The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-26
OLD SOLDIERS HOME
VISIT TO FALKNER HOME AT
 MOUNTAIN GREEK.
Captain Falkner Has New Plan for Disposal of the Remaining 146 Logs of the Mem
 orial Hall.

was handed The Advertiser yesterday: I spent Sunday at the Soldiers Home at Mountain Creek, and never was day more pleasantly and I feel more profit
 able passed. In the party were Capt. T. !. Carlisle of Enterprise, who had just returned from the veterans reunion at New Orleans, MT. c. c. Doud and Mrs. Falkner and one of her boys. Captain Jeff. having gone up the afternoon before with the other boy.
 We left the Union station on the regu- lar north bound SIPS q. m. train and in a very short time were met at Mountain Creek by a wagonette pulled by pair of gray mules, splendid animals they were. too As soon as Captain Carlisle saw the inscription on the wagon he pitched in his bundle and went right in after 1t, without further ado for he said, T know am home in here" A most enjoyable ride of fifteen minutes brought us to the Soldiers
 Home, situated along the roadside on the hills in the pretty woods of Chiffon, health being found in the refreshing breezes and pure water. The first house one sees is the little storeroom looking shanty, which was the beginning of the settlement that Is now Q happy little village and home for
 more than a dozen of the old boys who wore the gray and who are spending the evening of their lives there in the as-
 surance of being provided for and in con- tentment and happiness. which is beam ing upon the face of every inmate.
 There are four houses completed and the frame is up towards the recreation of Fox Maull cottage, which was burned a short time ago. Wells nave been dug and furnish cool and pure water for man and beast, at a depth of only abont 30 feet. Bold and clear water flows from springs bubbiing right out of the ground. which furnish an abundant supply and which is going to be utilized.
 The Memorial Hall: which Is being erect
 ed in the rustic style of architecture. is
 already one of the prettiest houses in Alabama and with the native rock and woods. with the touch of the artist and | the trained workmen are being put in place, is magnificent to look upon and fills one with admiration and enthusiasm.
 The frame work and roof is up of this
 building, the logs are all in place and will not only serve as a lasting monument to the old soldiers whose names are placed on them by their friends, but will gather much historical matter. There are only l46 of these logs to be taken and the
 money for every one of them ought to be forthcoming before Saturday night. The first floor is to be de devoted to place
 for the Daughters of the Confederacy. a library, a consultation room and for other purposes yet to be determined. The splen-,
 
 floor Is to be devoted to all public gather
 ings and assemblies that may go there
 and to preaching, which will be had reg ularly once a month and as often as is possible the remainder of the time. It is 1 to be named Bob Taylor Hall in honor
 of Governor Taylor in recognition of his
 services in behalf of the Home.
 Captain Falkner is very anxious to have 1 all the logs taken and has a plan to begin 1f hA fas7ss to U<aAa. rams of Alabama, and 1t is proposed to
 have them take one or more logs them | selves and have friends who are able take as many more as possible In this way the work on the building can be rap l idly pushed to completion and it may be
 ready by fall. The flag pole to be erected | in front of this building is 104 feet inch
 long and is as pretty piece of timber as one ever saw. From its top is to be
 noated one of the largest flags of Stars and Stripes to be found and when erected 1t will be most imposing and inspiring | sight. Upon the other hill Is the John E, Moore memorial cottage well nigh completed l and there is the building erected by Camp l Hardee, U. c. ", No. Ss. of Birmingham,
 Ala. November 1. 1902. with a board just
 insde the door bearing the inscription: I"J. w. Johonston. commander. Building
 Committee. Dr. J. c. Abernathy. chair
 man, J. W. Bush. s. l.. Robertson, s. M.
 Vance, T. A. Hamilton. J. Lawler Darby" Both these buildings are finished and well | nigh entirely furnished and are only waiting for the means to be filled with old veterans. The furniture in them is veterans will fare as they never did before. The original gift for the home by Cap The original gife for the home by Cap | tain Falkner was 40 acres of land in the ideal spot in Alabama for such q purpose. | Since the Home has been founded circum- stances and surroundings and to acquire most desirable privileges have made 1t necessary to acquire 40 acres adjoining | and the Home plot now contains 80 acres of piney woods and red oak land that is
 invaluable and can be made to produce
 anything that is planted on it."
 There arc about a dozen or more old
 soldiers. already there and as one arrives | they gather around and just make you | talk being eager to Hear and to learn
 what is going on out in the world. Soon after landed from the wagonette most
 commodious and appropriate vehicle for
 the purposes for which it Is intended, and
 was looking at the barn, which was as
 clean and as inviting as are to be found
 anywhere, noticed one of the old soldiers
 making strange signs and trying to at- tract my attention. This he finally did and | learned that he had discovered my Ma l sonic badge and was making signs to convince me that he was a Mason.
 We went to dinner over at Captain l Falkner's country home and 1t is model home. There are over 5000 peach trees bearing this year. acres upon acres of grapes scuppernong arbors. Japanese plums mulberries. all kinds of fruit and vegetables, ducks, chickens. geese. gui-
 meas and a fish pond that abounds fin perch and trout and & mill below where | the meal for the surrounding neighbor- hood and the home is made. After dinner l we went over the place consistinf of 32O acres and I can truly say that l was | charmed and amused to see that law | yer farmer could do so much towards having the ideal country home.' felt that if I were in Captain Falkner's place
 would live right here and never go to the city again and rack my brain and wear his life away with office work. But while he is making this home all that 1t can be made he has his heart and soul in the Soldiers Home and if he can be spared
 to carry out his plans. and If he hves' he will curely do it,, for he knows no i such word as fail. He will then have the
 assurance that his work is done. and his | aim accomplished; that every old soldier who finds his way there will know no
 more trouble or worry about his mainte- nance and can spend the rest of his days in ease and comfort.
 "One grave in the spot set aside for the
 grave yard marks the spot that is planned I affrantfNa T1Iara