The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-03
ALL DAY SING AT SILURIA
By MRS. JOHN .B. REID


 By MRS. JOHN II. REID
 Sunday was a day of the old time religion" at Siluria, more than 1000 folks, men, women and children, gathered there from miles around to lend their voices toward the making of the event what it was planned to be--a day of general good feeling, with music as the significant inspira ton. The gathering was in the Young Mems Christian association, a building of modern structure with a seating capacity of about 500 It was more than taxed on this occasion.
 Voices poured out their volumes of good singing, and the breezes wait ed the sounds throughout the town.
 While we were entertained with the outpour of old-time hymnes, of long-ago tunes. our eyes scanned the outside view with unusual interest The scenes carried us back to the old days camp meetings in the mountains of North Alabama. Every available hitching place was in ser vice; there were double teams, single buggies, horseback riders and even the automobile crawled in beside these treasured vehicles of the past. This was real community sing" it started early and lasted until dim ner was announced; then resumed afterward to continue until the sun went down. and everybody went home with a bosom heaving with kindly feelings and a heart brim- full Of good will. There could be no other sentiment. when the day was so earn estly spent in singing these old-time ..N-
 Dinner was next important, and hundreds of folks marched to the shade by the side of brim- full spring of natures cold water. where we drank to our hearts content from the home grown gourd, such as al- ways hung near the moss-covered well.
 A water system is a great neces- sity, and we in the city boast of our fine water" but believe me, there is none such as is filtered through the red sand rock and dipped with the gourd from the bottom of the spring, and drink while you see the fresh supply bubbling and literally raising sand"
 Dinner seems rather late, when it Is ushered in with pen. but 1t was on time, and good one, too. Every thing the country could afford, and a bountiful supply of Mrs. Jacks beaten biscuit" This was not the only Birmingham feature. MT. and Mrs T. c. Thompson. real Birming- ham products themselves, were mine hosts," and we all know things went well.
 They are the Romulus and Remus of Siluria; they have a natural en- la and 10 this they are adding modern con struction.
 The "Y" is an asset; it is the civic center. nearby the lunch room" of spring and shade. Here is a stage for entertainment moving picture ma chine. musical instruments, and it IS everybody's building--and boon to the town.
 The cotton mill employs the com munity, and neat. comfortable homes of four and six rooms each, are rent ed at s4 q month, water free, wleh garden and chicken yard. If hard times" lived there. he was not at home Sunday.
 MT. and Mrs. Thompson have an ideal country place just 23 miles from Birmingham on the "Montgomery highway" on the edge of the village of SIluria. And had Shelby county ordered the spot made 1t coulu not have been more ideal---"Blue sprins Farm" consisting of 75O acres. Ihey have what we call now an emergehcs home, but it is lovely puheaioM There is "a grandson III the ,a'n'is now--T. c. Weler--and MT. Thomp- son is building a larger home, next to his nreseut one, to put the baoy in. hut he insists this is Junie's house. We know that boy will boss inc job. though he is taking in tne situation very quietly now.
 A dav with these good people, who have contributed so largely to the pleasures and building of Birmins, l ham. forced us to turn hackwaru l and talk of what is and useo to pc and the names of many appeareo throughout the day with an afiec- donate remembran nee of good oio | times.
 When Tom Thompson, as he F known to his friends, started out q young man full of pluck and energy l he put those same materials ih'. building our Magic City ana hs prospered and built houses; ne ais' made friends. who are theirs tooas and will be always.
 | In q little talk oi tnihss 'iia' r,s.s " we recalled that he built the Han' dolph home" at Blount springs, II the spring of 1876, and among his 60 | workers were Frank r. O'Brien. per Theiss, Mir. Mcleod and MT wetu
 smith. among the first big contrac tors in the making of Birmingham m Tn planning and creating all Of thi'
 work they were shaping the lives Q l ,nan of high ideals, and men whos' | efforts have attained success.
 Some of them are gone now, tnos
 who are left revere their memory I they were among the worth-wnir lfclks of their day. It is wonder ! full privilege to get out Into God
 beautiful country to see the wate