The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-03
SOCIAL LIFE AT BLOUNT SPRINGS
As YEARS AGO AND TODAY
CooniaD
Years For Railroad Development In Progress

IT is pleasant sometime, like Rip Van
Wrinkle, to step back upon the paths we
followed long ago. and to see who are
left among those we knew before We went
forth to put our ideal dream of life in
motion.
In 1868. 40 years ago, among those in
search of health poisoned by the ma
laria rising from the forks of the Tom
bigbee river, the village of Portland, a
half dozen families by private convey
anee drove through the district between
north and south Alabama. fishing and
camping on the way. For four or FIVE
days they were journeying to Blount
Springs, where they either had cottages
engaged or board at the "Duffie hotel"
Although the years are numbered many
u months ago, we have a very clear
recollection of our first morning at Blount
Springs. At first we virtually took pos
session of the "Dick Randolph cottage"
overlooking cold spring and near enough
to the blue Hole" to have our bath
house there. AS we had been fed on
quinine and Number Six. a patent
remedy for chills dts burning taste ling
in their stead was a boon to humanity.
But. mereiesi How well do we recall our
first dose of red sulphur water. Quinine
was not in it; besides one did not have
to hold their nose to swallow quinine. We
thought the cure was worse than the dis
ease.
Good old "Dr. Wall'' spent most of his
time right al the springs and his advice
with reference to the uses of certain
springs, the analysis of the waters was
gratis, but the old gentleman made the
acquaintance of each visitor and was a
busy family physician among them. Few
there were for many years who did not
drink the water as prescribed by Dr..
Wall.
Judge Coleman Arrives
Hardly settled in the cottage we found
Judge A. A. Coleman and family had Sc
cured its rental in advance of us, causing
a removal to the hotel.
This building of colonial architecture
was located just over the springs, and
was well shaded with huge beech trees
with walks of native state 1t fronted on
the highway roads known as the Mon
tevallo road and Huntsville road begin
ming and ending at the door, and on each
road We're cottages bearing similar
names The postoffice was cabin across
the way, with Mr.. Calvin McAnally as
postmaster, and this office | am sure he
held for more than % years. The mail
rider" came Tuesdays and Fridays-these
were memorable days among the guests
Everybody had their own conveyances
and the hitching posts were in use all
day and until after the BALI each night
"A blacksmith shop was maintained at the
foot of the hill. for the convenience of
visitors The owners served two valu-
able purposes to the company for many
years. John Smith and Reuben Ward
They hammered the anvil all day and at
night, with fiddle and banjo, they fur
nished music for many of the south s
famous bellies and beaux. | am almost
afraid to call some of their names now
since telling of the years that have
flown, but some of them now are num-
bered among Birmingham grandfathers
and grandmothers today.
Half Dozen Negroes
There were only a half dozen negroes
In this county of Blount at that time.
They were brought here by Mr.. Haden of
Dallas county and DR.. r. c. Randolph of
Greensboro, who had fer years estab-
lished summer homes for themselves and
these servants raised their chickens for
them and planted their gardens each
year Remnants of these negro families
are to be seen here now, with their heads
gray and their bodies bended with age.
Strange, those who have gone We're most
~ the victims of tuberculosis. Yet they
lived in open houses on the mountain and
In their log cabins on the farm.
The "Duffie hoter' burned in the fall of
1869. It's a pity. because it was built so
well, and the style would have never
been out of date, besides its walls were
Transcribed with many romances of poll
ties and aristocrasy.
Speaking of politics, there were lots of
children playing in rocks and under
growth and their greatest dread was "the
thousand-leg worm 1t was their hor-
ror among insects, and when it was an
nounced there was "skalawag' in
town they even looked for something
worse than the worm-they simply knew
that lie would have to get out of the way
sure he did, TOO. When We saw man
di living in a buggy around the hill we
were told he was "the carpetbagger." one
and the same thing as "slaawag," and
we were surprised to find lie was only a
man.
Nothing But the Wheels Left
The next morning the pieces of a buggy
were found near the sptings. out no
"skalawag" On the big beech tree near
what was left of the OLD b Iss. We're found
carved seven "Ds," Mr. Silly Crawford,
uncle of Mr. Webb and Ed Crawford,