Calcis

Stairs to nowhere,

where once was a home

fond memories live still

but the structure is long since gone.

12 steps reach to the sky

crawling vines climb toward the sun

grasses and wild roses

now claim this as a playground to run.

– Cathy Ann Abernathy

Weaver, Alabama

Previously Published: “Celebrate! Poets Speak Out — Spring 2004″

STEPHEN GAFFORD Sr.  11/28/1822 - 2/4/1823
Wife: Martha (Negros: Lewis, Easter, Anna, Jinney and

her two children Kack and Kissey and Wanny.
Children: Grant Gafford, Zachariah Gafford
Others mentioned: Grandchildren, Daniel Gafford (of AL) for James & David
Gafford; Peter Northern for Stephen & Josiah Gafford;
Executors: Zahariah Gafford, Abner Davis, Dempsey Justice
(describes land and bordering neighbors, grist mill and furniture - lengthy)
Wit: Thomas Turner, John M.Machin, Levi Turner

DigiTrad: JOHN HENRY
JOHN HENRY

John Henry was a li’l baby, uh-huh,
Sittin’ on his mama’s knee, oh, yeah,
Said: “De Big Bend Tunnel on de C & O road
Gonna cause de death of me,
Lawd, Lawd. Gonna cause de death of me.

John Henry, he had a woman,
Her name was Mary Magdalene,
She would go to de tunnel and sing for John,
Jes’ to hear John Henry’s hammer ring, Lawd, Lawd,
Jes’ to hear John Henry’s hammer ring.

John Henry had a li’l woman,
Her name was Lucy Ann,
John Henry took sick an’ had to go to bed,
Lucy Ann drove steel like a man,
Lawd, Lawd, Lucy Ann drove steel like a man.

Cap’n says to John Henry,
Gonna bring me a steam drill ’round,
Gonna take dat steam drill out on de job,
Gonna whop dat steel on down, Lawd, Lawd,
Gonna whop dat steel on down.

John Henry tol’ his cap’n,
Lightnin’ was in his eye;
Cap’n, bet yo’ las’ red cent on me,
Fo’ I’ll beat it to de bottom or I’ll die, Lawd, Lawd,
I’ll beat it to de bottom or I’ll die.”

(source: http://www.frograil.com/tours/ns/centralOfGeorgia.htm#LEEDS)

Leeds. The starting point for this segment is the intersection of US-78 and AL-25, in the town of Leeds, which is less than 15 miles east of Birmingham. Here at this intersection, there is a large wooden trestle which crosses US-78 and the Atlanta – Birmingham Crescent Route mainline. As of February 2003, there were substantial reports that this bridge will be razed and replaced by a heavier, modern steel bridge. After turning south onto AL-25, you’ll follow the tracks all the way to Vincent, which is about 15 miles by rail. You will soon cross the railroad tracks, and start up the first mountain on the tour, so far. This is Oak Mountain.

There is a tunnel here, referred to as the “short tunnel,” but access is very difficult, and would require hiking thru the woods. This would not only be hard work, it would also be blatant trespassing, so you’re urged to forego this location.

Long Tunnel.

At the bottom of this hill there are a few road crossings that turn off AL-25 and make for good photo ops. Staying southeast on AL-25, you’ll cross the tracks again, and AL-25 will make a sharp right, still following the tracks for a short distance. When the road is about to start uphill, there will be a small dirt road turning to the right, called “Tunnel Road.” Turn right onto this to see the west portal of Long Tunnel. This road leads to two houses, and it appears to be a public road, at least to the crossing.

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Vandiver. Back on AL-25, follow the road more eastward, and it will cross Coosa Mountain. At the bottom of the hill is the small community of Vandiver. There are several good photo ops here. A right turn off AL-25 is required to get to the tracks. Continuing on AL-25, and you’ll cross the tracks again, and shortly thereafter, it will cross Bear Creek. The railroad also crosses the creek here, over a small, but photogenic trestle. The road will wind along for a few miles, and the communities of Sterrett and Beulah are to the left of the road, where there is a short siding.

As soon as AL-25 meets back with the tracks, there will be a sharp turn to the right, and a small private lake. From this site was taken the June, 2000, Norfolk Southern Corporation’s 2000 Calendar. Casey is too modest to tout his achievement, but the photo is very lovely, and this is obviously an excellent place to get that perfect railroad photograph.

Continue southeast on AL-25, and you’ll once again cross the tracks, at “Calcis.” After 3 miles, you’ll come to the intersection with US-231. Go southwest (right) on US-231 towards Harpersville. You’ll shortly duck under the C of G tracks at Vincent [MP P407.8]. There is short siding here, and a few photo locations, but you want to be careful not to trespass on railroad property. After another 2 miles or so, you’ll go under the CSX Birmingham – Manchester – Waycross main line. At the next traffic light, turn left (east) onto US-280. This will be in the town of Harpersville. [Be sure to observe the speed limit!!! The city fathers make their city's best income from speeding tickets.] From Harpersville back towards the tracks, you’ll follow US-280 until you reach the outskirts of Childersburg.

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Childersburg. As you come into town from the west, you’ll come to the Coosa River. There is a long steel trestle here [MP P401.3 - P401.5], and the bridge has been reinforced and strengthened to allow normal track speed. A few miles on into town is a large overhead concrete viaduct to shoot as well. This latter crosses the highway and the NS 3-B line which arcs down from Ft McClellan – Anniston – Childersburg – Calera – Wilson. There is only one local per day on this line.

To reach the viaduct, you’ll have to turn left off US-280 towards downtown Childersburg, and you’ll see that the viaduct becomes obvious.

—-

My “neighborhood” in Shelby and Talladega Counties, Alabama.

– Cathy

HELD AS SLAVES IN ALABAMA.; Eight White Men Indicted for Keeping Negro… – Article Preview – The New York Times

HELD AS SLAVES IN ALABAMA.; Eight White Men Indicted for Keeping Negroes in Servitude.
Special to The New York Times.

Arthur Yonge
HON. ARTHUR YONGE
No history of business development in Snyder would be complete without mention of this gentleman and it is with pleasure therefore that we present to our readers his life record. He comes of English ancestry, the line of descent being traced down from Henry Yonge, who emigrated from England sometime between the years 1800 and 1812, settling in the West Indies, where he afterward went to Florida when it was under Spanish rule and again he conducted a plantation. He was in that state at the time of its occupation by the United States troops and he had a large amount of property confiscated by the soldiers while this country was engaged in the war with England in 1812. He spent much of his time at St. Augustine and Tallahassee, but his last years were passed in Georgia, where he died about 1834. He was twice married, his second union being with Miss Cox, of Washington county, who was a lady of some prominence in social affairs of that part of the country.

Tennessee Coal & Iron Works – Calcis, Alabama quarry – 1902 (center)

Blacksmith shop, closest building on the left.

Photo history: Mr. A. E. Turner Jr. gave a copy of the original photograph to Vera Garrett Justice (wife of Aubrey Justice); then (my) Aunt Vera gave a copy of the picture to Frances Justice Warren. Finally Aunt Frances gave a copy of the photo to my mother, Martha Justice Abernathy; and she printed this copy for me.

Thanks go out to everyone who has passed on this bit of Calcis history!

Anyone have more historical/old photographs of Calcis?

I would love to see them!

] NIGHTMARE [

Sputtering, clanking, rattling

Terrifying the neighborhood

Spooking the cats in the yard

Grind and clunk!

“Gr – r – r – r; Gr – r – r”

Cough, growl…

An engine in severe need of a tune-up…

Sunday afternoon nightmare

of a mower

keeps my mind pre-occupied

This makes the temperature

seem so much hotter.

Then silence — but no!!

The storm of gears kick in again…

How much longer before they get done?

I need a little less clattering

on my day off!!

July 14, 1991

– Cathy Ann Abernathy

Here goes — I have been going through old ‘writings’ of mine. Many, many boxes of all kinds of “stuff” — so I can not say for sure what will end up here.

Maybe old song lyrics, from groups I like — for their songwriting talents; or maybe even some of my own attempts, poetic…

Such as the one below:

] RUBY SHOES [

Ruby shoes
Living statues
or a human jukebox.

July 15, 1991

– Cathy Ann Abernathy

As the smoke screen clears, the Marlboro man,

and Joe Cool Camel are losing fans

to the health-aware growing-consciousness

that leaves the tobacco behind.

 

Up in smoke, tossed aside,

like the many paper wrappers

that line many country roads and city streets.

Few billboards, no voices on the TV,

no sounds of their praises on the radio (not anymore).

Cigarettes and the heroes of yesterday

are disappearing into a hazy gray somewhere

as smokers are forced from buildings

that used to accept them.

 

There used to be a certain dignity to smoking pipes –

having talks of peace, over these brown leaves.

Now tobacco’s a fugitive –

it hides in a dark corner, alley-ways

and sneaks into tile and steel rooms everywhere.

 

– Cathy Ann Abernathy

October 15, 1996 (rev: Sep 2007)

Genealogy Data
Meadows, Early Moses
Birth : 1825 Lowndesboro, Lowndes Co., Al
Death : 12 Sep 1892 Fishpond, Coosa County, AL(or 9-7-1892)
Parents:

Father: Meadows, Ransom
Mother: Stevens, Sarah

Family:

Marriage: 15 Dec 1847 in Nixburg, Coosa Ct., AL
Spouse:

Hogan, Didema
Birth : 5 Dec 1833
Death : 10 Nov 1912 Fishpond, Coosa County, AL
Parents:

Father: Hogan, Alonza

Children:

Meadows, Daniel Ransom
Meadows, William Bill Malcome
Meadows, Martha (Mattie) Frances
Meadows, John Tom
Meadows, Frank Alphonso
Meadows, Little Benjamin Ben
Meadows, Didema Dee
Meadows, Mary Browning