The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-04-03
official Party Spent Day in Wooded Wilderness Which Has Been Transformed Into a Confederate
 Community.
BY WILL T. STEPHAN.


 the Confederate soldiers of Alabama"
 Captain J. M. Falkner stood upon the highest point of the grounds of the Sol diers Home at Mountain Creek. About him were grouped the strong men. Gov ernor Jelks had named as members of the Board of Control, themselves veter- ans of the Lost Cause, and men who had achieved success in their private and public life. At his feet was red, sandy road, winding it's serpentine course upon the top of Cnilton county ridge. He stood midway between two ridges that branched at right angles and to the north from the roao, the whole forming an ai- most perfect horseshoe.
 And upon this horseshoe, rising from the black oaks that yet wore their winter garb. rose the splendid community of the Mountain Creek Home for helpless Con federate veterans. It was an impressive sight The woodland wilderness had been made to blossom with architectural bea!i- ty The hills, which two years ago, were untouched by the woodmans axe, pore proudly a crown of ten buildings. build- ings of which any city might be proud.
 The splendid rustic structure, which IS the main building of the Home was M the foreground of the panorama up 'n which the group feasted their eyes. hIsa above it lowered long and graceful- nag pole from which the Stars ana otripes fioated in the breeze. On the ridge wnlca formed the left prong of the hofsesnoe A row of five magnificent cottages was spread out. The ridge on their 'gh1 was crowned with two beautiful cotta Ees' perhaps the two most impressive or Ii'e collection of handsome architecture. De- hind each row stood a servants reuse with commissary building at the en- trance of the grounds.
 Board of Control Surprised.
 It was scene to impress the most in- different The group which stood apout Captain Falkner had not been prep'tfeo for the magnificence of the panorama The outside worIu has been told or many of the things that have been told Of many at Moutnain Creek. but the fuli results achieved have never been enumerated
 T was never more surprised in my lfe," was the comment of Dr. J. C. Ken d,sek of Butler county. q am ast H. ished," was the remark of Major w. A. Handley of Roanoke. ''The half has never been told was the comment of Judge S. T. Fraser of Union Springs and in this he voiced the opinion of the members ot the board who were new to the scene.
 The members of the board had come to take charge of the property on behalf o' the State of Alabama. They had come as if were to take an inventory Like so many of the helpless old wearers 'of the grey before them had done, tney stood and, as Moses of old. viewed the promised land. The Home was great as It Iay stretched before them, but the ac- complishment of the present was d"arI. ed and overshadowed by the promise of inc future. With them there came to the Home for the first time the assurance Of the future.
 With their coming the Home became part of the State government ot Aiapama. They had with them the power Of $IS,OOO for the completion of the Home, the mn lshing of buildings which sould shelter loO old Confederate soldiers. And they were huoved up with the confidence that the State of alabama had given it's pledged word that no old solder within the shel- tering walls of the Home should suffer TOT clothes, food or medical attenton.
 There to Pay Debt.
 The maimed old soldiers who sat about on the verandahs of the buildings were no longer objects of charity, but the favored wards of Alabama. They were no longer mendicanGs in mute appeals but recipients of tardy payments or ueo.s of gratitude. The day meant more to the helpless wards of the State than they could appreciate or realize.
 The members of the Board went over every foot of ground of the Home ana through every building.
 They first inspected the neat and com modious commssary which is at the en- trance of the grounds as one drlves lhto them from the railroad station of Noun tain Creek. mile away. The commis- sary was the first building put up at the Home. It's construction was begun on the 11th of April. 1902. little less than two years ago. It stands a llttle 10 tne west of the first cototage erected anu which was built shortly after the com missary was commenced. This cottage contains four rooms, dining room ana kitchen. It was named for E. l.. Moore the well known lumberman of River Falls With this cottage as a starting point crescent shaped row of cottages winds down the ridge. Next is the Fox Maull cottage named in honor of the great hearted, energetic member of Camp Falk- ner. who has gone to his reward after laboring so zealously for the success oI the Home. This cottage was once des- troyed by fire. but it has been rebuilt as 1t stood before. The crescent of cot tages is finished up with the Flowers cottage named after the prominent lum- bermen, cottage yet to be named and the Lizzie Cameron cottage named In honor of the wife of Captain Falkner, beloved of all Confederate soldiers of Alabama and who has stood Loyalty by her husband in hts great work to hold up ms mana SnOulu any moments Oi uiS- appointment come to him. --'
 Two Handsome Cottages,
 On the opposite ridge facing the first row with a valley between is the two handsomest cottages of the community, one built by Camp Hardee of Birmmg- ham and the other erected as memorial to the late John E. Moore of Huntsville.
 Every cottage is separate and distinct. Each cottage is separate and distinct from every other cottage. Different in many points they are alike in some features. Each cottage has four bed rooms, a kitchen, a dining room and a bath room Every cottage except one has a wide and commodious hall. The buildings were erected to accommodate eight old soldiers. two being given quart CTS in each bed room, the eight in the building uniting in taking their meals in the common dining room Some Of the cottages. finished and completely furnish ed. are without inmates. Some of the cottages are only partly occupied fur nished rooms in them being vacant.
 Camp Jeff Fallner which has been supporting the Home has not had the money to support all old soldiers for whom there were accommodations al the Home The rooms are vacant through necessity. not through choice or lack of worth applicants There are now nine teen old soldiers at the Home and the burden of providing food. clothing and medicine to this number has been all that Camp Falkner could bear. But the Home is now under the promise of greater use