989. Erected 1989.”

Come, Sit A Spell: Judge Horton Jr.

4/18/2019

Come, Sit A Spell: James E. Horton Jr. and His Indelible Mark on Justice, Civil Rights, and Limestone County

Celebrating the Alabama Bicentennial 2019 Theme: Our Stories

Judge James Edwin Horton Jr.’s roots begin in Limestone County Alabama but his legacy altered the nation for generations to come. He stood against a tide of hate, bigotry and injustice during the Scottsboro Boys re-trial in the 1930’s in North Alabama. He stood his philosophical grounds of justice being equal under the law – costing him friendships, community support and his aspiring political and judicial career.

Come, Sit a Spell...
A Southerner's invitation to take a seat with them, relax, swap some stories, experience Southern hospitality, enjoy the slower pace of life, and live in the greatness unfolding around you.

James Edwin Horton Jr. the man…

James Edwin Horton Jr. was born in Limestone County near the Elk River to the great-niece of President Andrew Jackson, Emily Donelson, and a father, James Edwin Horton Sr., former Civil War military aide-de-camp to General Donelson turned cotton and cattle farmer in January 1878. The Horton family migrated ...

Come, Sit A Spell: Civilian Conservation Corp

3/28/2019

Come, Sit A Spell: Civilian Conservation Corp Contribution To Alabama and Our Nation's Parks, Forest, People, and Tourism

Celebrating the Alabama Bicentennial 2019 Theme: Our Stories

The Civilian Conservation Corp, often called “Roosevelt’s Tree Army” or “CCC” for short, was part of the New Deal Package granted under the Emergency Conservation Work Act to help get the United State back on its feet after World War I. The CCC was in operations throughout the nation from 1934-1942, only ending when war was declared following the bombing of

Come, Sit a Spell...

A Southerner's invitation to take a seat with them, relax, swap some stories, experience Southern hospitality, enjoy the slower pace of life, and live in the greatness unfolding around you.

Pearl Harbor. This depression-era program primarily took young men and put them to work on projects that included planting trees, building flood barriers, fighting forest fires, and maintaining forest roads and trails.

The architecture of the organization mirrored several aspects of the military. The CCC recruited men as young as 17 and eventually grew to include World War I veterans into their 40’s who were U.S. citizens. Recruits served 6-month terms and were allowed to re-up for additional terms up to two years. The command positions were staffed by military officers in the camps and everyone lived by a regimented schedule.

Camps were created...

Come, Sit a Spell: Patti Malone

3/15/2019

Come, Sit a Spell: Patti Malone - Plantation to Celebrated Singer

Celebrating the Alabama Bicentennial 2019 Theme: Our Stories

Patti Malone was born into slavery on The Cedars Plantation of Athens, Alabama. She often recalled the scars her mother had suffered while enduring the treatment of Dr. Malone, the plantation owner. Patti was forced to grow up in the care of an elderly woman as her mother was forced to work elsewhere on the plantation. However, this didn't set Patti on a path of pity but one of opportunity.

Come, Sit a Spell...
A Southerner's invitation to take a seat with them, relax, swap some stories, experience Southern hospitality, enjoy the slower pace of life, and live in the greatness unfolding around you.

Following the Civil War, Patti enrolled in the Trinity School, founded by the American Missionary Association, a school for the children of former slaves in nearby Athens. Her efforts to get an education didn't come without penalty, as many refused to employ the parents of the children being taught in the new school. It wasn't until Patti's mother negotiated with her former owner for her to be employed and be joined by Patti before and after school that the family was supported. It was the arrival of Mary Wells, Principal and gentlewoman who had help plant Trinity school that Patti began to exercise her singing ability.

After finishing her studies at Trinity, Patti moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where Miss Wells helped Patti become enrolled...

Come, Sit a Spell: Ludivine

3/15/2019

Come, Sit a Spell: Ludivine, the Unlikely Marathon Placing Pooch

Celebrating the Alabama Bicentennial 2019 Theme: Our Stories

Tucked in the hills of northern Limestone County Alabama is a tiny town that is rapidly ascending the chart of favorite destination in the Southeast. Elkmont is becoming a bustling burg of artisan goat cheese, good music, nature lovers, antique hunters and family-friendly fun seekers.

Come, Sit a Spell...
A Southerner's invitation to take a seat with them, relax, swap some stories, experience Southern hospitality, enjoy the slower pace of life, and live in the greatness unfolding around you.

Limestone Life devoted a cover to the lovable pooch and her adventure.

Elkmont has been home to a variety of races - Elkmont Lions Club Rails-to-Trails 10K, Bike MS: Ride to the Rocket, Alabama Backroads Spring Krusher to just name a few.

One of the most world-renowned races that happens in Elkmont is a fundraiser for Elkmont High School and Ardmore High School Cross-Country and Track teams. How this race became a worldwide headline, with a little help from a friend is our featured tale.

Archive Exhibit Tells TN River's History

12/17/2018

TENNESSEE RIVER IN LIMESTONE COUNTY FEATURED IN EXHIBIT
AT LIMESTONE COUNTY ARCHIVES

ATHENS, Ala. – In 1966, barges began landing on the same muddy Tennessee River bank in Limestone County where natives once fished and where a man named Brown once ferried passengers across the river, to unload supplies to build what at that time would be the world’s largest nuclear power plant, the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant.

Photos from the Limestone County Archives collection of that building process from...

Athens Bicentennial Bash 11/17/2018

11/14/2018

Athens Throws Birthday Bash Nov 17th

November 17, 2018 is a grand day for the City of Athens Alabama as the community marks 200 years of history, heritage, tradition, people, and places.

Being the second oldest town (November 19, 1818), just one day behind the Town of Mooresville (November 18, 1818) and over a full year before Alabama (December 14, 1819) was granted existence as a statehood, Athens' celebration is burgeoning with civic pride and plans.

A full array of bicentennial events are planned ...

October 25th, 2018

10/25/2018

Athens First United Methodist Church Marks 200 Years in the Community

As the State of Alabama, City of Athens, Town of Mooresville and Limestone County mark their 200th Anniversary of establishment, they are joined by the Athens First United Methodist which will be celebrating 200 years of service to the community on...

Ardmore High Marks Centennial

8/16/2018

Ardmore High School Marks 100 Years During Crape Myrtle Festival

The town of Ardmore is in a unique position to be in two states, four counties, two town but still pull together as one community. One of the community's uniting forces is Ardmore High School and that cornerstone is preparing to mark its centennial on..

Jones Drug Co 100th

8/14/2018

Jones Drug Co. Marks 100 Years in Ardmore Community

Nestled into Ardmore Avenue is a cornerstone of the Ardmore Alabama/Tennessee fabric, Jones Drug Company. They are preparing to celebrate 100 years of business on ...